Dungeon Crawler Carl Meets Fourth Wing In Upcoming 3-Book Fantasy Series

Published Sep 20, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes. Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses. They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer. In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18. Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. An upcoming fantasy book series that has gained a lot of attention recently is a trilogy described as Fourth Wing meets Dungeon Crawler Carl. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman and The Empyrean Series by Rebecca Yarros are two of the biggest series in the fantasy genre right now. Plenty of books like Dungeon Crawler Carl are already available, including Matt Dinniman’s standalone novel Operation Bounce House. Meanwhile, fans of Fourth Wing can read great dragon books like Blood Bound by Ellis Hunter or high-stakes competition romantasies like Powerless by Lauren Roberts. Plus, Threshing Day, a short story novella set within The Empyrean Series, will release in just ten days (now available to preorder). However, fans of both major fantasies have plenty to look forward to outside their respective book series. The Only Way Out Is Up by Django Wexler comes out September 29, and it’s being marketed towards Dungeon Crawler Carl fans. Plus, DCC fans can dive into the He Who Fights With Monsters LitRPG series, which has 12 books out and a 13th coming in October. For Fourth Wing Fans, there’s With Hearts of Flame by Briar Boleyn, the fourth book in the Bloodwing Academy series and the third in the Crimson Moth series. However, one of the most exciting upcoming book series, The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere by Claire McKade, is described as a combination of these two popular fantasy book series. Picked up by HarperCollins' Harper Voyager imprint, the trilogy will start in Winter 2028. What We Know About Claire McKade’s The Bridge To Nowhere And Everywhere Billed as Fourth Wing meets Dungeon Crawler Carl and set in a post-apocalyptic world, Publishers Marketplace introduces The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere as a spicy dystopian romance set in a “skyscraper stretching into space” that hosts a televised, deadly competition. To survive, a scientist must partner with her brother’s killer. The rights have been acquired in the United States, Spain, Germany, Ukraine, Denmark, and France. While the description of The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere is very brief, Claire McKade has shared many details about the book series on Instagram. The story has a single point of view and is in the present tense. The media broadcasting the competition is the government, and they claim the bridge is the way off Earth. Characters must ascend the skyscraper floor by floor, with each having different challenges. As they beat each level, the media rewards the characters with fame and fortune. The opening line, “The smallest body bags always come from Level 1,” is a fantastic hook. ​​​​​​Monroe Becket, the female lead, is a woman in STEM. Ryker Zahir, the male main character, is a morally gray man who stays that way instead of changing. Their romance is built on forced proximity. Rather than jumping straight into romance, they have a slow-burn relationship, starting as enemies and then becoming reluctant allies with the potential for more. Upcoming TV Adaptations Are A Good Sign For Bridge To Nowhere And Everywhere The fandoms of both Fourth Wing and Dungeon Crawler Carl have grown so large that they’ve become hot commodities. TV adaptations are in development, with big names attached. Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society is producing Fourth Wing, and the actor will executive produce. Lisa Joy (Westworld) will executive produce and direct episode 1. Meredith Averill (Locke & Key, The Haunting of Hill House) will showrun Prime Video’s Fourth Wing. Christopher Yost (Thor: Ragnarok, The Mandalorian) and Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Shadow & Bone) are co-showrunning Dungeon Crawler Carl, with Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions producing. Both have series orders, rather than simply being in development. The success of both book series and the upcoming TV adaptations are great signs that The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere could become the next big thing, if it’s done well. I don't have access to the book, so I can't yet say whether I believe it will have the same quality or level of success. However, it seems promising based on the available information. There’s certainly potential. As it stands, the book series is already building a fanbase, even though the first book won’t be out for over a year. What’s more, TV and movie rights manager Katrina Escudero at MGMT Entertainment has picked up Claire McKade as a client. Industry professionals clearly expect The Bridge to Nowhere and Everywhere to become a hit.