A review by emily_mh
Dungeon Critters by Sara Goetter, Natalie Riess

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

This was a really well-structured adventure romp. It doesn’t follow standard plot beats that you would expect in a quest story, so it felt fresh to read. The narrative was driven the whole way through making for an engaging read, helped along by the way the MCs found themselves in fun, outlandish scenarios. 

All four MCs were queer which was a massive plus for me. I was wholly, fully behind Rose and Juniper as a couple. Their dynamic was just SO adorable and I just wanted to squeeze their little blushy faces. I wasn’t expecting Chirp and Goro to also be queer, so that was a lovely bonus! 

Each of the MCs got their chance to shine. They all had distinct personalities and brought something different to the table. It was cool seeing their group dynamic and how different situations exposed the inner workings of this. I was particularly drawn to Rose’s character development, but Juniper, Chirp and Goro also expanded as characters as the story went on. The side characters also felt fleshed out, especially the Baron. 

Overall the art was pretty good! It makes use of facial expressions for humour, which was mostly a hit with me, although sometimes it became a bit relentless and got tiring. 

Oh yes, and there’s plant magic!! Which always means extra points in my book!! 

Rep: 4 anthropomorphic animal MCs - three sapphic, one Achillean 
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