What do you think?
Rate this book
Caverns and Creatures #8
Critical Failures VIII: Galleons of Sea Men
Splitting the party is never a good idea, but sometimes that's just the hands fate deals you.
On Nazere, the gang's plans are cast into the wind when a stubborn foe returns to settle a score.
Back in Cardinia, Stacy has her hands full trying to help Dave while Dave does everything in his power to avoid being helped.
Tim and Cooper stagger out of the desert to find themselves in a whole new world of trouble.
As everyone explores new parts of this vast fantasy world, they encounter new friends and foes... and run into some they've met before.
Set sail for adventure with Galleons of Sea Men!
On Nazere, the gang's plans are cast into the wind when a stubborn foe returns to settle a score.
Back in Cardinia, Stacy has her hands full trying to help Dave while Dave does everything in his power to avoid being helped.
Tim and Cooper stagger out of the desert to find themselves in a whole new world of trouble.
As everyone explores new parts of this vast fantasy world, they encounter new friends and foes... and run into some they've met before.
Set sail for adventure with Galleons of Sea Men!
485 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 21, 2020
144 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 9, 2020
Too much and too little at the same time, and yet I liked it.
The eighth book in the Critical Failures series delivers everything as promised in the first seven books. However, Bevan has a lot of characters and a lot of storylines. This isn't necessarily a problem, but the shift in narrative threads can be unsatisfying at times. The worst sin he commits is ending the book without resolving the various on-going stories and leaving the reader with more questions than answers.
That being said, the books is exactly as promised with the first seven installments and I'm sure books nine, ten, eleven, on to infinity will be the same. That's not a bad thing. What is disappointing is the main villain of the series, Mordred, is completely absent, but in a Sauron sort of way.
Still, I recommend the series and look forward to the next book. It's already taking too long.
The eighth book in the Critical Failures series delivers everything as promised in the first seven books. However, Bevan has a lot of characters and a lot of storylines. This isn't necessarily a problem, but the shift in narrative threads can be unsatisfying at times. The worst sin he commits is ending the book without resolving the various on-going stories and leaving the reader with more questions than answers.
That being said, the books is exactly as promised with the first seven installments and I'm sure books nine, ten, eleven, on to infinity will be the same. That's not a bad thing. What is disappointing is the main villain of the series, Mordred, is completely absent, but in a Sauron sort of way.
Still, I recommend the series and look forward to the next book. It's already taking too long.
June 16, 2020
The wait is the worse part
I have been reading this series for quite literally half of my life and have always found myself wanting more. Completely and utterly disrespectful mixed with some of the funniest burns I have ever read. For fear of spoiling I will not say what character duo/plot point I am most invested in. Though I must say, Robert Bevan you know what you did and I have my wallet open and waiting for the next book, which better come.
I have been reading this series for quite literally half of my life and have always found myself wanting more. Completely and utterly disrespectful mixed with some of the funniest burns I have ever read. For fear of spoiling I will not say what character duo/plot point I am most invested in. Though I must say, Robert Bevan you know what you did and I have my wallet open and waiting for the next book, which better come.
May 25, 2021
More of the same. Not bad, and I will probably read the next one, but if this series would end tomorrow I will not shed a tear.
May 29, 2020
Balls to the wall
The books just keep getting better. I am enjoying reading more and more about cooper. My favorite pizza guy who delivers extra sausage to Dave’s mom every night.
The books just keep getting better. I am enjoying reading more and more about cooper. My favorite pizza guy who delivers extra sausage to Dave’s mom every night.
October 14, 2020
Bob does it again!
The story just gets better and better with every book. I am going to re-read this series while I wait for book 9
The story just gets better and better with every book. I am going to re-read this series while I wait for book 9
January 25, 2021
Not sure if I want to continue this series. It was a blast and I enjoyed them but the whole story is starting to drag. Wish there was development in the world and the cast of crazy characters.
June 17, 2020
Very funny loved the characters would recommend this book to anyone
A good read all around looking forward to the next one
Not for the easily offended do enjoy this book
A good read all around looking forward to the next one
Not for the easily offended do enjoy this book
June 5, 2020
Favorite Series ever
I've read every book and short story. Laugh out loud every time.Robert Bevan is probably my favorite author and I've spent hours looking for other books similar to his to fill the time in between releases. Nothing ever quite lives up to Cavern and Creatures.
