Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 9 Is Finally Bringing Back [SPOILER]

Published Nov 12, 2026, 7:00 AM EST Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond. Dungeon Crawler Carl fans recently got a look at some of Matt Dinniman's progress in Book 9 thanks to the author's recent Patreon post, which readers can (and should) support for just a few bucks a month. If you're all caught up with Dungeon Crawler Carl and have finished Book 8, A Parade of Horribles, you'll definitely want to check out the teaser chapters on Patreon ASAP. Currently, Dinniman has released the Prologue, Chapters 1 through 5, and an Interlude chapter, and they give fans a proper look at what's next for Carl, Donut, and the rest of the party, though these chapters are clearly just the tip of the iceberg. While there have been a few details revealed in interviews over the past few months, such as Book 9's working title, The Beautiful Place, as well as the number of crawlers left in the game, the teaser chapters give us a real sense of what's ahead, including the return of a fan-favorite character. !!! WARNING CRAWLERS: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL SERIES !!! Dungeon Crawler Carl Is Bringing Back A Beloved Side Character One of the most exciting developments in Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 9 is the return of Ferdinand, the lovable yet insufferable orange tabby who has become an unlikely fan favorite. Also known as Gravy Boat, Ferdinand has a... complicated history with Princess Donut, and their bizarre relationship has provided some of the series' funniest moments. Ferdinand played a substantial supporting role in Book 7, This Inevitable Ruin, particularly during Faction Wars, when he became co-warlord of Team Retribution alongside Juice Box. His newfound authority, inflated ego, and ongoing obsession with Donut made him an hilarious addition to the larger conflict, but then he was more or less sidelined in Book 8, A Parade of Horribles. Ferdinand was largely absent from Book 8's central storyline, although one memorable sequence offered a bit of insight into his troubled past. Fortunately, the opening chapters of Book 9 suggest Ferdinand will be returning to a much more prominent role, beginning with an unexpected reunion with Donut. In the teaser chapters, Ferdinand finds himself in a dangerous situation involving a mysterious new crawler, prompting Donut to intervene on his behalf. The encounter offers a touching reminder of how much their relationship has evolved, while potentially setting Ferdinand up for a larger role in the remaining story. With Dungeon Crawler Carl approaching its conclusion, Ferdinand's return is a welcome development for longtime readers. Book 9 May Be Here Sooner Than You Think Fortunately, Dungeon Crawler Carl fans might not have to wait too much longer for Book 9, at least if author Matt Dinniman's publication history is any indication. Since launching the series in 2020, Dinniman has released eight mainline novels, maintaining an impressively consistent schedule compared to many other major fantasy authors. While the gaps between installments have grown as the series has progressed, This Inevitable Ruin arrived in November 2024, followed by A Parade of Horribles in May 2026, just 18 months later. Following that pattern, a late 2027 release for Book 9 certainly isn't out of the question, although nothing has been officially confirmed. Dinniman has also offered some encouraging comments about his progress, suggesting that the next installment could follow a similar timeline, estimating "about a year, give or take a few months." You can sign up to support Matt Dinniman's Patreon account here. Of course, Dinniman is currently writing the series' conclusion as one enormous story that will ultimately be divided into Books 9 and 10. He's acknowledged the challenges of bringing so many interconnected storylines to a satisfying conclusion, potentially complicating the schedule. Still, with several teaser chapters already available to Patreon supporters, there's plenty of reason to be optimistic about Dungeon Crawler Carl returning sometime in 2027. Dungeon Crawler Carl Publisher(s) Penguin Random House Publication Date September 21, 2020 Number of Pages 444 ISBN# 979-8688591507