Caramel’s reviews – Page 3

Caramel reviews Carl’s Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman

Caramel loves role playing games and enjoys science fiction so it was natural that he would appreciate Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl series. He read and reviewed the first book Dungeon Crawler Carl a while back. Today he is talking to Sprinkles about the second book in the series: Carl’s Doomsday Scenario, originally published in 2021. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, you have already told us a bit about the dungeon crawler Carl, a while back. Today we are talking about his new adventures.

Caramel: Yes, this is book two. Remember Carl is in a dungeon, which is basically a reality TV show for the galaxy. The Earth has been overrun by an alien civilization and they killed most of the living beings on the planet. The rest are living terribly difficult lives. And a few get selected or nominate themselves to be in a dungeon and the rest of the galaxy watches them as entertainment. In the first book Carl and his teammate Princess Donut got through the first two levels of the dungeon. This book is about Level Three.

S: Alright! Remind me again, how many levels are there supposed to be?

C: I think there are eighteen levels or so and nobody has ever passed the thirteenth one. But if anyone can finish the last level, they will be saved! Whatever that means for the aliens running the show. And who knows if they will even keep their promises?

S: I agree, it is not clear that one can trust these aliens. But anyways, Carl does not seem to have a choice, so he will continue on.

C: Right. Yeah, and he’s very, very good at throwing hands.

S: What does that mean?

C: Punching. Unarmed combat. Though he still has no pants!

S: Wait, what?

C: Yeah, when the world sort of ended, it was like 3 am, so he was in his underwear, and was outside because of the cat named Princess Donut, now sentient and intelligent. So he didn’t have time to go get dressed.

S: I am sensing here a tribute to readers who love Captain Underpants!

C: I don’t know that series too well, so I cannot really judge that comment.

S: Okay, forget it. So in this book, do Carl and Princess Donut make new allies?

C: Yes, and no. They sort of make one, and they make another one, but then that one dies, in a bad way. I don’t want to say more and spoil things.

Caramel is reading Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman. — Caramel is reading *Carl’s Doomsday Scenario* by Matt Dinniman.

S: So Caramel, this was a really long book. But you managed to read it all!

C: Yep. It is 371 pages! And that is three hundred and seventy one pages of absolute awesomeness! So of course I read it!

S: Well, I am glad you are enjoying it because there are a lot more books in the series and you can read them one by one.

C: Yay! That is exactly what I want to do. So the first book was about the first two levels but this one is about only one level. So if there are eighteen levels, then there would be a lot more books to go if they cover one level a book. So maybe I can expect at least fifteen more books!

S: Yes, your math is correct. And it does seem like that one level a book rule holds till book eight, which is the last one out so far. But the author claims there will only be ten books. So those last couple books will probably cover a lot of ground.

C: But they are not written yet? That is interesting. But I bet at least one of them will get written by the time I get that far. Or maybe I can challenge myself and see if I can read faster than that.

S: Hmm, we will see. You do have the third book in line, and you are waiting to get started, right?

C: Yep. So maybe we can wrap this up so I can get started already?

S: Sounds good to me! Okay, what do you want to tell our readers then?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman and is already itching to get started with Book Three! — Caramel enjoyed reading *Carl’s Doomsday Scenario* by Matt Dinniman and is already itching to get started with Book Three!

Caramel reviews The Neverfear by Katherine Rundell

Caramel has already read and reviewed Impossible Creatures and The Poisoned King, the first two books in Katherine Rundell’s Impossible Creatures trilogy. Today he reviews The Neverfear, the third book in the series, just published earlier this month. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we are talking about the third book in this Impossible Creatures trilogy. You were really excited about it; did the book satisfy your curiosity?

Caramel: Yes, it did, it gave the series a good ending, but can’t say how. But there is a kidnapping in the beginning and that gets resolved. .

S: And the whole trilogy wraps up nicely too?

C: Yes, there’s a happy ending, too, so that’s always appreciated.

S: Cool! Okay but maybe we should go back and start at the beginning. You were wondering what Neverfear meant.

C: Oh, yeah, it’s apparently the name of Nighthand’s boat.

S: Wait, who is Nighthand?

C: He is the “berserker” guy that showed up in the second book, and helped Christopher and Anya to get back the kingdom.

S: So he helps them in this book too?

C: Well, not quite, because if they told him, the kidnapped person would be killed, so they couldn’t tell him. So they sort of had to steal his ship. But it all ends up nicely in the end.

S: Alright then, I suppose. So there are new problems in this book to be resolved. There was also a cliffhanger in the second book. I am assuming that got resolved too.

C: yeah, that got resolved in, I believe, the first or second chapter.

S: Oh good. So that must have been good.

C: Yep. But the new challenges started immediately, too, so you had to keep reading.