I've read every book and short story. Laugh out loud every time.Robert Bevan is probably my favorite author and I've spent hours looking for other books similar to his to fill the time in between releases. Nothing ever quite lives up to Cavern and Creatures.
May 30, 2020
More inappropriate silliness
How much longer can this module run? The characters are on the run, on the hunt, and trying to kill each other (or not). I’m not sure who I like or who I hate. But they all make me laugh and groan at their terrible thoughts.
How much longer can this module run? The characters are on the run, on the hunt, and trying to kill each other (or not). I’m not sure who I like or who I hate. But they all make me laugh and groan at their terrible thoughts.
February 18, 2021
Holyyyyy _________, Critical Failures is perfectly named wonderful NSFW fantasy romp SNAFU
(Perfectly named describing the characters misadventures, not the story & writing - this are a resounding success*)
I intended to leave a Review for the previous book (#7), and make a joke about how I didn't like it as much as the others because it actually kind of made me sad at the end. It is truly appalling how awful the rat infected characters become.
If you have already been reading this series and wondering if you should continue with this book after everybody left the floating Crescent thing/desert , you already know that these books are somehow both engrossing and utterly gross, delightful and disgusting, a cast of characters containing a mix of ultra average folks and the dregs of society who are thrown into a fantasy adventure and take turns being coarse crass cowardly debased disgusting insulting insecure ignorant idiotic amazing awesome miraculous lucky hilarious loosers, showing (kinda how one might say Pixar does) that a well-told story can use any vehicle;
then rest assuredthat the answer is yes, & in fact this may be one of the best yet in the series . Especially the end that has a perfect meld of face-palm-i-can't-believe-it-went-there-(but-of-course-I-can-of-course-he-did) & also kinda beautiful spiritual moment, and also a redeemed throwback to the sad end of book VII....but oh dear that is not gong to go well if he just runs off like that..... And of course there are plenty of chuckles giggles groans & moans along the way as one would expect from so many repugnant characters being so despicable ridiculous and dumb...
And to take such an atrocious spread of excrement , blood , dicks , foul language, foul everything, butts, monsters and mayhem, and still give me some feels** (and with the grossest character of all no less) soaks volumes to how good the story and craftsmanship must be.
If you haven't read any of the Crit Fail's books yet, this would probably still be just as fun as any other random pick (roll a D8 and read that # book in the set ?) but I think one would find more appreciation for who everyone is and especially the couple of developing character arcs (wow, yeah, there are some and the kind that make you glad to see!....) if you start from the beginning. If you really want to read super random story bits with no care for canon of the greater saga, Mr Bevan has generously written quite a few short stories with these characters in the Caverns &Creatures world, isn’t that fantastic!? I'm super happy about it. Thanks R.B. ! I'm going to start the 2nd or 3rd collection of them next (I forgot where I am)
Anywho, good times. Not like The Alchemist or LOTR, but more like if that one crazy/ dingbat friend of yours stole & drank some stuff from an alchemist and now is trying to survive in LOTR.
Definitely the best worst thing I've ever read, and as much as I keep cringing there's balance in the wins enough to keep me wanting more.
And more. (For some that might be too much, just take it slower)
* if not a nat 20 then at least a 20 after bonuses
** emotions, not something handsy like the characters would think. Oh dear, it's rubbing off on me. Oh no, not like.... never mind.
(Perfectly named describing the characters misadventures, not the story & writing - this are a resounding success*)
I intended to leave a Review for the previous book (#7), and make a joke about how I didn't like it as much as the others because it actually kind of made me sad at the end. It is truly appalling how awful the rat infected characters become.
If you have already been reading this series and wondering if you should continue with this book after everybody left the floating Crescent thing/desert , you already know that these books are somehow both engrossing and utterly gross, delightful and disgusting, a cast of characters containing a mix of ultra average folks and the dregs of society who are thrown into a fantasy adventure and take turns being coarse crass cowardly debased disgusting insulting insecure ignorant idiotic amazing awesome miraculous lucky hilarious loosers, showing (kinda how one might say Pixar does) that a well-told story can use any vehicle;
then rest assuredthat the answer is yes, & in fact this may be one of the best yet in the series . Especially the end that has a perfect meld of face-palm-i-can't-believe-it-went-there-(but-of-course-I-can-of-course-he-did) & also kinda beautiful spiritual moment, and also a redeemed throwback to the sad end of book VII....but oh dear that is not gong to go well if he just runs off like that..... And of course there are plenty of chuckles giggles groans & moans along the way as one would expect from so many repugnant characters being so despicable ridiculous and dumb...
