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Reviews tagging 'Murder'
Critical Role: The Mighty Nein — The Nine Eyes of Lucien by Madeleine Roux
6 reviews
redvelveting's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
2.75
I imagine I would’ve enjoyed this more had I been more familiar with the original campaign and material, but I suppose that’s the risk of IP writing.
For me, this book started off very slow. There were definitely intriguing points, but for the most part, the first half wasn’t much of a page turner. Things started to pick up in the second half, but by then I wasn’t too invested in the story.
Additionally, Roux’s prose is artistic but I found it made it harder to follow the story (combined with or perhaps contributing to my stunted interest).I liked the use of fonts and different sizes to represent different voices and conversations , but the actual wording itself I found to be too long-winded. I think it would’ve been a lot more enjoyable for me had I listened to the story its in original form as a campaign or even if I had listened to the audio book—I could imagine that her writing style would be lovely to listen to (especially because the narrator is Robbie Daymond) .
All in all, while I found certain plot points interesting and can appreciate the writing style, I definitely can’t say I enjoyed it as much as a real Critical Role fan or anyone else familiar with the IP would’ve.
For me, this book started off very slow. There were definitely intriguing points, but for the most part, the first half wasn’t much of a page turner. Things started to pick up in the second half, but by then I wasn’t too invested in the story.
Additionally, Roux’s prose is artistic but I found it made it harder to follow the story (combined with or perhaps contributing to my stunted interest).
All in all, while I found certain plot points interesting and can appreciate the writing style, I definitely can’t say I enjoyed it as much as a real Critical Role fan or anyone else familiar with the IP would’ve.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Blood, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Alcohol
capitola's review
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If you found this unsatisfying, you might enjoy grayintogreen's this church takes no conversions on ao3 instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
asporkthief's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Body horror, Death, Murder, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent
modernathos's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
"I want to thank Matt Mercer and Taliesin Jaffe [...] for allowing me the space to get weird." - Madeleine Roux, acknowledgements.
That quote is the only way I can possibly describe this book in one sentence.
I have to be honest and say that I nearly DNF'd this book several times over in the first 120 or so pages. The world-building felt lacking to me, the time jumps were weird and I would have loved for certain events that were only mentioned - like how exactly Lucien and Cree joined the Claret Orders - to have been explained instead of skipped over. However, when the first patterns of Nine/nein started to drop, the stakes started to get bigger and Vess DeRogna was introduced, the pace and plot got going and it was absolute madness until the very end in all the best ways.
The Nine Eyes of Lucien gives quite a wonderful insight in Lucien's life before he became the Nonagon, and how becoming the Nonagon and his connection with the Somnovem changed and ultimately destroyed him.
Roux's writing style is unique in a way that is perfect for a world like Exandria, and the way certain (lore-heavy) chapters are formatted pulls the reader further into the story.
I can't say that I personally recommend this book to those who are not familiar with the on-stream events that the story is based off, as I think the lore and world-building might be too confusing and don't think I could have followed the first +-150 pages had I not been familiar with the story. However, I have read reviews of plenty of people who read the book and were not familiar with Critical Role, but could follow it perfectly. So, by all means, if this book intrigues you, pick it up!
Long may he reign.
Rep: genderfluid MC, bi-/pansexual MC, non-binary character (all pronouns), lesbian characters, gay characters.
January 2nd, 2023 - January 15th, 2023.
"But life is never like dreams, is it?" - Lucien Tavelle, chapter 10.
"Pain and pain and pain. A dear price for a man,
A pittance to a King,
And nothing to a God, cosmically ordained."
"Am I God or King?" he asked.
"Long may you reign." - chapter 22.
"Perhaps fourth time's the charm." - unknown, chapter 41.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Murder, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Self harm and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol, Child death, and Child abuse
lamoralibrary's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A massive thank you to Penguin Random House and Del Rey for giving me a finished copy of this book to review!
This book is a love letter to Lucien, the proclaimed most charming villain in Critical Role, chronicling his never before explored youth and first encounter with the ruins of Aeor and the Somnovum, as well as a closer exploration of his time post-resurrection as the main villain of The Mighty Nein's final arc.
Primarily, I absolutely adored exploring his past and learning about his childhood, including his friendship with Cree, among others. I loved Mollymauk during his brief stint in Campaign 2, and always felt it was a shame his death meant Lucien could not be explored to his fullest, but Nine Eyes of Lucien is the answer to that, giving us such a deep insight into his character, as well as his similarities to Molly, which of course Lucien does not want to accept. Lucien becomes even more dimensional, and with deeper understanding of his circumstances and the presence of his inner monologue, even becomes sympathetic. I did enjoy rooting for him for at least part of the book!
The formatting of the print book was also a treat to read in how it helps to portray Lucien's descent to madness. A bit hard to describe, but I'm sure once you've read the book you'll understand and agree with me!
This book is an absolute treat for fans of Campaign 2, Lucien or Mollymauk, and I'm sure anyone in those categories will enjoy this as much as I did. Even those unfamiliar with Campaign 2 of Critical Role will likely be able to enjoy the book, as enough context is provided, however there are many callbacks and references to things purely for fans which elevate the whole experience. For those who loved the Aeor arc and wanted to know more about Cognouza, this book is littered with lore, and the fast pace of the book allows you to relive the arc in a more snappy, but still equally hard hitting way.
So, yes, I loved this book and can't wait to enjoy it again in audiobook format with the talents of the lovely cast! Thank you to Madeleine Roux for treating these characters with such care and bringing them to life on page, and to Matt and Taliesin for sharing them with us in the first place. The book releases November 1 and I hope you will love it as much as me!
This book is a love letter to Lucien, the proclaimed most charming villain in Critical Role, chronicling his never before explored youth and first encounter with the ruins of Aeor and the Somnovum, as well as a closer exploration of his time post-resurrection as the main villain of The Mighty Nein's final arc.
Primarily, I absolutely adored exploring his past and learning about his childhood, including his friendship with Cree, among others. I loved Mollymauk during his brief stint in Campaign 2, and always felt it was a shame his death meant Lucien could not be explored to his fullest, but Nine Eyes of Lucien is the answer to that, giving us such a deep insight into his character, as well as his similarities to Molly, which of course Lucien does not want to accept. Lucien becomes even more dimensional, and with deeper understanding of his circumstances and the presence of his inner monologue, even becomes sympathetic. I did enjoy rooting for him for at least part of the book!
The formatting of the print book was also a treat to read in how it helps to portray Lucien's descent to madness. A bit hard to describe, but I'm sure once you've read the book you'll understand and agree with me!
This book is an absolute treat for fans of Campaign 2, Lucien or Mollymauk, and I'm sure anyone in those categories will enjoy this as much as I did. Even those unfamiliar with Campaign 2 of Critical Role will likely be able to enjoy the book, as enough context is provided, however there are many callbacks and references to things purely for fans which elevate the whole experience. For those who loved the Aeor arc and wanted to know more about Cognouza, this book is littered with lore, and the fast pace of the book allows you to relive the arc in a more snappy, but still equally hard hitting way.
So, yes, I loved this book and can't wait to enjoy it again in audiobook format with the talents of the lovely cast! Thank you to Madeleine Roux for treating these characters with such care and bringing them to life on page, and to Matt and Taliesin for sharing them with us in the first place. The book releases November 1 and I hope you will love it as much as me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Cursing and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Torture
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