Andre
Matt Dinniman’s prose is a pleasure to read: simple, clear, and easy to sink into, especially given how many worldbuilding rules this first book has to lay down. Even as a regular (C)RPG player who’s used to the usual jargon and systems, I never felt bored by the setup; the mechanics are introduced smoothly and stay entertaining instead of feeling like homework.
I also went in a little worried that Carl and Donut’s relationship would grate on me, since I expected them to clash more than connect. But that concern faded fast. They’re definitely different people and they do butt heads, yet their affection for each other is never in doubt. It doesn’t feel like a bond that forms during the crawl, it’s something that clearly comes from years of shared history.
Overall, this is a strong debut and a great entry point for the series. By the end, I was more than ready to keep going and see just how much deeper the crawl gets.
Matt Dinniman’s prose is a pleasure to read: simple, clear, and easy to sink into, especially given how many worldbuilding rules this first book has to lay down. Even as a regular (C)RPG player who’s used to the usual jargon and systems, I never felt bored by the setup; the mechanics are introduced smoothly and stay entertaining instead of feeling like homework.
I also went in a little worried that Carl and Donut’s relationship would grate on me, since I expected them to clash more than connect. But that concern faded fast. They’re definitely different people and they do butt heads, yet their affection for each other is never in doubt. It doesn’t feel like a bond that forms during the crawl, it’s something that clearly comes from years of shared history.
Overall, this is a strong debut and a great entry point for the series. By the end, I was more than ready to keep going and see just how much deeper the crawl gets.
