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Critical Role: Bells Hells
What Doesn’t Break
Uncover the lost years of Critical Role’s unrelentingly upbeat undead spellcaster in this original prequel novel to Laudna’s adventures with Bells Hells.
For as long as she can remember, Laudna has had a friend. A mentor. A little voice whispering in her cropped ear, promising that, no matter how monstrous she becomes or how far she wanders, there will always be someone to guide her.
And so, Laudna is content.
But the thought of more—of life, of love, of the magic stirring in her still veins—is unrelenting in its familiarity. More is the dream of the young girl trapped behind the bloodstained walls of Whitestone, and the nightmare of the woman who now stalks the woods outside them. More, Laudna’s little voice reminds her, is dangerous. From Tal’Dorei to Marquet, the world is infested with heroes destined to rid their kingdoms of creatures like Laudna.
The little voice is right, she knows.
But still, she thinks of more. And when she reaches for that dream, what reaches back will change everything.
Written by USA Today bestselling author Cassandra Khaw, Critical Role: Bells Hells—What Doesn’t Break delves into the unexplored years before Laudna joined up with the crew of Bells Hells, chronicling her departure from Whitestone and her solo adventures on the road to Jrusar.
For as long as she can remember, Laudna has had a friend. A mentor. A little voice whispering in her cropped ear, promising that, no matter how monstrous she becomes or how far she wanders, there will always be someone to guide her.
And so, Laudna is content.
But the thought of more—of life, of love, of the magic stirring in her still veins—is unrelenting in its familiarity. More is the dream of the young girl trapped behind the bloodstained walls of Whitestone, and the nightmare of the woman who now stalks the woods outside them. More, Laudna’s little voice reminds her, is dangerous. From Tal’Dorei to Marquet, the world is infested with heroes destined to rid their kingdoms of creatures like Laudna.
The little voice is right, she knows.
But still, she thinks of more. And when she reaches for that dream, what reaches back will change everything.
Written by USA Today bestselling author Cassandra Khaw, Critical Role: Bells Hells—What Doesn’t Break delves into the unexplored years before Laudna joined up with the crew of Bells Hells, chronicling her departure from Whitestone and her solo adventures on the road to Jrusar.
253 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 8, 2024
252 people are currently reading
2309 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Khaw
129 books2,772 followersCassandra Khaw is an award-winning game writer.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
October 1, 2024
To any fan of Critical Role thinking of reading this new entry into this dearly loved canon: You are not ready for how unbelievable this book is.
To anyone unfamiliar with Critical Role, but a fan of Cassandra Khaw’s stellar word-wielding ability: You are not ready for unbelievable this book is.
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of this book and I am, truthfully, unsure even of where to begin. I could start by describing how I was (once again) just blown away by Khaw’s style of prose and just how well their ability to make the objectively gruesome or terrifying sound hauntingly beautiful. Or how deftly they wield metaphor. Or their talent for maintaining tonal and thematic consistency. Any number of things that I think make it a genuinely beautiful read even outside of Critical Role’s larger context—but more than anything, as a massive Critical Role fan myself, this is a book that just deeply, deeply understands the complexities of its leading character.
For those unaware of everything Critical Role, but curious about this book, I genuinely cannot recommend it enough. If you have enjoyed any one of Khaw’s previous novellas (namely The Salt Grows Heavy), you will absolutely fall in love with this. I truly believe that this is the rare kind of spin-off content that is so individually strong as to bring in new fans all on its own. But I also recommend that—at least for this review—you stop here, as I’m about to discuss our wonderful leading character in a way more geared to those already familiar with her. Uncovering just who Laudna is and the context in which she exists is exactly what this story tackles, and I think it is more than worth discovering that yourself in a book as gorgeous as this one.
For Critters like me: Hi! It is with the absolute most obnoxious, contagious joy that I can inform you that this book just utterly GETS Laudna. It gets her tragedy, her anger, her grief, and most importantly: her deep well of kindness, compassion, and strength in spite of all that might convince someone with a lesser constitution stat to break. It is truly that good. And it cannot go without saying that that same depth of understanding is applied to Delilah as well. A character that so many already love to hate is even easier to love and hate in equal measure here. She made me laugh as often as she made me want to rage and weep.