And to take such an atrocious spread of excrement , blood , dicks , foul language, foul everything, butts, monsters and mayhem, and still give me some feels** (and with the grossest character of all no less) soaks volumes to how good the story and craftsmanship must be.
If you haven't read any of the Crit Fail's books yet, this would probably still be just as fun as any other random pick (roll a D8 and read that # book in the set ?) but I think one would find more appreciation for who everyone is and especially the couple of developing character arcs (wow, yeah, there are some and the kind that make you glad to see!....) if you start from the beginning. If you really want to read super random story bits with no care for canon of the greater saga, Mr Bevan has generously written quite a few short stories with these characters in the Caverns &Creatures world, isn’t that fantastic!? I'm super happy about it. Thanks R.B. ! I'm going to start the 2nd or 3rd collection of them next (I forgot where I am)
Anywho, good times. Not like The Alchemist or LOTR, but more like if that one crazy/ dingbat friend of yours stole & drank some stuff from an alchemist and now is trying to survive in LOTR.
Definitely the best worst thing I've ever read, and as much as I keep cringing there's balance in the wins enough to keep me wanting more.
And more. (For some that might be too much, just take it slower)
* if not a nat 20 then at least a 20 after bonuses
** emotions, not something handsy like the characters would think. Oh dear, it's rubbing off on me. Oh no, not like.... never mind.
February 21, 2021
3.5 - 4,
It's a fun read as always in the series. My main complaint remains the same - it feels more like an episode (a looong one) than a comlete novel.
It started strong, hit some murky grounds, and finished strong with a nice promise for cool stuff ahead.
==minor spoiler ahead===
As 3 of the main cast turned Evil at the last novel, it's nice that the gang got SOME victories by thd end.
=====================
I liked how (most) of the charecters are growing, and also the fantady world they're stuck in.
and hey - I finally caught up with the series, having read everything that's been published!
Eagerly waiting the next installments.
It's a fun read as always in the series. My main complaint remains the same - it feels more like an episode (a looong one) than a comlete novel.
It started strong, hit some murky grounds, and finished strong with a nice promise for cool stuff ahead.
==minor spoiler ahead===
As 3 of the main cast turned Evil at the last novel, it's nice that the gang got SOME victories by thd end.
=====================
I liked how (most) of the charecters are growing, and also the fantady world they're stuck in.
and hey - I finally caught up with the series, having read everything that's been published!
Eagerly waiting the next installments.
August 2, 2020
☺YES!
Woohoo!!😆
😎the gang is getting closer to their goals! Lost friends are found, dead friends are resurrected, and new friends are made☺
😍I❤this series!!🤓
and can't wait for the next one to come out!😃😎
Woohoo!!😆
😎the gang is getting closer to their goals! Lost friends are found, dead friends are resurrected, and new friends are made☺
😍I❤this series!!🤓
and can't wait for the next one to come out!😃😎
August 12, 2020
Crude, rude and a lot of fun
What a great time! This book is a little longer, so we get more action, adventures and Cooper farting his way through life. Can't wait to see where CF9 takes us
What a great time! This book is a little longer, so we get more action, adventures and Cooper farting his way through life. Can't wait to see where CF9 takes us
June 27, 2020
A wonderful read
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I’m glad to see that the characters are making seriously headway towards becoming adventurers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one and I’m glad to see that the characters are making seriously headway towards becoming adventurers.
June 18, 2020
Do fart jokes ever get old? No, no they do not. Neither does this series, which is completely juvenile, puerile, and one heck of a lot of fun. I just finished this doorstopper and am already missing Cooper, Tim, Julian, Chaz, Dave, Katherine and the others. Many others, as a matter of fact. As other reviewers have noted, there are a LOT of characters and story arcs in this book, and it is a bit aggravating the way it jumps around. However, that seems to be the fashion and it is hard to criticize this parody series when it follows the structure of the high fantasy it is tweaking. Besides, the author handles it well-- the reason why I flew through the book was to find out what happened next with each plot point. I care about every character, which is not an easy thing to say about most series. The only real criticism I have of this series is the peculiar millennial obsession it has with racial taboos. It makes sense that these characters would present with the neuroticism of their generation but having to read about their obsession gets old. More fart jokes, please, and fewer character concerns that noticing that the color black exists might indicate you are an un-examined racist.
