Reviews - Tusk Love | The StoryGraph

1.46k reviews for:

Being dealt a bad hand doesn’t mean you have to strike back in response.

I'm going to be brutally honest here in the fact that I did not intend on reading this book. I didn't vibe with the cover; the story was interesting but not enough. It was just something I didn't think I'd enjoy. A book club decided it would be our book of the month, however, so I suppose I picked it up. That's when I found out the connection with Critical Role and campaign 2 (I hadn't realized someone decided to actually bring it to life). So I figured, okay, sure, why not.

As a fan of Critical Role, I will say that a lot of the world-building felt like fanservice. I knew going in that it was set in-universe Exandria, but I'd still be tickled when I saw places and lore (like the gods) I recognized. But that's as much as the connection goes; you are free to read this without knowing anything about the lore or having watched any of the games.

Now from an objective viewpoint, because I really didn't want to influence my enjoyment of the book due to its connection to Critical Role. While, as a fan, I enjoyed the world-building—I will say there were moments of it where I felt some descriptors were unnecessary. I could hear the words with Matt's voice, but as a general reader—while I do enjoy rich world-building—I didn't feel it this time. I will say it was done well, though.

That's probably more my nitpick about this, aside from also maybe the fact that I had immediately forgotten what the ending was while recounting the book's event to a friend minutes after my finishing it. An ending, in my opinion, is supposed to leave a part of itself in your soul. It felt rushed compared to the last 20-ish% of the book, where the entire tone kind of shifted from where the whole book was going. I don't think I know what the main antagonist's purpose was by the end of it. I just wanted more for a conclusion, I guess.

I won't deny this is a good cozy read; it helped with me needing to calm down a bit, as my last two reads were really plot- and emotion-heavy. I understand the love; I understand the hype. I don't love it, but it's a wonderful book.

cthrn_'s review against another edition

4.0

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

lamiabanyai's review against another edition

1.5

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

that_chick26's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

domtheknight's review against another edition

5.0

lighthearted

I loved it. Adventure, road trip (on horses), magic, secrets, treasure, bad guys, idiot guys, one of em is real naive but cute about it, banging in the forest, a great time.