This is very much a story about Laudna and all of the complicated, messy emotions that drive her in their very many different and devastating forms; but, do not let that make you think that the larger world is left ignored. While its central characters are the emotional through-line of this story and its bedrock foundation, this is absolutely a beautiful criticism and a continuously unique perspective of this world we all already love so deeply—I cannot wait to discuss with the whole community what this book means as a new addition to the canon for Exandria.
My expectations AND my standards for this book as both a fan of the world and specifically these characters were extremely high, and it is with a tremendous amount of excitement that I can confidently say every single one was surpassed. Khaw ran laps around them, even. 10/10
To anyone unfamiliar with Critical Role, but a fan of Cassandra Khaw’s stellar word-wielding ability: You are not ready for unbelievable this book is.
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of this book and I am, truthfully, unsure even of where to begin. I could start by describing how I was (once again) just blown away by Khaw’s style of prose and just how well their ability to make the objectively gruesome or terrifying sound hauntingly beautiful. Or how deftly they wield metaphor. Or their talent for maintaining tonal and thematic consistency. Any number of things that I think make it a genuinely beautiful read even outside of Critical Role’s larger context—but more than anything, as a massive Critical Role fan myself, this is a book that just deeply, deeply understands the complexities of its leading character.
For those unaware of everything Critical Role, but curious about this book, I genuinely cannot recommend it enough. If you have enjoyed any one of Khaw’s previous novellas (namely The Salt Grows Heavy), you will absolutely fall in love with this. I truly believe that this is the rare kind of spin-off content that is so individually strong as to bring in new fans all on its own. But I also recommend that—at least for this review—you stop here, as I’m about to discuss our wonderful leading character in a way more geared to those already familiar with her. Uncovering just who Laudna is and the context in which she exists is exactly what this story tackles, and I think it is more than worth discovering that yourself in a book as gorgeous as this one.
For Critters like me: Hi! It is with the absolute most obnoxious, contagious joy that I can inform you that this book just utterly GETS Laudna. It gets her tragedy, her anger, her grief, and most importantly: her deep well of kindness, compassion, and strength in spite of all that might convince someone with a lesser constitution stat to break. It is truly that good. And it cannot go without saying that that same depth of understanding is applied to Delilah as well. A character that so many already love to hate is even easier to love and hate in equal measure here. She made me laugh as often as she made me want to rage and weep.
This is very much a story about Laudna and all of the complicated, messy emotions that drive her in their very many different and devastating forms; but, do not let that make you think that the larger world is left ignored. While its central characters are the emotional through-line of this story and its bedrock foundation, this is absolutely a beautiful criticism and a continuously unique perspective of this world we all already love so deeply—I cannot wait to discuss with the whole community what this book means as a new addition to the canon for Exandria.
My expectations AND my standards for this book as both a fan of the world and specifically these characters were extremely high, and it is with a tremendous amount of excitement that I can confidently say every single one was surpassed. Khaw ran laps around them, even. 10/10
October 12, 2024
And Laudna thought she could live with that so long as she was loved.
My heart is just... bursting. There's no way I could give this anything other than 5 stars. Like the other Critical Role novel I've read, I think this can technically be read as a standalone, but you'll really get the most out of it if you're familiar with the series and the characters, and can appreciate all the nods and references. And the character, of course. Laudna, for the longest time, was my absolutely favourite character of Campaign 3. Imogen bypassed her for a while, but after reading this... oh my god. I love her. I love her SO MUCH, she's the character of all time. Some of the most horrendous things that can ever happen to a person have happened to her, and she would be more than justified in taking her anger and pain out on the world becoming bitter and cruel. And yet she's one of the sweetest, kindest, loveliest people on the planet. While also being really fucking weird and really fucking spooky. I adore her, I ADORE HER.
We, of course, know a lot about Laudna's backstory from the campaign, but this filled in the years from her death, up until she met Imogen, and gave context to a few things that she's mentioned. The relationship with Delilah was the most horrible tennis match ever. Entertaining at times, but if you ever stopped to think about where they started, it's just so cruel, and awful. The depiction of those years where Laudna was barely a person, of the ways she's taught herself to repress and push things down, of al the cruelty she's had to endure... it was just so much. But at the heart of it is always her irrepressible light, which made this a joy to read. I loved seeing how she slowly came back to herself and developed a personality, seeing all those terrible encounters that informed the view she had of the world, seeing glimpses of the little relationships she had.