Caramel is reading The Neverfear by Katherine Rundell. — Caramel is reading *The Neverfear* by Katherine Rundell.

S: It seems like this book too has some neat illustrations. They are done by the same person, Ashley Mackenzie.

C: Yeah, I like this artist’s work a lot. Definitely she is great for a regular book with all words. Now for graphic novels, Mike Holmes is the best! If only they came out with more graphic novels…

S: Now, I know Holmes did the Wings of Fire graphic novels. So I am guessing this is your roundabout way to request more Wings of Fire graphic novels?

C: Not very roundabout. I think I’m being pretty transparent… There are at least seven more books to go!

S: I think you are right. Anyway, back to the book we were talking about. Being the third in a trilogy I would assume one has to read the first two books to get much out of this one, right?

C: Yes, it is much more understandable with prior knowledge of the world and such.

S: Totally makes sense of course. Okay so did you like this world this story is taking place in?

C: Yeah, I like this artist’s work a lot. Definitely she is great for a regular book with all words. Now for graphic novels, Mike Holmes is the best! If only they came out with more graphic novels…

S: Now, I know Holmes did the Wings of Fire graphic novels. So I am guessing this is your roundabout way to request more Wings of Fire graphic novels?

C: Not very roundabout. I think I’m being pretty transparent… There are at least seven more books to go!

S: I think you are right. Anyway, back to the book we were talking about. Being the third in a trilogy I would assume one has to read the first two books to get much out of this one, right?

C: Yes, it is much more understandable with prior knowledge of the world and such.

S: Totally makes sense of course. Okay so did you like the world this story is taking place in?

C: Yes, it is very interesting, and apparently Hercules bred Cerberus!

S: Wait, Hercules and Cerberus from Greek mythology? They are also in this world?

C: Yes, but there are multiple Cerberuses, and not all characters of Greek mythology exist. So maybe they’re called Cerberi?

S: Interesting hypothesis Caramel! I really do not know. But I did not know this world was kind of a mixed bag like that. It is interesting!

C: Yes, it was really fun to read.

S: Sounds wonderful Caramel. I think this might be a good place to wrap up this review.

C: After all it is again a school night.

S: Yep. So let us do this. What do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading The Neverfear by Katherine Rundell and appreciates a trilogy with a happy ending. — Caramel enjoyed reading *The Neverfear* by Katherine Rundell and appreciates a trilogy with a happy ending.

Caramel reviews Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson

Today Caramel is reviewing Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, written by Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, and first published in 2006. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Caramel reviews Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, written by Julia Rawlinson and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke. — Caramel reviews *Fletcher and the Falling Leaves*, written by Julia Rawlinson and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, today we are talking about a sweet story about the coming fall season.

Caramel: Yes we are. It’s about a fox named Fletcher who hates change.

S: Well, he is a very young fox and he is not used to change. It is sometimes hard to deal with change, no?

C: Yeah, I don’t quite like change either, but it is sadly necessary.

S: Yes, you had to finish one school and start another. We had to move. You changed teachers, And so on. We have to deal with change all the time. And even when it is natural it can be hard.

C: Yeah. And the change Fletcher is upset about in this book is also very natural.

S: Okay, so tell us a bit more.

C: So Fletcher is this little fox who loves a tree, but one day he notices that the tree’s leaves are losing their nice bright green color.

S: Hmm…

C: Then the tree starts losing its leaves. So Fletcher at first thinks the tree is sick, so he goes to his parent, and asks about it, and the parent says not to worry, because it’s only autumn.

S: Of course! But Fletcher is young, so he probably has not seen autumn before!

C: Yeah, so he eventually comes back to the tree, and sees there is only one leaf left on its branches, so he does anything to keep it on the tree.

S: Oh, I can see where this is going. He won’t be able to help much, will he?

C: Yeah, no. He tries to tape it to the branch, but eventually it falls, and he eventually learns that change is inevitable, and not always bad.

Caramel is reading Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, written by Julia Rawlinson and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke. — Caramel is reading *Fletcher and the Falling Leaves*, written by Julia Rawlinson and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke.

S: Yes! Dare I mention impermanence? Maybe not. But I remember the very last page! Autumn is normal and after it comes winter! And it can be lovely!

C: Yeah, the last page is really pretty. But the whole book is really nice to look at! The colors are all very nice and warm.

S: Yeah, and things look feathery and really almost dreamlike. I thought of the books we read that were illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault, like Captain Rosalie, Colette’s Lost Pet, and Albert’s Quiet Quest. It is really quiet and makes you feel peaceful when you are looking at the pages.

C: Well, you also feel the anxiety and sadness Fletcher is feeling. So those are not very peaceful feelings, but the pictures are still very nice, so maybe you can guess that Fletcher will soon feel better too.

S: Yes, I can see that. You are right Caramel! That’s a lovely observation! So do you like autumn?

