In the third book of Matt Dinniman’s chaotic LitRPG series, Carl and Princess Donut find themselves on the Fourth Floor of the World Dungeon: The Iron Tangle. This floor is a massive, mind-bending network of subway tunnels and shifting train lines that require intense logistical planning to navigate. While dodging the usual array of homicidal monsters and corporate-sponsored traps, Carl begins to utilize a unique prize he earned: The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook. This “item” is a living record of tips, tricks, and bitter insights left behind by previous crawlers. As the game becomes more lethal, Carl and his companion Katya must grapple with the psychological toll of the crawl and the realization that the game is rigged in ways they are only beginning to understand.
The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook is a transition point for the series, moving away from pure survival and toward a broader rebellion. I loved the snippets of commentary from past crawlers. They provide a haunting, gritty layer of world-building. These entries bring back the sharp social and political commentary that made the first book so compelling—reminding us that the dungeon is a cruel allegory for entertainment and exploitation.
I also appreciated some of the character development that happened in this installment. This book belongs to Katya. Seeing her background and watching her evolve beyond a side character adds a necessary emotional weight to the story.
That said…if you found the train system tedious, you aren’t alone. The logistical complexity of the Fourth Floor—the schedules, the track switching, and the sheer amount of “floor math”—can occasionally drag the pacing down, making the middle section feel a bit dense compared to the high-octane action of the previous floors.
While the technical layout of the Iron Tangle can be a bit of a grind, the emotional payoffs and the introduction of the Cookbook make this a vital entry in the series. It’s a darker, more cerebral installment that sets the stage for a much larger conflict against the Borant Corporation.