“My name is Laudna . And I’ll be a monster for you if I have to. Anything to keep you safe.”
The writing was really great. I've been meaning to pick up a Khaw book for some time, and I'm glad this was my first. There was a lot of little subtle humour in the prose that was very on brand for Laudna. There was also a lot of darkness and horror and really descriptive, evocative writing. I loved when we talked about the ways women are made into monsters if they don't fit a certain mould; the way some women are just that. The Laudna that we know in the campaign delights in being horror-show of a woman, all spooky and scary, but she's also very kind and sweet, and the writing did a good job of stitching those two parts of her together. She always had so much empathy for the dying and the dead, whether human or monstrous. Even though the POV was omniscient, it still always felt very Laudna. Sometimes it was a liiiiittle too wordy, maybe a liiiiittle on the nose. And that's where I could see myself being picky, if this weren't a Critical Role book about a character whom I already love with all my heart and soul. The writing was great, but it didn't always hit, and in another world, this would have been 4.5 stars. But it IS a CR book, and I DO love Laudna wholeheartedly, and I really couldn't rate this any lower. Everything about it just makes me... gah.
Listened to the audiobook as read by Robbie Daymond, and I adored it so so much. Robbie has so much great range, and so many great voices. Each of his characters sounded natural and animated. It also made me kind of weepy, ngl, to think of this as like, Dorian, a few years down the road, narrating the story of his friend who he's gotten to know and love. T__T The audiobook is definitely the way to go, because it has the added benefit of additional voices from Grey Delisle, Marisha and Laura. And I cannot overstate how amazing that was to listen to. (THE EPILOGUE!!) The production quality was amazing, and I just know I'll always listen to every CR book. I purchased the Molly/Lucien book a while back, actually, but I haven't been able to make myself listen to it yet because I know it'll make me too emotional. (IDK if I'm lucky or unlucky, that all the CR novels so far have involved my favourite characters from all three campaigns. And Vax, Molly and Laudna all have something in common, lol.)
Anyway, I loved this. Really don't know if I could or would recommend it to anyone not familiar with the show, because like I said, my love for the character was already there, and this just built on it. But I don't want to diminish was a powerful and hopeful story of pain and survival this is, following the best woman in the whole world, and I'd hope that anyone would be able to enjoy that.
Content warnings:
Laudna decided then she could be content running forever so long as the path led back to the girl who’d saved her.
November 10, 2024
Review to come, but overall absolutely fantastic. EASY FIVE STARS.
November 17, 2024
3.5
This book had simultaneously a lot of good will from me going in, and a TON of trepidation.
Good will because even though I'm not caught up on Campaign 3, I love Laudna, and enjoyed the other CR book I read. Trepidation because...well, I hated the last Cassandra Khaw book I read (seriously, worst book of the last five years for me), and a lot of it was about the writing style.
Well, while there were still some aspects of the writing style that bothered me, Khaw isn't trying to indicate to me how intimately familiar with a thesaurus she is every other sentence, so it was better. Laudna is so endearing and I love spending time with her, and I loved the small formatting thing of the stories in the 'act' breaks in the book. I do think this book suffered from a plot perspective. As a story about a character, particularly the back story of a Dungeons and Dragons character, it definitely works. But as a whole narrative without the backdrop of Critical Role to enable it, I'm not sure it actually stands on its own very well. Still, I had a nice time! And, to be honest, a much better time than I was worried I'd have. So that's good!
This book had simultaneously a lot of good will from me going in, and a TON of trepidation.
Good will because even though I'm not caught up on Campaign 3, I love Laudna, and enjoyed the other CR book I read. Trepidation because...well, I hated the last Cassandra Khaw book I read (seriously, worst book of the last five years for me), and a lot of it was about the writing style.
Well, while there were still some aspects of the writing style that bothered me, Khaw isn't trying to indicate to me how intimately familiar with a thesaurus she is every other sentence, so it was better. Laudna is so endearing and I love spending time with her, and I loved the small formatting thing of the stories in the 'act' breaks in the book. I do think this book suffered from a plot perspective. As a story about a character, particularly the back story of a Dungeons and Dragons character, it definitely works. But as a whole narrative without the backdrop of Critical Role to enable it, I'm not sure it actually stands on its own very well. Still, I had a nice time! And, to be honest, a much better time than I was worried I'd have. So that's good!
