Critical Role: The Mighty Nein—Children of Empire

by Nibedita Sen

Return to Wildemount with this first-of-its-kind official sequel to the hit Mighty Nein campaign from Critical Role, exploring the fates of “Empire Kids” Caleb Widogast and Beauregard Lionett.

The adventures of the Mighty Nein have ended.

With the Cloven Crystals hidden and Uk’otoa once again imprisoned, all that’s left for the Mighty Nein is to settle back into their well-earned retirements. For some, this means peace and solitude; for others, a recommitment to unmitigated chaos. And for Caleb Widogast and Beauregard Lionett, it marks a return to the empire they once called home.

But ancient, arcane threats still fester in the Cerberus Assembly and its only living founder, the calculating and secretive Ludinus Da’leth. When an old friend offers Caleb a chance to investigate Ludinus, he can’t help but take it, even if it means betraying those he once held dear. And as Beau struggles to settle into domesticity, a good infiltration is the perfect distraction.

The Cerberus Assembly is unlike any foe the Empire Kids have faced before, rooted into the history of their homeland. It’s not an evil that can be pummeled into submission—but that doesn’t mean they can’t try.

Written by Hugo, Nebula, and Ignyte Award-nominated author Nibedita Sen, Children of Empire ties together the stories of Campaigns Two and Three of hit series Critical Role, complete with intrigue, machinations, and the occasional fist fight.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Adult, Ebooks

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication November 10, 2026

Reviews

[Paz]

This was amazing. A near perfect sequel to the Mighty Nein.

4.5 stars
I can't believe how good this book was. Listen, making a sequel to a D&D campaign that ran for over 500 hours is not an easy feat. Not at all. Especially when this campaign is such a well-loved product like The Mighty Nein. Darlings of Critical Role, my personal favorite. So this book had an impossible task to measure up to, and yet I'm so pleasantly surprised to say that rookie author Nibedita Sen did it. She wrote an amazing book to accompany the Mighty Nein, with humour and magic, with action and character introspection. A book that expands on the world, evil threats, the frienships and the romances. A book that makes me want to rewatch those 500+ hours to later reread this and in the meantime hopefully get a sequel because there's still so much more to explore and I have complete trust that Nibedita is the perfect person to continue this particular adventure, where Caleb and Beauregard are leading the charge against corruption, rottenness and wrongdoings inside the Empire.

I really appreciate how the back cover synopsis does not really give away the story of this book, and I rather not spoil it because as someone who went in blind, I was so engaged, so surprised, so excited to keep on reading. I'll just say this book takes place a couple of years after the end of the original campaign. We find our heroes each living their own life, in separate places, yet they are still as close as ever. Particularly Beauregard and Caleb, whose relationship is rooted on respect, on a sibling like love, but also their desire for justice, for fixing the flaws of their home. These two made a promise to stop the Cerberus Assembly and when a new member is about to be nominated, Caleb and Beau are ready to put a stop to it. In their journey, most of the Mighty Nein make an appearance to listen, support and help their friends. Nibedita has a perfect understanding of these characters and I could so picture the cast of Critical Role, their creators and voice actors, do all the ensemble scenes. It was such a fun experience when all these characters were together. Both partners of the Empire siblings show up here too, and as someone who loves Essek I'm so happy with how he was utilized and how much time his burgeoning relationship with Caleb was featured. And though Yasha is not on page as much, her solid support and love for Beau was so beautiful and heartwarming to read. Honestly, I loved the moments between the couples. Both Shadowgast and Beauyasha had beautiful, tender and romantic moments.

The worldbuilding was such a positive for me. I loved seeing Beau working, really working, as an Expositor. Struggling under bureaucracy and rules. I loved seeing Caleb teach, and building the quiet life he so much deserved.
The worldbuilding of both the Cobalt Soul and the Assembly was so interesting and fascinating, please Critical Role, give us a sequel.

I loved the last scene between Caleb and Beau. This book perfecly encapsulates how much they care for and support each other, and yet like siblings they bicker and truly hurt each other relentlessly. I loved how Nibedita dealt with the complexities of these characters both on their own and together as a team.

I can't say much much else without spoiling. It is a given to say, if you never watched or haven't completed the original campaign of the Mighty Nein, this book will not make sense to you. It's not beginner-friendly, I mean it is a sequel. So though this book has a limited audience, I really hope lovers of the second campaign decide to pick this one up, like I said, it's a perfect companion piece, it captures the spirit of the characters and the world of Exandria so well, I can't wait for it to be released so I can buy my own copy and reread it.

[BookishKB]

⚔️ Critical Role: The Mighty Nein – Children of Empire ⚔️

📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Epic Fantasy
• Magic Academy
• Found Family
• Powerful Magic
• Political Intrigue
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Georgia T-S]

Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!

I had the absolute best time reading this. I am the exact target audience (as you may be able to guess from my current profile picture of a niche Beauregard Lionett cosplay - an interpretation of what Laura describes as Beau's outfit in episode 97 that I can now adapt into a-- something I will add in with spoiler tags when the book is published!

