Read this mostly for research for the curse of Strahd DND module. Was enjoyable but not outstanding. Still as a big fan of the module and Strahd Von Zarovich being my favourite villain to run it was nice to see someone else's take on him and get into his head from a different perspective. Does also contain spoilers for the module.

Personally, I find that its only flaw is that it ends. It even made me care for Tatyana and Strahd's relationship which is something I far from anticipated.

Excellent! So Good! Read this book!

That's my expert review!


As you can tell by my writing prowess, I didn't get that English degree for nothing!


Okay, here's my "review."

I have never been enamored with vampires or supernatural stuff. I read the occasional vampire themed book when it spills over into my normal reading. I LOVED Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter. Sometimes vampires show up in the Dresden Files, which I read, and I also read (and enjoyed) a Sookie Stackhouse book once upon a time. As a youngster I read Bram Stoker's Dracula. I don't go looking for vampire books like some of these obsessive zealots. But I don't cower in fear from them either, like your garden variety pious person. That's not to say I don't try to be pious.

What am I talking about again?

Oh yeah, the book.

I love D&D. I won't deny that fact. I love Fantasy. It's my favorite genre. I know that Ravenloft is connected with the Forgotten Realms. Yet I had strayed from the Ravenloft books for years because I imagined them to be something different. I don't know what that I thought they were, but I didn't think they would be this.

So what IS this?

This is a very well-written, compelling story of how Strahd became what he is. If you are a fan of D&D or other RPGs, you may have played a Ravenloft module. Strahd is the antagonist/protagonist of the Ravenloft stories and modules. He is the protagonist in this one, and it is a winner. An episodic story covering a total of 350 years in Strahd's life, this book has it all. His life before his "change," his loyalties and inner thoughts about those close to him, his running his territory, his loves, desires, motivations, and habits.

All of which add up to something that is compulsively readable. This is the kind of story you hope to read when you pick up a Forgotten Realms-style story or single book in a long series.

I can hardly see a Forgotten Realms or Pathfinder Tales book without strongly desiring to read it, the ideal situation being a dog-eared used paperback. Well, add Ravenloft to that as well. In fact, the stellar reviews and glowing recommendations from those fellow Goodreaders are what encouraged me to start reading Ravenloft. I picked the books up at the store numerous times and always ended up putting them back and buying a Drizzt book instead or something similar. This seriously scratched an itch for a different style of D&D adventure.

The Verdict: This is the best Vampire book I have ever read. