Matt Dinniman keeps me locked in with The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook. I’m not as much a fan of the world as previous entries, the subway environment left little room for my imagination, but Carl and Donut continue to impress. Dinniman has stayed true to keeping characters grounded. Donut, despite me finding her more irritating than good company, is a fantastic character and great companion for Carl. I can see her maturing slowly and I’m glad of it. Having the same impulsive and selfish pet that we saw in book 1 would be grating pretty quick but likewise making her a wise and kind person would seem unrealistic. Katia as well gaining confidence in herself is very satisfying to see. Both are growing as people, learning, and it makes them feel that much more real. The character development will likely remain my favorite part of this series.