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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
this was so sweet! cozy read with a bisexual girlie getting her brooding hunky guy with a heart of gold <3
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
I've been a Critter since 2018. I was watching live when Matt's amazing improvisation in a made-up bookshop created Tusk Love. Now, seven years later, it's an actual book that you can read and purchase.
For those of you who aren't Critters and have no idea what I'm talking about, this book is still for you. It's very approachable and not tied to Critical Role at all, except that this story exists in the same world.
I went into this book with 0 expectations or preconceptions. I didn't read reviews (or even the synopsis) before starting it. And I think that was the best choice.
I've been rather burnt out by romantasy lately and haven't been able to find anything to bring me out of this reading slump. Tusk Love did it. It was equal parts fun, sweet, and rich with detail. The characters and worldbuilding were great (though sometimes they felt like parts taken from an encyclopedia and pasted into the story), I was still glad they appeared. There were of course, the tropes () but I found myself smiling rather than rolling my eyes, perhaps because they were done in a slightly meta way. It felt like the author was saying "heh, watch this," rather than taking it too seriously and treating readers like idiots who've never read before.
The only issues that I had with this book were plot-based. There were several moments when I felt like the story was going in one direction, and the tension builds, and then it just ... dissipates. Maybe because this book is more of a "cozy" romantasy than I thought it was, and the stakes were never supposed to be high. If not, it felt like wasted opportunities. Apart from that, and a few moments of cheese, it was cute and worth the read. I might even reread it sometime, which, for me, is glowing praise.
For those of you who aren't Critters and have no idea what I'm talking about, this book is still for you. It's very approachable and not tied to Critical Role at all, except that this story exists in the same world.
I went into this book with 0 expectations or preconceptions. I didn't read reviews (or even the synopsis) before starting it. And I think that was the best choice.
I've been rather burnt out by romantasy lately and haven't been able to find anything to bring me out of this reading slump. Tusk Love did it. It was equal parts fun, sweet, and rich with detail. The characters and worldbuilding were great (though sometimes they felt like parts taken from an encyclopedia and pasted into the story), I was still glad they appeared. There were of course, the tropes (
Spoiler
Grumpy/sunshine, only 1 bed, etcThe only issues that I had with this book were plot-based. There were several moments when I felt like the story was going in one direction, and the tension builds, and then it just ... dissipates. Maybe because this book is more of a "cozy" romantasy than I thought it was, and the stakes were never supposed to be high. If not, it felt like wasted opportunities. Apart from that, and a few moments of cheese, it was cute and worth the read. I might even reread it sometime, which, for me, is glowing praise.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Very fun and ligthhearted. I loved how soft Gwen was and how Oskar fit so well with her. Nice, quick read.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House, and Thea Guazon for the eARC. And a special shout out to Critical Role for creating a world that not only do I want to return to over and over again, but that allows for a book like this to be written.
As a fan of Critical Role, this was a must-read. As someone who’s had The Hurricane wars on her TBR for far too long, I’m forever sold on Thea Guanzon after this read! I don’t know how anyone could have done a better job of bringing Oskar to life. To take a beloved IP and build a story in a world that’s already so thick with lore and to do it in a way that seamlessly fits while still adding your own style, 10/10. I’m so thankful to Thea for how well she handled the source material and I am looking forward to recommending this book to both Critters as well as the uninitiated!
As a fan of Critical Role, this was a must-read. As someone who’s had The Hurricane wars on her TBR for far too long, I’m forever sold on Thea Guanzon after this read! I don’t know how anyone could have done a better job of bringing Oskar to life. To take a beloved IP and build a story in a world that’s already so thick with lore and to do it in a way that seamlessly fits while still adding your own style, 10/10. I’m so thankful to Thea for how well she handled the source material and I am looking forward to recommending this book to both Critters as well as the uninitiated!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No