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Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'
Critical Role: The Mighty Nein — The Nine Eyes of Lucien by Madeleine Roux
3 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
queenofthefae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Body horror
Moderate: Blood, Self harm, and Gore
Minor: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Self harm, Child abuse, and Cursing
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
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