November 3, 2024
Laudna is my favorite member of Bell’s Hells so of course I preordered this as soon as it was available! This doesn’t really have a plot, it’s very slice-of-life living alongside Laudna before and (mostly) after her horrific murder. Obviously this book contains spoilers for the character in the Critical Role campaign!
The writing in this is very beautiful and paired with this tragic character it was an often haunting story with these moments of tenderness and finding joy in the little and often-discarded things. There are many emotional ups and downs in the journey. I was so taken with the character Bella and was nearly stirred to tears at what happened with her part of the story. I would love for Laudna to have the chance to see her in the campaign! There are lots of very charming and entertaining side characters.
I just had to listen to the audiobook and Robbie Daymond was fantastic, as usual! And it was great hearing Marisha embody Laudna as well. It’s hard for me to tell if this would be as touching and fulfilling a read for someone who hasn’t watched the Bell’s Hell’s campaign though! But I enjoyed getting the backstory and lore for my favorite fun-scary warlock.
YouTube review: https://youtu.be/bPrM-zLEPpE
The writing in this is very beautiful and paired with this tragic character it was an often haunting story with these moments of tenderness and finding joy in the little and often-discarded things. There are many emotional ups and downs in the journey. I was so taken with the character Bella and was nearly stirred to tears at what happened with her part of the story. I would love for Laudna to have the chance to see her in the campaign! There are lots of very charming and entertaining side characters.
I just had to listen to the audiobook and Robbie Daymond was fantastic, as usual! And it was great hearing Marisha embody Laudna as well. It’s hard for me to tell if this would be as touching and fulfilling a read for someone who hasn’t watched the Bell’s Hell’s campaign though! But I enjoyed getting the backstory and lore for my favorite fun-scary warlock.
YouTube review: https://youtu.be/bPrM-zLEPpE
January 27, 2025
This book made me feel so many things, I swear I didn't think Laudna could resonate with me any more than she already did. I particularly loved the maybe unintentional parallels to Les Miserable in the second and third act of the novel. I don’t really get those reviews that claim nothing happens in the book because so much happens. It may not be a on your nose adventure plot but it deals so much with loss, identity and belonging through mostly inner monologue (and dialogue when Delilah and Pâté are involved). The novel's subtlety may be it's greatest strength. I also really appreciated how Khaw handled the change in tone between the prologue and Act 1. The prologue could be described as, to put it into my friend's words, "I'm Matilda Bradbury, I'm bisexuality personified and I have a bit of a degredation kink" while act 1 dealt with coming to terms with undeath and reforming an identity and a personality. This may be the longest review I've written on here and I feel like I still haven't said everything 😅
October 16, 2024
Real talk: why did we suddenly introduce sexism to Exandria? It’s out of place based on what I know of this world, but ESPECIALLY when it exists in a story where being gay or genderqueer IS okay. Why do we have all other forms of tolerance, but women specifically are getting the short end of the oppression stick? Doesn’t make much sense to me.
December 13, 2024
Absolutely loved this (heartbreaking) look at Laudna's backstory. My favorite CritRole novel so far.
November 9, 2024
i love laudna so so so so so so much
also love how accurately this book portrayed her
also love how accurately this book portrayed her
October 13, 2024
I haven’t really been keeping up with Bells Hells on stream (basically I’ve been reading books as opposed to watching Critical Role), however I feel like I didn’t miss out on enjoying this book. Even given that I may have missed some Easter eggs it was an interesting and enjoyable story. Did it have deep things to say about trauma and healing? Probably but honestly I wasn’t reading it for that. It was however leagues ahead of the 1990 to 2010 tie in novels that TSR/WoTC produced. I think you’d like it even if you weren’t a CR fan, but I think you’ll enjoy it more if you’re passingly familiar with the canon.
October 13, 2024
Fans of the show should read this, non fans should read this.
I have been comforted and grossed out and captivated by the many lives laudna has lived and I am very very very happy they wrote a book about her past
I have been comforted and grossed out and captivated by the many lives laudna has lived and I am very very very happy they wrote a book about her past
December 2, 2024
Bells Hells are my misbegotten misfits. A moon powered witch, a temporal rock man, a halfling royal guardsmen, a flame Faun, a swashbuckling elder statesman, a woodworking werewolf, a robot, a minotaur, and this titular dead lady.
The story is better if you know them. But if you're reading this book, you probably do.
