kitkat_reads743's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
cronareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
knockoffrainbow's review against another edition
It’s been so long since starting that I’ve forgotten the beginning. Need to restart
baileys_books's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
3.75
firefly99's review against another edition
4.0
Loved seeing the origin of some of the things from Vox Machina, and I particularly enjoyed the insight into the characters. I appreciate it's a stand alone story, you don't need to have watched any Critical Role content or the animated series to enjoy the story.
blightedstars's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.75
pseudohydra's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.25
oatskf's review against another edition
5.0
This was such a good Vex and Vax story. Their personalities shone through and the backstory was very much appreciated. Love a good sibling pair
faerietrails's review against another edition
3.5
Writing a companion novel can be a lot of pressure, and as a Critical Role fan and lover of Vex & Vax, I was defensively skeptical going into Vox Machina: Kith & Kin. There's a LOT of lore and the nature of D&D characters, being improvisational and created wholly by their actor, can make them hard to recreate. But Nijkamp absolutely did her research and nailed everything we love about the twins.
Kith & Kin is a prequel novel that depicts events of Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan's life before Critical Role Campaign 1. It bounces between the twins between ages ~10-16- from their life with their human mother, to being swept away by their father to Syngorn, and the subsequent ostracization leading to their escape- and the main plot of the novel, in their early 20s.
(It's been long enough since I read this that my thoughts no longer exist past the following laundry list of likes and dislikes)
+ Both twins' bisexuality is acknowledged (and Vax has a male love interest).
+ They are well-developed together and as individuals.
+ I liked seeing their backstory more filled out with specific events and emotions.
+ The main conflict was complicated enough with no clear antagonist (for the most part).*
- Character traits were shown, and then unnecessarily mentioned, constantly.
- Aspects of the plot were reiterated so many times in so many different ways that I started confusing myself.
- There was so. Much. Talking. Like 65-70% of this book is just people talking and explaining things to each other. I felt like I was dragging myself through a good bit of it.
- A bunch of characters are named only to try and give them an emotional connection when the die soon after.
- *The climax changes and ruins this a little :P
Kith & Kin is a prequel novel that depicts events of Vex'ahlia and Vax'ildan's life before Critical Role Campaign 1. It bounces between the twins between ages ~10-16- from their life with their human mother, to being swept away by their father to Syngorn, and the subsequent ostracization leading to their escape- and the main plot of the novel, in their early 20s.
(It's been long enough since I read this that my thoughts no longer exist past the following laundry list of likes and dislikes)
+ Both twins' bisexuality is acknowledged (and Vax has a male love interest).
+ They are well-developed together and as individuals.
+ I liked seeing their backstory more filled out with specific events and emotions.
+ The main conflict was complicated enough with no clear antagonist (for the most part).*
- Character traits were shown, and then unnecessarily mentioned, constantly.
- Aspects of the plot were reiterated so many times in so many different ways that I started confusing myself.
- There was so. Much. Talking. Like 65-70% of this book is just people talking and explaining things to each other. I felt like I was dragging myself through a good bit of it.
- A bunch of characters are named only to try and give them an emotional connection when the die soon after.
- *The climax changes and ruins this a little :P