Critical Role — Vox Machina: Stories Untold

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since Critical Role began on Geek & Sundry, setting actual play video on fire, and launching companies, games, an animated series, and a lot of fiction. So it’s only fitting that it’s celebrating with the anthology, Critical Role — Vox Machina: Stories Untold.

The stories vary in tone and levels of action. The stories in the audiobook edition are, not surprisingly, narrated by one or more of the Crit Role team.

• The first story, Under Golden Boughs, by Martin Cahill and narrated by Taliesin Jaffe, is borderline poetic. Not only does it illuminate the history of the Sun Tree, the Sun Tree itself tells the tale from its beginning as The Dawnfather planted it. The tree gives its perspective on events such as the first de Rolos arriving to found Whitestone, the Briarwoods’ takeover, the horrors that followed, and the reemergence of hope, culminating in the return of Percival de Rolo and the overthrow of the Briarwoods.
• The Exploits of Kaylie changes up the tone, with a sometimes rollicking, sometimes bittersweet view of the life of Scanlan Shorthalt’s daughter as she tries to figure out who she is and what she wants to be. Written by Izzy Wasserstein and, of course, narrated by Sam Riegel, it demonstrates that no matter how far you travel, you can’t run from yourself, and that even absent parents can have more impact than you expect.
• Liar, by Rory Power and narrated by Marisha Ray, is an eerie descent into madness as the green dragon Raishan schemes to release Thordak, the Cinder King.
• The Edge of Glory, by Kendra Wells offers the point of view of the sentient greatsword Craven Edge, during its time with goliath barbarian Grog Strongjaw. In the audiobook, Matthew Mercer is the primary narrator with assistance by Ashley Johnson, Marisha Ray, Liam O’Brien, Sam Riegal, and, of course, Travis Willingham as the voice of Grog. It’s not a comedy story but is definitely funny in places as the sword fails to influence Grog.
• Humor is also appropriately woven into Jess Barber’s Take This Down: Being an Accurate Accounting of Doty and Taryon Darrington in the Basilisk’s Den. In the audiobook version Sam Riegel nails Taryon’s attempts to present himself as the amazing adventurer he wants to be.
• Bend the Knee by Nibedita Sen is a war story that explores the dynamics of power and plunder in as Kevdak tries to hold onto his position in Grog’s former tribe. The audiobook version is narrated by Travis Willingham, of course.
• Tides by Sam Maggs and narrated by Laura Bailey fills in backstory for Lady Kima and Allura Vysoren, how they came together and learned to work so well together while navigating love, loss, and more.
• The Lives we Make by Rebecca Coffindaffer has Kynan Leore dealing with guilt and trying to make sense of his life so far and where it’s going. Though played by Matt Mercer in Vox Machina adventures, Liam O’Brian voices this story.
• Shaun by Aabria Iyengar focuses on the magical merchant NPC Shaun Gilmore, and the choices he has made. Matthew Mercer reprises voicing his NPC.
• Going on a Bear Hunt by Glenn Marsh and voiced by Ashley Johnson focuses on Trinket the bear watching over Vesper, Juniper, Wilhard’lldan, and Audra when the kids try to explore Whitestone Castle’s dungeons. Things to awry when they cross paths with three burglars. A good bear’s work is never done. It’s a rollicking adventure that is a perfect blend of fun and peril for ending the collection.

Should You Buy It?​

A book like this has three potential audiences – the diehard Crit Role fan, the casual Crit Role fan, and the fantasy adventure reader who may or may not be familiar with Critical Role at all (those who hate Crit Role are unlikely to bother). Trying to please all three isn’t necessarily an easy job.

Stories Untold actually pulls it off. The diehard Crit Role fan was likely to be happy, especially with the talented writers showcased in this collection. The casual fan will also be pleased because you don’t have to know every detail and piece of minutia of Vox Machina or Exandria to enjoy it.

The biggest question is how this collection would come across to readers who like epic fantasy adventure, even if they’re not familiar with Critical Role. I’m actually a good test case for that because I came into Critical Role with the Mighty Nein, and have only sporadically encountered Vox Machina stories.

I really liked this anthology and didn’t have to look up anything or anyone to enjoy it. While the reading will be a richer, more robust experience if you are familiar with Vox Machina, each story in this anthology does a very good job of setting the scene and characters so no prior knowledge of Vox Machina’s adventures is needed.

Critical Role — Vox Machina: Stories Untold: A solid B+ from me, but Crit Role fans will probably give it an A.