Review for Nibedita Sen's "CRITICAL ROLE: CHILDREN OF EMPIRE"

 

THE MIGHTY NEIN: CHILDREN OF EMPIRE
High Fantasy

 

AUTHOR:
Nibedita Sen

RELEASE DATE:
November 11, 2026

PUBLISHER:
Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore

ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9780593874295

RATING:
4.5

AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.nibeditasen.com/

 

 

Arcanist Caleb Widogast and Cobalt Soul Expositor Beauregard “Beau” Lionett belong to a ragtag band of adventurers – who have already saved the realm from an ancient arcane relic and a Leviathan. They join forces to uncover the source of a corruptive rot tied to the Cerberus Assembly and the Empire. Beau confronts obstacles within her order, and Caleb is faced with betraying those he once cared for. What new threat will they face? And will Caleb and Beau enlist the aid of their party’s members?

I have always had a soft spot for wounded, tortured character types. And Caleb fits that mold perfectly. I like the fact that he is trying to move beyond the horrors of his past and the things he has done. His relationships with the Nein and Essek seem to have helped him begin to heal from the trauma. Caleb is also Beau’s ideal counterbalance. He often reminds her of the value of patience and the softening of her acerbic tone. What I love the most about Caleb is that he still faces difficult moral dilemmas, especially when he must confront the possibility of hurting people from his past.

Beau annoyed me in this novel. She came across as hot-headed, abrasive, and impatient. It often felt as though many of the problems she and Caleb faced stemmed from her sharp tongue and impulsive choices. Several moments in the book left me thinking “Urgh!”. I know that is part of who she is, but I expected her time with her Mighty Nein companions and her lover to have tempered those traits or softened them.

I am a huge fan of high fantasy. Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance novels were some of my all-time favorites. They introduced me to authors that I try to follow and enjoy to this day. It is no secret that I struggle to find similar books that capture the essence of the genre that I like. Critical Role delivers on that front. My only small complaint is that a few terms in the book feel too modernized for a fantasy setting. It occasionally pulls me out of the story.

THE MIGHTY NEIN: CHILDREN OF EMPIRE is set within the Critical Role world of Exandria. I do not follow the podcasts or read the comics – though they are on my “to buy” and “to read” lists. However, I have watched the first season of the Prime animated series. CHILDREN OF EMPIRE is my second foray into a full-length novel set in this fantasy realm, with TUSK LOVE being the first. From what I understand, CoE takes place after the campaign. The author does an admirable job of summarizing important bits of Mighty Nein exploits that allow me to follow the story easily.

I wonder if it is just me… When it came to the dialogue, I could hear the Mighty Nein’s voice actors inside my mind.