The story is better if you know them. But if you're reading this book, you probably do.
January 30, 2025
Had to audiobook this one bc the cast of Critical Role voicing their characters is just 🤌🤌
And Robbie Daymond narrating once again?? Top tier audiobook frfr.
My one complaint is I really wish we could've gotten just a bit more of Imogen and Laudna at the end showing their adventures leading up to campaign 3!
And Robbie Daymond narrating once again?? Top tier audiobook frfr.
My one complaint is I really wish we could've gotten just a bit more of Imogen and Laudna at the end showing their adventures leading up to campaign 3!
October 20, 2024
Went full audiobook with this one when I saw that it was read by Robbie Daymond and the Critical Role cast played their characters. Laudna is my fav from Campaign 3 and I loved getting to hear more of her past before she met Bells Hells.
December 1, 2024
Giving a very biased 5 stars but I love my girls (Laudna and Imogen, not Delilah fuck outta here /j)
October 8, 2024
co read with allie bc she has the brainrot and made it ~my problem too. anyway it’s all about the horrors and the devotion and if laudna and imogen don’t get married and live happily ever after i may commit arson
December 28, 2024
quick binge before the end of the year and honestly
i loved it. seeing (reading) the backstory of laudna was incredibly entertaining. want more books like these for the others in the campaign
i loved it. seeing (reading) the backstory of laudna was incredibly entertaining. want more books like these for the others in the campaign
January 1, 2025
A beautiful homage to a loveable character and the tragedies she’s gone through. It made me nauseous with empathy for Laudna in the best way. It read like poetry, which I loved for the purpose of this book but likely won’t read other books by this author.
If you are not a fan of Critical Role and are not already familiar with the character of Laudna, I don’t think this book has enough substance to warrant a read. But if you’re a Critter, you’ll love it!
If you are not a fan of Critical Role and are not already familiar with the character of Laudna, I don’t think this book has enough substance to warrant a read. But if you’re a Critter, you’ll love it!
December 13, 2024
Laudna has definitely been the breakout star of the current Critical Role Campaign, and honestly is probably one of the best DnD character concepts I've ever seen. I love her character's personality, the way Marisha roleplays her, and just her overall 'vibe'. Thankfully, Marisha's charisma really translates well into the pages, as her personality through Laudna is fully palpable.
You get to dive into Laudna's backstory a bit more indepth and more personally here, as you get to spend most of your time with her early days being an undead. I'm not caught up to the current episode count (its always an endurance test for me), so I'm not sure what has already been revealed in those episodes, and some of the stuff presented here was new to me.
What always stood out for me with Laudna is the themes of surviving abuse and finding your freewill. I loved the early traces of Laudna's determination and self value, as well as her good seeking nature, that start off as little seeds during the beginning, that really blossom throughout the story. Her character being a survivor of abuse, and always having the voice of her abuser in her mind, is a very good metaphor for how survivors of abuse can often feel that their abusers are always in their head. In that light, Laudna's drive to free herself of the voice is inspiring. And in another light, Delilah's voice and presence can also be symbolic of suffering and depression, and how Laudna comes to try to understand it, can be an interpretation for how we can go about understanding our own depression.
And just in general, Laudna is a really fun character. She's enjoying to watch being roleplayed by Marisha live on the show, and she's also great scary fun in novel form as well. Although I will say, listening to the audiobook is the way to go. Robbie Damien does a great job providing a solid narrator voice, and I enjoyed the touches of having Marisha and Grey Griffin voice their respective characters during their dialogue as well.
Overall, a great character dive into a very memorable DnD character.
You get to dive into Laudna's backstory a bit more indepth and more personally here, as you get to spend most of your time with her early days being an undead. I'm not caught up to the current episode count (its always an endurance test for me), so I'm not sure what has already been revealed in those episodes, and some of the stuff presented here was new to me.
What always stood out for me with Laudna is the themes of surviving abuse and finding your freewill. I loved the early traces of Laudna's determination and self value, as well as her good seeking nature, that start off as little seeds during the beginning, that really blossom throughout the story. Her character being a survivor of abuse, and always having the voice of her abuser in her mind, is a very good metaphor for how survivors of abuse can often feel that their abusers are always in their head. In that light, Laudna's drive to free herself of the voice is inspiring. And in another light, Delilah's voice and presence can also be symbolic of suffering and depression, and how Laudna comes to try to understand it, can be an interpretation for how we can go about understanding our own depression.
