Critical Role: Vox Machina—Kith & Kin by Marieke Nijkamp
I already own the audiobook of Kith & Kin but I’ve wanted the physical book for ages now. My local comic book shop has had one copy in for a while but it was pretty damaged so I didn’t want to buy it. When I went in a few weeks ago, armed with Christmas and birthday money that I’ve been saving for this exact moment, they had a new one that wasn’t damaged. Not only did they have Kith & Kin but they also had The Nine Eyes of Lucien, various The Mighty Nein Origins graphic novels and the brand new Vox Machina: Stories Untold. And guess what? I bought them all. Yeah, I dropped a whopping £100 on books in one go, but I’ve now almost completed my entire physical collection of Critical Role physical books.
The only ones I’m missing now are What Doesn’t Break and Yasha’s graphic novel and that’s because the only one they had of the graphic novel was also severely damaged. People really need to start having more respect for books because these graphic novels are pretty hardy so I’m not sure how they keep getting so damaged.
Synopsis: Explore the past of Critical Role’s daring half-elf twins, Vex’ahlia and Vax’ildan in this original prequel to their adventures with Vox Machina.
Vex and Vax have always been outsiders. A harsh childhood in the elite elven city of Syngorn quickly taught them not to rely on others. Now, freed from the expectations of their exacting father and the scornful eyes of Syngorn’s elves, the cunning ranger and the conning rogue have made their own way in the world of Exandria.
The twins have traveled far and experienced great hardship. But with the help of Vex’s quick wit and Vax’s quicker dagger, they’ve always kept ahead of trouble. Now, unknown perils await them in the bustling city of Westruun, where the twins become entangled in a web spun by the thieves’ guild known to many as the Clasp. Trapped by a hasty deal, Vex and Vax (along with Vex’s faithful bear companion, Trinket) set out into the wilds to fulfill their debt to the infamous crime syndicate.
As the situation grows more complicated than they ever could have imagined, for the first time Vex and Vax find themselves on opposite sides of a conflict that threatens the home they have carried with each other for years.
The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
This book has sat on my Kindle wish list for almost two years now. I came across it when looking for good retelling recommendations. The Princess Curse is a mix between Beauty and the Beast (like so many retellings) and the 12 Dancing Princesses. Which is really exciting because I loved that film as a kid, it made me want to learn ballet.
Synopsis: Merrie Haskell’s middle-grade fantasy novel Princess Curse is an imaginative retelling of the fairy tales The Twelve Dancing Princesses and Beauty and the Beast.
In the fifteenth-century kingdom of Sylvania, the prince offers a fabulous reward to anyone who cures the curse that forces the princesses to spend each night dancing to the point of exhaustion. Everyone who tries disappears or falls into an enchanted sleep.
Thirteen-year-old Reveka, a smart, courageous herbalist’s apprentice, decides to attempt to break the curse despite the danger. Unravelling the mystery behind the curse leads Reveka to the Underworld, and to save the princesses, Reveka will have to risk her soul.
Princess Curse combines magic, suspense, humor, and adventure into a story perfect for fans of Gail Carson Levine.
Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce
I haven’t started the first book yet, which doesn’t matter as these are standalones, but I’ve already bought the newest one. I’ve made D&D my entire personality at the moment, it’s pretty much all I watch, read about or want to play.
This one is giving me ‘enemies to lovers’ vibes which is perfect for a book about D&D. I’m definitely more excited for the first book as that one has fake dating but both sound like so much fun. It’s going to be hard to not read them back to back.
Synopsis: Quinn Norton is starting over at a new high school and hopes that joining a D&D game will be the trick to making friends. The plan sounds even better when she’s invited into a group that includes Logan Weber, the cute and charming guy she met on her first day of class. But this isn’t your average D&D campaign— this group livestreams their games and enforces strict rules: no phones allowed, and no dating other group members.
Quinn is willing to accept the rules, even if it makes Logan off-limits. And she quickly learns that doing so won’t be a problem, since Logan goes from charismatic to insufferable as soon as she agrees to join. As their bickering—and bantering—intensifies inside and outside the game, Quinn can’t help wondering: Is Logan’s infuriating behavior a smokescreen for hidden feelings? Quinn is risking it all, and the twenty-sided dice are rolling!
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