C: Meh, it’s nice, but it is nicer in winter, when it’s colder. I like cold, I’m a cold weather bunny.

S: That’s interesting! I like cold more than hot weather, too. But I also love autumn. I like the changing colors, and it is also when school starts which is always exciting!

C: Which reminds me. Tonight is again a school night. Hint hint.

S: Hmm, I think I know what you are getting at. Maybe we have said enough about this book.

C: Yes. I do think this is a really neat book. Young bunnies will enjoy it and this is really a good time to read it because autumn is coming. But maybe we can wrap this review up, so I can go to sleep…

S: Sure, that totally makes sense. Okay, let us wrap it up. What do you want to tell our readers then?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, written by Julia Rawlinson and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, and is happy autumn is almost here! — Caramel enjoyed reading *Fletcher and the Falling Leaves*, written by Julia Rawlinson and illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, and is happy autumn is almost here!

Caramel reviews World War II Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Tanks, and Warships by Chris McNab

Today Caramel is reviewing World War II Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Tanks, and Warships by Chris McNab published in 2025. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So we are talking about a big book of facts again today.

Caramel: Yes, yes we are. It’s about planes and tanks and ships, some of my favorite stuff, and I think this same guy wrote the encyclopedia of dinosaurs that I reviewed many many years ago, too, so I guess I should have known I would like the book. He just seems to write cool books.

S: Well, it was clear you would like it because it is about World War II, aircrafts, tanks, and warships.

C: Yes, that, too.

S: Okay, so we know you liked the book. Then let us look into it together. Tell us about it.

C: Well, it has a lot of illustrations. The cover says it has more than 1200! You know how I love my pictures, especially in a nonfiction book. There are three to five pictures on each page. Some are black and white photographs but many of them are in color and they are pretty detailed pictures of things. So I like them a lot!

S: Sounds like just the right book for you.

C: Yep.

S: So is it pages and pages of tanks and such?

C: Exactly. But first there are aircrafts. There is one type of aircraft on each page, and they go from page 10 till page 141, so there are more than a hundred and twenty planes!

S: That is a lot of different types of planes.

C: Yeah, a lot of different countries fought in World War II, and each of them had many different types of aircraft.

S: Okay, then after the aircraft what comes next? From the title of the book, I will guess: Tanks!

C: Almost. The next section is Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles. There are more than a hundred of these too.

S: So let me guess. Is the next section warships?

C: Nope. There is a section on Artillery, Anti-Aircraft, and Anti-Tank Guns. It is a little shorter, but it also has a lot of examples, maybe forty to fifty different types. And then comes the section on Warships.

S: Cool.

C: Yes, very cool. There are over a hundred of those, too.

Caramel is reading World War II Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Tanks, and Warships by Chris McNab. — Caramel is reading *World War II Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Tanks, and Warships* by Chris McNab.

S: I can see why you liked this book.

C: Yeah. I really like all of the pictures of planes and tanks and ships. They’re cool to look at, and I also like to see the stats, like what they weigh or what they carry. So for example I learned that a typical heavy warship is 11,000 tons of displacement. That is a lot of water!

S: Oh my! That sounds really heavy!

C: Yep.

S: So I think you particularly like planes and tanks. Tell me a bit about your favorites.

C: The F4U Corsair is my favorite plane. It is on page 108, and it is really cool. It has folding wings!

S: Wow! I didn’t know they made planes with folding wings; that is very cool.

C: It is! And the T-34 is my favorite tank. It was built and used by the Soviets and it had a huge impact on the war. They were cheap and quick to make and they were very powerful. There are two versions in the book. There is a 1942 version, on page 216, and then there is a revised version from 1944 on page 260. But I like the 1942 version best. I even made a model of it!

S: That is cool!

C: There is another one I find interesting. It is called the Churchill Crocodile, on page 251. It is a revision of the Churchill tank from 1941, which is on page 159. Both of them were British.

S: Why is the Crocodile interesting?

C: It is interesting because it is like a flame thrower on a tank.

S: That would be quite destructive.

C: Yes, I think so. The war was very destructive. I really just want to read about these machines because they are interesting as machines. I never want to really see them in real life, in a war.

S: Agreed, Caramel. But I do have one last question.

C: What is it?

S: Why was the Crocodile called a crocodile?

C: Because it had a tail, a fuel tanker at the back. And they thought it looked like a crocodile tail I suppose.

S: Hmm, that is interesting.

C: All of the book was very interesting.

S: I can see that! But it is getting late.

C: And it is once again a school night.

S: So is it time to wrap this up?

C: Yep.

S: So what do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading World War II Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Tanks, and Warships by Chris McNab and learning so much more! — Caramel enjoyed reading *World War II Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Tanks, and Warships* by Chris McNab and learning so much more!