And just in general, Laudna is a really fun character. She's enjoying to watch being roleplayed by Marisha live on the show, and she's also great scary fun in novel form as well. Although I will say, listening to the audiobook is the way to go. Robbie Damien does a great job providing a solid narrator voice, and I enjoyed the touches of having Marisha and Grey Griffin voice their respective characters during their dialogue as well.
Overall, a great character dive into a very memorable DnD character.
December 19, 2024
It's honestly barely a three, the writing style is completely not for me BUT it is a Laudna book so it gets points for that. If the entire book had been written like the epilogue it would have been an easy 5/5.
September 23, 2024
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this from Cassandra Khaw at a local bookstore event on Friday, and having dedicated the weekend to consuming it entirely I can say with confidence that this book is such a wonderful and masterful companion to the story of Laudna. For context on me as a reader, 1. I do watch Critical Role and 2. Laudna is perhaps my favorite fictional character of all time. She's incredibly important to me so I can assure you standards were HIGH but this book very easily met and surpassed every one of them. Cassandra has such a thorough understanding of the characterization of not only Laudna but of Delilah, and adds so many many (many) new points to ponder about them and their relationship. Every other line in this book added to and/or re-contextualized existing moments we've seen in the campaign in ways that made me want to cry a 50/50 split of happy and devastated tears. It added more stakes to her triumphs and emotional growth, and it really just drove a knife into the heart of the darkness and the lows. And, to this books great credit, it did so with INCREDIBLE tact. There were no wink wink references, no all star Exandrian cameos- just really, really, REALLY good writing about a character that clearly means as much to the author as she does to me. The function it serves AS a prequel- taking you the reader and your existing knowledge of the story to twist and enhance and upset your expectations with revelations as they come makes it so engrossing to read. I cannot recommend it enough, I cannot WAIT to yell about it with everyone once it's officially released, and I cannot believe I get to hold this book in my hands to read again and again for years to come.
October 16, 2024
The way I sobbed at the end of this book...❤️
This may be one of my favorite books I've read this year, and it has nothing to do with it being Critical Role. Had it been about completely random characters I'd never seen, I think I would feel the same way about it.
-"And Laudna thought she could live with that so long as she was loved."
-"People have a tendency to hurt what they’re afraid of...Once people have learned to fear something, they forget its humanity."
-"I've just forgotten I’m a monster."
The author's brilliant use of metaphor and descriptive language repeatedly made me feel the hurt, sadness, and anguish of Laudna throughout the story. At its heart, this is a story of learning to exist in a world that feels as if it doesn't want you, experienced through the eyes of trauma and psychosis. Laudna manages to keep her spirits high when she can, but the absolute devastation she feels throughout this book is clear in every page. It's truly a heartbreaking story, and more so if you're familiar with the character (though, admittedly, I think it would feel similarly if you weren't.)
There were so many quotable moments in the story, about identity, religion, trauma, womanhood, life, and death that really made it feel special to the character and the reader.
I don't know what more I can say on it aside from how many emotions it made me sit through, and how worthwhile each one was.
This may be one of my favorite books I've read this year, and it has nothing to do with it being Critical Role. Had it been about completely random characters I'd never seen, I think I would feel the same way about it.
-"And Laudna thought she could live with that so long as she was loved."
-"People have a tendency to hurt what they’re afraid of...Once people have learned to fear something, they forget its humanity."
-"I've just forgotten I’m a monster."
The author's brilliant use of metaphor and descriptive language repeatedly made me feel the hurt, sadness, and anguish of Laudna throughout the story. At its heart, this is a story of learning to exist in a world that feels as if it doesn't want you, experienced through the eyes of trauma and psychosis. Laudna manages to keep her spirits high when she can, but the absolute devastation she feels throughout this book is clear in every page. It's truly a heartbreaking story, and more so if you're familiar with the character (though, admittedly, I think it would feel similarly if you weren't.)
There were so many quotable moments in the story, about identity, religion, trauma, womanhood, life, and death that really made it feel special to the character and the reader.
I don't know what more I can say on it aside from how many emotions it made me sit through, and how worthwhile each one was.
February 13, 2025
Another great book to expand the Critical Role universe, this time giving us an in-depth look at Laudna's backstory and inner workings.