October 22, 2020
The same problems with the previous book, there is little effort of being funny, its just a bunch of actions strung together. These books were never a masterpiece of literature, but I read this for the nostalgic D&D feeling and the jokes. This book has none.
The characters personalities shine very dim, they pretty much feel the same. With the exception of Denise, that still adds a lot of color to the story with her hillbilly dirty mouth attitude.
I can't understand how other like this book so much. There is nothing that made the first few books especial in it, except for the idea of a D&D world turn alive and the familiar characters, and they are very boring in these later books.
Read 07:02/16:04 44%
The characters personalities shine very dim, they pretty much feel the same. With the exception of Denise, that still adds a lot of color to the story with her hillbilly dirty mouth attitude.
I can't understand how other like this book so much. There is nothing that made the first few books especial in it, except for the idea of a D&D world turn alive and the familiar characters, and they are very boring in these later books.
Read 07:02/16:04 44%
January 29, 2021
*Groans* Why am I still reading these?
*Facepalms* Why do I enjoy these so much?
*Screams* Why are these currently my favorite books?!
Let's get the obvious out of the way; dicks, farts, poop. There, now we can look at everything else.
And that is everything.
Oh, wait, I forgot to mention that this book takes the Critical Failures series and smacks its booty with a feather duster; in the good way! Get your mind into the gutter! It tickles you in all the places you want tickled, and hurts in the ways you want hurt, while it also makes you regret your life choices and leaves you wondering how you wound up here.
The characters are absolutely phenomenal, the story just keeps getting bigger and better, and I can't find anything negative to say... except Dave. F*** Dave.
*Facepalms* Why do I enjoy these so much?
*Screams* Why are these currently my favorite books?!
Let's get the obvious out of the way; dicks, farts, poop. There, now we can look at everything else.
And that is everything.
Oh, wait, I forgot to mention that this book takes the Critical Failures series and smacks its booty with a feather duster; in the good way! Get your mind into the gutter! It tickles you in all the places you want tickled, and hurts in the ways you want hurt, while it also makes you regret your life choices and leaves you wondering how you wound up here.
The characters are absolutely phenomenal, the story just keeps getting bigger and better, and I can't find anything negative to say... except Dave. F*** Dave.
February 1, 2021
Well, this book was more of a "pleasant read" than book 7, though it didn't go anywhere (accomplish anything regarding the end plot). Last book I possibly shorted with just 3 stars (seemed hell bent ONLY on continuous vulgarity without any real attempt at a good story too) so this one I'll comfortably give 4 stars. No end plot in sight. But not the worst 16 (Audible) hours I've spent. I just seriously would like to know that this series will finish eventually. Not just drag on and on senselessly, perhaps due to a "lack of knowledge" regarding an end to it and the books needed to get to that point.
November 10, 2024
This series is so incredibly dumb, good, junkfood. This many books in and it still gets me laughing loudly by some of the creative ways humor is constantly hitting all the right spots with still never really feeling forced. A lot of the typical tropes with comedy set-ups just arn't followed as aggressively still, even 8 books in, with the writing relying still mostly on characters being inherently funny instead of being forced to be funny or do funny things. Everythign they do just feels dumb and natural for their characters and I just can't get enough. I've still yet to get into a series as reliable as this one.
September 23, 2020
Not many books/authors will make me laugh out loud but the consistently funny and exciting Robert Bevan is one of then and this book is no exception.
Love the characters and their misunderstandings.
If this book has a fault it is that the three ships get a bit confusing as they seem so similar also there is no real conclusion to the storylines (I am a bit grateful for this as it means there will be more books)
Coming from the deep south (Georgia, not Mississippi) myself I can appreciate the characters. Looking forward to seeing where the author takes us and hope the series continues forever.
Love the characters and their misunderstandings.
If this book has a fault it is that the three ships get a bit confusing as they seem so similar also there is no real conclusion to the storylines (I am a bit grateful for this as it means there will be more books)
Coming from the deep south (Georgia, not Mississippi) myself I can appreciate the characters. Looking forward to seeing where the author takes us and hope the series continues forever.
December 24, 2020
Love the series, though this one was the weakest.
This book was a little slow moving compared to the rest in the line, but still great. I loved the twist in the end, it was totally unexpected and well done. The characters are well flushed out and great fun to follow. You can tell the author is a great fan of the RPG that inspired the story.
