jacobcbaird256's review against another edition
5.0
Very much enjoyed this look into the backstory of the twins as a long time fan of critical role.
ysary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
beauxella's review against another edition
slow-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
3.0
I found it a bit too slow for my taste. I ended up putting it down multiple times simply because I was getting tired of the repetitive “I have to find my sibling and all that”. It didn’t really pick up until around chapter 30-something and then the ending felt a bit rushed. Halfway through the book I completely forgot who the Clasp were or what they had on Vax that had him in their grip because of the timeline bouncing around. It could’ve been so much more but I suppose being pre-campaign they were limited with how powerful Vex and Vax could be. Overall, I did enjoy it but I wish it was a book that I was so hooked on I couldn’t put down.
xavierdebecker's review
slow-paced
2.0
This was a major disappointment. I am a huge Vox Machina fan from back in the days. Due to work, I have not been able to follow the current campaign, but I remember the magic that was created between those awesome voice actors. Unsurprisingly, I was very excited when it was announced that Critical Role was publishing a book that would delve deeper into the backstories of the twins Vex and Vax. Did this book do that? Well, sort of. The beginning of the book switches between flashbacks of the twins' upbringing by their hateful father, and the 'current day events' where the twins get involved with the thieves' guild The Clasp.
The flashbacks were really interesting, showing how the personalities of the Vex and Vax we meet in the D&D stream were formed by their youthful experiences. However, I found the 'main' storyline a chore to get through, even more when I discovered that the flashback chapters stopped a third of the way into the book. The main storyline didn't add anything new to the characters we know and love. They act like caricatures of themselves. However, I saw the potential of an interesting story, especially when they ended up on opposite sides of a fight. The side characters were the big problem for me. They all were one-dimensional pieces of the story who all acted very erratically. I swear, there was a scene where one character flipped between angry and thoughtful so many times he almost got whiplash. And the storyline just went on and on without anything remotely interesting happening.
In conclusion, I would much rather have preferred a whole book about the flashback timeline, where the characters of Vex and Vax were formed. Maybe the book is better for people who have never watched any of the Vox Machina content, but it was definitely not for me.
The flashbacks were really interesting, showing how the personalities of the Vex and Vax we meet in the D&D stream were formed by their youthful experiences. However, I found the 'main' storyline a chore to get through, even more when I discovered that the flashback chapters stopped a third of the way into the book. The main storyline didn't add anything new to the characters we know and love. They act like caricatures of themselves. However, I saw the potential of an interesting story, especially when they ended up on opposite sides of a fight. The side characters were the big problem for me. They all were one-dimensional pieces of the story who all acted very erratically. I swear, there was a scene where one character flipped between angry and thoughtful so many times he almost got whiplash. And the storyline just went on and on without anything remotely interesting happening.
In conclusion, I would much rather have preferred a whole book about the flashback timeline, where the characters of Vex and Vax were formed. Maybe the book is better for people who have never watched any of the Vox Machina content, but it was definitely not for me.
cheyvink's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? N/A
4.75
ashmbosh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I enjoyed it largely because I’m a big fan of Critical Role and enjoy consuming all their content. If it were a standalone story I don’t know that I would’ve been drawn in by the plot - it seemed a little rushed at times, although I did like the flashbacks highlighting how Vex and Vax’s history shaped how they currently respond to situations.
akswhy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I liked this book because I am a simp for these characters, not because it’s groundbreaking or life-changing. Gosh, I love a good backstory!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Ableism, Murder, Racism, and Domestic abuse
haltarratay's review against another edition
3.0
More of a 3.5; it was good, but didn’t really stand out. The audio book was extremely well done though, I do recommend reading it that way if you can.
cbfredriks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 /5
Very slow start & more focus on Vax then Vex. Characterisation was off for Vex at times, in my opinion.
Long review to follow.
Very slow start & more focus on Vax then Vex. Characterisation was off for Vex at times, in my opinion.
Long review to follow.
cathwolfiereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0