This story was much darker than the other CR books, and fit the "fun scary" nature of Laudna very well. I am not sure how it would hold up for readers who are not fans of Critical Role, especially as there is not much in terms of plot - I would class this more as a reminiscing slice of life character backstory. That said, I loved the interactions between Laudna and the voice in her head and her childlike innocence, even as a scary undead creature. The things she comes up with to fight her boredom and isolation are bittersweet (and slightly creepy), like Paté, her talking, dead rat. The book had a lot of serious undertones as well, like the notion that a woman is either "a maiden, a mother, or a crone", and touched on archetypical roles and feminism.
The writing style was beautiful and the audiobook was amazingly performed by parts of the cast of Critical Role, as usual. Especially Laura Bailey as "the voice" will give me nightmares. Once again, a must-read for "Critters", otherwise a beautifully written fantasy/horror book somewhat light on plot.
This story was much darker than the other CR books, and fit the "fun scary" nature of Laudna very well. I am not sure how it would hold up for readers who are not fans of Critical Role, especially as there is not much in terms of plot - I would class this more as a reminiscing slice of life character backstory. That said, I loved the interactions between Laudna and the voice in her head and her childlike innocence, even as a scary undead creature. The things she comes up with to fight her boredom and isolation are bittersweet (and slightly creepy), like Paté, her talking, dead rat. The book had a lot of serious undertones as well, like the notion that a woman is either "a maiden, a mother, or a crone", and touched on archetypical roles and feminism.
The writing style was beautiful and the audiobook was amazingly performed by parts of the cast of Critical Role, as usual. Especially Laura Bailey as "the voice" will give me nightmares. Once again, a must-read for "Critters", otherwise a beautifully written fantasy/horror book somewhat light on plot.
January 20, 2025
"For years, Laudna had struggled to reconcile her dichotomous nature. On one hand, she recognized her appearance was terrifying; enough people had run from the sight of her to make that irrefutably clear. On the other, her heart remained a raw and tender thing."
"Once people have learned to fear something, they forget its humanity."
nothing much happens in terms of story here, but Laudna is such a great character that I’d happily listen to hours of her backstory (and I did). CR books are probably the only books I will preferably consume in audiobook format because this cast is just 🫶🏼
this book confirmed 3 things I already knew: Laudna is Marisha’s best character, I love Pâté with all my heart, and I’m a simp for Imodna (legit giggled and kicked my feet when Imogen showed up).
"Once people have learned to fear something, they forget its humanity."
nothing much happens in terms of story here, but Laudna is such a great character that I’d happily listen to hours of her backstory (and I did). CR books are probably the only books I will preferably consume in audiobook format because this cast is just 🫶🏼
this book confirmed 3 things I already knew: Laudna is Marisha’s best character, I love Pâté with all my heart, and I’m a simp for Imodna (legit giggled and kicked my feet when Imogen showed up).
June 11, 2025
I'm going to kick this off with my biggest critique/complaint. Cassandra Khaw is too damn wordy. Their usage of long, complicated, and downright obscure words is distracting as all hell. It over complicates the narration. At several points I had to go back and re-read passages because of mid-sentence tangents filled with strange adjectives.
On top of that, a good half of the story was tedious and repetitive. A series of similar events that all ended in sadness. I love Laudna. I love Critical Role. I know it's supposed to be sad, but I feel like Acts 2 and 3 could have been compressed together with no loss in message.
However!! Acts 1 and 4 were pretty great. The novel kicks off with a unique "story within a story" moment. Like the reader is being told a fable or folktale. And every Act begins this way. Initially, it threw me off, because the introductory fable isn't marked or delineated as something separate from the rest of the book. It all blends together, with the only separations being chapter numbers and the pages marking a new Act (the dripping ichor graphic growing and changing? Excellent).
The melding of story elements and subtle formatting continues with some, frankly beautiful, moments of prose. For all that Khaw writes like they're paid by the word, they have some genuinely exquisite moments of narration. Hell, I even took a photo of one page, the prose was that stunning.
So for all my complaining of this book, and only giving 3 stars, I do understand the rave reviews and high praise. I might just end up reading more from this author in the future. . .
On top of that, a good half of the story was tedious and repetitive. A series of similar events that all ended in sadness. I love Laudna. I love Critical Role. I know it's supposed to be sad, but I feel like Acts 2 and 3 could have been compressed together with no loss in message.
