Critical Role Books in Order

The Critical Role books sit inside Exandria, the fantasy world first built through a tabletop roleplaying campaign and then expanded through novels, guides, comics, and reference books. What carries across all of it is the mix of epic stakes and very personal feeling. Gods, monsters, and ancient magic are everywhere, but the stories keep circling back to friendship, guilt, found family, and people trying to become better than they were yesterday.

This page brings together several different kinds of Critical Role books. Some are character prequels, like Kith & Kin, The Nine Eyes of Lucien, and Bells Hells - What Doesn't Break. Those books work by taking familiar figures and giving them room before the main campaign, when they are still half-made and easy to wound.

Others are worldbuilding or companion pieces. The World of Critical Role is part behind-the-scenes history and part guided tour of how the whole phenomenon grew. Exquisite Exandria does something lighter and more playful, using food and travel to move through the setting while still sneaking in lore and character nods.

Then there are the anthologies, Vox Machina - Stories Untold and The Mighty Nein - Stories Untold, which turn the camera sideways. Instead of following the famous adventuring parties head-on, they look at the allies, enemies, bystanders, and survivors whose lives were changed by those heroes. That shift gives the world more texture and makes Exandria feel inhabited rather than staged.

There is no single right entry point.

If you want sibling adventure, start with Kith & Kin. If you like tragic villain material, try The Nine Eyes of Lucien. If Laudna is your person, go straight to Bells Hells - What Doesn't Break. If you want context first, The World of Critical Role is the broadest doorway. Across all of them, expect big fantasy, strong character ties, and a setting that likes jokes, heartbreak, and impossible choices in almost equal measure.