The World of Critical Role

The History Behind the Epic Fantasy

By: Liz Marsham, Cast of Critical Role, Critical Role

Narrated by: Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Felicia Day

Length: 11 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's Summary

Dive deep into the history of the world’s most popular fantasy RPG livestream with the cast of Critical Role in this definitive guide. 

From its unassuming beginnings as a casual home game between friends to the role-playing phenomenon it is today, Critical Role has become the stuff of legend. This audiobook chronicles how a circle of friends who all happen to be talented voice actors built the most-watched tabletop role-playing livestream of all time. 

Discover richly written insights into the locations, characters, and adventures featured in the hundreds of episodes across Critical Role’s two campaigns, Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein. Go behind the scenes with archival photos and exclusive interviews with Dungeon Master Matt Mercer and the entire Critical Role cast as they explore their characters’ most triumphant moments and darkest hours. And celebrate the massive community of Critters who support and expand the show’s world through a highlighted tour of the crafts, cosplay, and art they create every day. 

Featuring a foreword from the cast and the inside story you won’t find anywhere else, this audiobook is your indispensable guide to Critical Role. The adventure begins! 

©2020 Liz Marsham (P)2020 Random House Audio

Another Critter Need, But Have Matt Proof Names

I was a little devastated as a devoted Critter to hear some of the names mis-pronounced by someone who was a guest in the show, but otherwise this was another CR fix that I NEEDED. There were tears at several parts as I was flooded with love and pride and memories. I am so grateful for this community and these stories and the people who built it. Thank you for the brief look behind the curtain.

This book is a treasure for any fan

Just picked up my copy (so to speak). Kinda sad the cast doesn't read any of it but Mary Elizabeth McGlynn knocks it out of the freaking park. You can tell this was a labor of love for all involved. If you, like me, prefer to listen instead of reading, I totally recommend it. I absolutely love good audio performances (the voice actor cast is what attracted me to critical role in the first place) and my ADHD has progressed to the point where it's extremely hard for me to sit down and read so I'm so freaking happy they made an audiobook of this and made a great production to boot!

P. S. Felicia Day wrote and narrates the forward. I'm eternally grateful to her for starting the critter ball rolling.

Critical Message

Hello Bees!
This is the story of a bunch of “Nerdy Ass Voice actors” and there mission to teach us all how to “not forget to love each other”, with the tools of role playing in Dungeons and Dragons.
Bidet!

Heartwarming story of friends who changed theworld

This story, narrated by the legendary actress Mary E McGlynn, tells such a heartwarming tale of a group of friends who took a casual home game and their story online and how it changed the world. Through charities, impeccable storytelling, an amazing community, and most importantly spreading love, this book tells how hard the cast and crew of Critical Role grew to where it is today. How a group of friends took storytelling and grew it to support an ever growing community and even found a charity group set to leave the world better than how we found it. With this group I witnessed a man with a 1000 voices tell me tale to rival any, I watched a family get started in Whitestone with a bear , two Gnomes fall in love, a Goliath desire to be better and protect his family, a young Air Ashari become who she was meant to be, and I said goodbye to a feathered stealthy friend. This book brought back all the emotions and love I've found by watching campaign one and over a hundred episodes in campaign two. You really see just how much this group loves each other and their friends and all of those that support them. Everything you could've ever wanted to see and learn about this group is in this book, which is so well written. The world is a better place because of those on Critical Role and this book shows how they grew to the fame they so well deserve and they've taught us to not forget to love each other. Is it Thursday yet?

A Brilliant Insight Into CR's Origins

Loved everything about this, I've always been curious about the origins of Brian W. Foster and feel this may be the closest we all get to his Between the Sheets ep. I loved Mary Elizabeth McGlynn's reading, and since she's such a good friend of the cast she nails her impressions of everyone. A must read for any Critter!

Great documentary

I learned so much more about the cast and critters. I love this book I'm buying a hard copy definitely. Love the audio reader, the way she made you feel like u were going through the struggles and triumphs with the cast.
Definitely recommend for those how want to know more about cast and the game.

a love letter

this book is a love letter between cast mates, friends, and the crit role community at large. its also a love letter to dnd. if you like dnd in any way you should check this out to see what the phenomenon of critical role is all about.

worth at least 30 gold

mary elizabeth mcglynn is a national treasure

i would listen to her narrate a cookbook

An awesome story behind the legendary story

I have been such a huge fan of the show Critical Role and have adored not only the characters in the games but also the humble and amazing actors behind the story. It was such a great read into the minds of these amazing actors and the general insight to tabletop gaming. If you are a fan of the show, the actors, or looking for a good book I highly recommend this book!

Gaming meets inspirational meets self-help meets inclusive

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away there was a place called Childhood. Close by lay The land of adolescence, and not far from that lay adulthood. While traveling through these places One learned valuable skills such as accountability and integrity, but on the flipside enthusiasm was dropped for world weary maturity and resignation, and the abandonment of imagination to the daily grind and The hope that the script we read would be sufficient for acceptance from others . CriticalRole and it’s cast have created a wormhole to the past, a place of wonder and excitement and bad puns for us all to enjoy! This book was a perfect segue for me as I’ve started in the middle of campaign two and have not been able to catch up on the Lore despite hundreds of hours enjoying the show. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys good story, as it somehow manages to be both memoir and instructive manual for anyone in 2021 who wants a community to love and laugh with on Thursday nights. While it is instructive to read the classics, and while much wisdom can be gained from those who came before us, they have always felt old and dusty to me while this story feels like something that is happening in the now, and is actively inviting me to jump on board!
Love,
E