Man, all of these books are emotional, but this one really gets bleak. It might be because I haven't read a DCC book in a while, but it felt like there were more named-character deaths in this book than past books in the series. Also, it's starting to feel really hopeless that Carl, Donut, and the crew make it out of the dungeon alive. There are still silly, lighthearted aspects in A Parade of Horribles, but overall it is heavy, and not as "fun" as the first few books. Though, it is incredibly engaging and compelling. I still love our whole cast of characters. Carl and Donut continue to be bad-asses, and the rest of the crew are just as crazy and amazing. The magic continues to be fantastic, and the scheming - as always - is top notch. The racetracks were confusing to me, similar to the Iron Tangle. But in the same way, it doesn't really matter if you can picture the map in your mind's eye or not. The pacing is definitely quick, with lots happening all the time. I was sad that the gang didn't have as much time to pal around in the safe room as usual. It has been nice in the past to see everyone's relationships and dynamics. I think this go-go-go feeling added to the bleakness of the dungeon floor. There was never time for the characters to relax and enjoy anything. Not even a full round of karaoke... This was definitely a great addition to the series, and I'm mad I have to wait probably a year for the next one.