However!! Acts 1 and 4 were pretty great. The novel kicks off with a unique "story within a story" moment. Like the reader is being told a fable or folktale. And every Act begins this way. Initially, it threw me off, because the introductory fable isn't marked or delineated as something separate from the rest of the book. It all blends together, with the only separations being chapter numbers and the pages marking a new Act (the dripping ichor graphic growing and changing? Excellent).
The melding of story elements and subtle formatting continues with some, frankly beautiful, moments of prose. For all that Khaw writes like they're paid by the word, they have some genuinely exquisite moments of narration. Hell, I even took a photo of one page, the prose was that stunning.
So for all my complaining of this book, and only giving 3 stars, I do understand the rave reviews and high praise. I might just end up reading more from this author in the future. . .
January 6, 2025
i really loved the beginning and the ending, but unfortunately the middle just felt like a long series of events where laudna just… suffers. it definitely felt more like a tragic backstory than its own story, which i suppose is fair. i LOVED seeing imogen at the end though!
the audiobook was definitely awesome, i loved that all the actors narrated their own character. the identity of a major character is kind of ‘given away’ by voice actor, but I think the manner in which that character speaks gives them away anyway, so it’s fine.
good backstory! i just got depressed in the middle :(
the audiobook was definitely awesome, i loved that all the actors narrated their own character. the identity of a major character is kind of ‘given away’ by voice actor, but I think the manner in which that character speaks gives them away anyway, so it’s fine.
good backstory! i just got depressed in the middle :(
February 18, 2025
"Because the worst had already happened. And she didn't break"
Este libro ha sido una gran experiencia. Me ha hecho llorar y emocionarme con las vivencias de Laudna de un modo que no me hubiera imaginado. Ver cómo una persona puede sufrir lo peor inimaginable y aún así buscar la fuerza para seguir adelante. Situaciones en las que muchas personas (como yo) podemos vernos reflejados en ciertos aspectos.
Reconozco que leer esta obra ha hecho que aprecie mucho más al personaje de la tercera campaña de Critical Role pero es un libro que recomendaría a cualquiera (ya sea fan de CR o no).
Este libro ha sido una gran experiencia. Me ha hecho llorar y emocionarme con las vivencias de Laudna de un modo que no me hubiera imaginado. Ver cómo una persona puede sufrir lo peor inimaginable y aún así buscar la fuerza para seguir adelante. Situaciones en las que muchas personas (como yo) podemos vernos reflejados en ciertos aspectos.
Reconozco que leer esta obra ha hecho que aprecie mucho más al personaje de la tercera campaña de Critical Role pero es un libro que recomendaría a cualquiera (ya sea fan de CR o no).
October 9, 2024
It's a story perfect for the October spooky season. Filled with light despite all the darkness, What Doesn't Break gives a beautiful written prequel to the beloved Laudna.
I would recommend this book to anyone, Critical Role fan or no, who enjoys stories of finding one's self and holding on to hope while living in a world that's nothing but against them.
Cassandra Khaw not only gave a story perfectly written in character but also gave us a story that is well written and a treat to read.
I would recommend this book to anyone, Critical Role fan or no, who enjoys stories of finding one's self and holding on to hope while living in a world that's nothing but against them.
Cassandra Khaw not only gave a story perfectly written in character but also gave us a story that is well written and a treat to read.
November 8, 2024
Absolutely stunning. I had high expectations, and they were still wildly exceeded- the writing is beautiful, the imagery is haunting, and even if you already love Laudna, this book will make you ache for her in ways I can hardly describe. She has suffered so much, and still, she's kind. She twists and never breaks, even when the effort costs her over and over again.
My literal only complaint is that I wish this was so much longer- I wanted to see more of her time with Imogen ❤️
My literal only complaint is that I wish this was so much longer- I wanted to see more of her time with Imogen ❤️
December 24, 2024
well, that fucked me right up! easily the best novelization cr has put out yet through sheer depth of emotion and heart. laudna resonates with me so deeply as a symbol of not victimization per se, but someone who survived an incomprehensible number of tragedies and heartbreaks and still is so, so kind, with a ginormous capacity for love and warmth.
in other news: fuck delilah briarwood, I hope she rots a thousand times over.
in other news: fuck delilah briarwood, I hope she rots a thousand times over.
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