I just finished reading through this for the first time in Build 7, and wow—I absolutely loved it. Devil's Gambit is an incredible VN, and everyone involved in its creation should be so proud of what they've achieved so far. I’m eagerly looking forward to future updates, and I highly recommend this to anyone considering giving it a read!
While waiting for the next update, here are a few things I loved:
All the characters feel wonderfully deep and complex. Hector and Cadgan, in particular, left a strong impression on me. Learning about Hector’s motivations and the layers behind his personality over the chapters and through the flashbacks was such a rewarding experience. Both he and Cadgan carry so much baggage, and their messy, contradictory humanity is beautifully written. Honestly, now that I know more about them, I’m tempted to start over from the beginning just to catch all the nuances I might have missed! The character writing in this VN stands out as exceptional—it’s evocative, emotional, authentic, and consistently compelling.
The worldbuilding is another standout feature. It’s subtle yet immersive, offering just enough detail to ground you in the setting without overwhelming you. The way you’ve portrayed the medieval influences—like the medical traditions and the societal relationship with God—is fascinating and feels authentic, yet there’s this unique twist with the elements of magic, nature, order, and dark gods that sets the world apart. It all hints at a broader, richly developed setting and it ignites my curiosity to learn more (even if it’s beyond the scope of this story). You’ve created something distinct and impressive here.
The unfolding mystery as Hector unravels the history of Rannai and its people also has me hooked. Characters like Rani and Ranzkai bring so many layers of intrigue, and I find myself eagerly theorizing about the what and why of this world. I didn’t expect to be so drawn into this element of the story, but it’s captivated me completely. I can’t wait to see how the mystery deepens and resolves in future updates, or to find out what truths are buried in the valley.
And speaking of captivating—there was some real good spice in here. The scenes were not only incredibly hot but also felt deeply tied to character development. I loved how Hector’s desires and kinks illuminated parts of his identity and insecurities, making these moments both fun and meaningful. The way dominant characters like Ranzkai and Cadgan were portrayed really stood out to me, too—they struck this perfect balance between being intense and feeling genuinely safe and caring, which is such a difficult needle to thread in fiction. You absolutely nailed it.
From the start, I thought I’d be firmly Team Cadgan…until Ranzkai showed up and really left me questioning that. But, maybe it’s actually false choice? Either way, Ranzkai is a 12/10 and a pleasure every time he's onscreen.
The sound design was another standout element of the experience. The tracks you’ve chosen are evocative and do so much to elevate the medieval atmosphere and emotional immersion. Some of the more emotional pieces really got to me in scenes like the dream. That said, I did notice a few moments where the absence of music made scenes feel a little too quiet, which stood out because of how good the other tracks are.
Overall, I had such a great time reading Devil's Gambit. It’s gripping, tragic, hopeful, and unique. The incredible attention to detail makes it clear how much time and care has gone into this project. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, especially for free—it’s such a gift, and I deeply appreciate the chance to enjoy it. I’m so excited to see how the story continues to develop and evolve. Keep up the fantastic work!