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mikeymikec85's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-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
4.0
andybo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ianacook's review
3.0
The performances of the audiobook, naturally, were great.
It's always going to be a really hard line to walk with a project like this. Don't dwell too much on the things covered in the original campaign so you don't bore those readers who have already experienced that, but include enough details so the story makes sense to those who haven't, all while establishing emotional investment in something with an ending that, to many readers, is already known and predetermined.
It doesn't do a *terrible* job at all that, but this book definitely doesn't hit that line correctly. It started off fine (though a bit rushed) in the parts that come before Molly. But then it glossed over so many details during the final act especially that it felt like the cliff notes version. And while concisely trying to fit itself into the original's details, it felt like it lost any expression of Lucien's relatability or emotional connection. I kept forgetting why he was doing any of what he was doing, other than just that he was obsessed, and by the end I really didn't care.
TL;DR: it's fine enough if you've already experienced all of Campaign 2, but I'm not sure it would make any sense at all for someone not already immersed in CR.
It's always going to be a really hard line to walk with a project like this. Don't dwell too much on the things covered in the original campaign so you don't bore those readers who have already experienced that, but include enough details so the story makes sense to those who haven't, all while establishing emotional investment in something with an ending that, to many readers, is already known and predetermined.
It doesn't do a *terrible* job at all that, but this book definitely doesn't hit that line correctly. It started off fine (though a bit rushed) in the parts that come before Molly. But then it glossed over so many details during the final act especially that it felt like the cliff notes version. And while concisely trying to fit itself into the original's details, it felt like it lost any expression of Lucien's relatability or emotional connection. I kept forgetting why he was doing any of what he was doing, other than just that he was obsessed, and by the end I really didn't care.
TL;DR: it's fine enough if you've already experienced all of Campaign 2, but I'm not sure it would make any sense at all for someone not already immersed in CR.
brittanybwrites's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
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
abbigailfturner's review
5.0
I think this goes without saying that this review contains spoilers for both the book and Critical Role Campaign 2— which I definitely recommend watching before you read this book!
This book was everything I wanted it to be. It opened up the window into the mind of arguably one of the best CR villains ever.
It gave us the backstory on Lucien/Mollymauk that we never got due to his untimely demise.
It also showed us fans of the show that Mollymauk was never truly gone.
I loved seeing Lucien struggle with the Cognozua and the Somnovem. The use of font changes to show his mind fracturing was AMAZING and really brought the whole book together.
I devoured the last 200 pages in one sitting and, even though I knew how it ended, I found myself amazed at how that ending was portrayed from Lucien’s POV.
I 100% recommend this book to anyone who loved campaign 2 of Critical Role and was heartbroken by the loss of Mollymauk. This book helped heal some of those wounds ❤️
This book was everything I wanted it to be. It opened up the window into the mind of arguably one of the best CR villains ever.
It gave us the backstory on Lucien/Mollymauk that we never got due to his untimely demise.
It also showed us fans of the show that Mollymauk was never truly gone.
I loved seeing Lucien struggle with the Cognozua and the Somnovem. The use of font changes to show his mind fracturing was AMAZING and really brought the whole book together.
I devoured the last 200 pages in one sitting and, even though I knew how it ended, I found myself amazed at how that ending was portrayed from Lucien’s POV.
I 100% recommend this book to anyone who loved campaign 2 of Critical Role and was heartbroken by the loss of Mollymauk. This book helped heal some of those wounds ❤️
nisha13's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis and Mental illness
Moderate: Violence and Death
sheilafromhr's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
aea_hobbit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
kkulmins's review against another edition
i already loved lucien as a character from watching the mighty nein campaign, but this book honestly, genuinely, made me love him more. i just... feel so much for him? not sympathy, but empathy. i understand his motives and his intentions, and even though he was doing some evil ass shit, he was doing it for good reasons. the ends justified the means in his mind.
anyway, this was a pleasure to read. it was a pleasure to get into his thoughts.
anyway, this was a pleasure to read. it was a pleasure to get into his thoughts.