I adore these Empire kids and the journey they've been on. Nibedita Sen captures them, all of the Mighty Nein, and the world in general so incredibly well. I felt like these characters I love were in such safe hands right from the start. And it's a staggering feat to do - there's at least 500 hours of these characters on our screens to draw from and a lot of lore to juggle and tease at from the next 500 hours too!
This book slots in after the conclusion of Campaign 2 and the Reunited live shows in 2022 but before Echoes of the Solstice in 2023 (seeing them in London was one of the absolute best experiences, 12000 people in an arena watching 4 hours of D&D I mean, who would have thought it...). The writing is great, it's evocative, has just the right amount of detail to get the scenes so clear in your mind, and the pacing is perfect - I still want more though!

We meet Beauregard and Caleb again in the midst of the trial of Trent Ikithon, a tense, heavy moment in their lives that are filled with much less dangerous adventuring and much more teaching and research than they once were. Beau may be a little disappointed with that... Yet, they still remain true to their goal of working to rid the rot in the Empire even after the war is over. With that in mind, an opportunity to investigate the recurring slippery character of Ludinus Da'Leth is too good to pass up! It's a journey that takes them across the world and into and out of the clutches of some new enemies. They puzzle it out in their own unique ways but it's not without friction.

It's hard to say too much without major spoilers so I'll also do that under the spoiler tag below once the book is published, but please know: Beauyasha and Shadowgast fans you're going to have a great time, if you've been dreaming of revisiting some very cool locations of campaign 2 you're going to have a great time, if you love the way the past and future of Exandria/the campaigns link together, even just with the tiniest of nods, you're going to have a great time! Can I cast a vote for Nibedita Sen to write a few more follow ups with the rest of the party please and thank you!

[Lauren]

Feeling truly blessed by the Del Rey gods 🙏😭

[Allix]

I’m entirely unsurprised that I loved CHILDREN OF EMPIRE – I am a huge Critical Role fan, a massive Mighty Nein fan, and Beau and Caleb are undoubtedly two of my favorite characters from any Critical Role series. Nibedita Sen’s writing is gorgeous, and I’m so eager to dive into more of her work.

Sen’s descriptions of magic were so evocative and clear, I could perfectly picture each scene. I loved the way she wrote Beau and Yasha’s relationship, and Caleb and Essek’s. And I loved getting to see certain specific moments that I’ve been curious about – Essek’s Seth disguise, or things that happened between Beau and Yasha that I won’t spoil, for example. Being able to see exactly when the Empire kids learned about Ludinus’ true age and began to understand his nefarious plans was so much fun, and I loved the inclusions of Balenpost and the Myriad. I thought the pacing was quite quick, which worked well for this story, but did leave me wishing there was more of the story in general. I don’t think that’s necessarily an issue all readers will have, though; like I said, I love these two main characters, and I don’t think I could ever really get enough of them.

Overall, this book was a perfect bridge between the end of campaign two and where we see Caleb and Beau again in campaign three, and it made me want to go back and rewatch campaign three. I think this book’s audience is pretty specific to Critical Role fans – you will be lost without having seen campaign two, at least, though the Mighty Nein animated series will likely close that gap as it continues – but it serves that audience extremely well.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Random House Worlds for the ARC!

[Visionary Druid]

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.

[Sandy]

The Mighty Nein - Children of Empire is the first canonical sequel to Critical Roles Campaign 2, and it stays true to it's source material in an engaging and delightful way.

The book follows Beau and Caleb in their quest to make their home a better place by stealthily infiltrating the Assembly, a dangerous operation made possible by a job offer from Caleb’s old friend, Astrid. For this, Caleb needs to get closer to the other candidate, while Beau struggles with the constraints her boss in the Cobalt Soul puts on her.

It is also refreshing to see both titular characters interact with their respective partners, Essek and Yasha, who feature as major support characters. Fans of the ships Beauyasha and Shadowgast will find plenty of tender moments to lighten the narrative's sometimes heavier atmosphere.

The story also features welcome cameos from several members of the Mighty Nein, whose voices are captured with impressive accuracy.

The story does well in it's goal to connect the threads between Campaign 2 and 3, though several other and new loose threads are left suspiciously open, leaving room for a potential continuation.

This would certainly be a welcome development, as the book leaves you feeling both satisfied and eager for more.

[Amphora]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Sen does an impeccable job with this book; doing justice to the characters, setting, and overall vibe of the original campaign. I sincerely hope there will be more like this! This book is clearly for fans of the campaign, but it’s hard for me to grasp if someone could understand this as a standalone or not. They can certainly try!

The overall plot, held together gorgeously by magical mystery and glints of fanservice, made this book near perfect. There were, at times, moments of despondent frustration with the character’s decisions and temperament. In the end, these moments paid off and enhanced the story... but made you want to smack sense into them. Classic Mighty Nein.

THANK YOU AGAIN!! This ARC could not have come at a better time. I devoured it in three days. I watched the original campaign while it was airing and I’m coincidentally halfway through a rewatch now.

[Treena]

4.5 💫

[Peyton]

Wow Nibedita Sen really knocked it out of the park with this tale of court politics, ancient evils, and even a wedding!

After Jester, Caleb and Beau are my favorites from Critical Role's second campaign, and they really went through it in this post-campaign adventure set in the Empire. Caleb battles his past as he goes toe to toe with Ludinus Da'leth's machinations. Beau is perfect, and I love her hotheadedness! Essek and Yasha are perfect, and I enjoyed having the whole band get back together to save the day. I could read all of the dialogue in everyone's voices which felt like such a cool continuation of the stream. I loved the pacing, the adventure, and the characterization! I had a blast reading this and would highly recommend it to all Critters!