Btw: Randy had become my favorite character in the series.
This book was a little slow moving compared to the rest in the line, but still great. I loved the twist in the end, it was totally unexpected and well done. The characters are well flushed out and great fun to follow. You can tell the author is a great fan of the RPG that inspired the story.
Btw: Randy had become my favorite character in the series.
April 16, 2021
Another raunchy LitRPG adventure . . .
The story of disparate gamers stuck in a game of Caverns & Creatures continues. The gamers seem even more scattered than ever, several of them infected with lycanthropy (were-rats), still hunted by avatars of the GM MIordred . . . Sick, nasty, raunchy adventures . . . And the writing gets better as the series goes on. I'm not the biggest fan of lowbrow dick and fart jokes, but this series does amuse me . . .
The story of disparate gamers stuck in a game of Caverns & Creatures continues. The gamers seem even more scattered than ever, several of them infected with lycanthropy (were-rats), still hunted by avatars of the GM MIordred . . . Sick, nasty, raunchy adventures . . . And the writing gets better as the series goes on. I'm not the biggest fan of lowbrow dick and fart jokes, but this series does amuse me . . .
January 8, 2023
Funny and witty (as usual) though the author seems to have an “unhealthy” obsession with penises and butt sex! LOL. But it makes for entertaining reading! LMAO!!! I truly enjoyed this book just as much as the other ones in the series. Part of me is anxious for the conclusion as I’m hoping for a positive outcome. But as always, there’s yet Another part to this endless series. And you guessed it, I’ll be reading that one as well.
September 7, 2023
It's never not entertaining. I'm hoping the story starts to wrap up though. I don't have any interest in reading a 20 book series. Given the 20 sided die to denote which volume we're on, I suspect that is where it will go. I'll give it 10 and then I'm done. It's funny as hell.
Crude humor aside, Bevan is a good writer. Creative, good dialogue, great pacing within each volume, even if the overall story seems to be being dragging.
Crude humor aside, Bevan is a good writer. Creative, good dialogue, great pacing within each volume, even if the overall story seems to be being dragging.
August 15, 2024
Well, the series starts out pretty well but by the time I got to this book the tired tropes and constant sexual jokes and comments really just make this not worth any more time. I was hoping it would reach resolution by this book but that's not the case and in fact even more characters are brought in without ever getting anywhere with the previous ones or the ones introduced to keep the story going and going.
April 28, 2025
After 8 books I'm still not tired of this series. I can't say the plot is progressing swiftly, but I love these characters. Denise, Randy, Chaz, Julian, Ravenous, Tim, Cooper. Catherine was also a standout in this one. I love that bitch. I love all of them and will follow them to the end. They are all so distinct but so funny. I especially appreciated all the songs in this one, that the narrator sung with all his heart. Just fabulous. This is probably the best narrated series out there.
July 14, 2020
Enjoyable read
While the books are humorous things are starting to get more serious for the characters. With everyone fragmented even more and Mordred's influence and power growing and truly becoming a threat to the Gameworld itself, the gang has to fight to reunite themselves while fighting their own inner demons. The character development is getting really interesting.
While the books are humorous things are starting to get more serious for the characters. With everyone fragmented even more and Mordred's influence and power growing and truly becoming a threat to the Gameworld itself, the gang has to fight to reunite themselves while fighting their own inner demons. The character development is getting really interesting.
August 19, 2020
Another hilarious romp from Robert Bevan. This one was a little slow in the beginning but Bevan finds his feet and runs. Rampant juvenile humor runs through out the book. Bevan somehow makes you care about this horrible band of misfits and then makes you hate other members. I for one cannot wait to read what's next.
July 2, 2020
Another epic adventure
I love this whole series of critical failures. I just wish I didn't read them so fast. This book is amazing just like the last 7. Keep up the great work Robert! I'm a huge fan and will continue to purchase your books
I love this whole series of critical failures. I just wish I didn't read them so fast. This book is amazing just like the last 7. Keep up the great work Robert! I'm a huge fan and will continue to purchase your books
March 15, 2023
8 down craving 20 more
The increasing character list provides even more humour, stories and insanity. I am amazed at how he continues to weave such amazing stories and humor with an increasing amount of characters without losing but acting gaining momentum!
The increasing character list provides even more humour, stories and insanity. I am amazed at how he continues to weave such amazing stories and humor with an increasing amount of characters without losing but acting gaining momentum!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews