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arrk33's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 ⭐️
Interesting backstory for Lucien. I wish we had spent more time with the tombtakers after they fully formed, especially with Brevyn. But overall, really liked hearing Lucien’s internal monologue as everything with the Sovnovum happened and getting more context for how Lucien ended up like that. Also liked seeing Lucien’s perspective from the end of the campaign. I could just hear Talisen and Matt’s voices throughout.
Interesting backstory for Lucien. I wish we had spent more time with the tombtakers after they fully formed, especially with Brevyn. But overall, really liked hearing Lucien’s internal monologue as everything with the Sovnovum happened and getting more context for how Lucien ended up like that. Also liked seeing Lucien’s perspective from the end of the campaign. I could just hear Talisen and Matt’s voices throughout.
thwipy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-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
rileyreviews's review against another edition
4.0
well campaign 2 has been spoiled for me now whoops
kanyounot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 ❤️