Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Critical Role: Vox Machina — Kith & Kin by Marieke Nijkamp

9 reviews

e_freckles's review against another edition

adventurous emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Violence and Death

Minor: Classism, Abandonment, Death of parent, Torture, and Child abuse

akswhy's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I liked this book because I am a simp for these characters, not because it’s groundbreaking or life-changing. Gosh, I love a good backstory!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Ableism, Murder, Racism, and Domestic abuse

bashsbooks's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Love this peak into the twins' past! As someone who watched all of the Vox Machina campaign and became obsessed with Vax & Vex, I had been wanting to read this since it was first announced. I FINALLY got around to it, and I wish I'd listened to it sooner (as an aside: listen to the audiobook -Liam & Laura voice Vax & Vex). The story was so complex and well-paced; I loved how the twins ended up on opposite sides of the conflict, and how nuanced the motivations of all these new characters were. I also loved seeing their famed brush with the Clasp, and the glimpses into their life in Syngorn. I had many headcanons about especially the latter period of their life that were more or less confirmed, which really felt validating from a character analysis and interpretation perspective. 

Also, it was so good of them to #letvaxbeabidiaster. I fucking love Thorn. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Classism, Death, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Grief, Medical content, Violence, and Animal death

Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Racism, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Animal cruelty

-Racism is of the fantasy variety (elf supremacy).

sarahsbooklife's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Gaslighting and Cursing

Minor: Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Vomit, Violence, and Gaslighting

sarahsbooklife's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Body horror, Violence, and Blood

Moderate: Gaslighting and Grief

Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

velokei's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Great read for Vox Machina fans! I would say you’ve gotta be a fan of the series to enjoy this book, or at least have a little background knowledge. Things are explained decently and all but a lot of Easter eggs (such as Vax getting the snake belt) might go over people’s heads. 

I adored Vax’s relationship with Thorn and I liked how the twins were both openly bisexual. It’s lovely rep without forcing it and screaming about it. It’s just there and that’s great!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Child abuse, Cursing, Violence, and War

achingallover's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

it felt like a story arc in critical role and that's exactly what i wanted it to be. also the audiobook was very well acted (as expected)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, and Violence

ilucam's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I'm a huge Critical Role fan, and this book had promise. But it let me down in two major ways:
The central conflict felt contrived, with tenuous in-world rationale to continue it. I kept wanting to yell at Vex and Vax, " just talk to each other!"
Being invested in characters' situations is hard when we know they're going to be relatively ok when we next meet them. This is a problem with prequels in general, rather than with with this title in particular, but I was already having a hard time staying interested in the plot due to my first point.
The pacing is unbalanced; some scenes feel drawn out while others are over too quickly, and it makes for an odd experience. 
The flashbacks to Syngorn and Byroden are great additions, and having the full story of how Vax got wrapped up with the Clasp is nice, but this book, even with cast performances, is a bit disappointing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gore, Torture, and Violence

Moderate: Child abuse

etoothpaste's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Blood

Moderate: Sexual harassment