Book Review: Tusk Love

I know very little about Dungeons & Dragons, but I have friends who play. So when I saw that Thea Guanzon wrote a book as part of a Dungeons & Dragons anthology I was intrigued. The books are based on characters and places created in the campaign by Critical Role. From what I understand, Critical Role is a group of professional voice actors who have a very popular web series where they play Dungeons & Dragons. The authors, in collaboration with Critical Role, have written these books. Thea Guanzon’s book is called Tusk Love and takes place in the the Critical Role fantasy world of Exandria.

The novel follows Guinevere and Oskar. Guinevere is the daughter of merchants and she is on her way to meet up with her parents in a distant land and meet her betrothed, a wealthy man who apparently isn’t too old and has all his teeth! She also has a secret that she tries her hardest to keep under wraps. When her caravan of escorts is attacked by bandits, Guinevere is saved by Oskar, a half-orc blacksmith apprentice. Guinevere and Oskar are not headed in the same direction, but unable to leave Guinevere to her own devices and to fend for herself on her long journey, Oskar decides to travel with her. The two encounter all different people on their journey. From ones who are helpful and kind and want to help Guinevere learn more about her secret abilities to more dangerous bandits who keep attacking Guinevere and Oskar and seem way too interested in the trunk she’s traveling with that supposedly holds her dowery.

As Guinevere and Oskar travel they grow closer together and start to develop feelings for one another, but they know that once they arrive at Guinevere’s destination they will have to part ways and she will have to marry. Will they be able to keep things platonic? Will Guinevere be happy marrying a stranger that her parents approve of?

I really liked this book. It was a quick read and it was easy for me to follow. You don’t have to know anything about Critical Role or Dungeons & Dragons to enjoy this book. I definitely thought going in to it that it would be a more serious, fantasy romance. I didn’t know it would be a romcom! The book was fun, lighthearted, and funny. Guinevere is a little naive and clueless in the beginning, but it was never annoying. It was nice to watch her grow and learn more about the world and become more independent. And Oskar was sweet and charming beneath his tough exterior.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Now I’m waiting for my friends who play Dungeons & Dragons to read it and give me their feedback!

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