acidicbruises's reviews
137 reviews
Critical Role: Vox Machina—Kith & Kin by Marieke Nijkamp
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
now that i've had a good few days to really think about this book and how to review it, i think i'll start off by saying that as a critical role fan (though one who hasn't watched campaign 1, and only watched the legend of vox machina show), i loved this book. vex and vax are two of my favorite characters of all time just because of how closely they allign with me and my own brother, so being able to experience a (supposedly) formative time in their lives "alongside" them, i was in it 100%. robbie daymond's narration with the twins' dialogue being read out by laura bailey and liam o'brien themselves was a treat, and i wish this <i>audio</i>book was a good fifteen hours longer just so i could spend more time with them and never let them go.
the book itself, however, i... actually sort of hated. i mean no offense to nijkamp who obviously cares a lot about her craft and the characters she was tasked to give life to, but there was just too much going on. there's infodumping on a beneficial level—especially when it comes the world of exandria so carefully created by the great matthew mercer himself—but there's also just a whole lot of descriptors that only detract away from the main story and make me wish i never picked this up in the first place. there were quite literally moments where i would zone out while reading and come to five minutes later to the necessary information for the scene to continue, but it still wouldn't for another few minutes. had the book been about 100 pages shorter (i say this with only the faintest of recollections of holding the paperback in my hand, debating whether to buy it or not), Kith & Kin would have been so much more enjoyable and a greater contribution to the critical role canon.
i think i'll forever be debating with myself on whether this book deserves 2 or 3 stars because of how polarizing its features & production has been, and it honestly isn't really worth this time. read this book if you want to hear vax'ildan be a little dick (affectionately) but maybe just save the 16 hours and watch a few episodes of campaign 1, you'll get the same effect.
the book itself, however, i... actually sort of hated. i mean no offense to nijkamp who obviously cares a lot about her craft and the characters she was tasked to give life to, but there was just too much going on. there's infodumping on a beneficial level—especially when it comes the world of exandria so carefully created by the great matthew mercer himself—but there's also just a whole lot of descriptors that only detract away from the main story and make me wish i never picked this up in the first place. there were quite literally moments where i would zone out while reading and come to five minutes later to the necessary information for the scene to continue, but it still wouldn't for another few minutes. had the book been about 100 pages shorter (i say this with only the faintest of recollections of holding the paperback in my hand, debating whether to buy it or not), Kith & Kin would have been so much more enjoyable and a greater contribution to the critical role canon.
i think i'll forever be debating with myself on whether this book deserves 2 or 3 stars because of how polarizing its features & production has been, and it honestly isn't really worth this time. read this book if you want to hear vax'ildan be a little dick (affectionately) but maybe just save the 16 hours and watch a few episodes of campaign 1, you'll get the same effect.
Cosmoknights by Hannah Templer
adventurous
funny
inspiring
fast-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? No
5.0
To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers
adventurous
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
oh goodness oh boy oh wow.
i will admit, for being a science-fiction fan, i don't read merely enough of it. i am very much not a science-y person beyond the act of imagining myself in space/fighting aliens/overthinking the notion of isolation on planes not on earth and not during pandemics (looking at you, andy weir) and so, approaching this little gem, i took a little bit of a calculated risk - one that ended up being one of the best decisions of my 2023 so far.
the premise of space travel in <i>To Be Taught, If Fortunate</i>, is optimistic and grounded. its futuristic exploratory "utopia" requires a certain suspension of disbelief (only because of how bleak our current reality with space travel is) but once you get past it, there is a simultaneous joy and anxiety within the stories of the Merian that makes every single page worth it.
i will admit, for being a science-fiction fan, i don't read merely enough of it. i am very much not a science-y person beyond the act of imagining myself in space/fighting aliens/overthinking the notion of isolation on planes not on earth and not during pandemics (looking at you, andy weir) and so, approaching this little gem, i took a little bit of a calculated risk - one that ended up being one of the best decisions of my 2023 so far.
the premise of space travel in <i>To Be Taught, If Fortunate</i>, is optimistic and grounded. its futuristic exploratory "utopia" requires a certain suspension of disbelief (only because of how bleak our current reality with space travel is) but once you get past it, there is a simultaneous joy and anxiety within the stories of the Merian that makes every single page worth it.
Happy Place by Emily Henry
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
lighthearted
relaxing
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
3.5
i really enjoyed this one! the writing style wasn't for me as was the level of content (i would have maybe preferred a little more depth to viv & tandri's relationship alongside the whole madrigal/fennus "issues") but for a cozy, sapphic, d&d/fantasy low stakes novel, you get what you expect :) will definitely be picking up the prequel when it comes out <3
Mona by Pola Oloixarac
challenging
dark
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault