Welcome, Reader! Or should I say adventurer? Those of us chosen by the reading life know that we are among the blessed few who live many lives, walk many worlds and make friends who exist only on the page. Other people who know this lifestyle are those who do a lot of tabletop gaming. D&D is probably the best example of this (Though far from being the only one.) and due to its popularity, people opt not only to play in campaigns but watch the ongoing campaigns of others! Critical Role is probably the most well known of these and today we’re checking out a book based on a book referenced inside one of these campaigns.
If you’ve watched The Mighty Nein, you’d be familiar with this little Tiefling, Jester!
She sometimes references a raunchy novel called Tusk Love. Some marketing genius decided this chuckle-worthy bit of world building could, potentially, survive on its own if given legs and that is what we’re reading today!
To recap; a romantasy novel based on a joke from inside a D&D campaign uploaded to YouTube and then animated as a Prime exclusive.
Books are so neat!
Be warned, this book fits neatly into the bodice-ripper genre and is, as such, not suitable for younger readers! It’s a little on the spicy side so if you’re not up for that, you have been warned!
Book Stats
- Author: Thea Guanzon.
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, and Audible.
Price: $17.32 for Hardcover, $13.74 for Paperback, $12.99 for Kindle, and $19.69 for Audible, or one Credit on Audible.
Length: 288 pages or 9 hours and 7 minutes in audio format.
Narrator: Teddy Hamilton and Brittany Pressley.
Number of books in the series: 10 books currently in the Critical Role series of stories.
Basic Premise
Guinevere is a merchant’s daughter entrusted to move precious cargo across the country accompanied by two oxen and a band of hired guards.
What could go wrong?
Everything, apparently. The party was set upon by bandits hoping to make a quick and bountiful score. The guards were dead and Guinevere was sure to be next… except that a secret ally had her back. Sort of. She had locked within her a wildfire spirit that came to life and torched the bandits as well as much of the surrounding wilderness. (She let the oxen go free just in time, though.) In the confusion, Oskar entered the picture to take care of the remaining bandits (And see why his camp had suddenly been on fire.) and rescue Guinevere. He’s a surly half-orc who grew up as a blacksmith’s apprentice in a mining town. He knows how to fight and he’s got an impressive tusked scowl to boot.
He escorts her to a cave, starts a fire and grumbles to himself because this Princess was out of her element and making it his problem.
Guinevere, though, is determined to not only prove his shallow opinion of her wrong, but entrust Oskar with the task of getting her where she needed to go. Her parents were waiting for her and their wares in a city far down the Amber Road. A weeks long trek filled with danger and fellow travelers.
As their adventure continues, Guinevere goes shopping with some organized crime bosses, makes merry with a horde of goblins, crafts flower crowns and falls in love. But she’s not only headed to the city to sell off her parents wares; there’s something else very important she has to do there. Something that Oskar, as he becomes ever fonder of this plucky merchant’s daughter, is going to hate.
Will these travelers get to fall in love or is their time limited to the number of miles on the amber road? What’s the deal with Guinevere’s inner fire? And can the grumpy half-orc lighten up enough to let himself experience a little joy? Even if he can, is it wise to allow for love to enter his life when he has a pressing issue of his own to take care of?
You’ll have to read to find out!
My Take
Romantasy isn’t my usual genre. Mostly because of the romance element. It’s just never really been my thing. But I do love the world of Critical Role and when I saw that there was a whole novel written just to pay homage to Jester’s enjoyment of romance novels? I figured I’d best check it out!
It’s a really well written fantasy story as well as being a love story, too, which I very much appreciate. You don’t have to have a particularly broad knowledge of the world of Exandria or even D&D as a whole to enjoy these characters and their hijinks, though it will help. And the characters are what really set the tone and bring this world to life. They’re archetypical in their own way; Oskar is surly and cold on the outside but carries an inner softness that only ever needed the right person to nurture it. Guinevere is a little spoiled and naive, yes, but she has an adventurous spirit that, likewise, simply needed opportunity and the right support to bring out. They bump heads a lot at first, both of them feeling as though they’re ill-suited to the other but over time they come to realize that they balance one another out and work best as a team. There are plenty of interesting support characters as well and you’ll enjoy getting to meet them.
As I mentioned in the preamble, this is a somewhat spicy affair and so younger readers shouldn’t
necessarily be adding this to the summer reading list. I will say that, while intense in parts, this book
never strays into anything I’d call vulgar or off-putting. It’s all pretty wholesome and sweet. Very much a
curmudgeon meets cute kind of story, so, if you like that kind of thing you’ll be in your element here.
We have two narrators that switch off between characters, chapter to chapter, and also voice their character’s dialogue in chapters read by their counterpart. Brittany Pressy reads for Guinevere and Teddy Hamilton reads for Oskar. I love the choice to have two narrators work together like this and think it really does wonders for establishing each character’s personality. Oskar’s gruffness paired with the light, airy tone Guinevere has is a really fun juxtaposition. Both narrator’s do a great job.
All in all, an interesting read, especially if you like romantasy, romance in general or are a big fan of Critical Role or D&D.
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