Tol-Saroth

Read Time: 3 Minutes

Tol-Saroth: Everybody Loves Large Chests, Volume 11 by Neven Iliev was another enjoyable outing with everyone’s favourite murderous mimic, though it did feel more like stage-setting than a full-throttle adventure. With only two books left in the series, I’d half expected we might finally reach the Shattered Isles and get to the long-teased dragon battles, but that looks to be something saved for later.

This volume reminded me a bit of the Goroth (Book 7) arc which sort of moved the larger story forward, but with a certain “filler” feel in places. The main drive this time is Boxxy’s treasure hunt for anything connected to Tol-Saroth, the long-dead genius behind much of the elven republic’s legacy and, more importantly, the origin of the species known as “mimics” themselves. That hunt takes Boxxy and company deep under the treacherous Occulous Sea in search of a hidden vault somehow connected to Tol-Saroth himself.

A lot less focus on the pretend Keira and Rowana relationship, and more on Boxxy getting busy with what he does best. A mimic’s got to mimic after all, and collecting shinys and all forms of rare and valuable things is always high on its agenda. Expanding its army of house mimics adds some fun chaos to the mix, especially one that’s quite literal.

As usual, Boxxy’s blend of gleeful violence and twisted logic keeps things entertaining, with plenty of support from its demonic familiars and other sidekicks. Even if this book leans more toward backstory and world-building than big set-piece battles, I still had a good time with it. Sometimes a series needs a bit of breathing room, and Tol-Saroth felt like one of those entries. It feels like it’s laying track for what’s to come rather than delivering the destination itself.

The production is sharp, the narration layered and lively. Each of the ever-growing cast narrators brings the world to life, capturing the humour, absurdity, and the violence without ever slowing the pace. Even in sections that feel more like setup than action, the energy and commitment in the performances keep it engaging. There were a couple of minor production errors I noted in this one, in particular a short moment where two takes seem to be playing over the top of each other.

One kind of annoying this was announced at the end. Soundbooth Theater who narrate and produce the series are going to stop publishing it to Audible, which… actually it’s more than kind of, it’s really annoying. A real “pain in the lid” if I were to quote Boxxy. I don’t mind having audiobooks in different apps, but I very much prefer to have an entire series in the same app, so this decision is super annoying.

So yeah, ultimately, this volume feels like a bridge, but far from a low point. If you’ve come this far with Boxxy, you’ll know exactly what to expect, and Volume 11 delivers just that: gruesome mayhem, a few laughs, and the promise of bigger things on the horizon.

---

Note: These are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you decide to sign up. It doesn't cost you anything extra, and it helps support our site! ♥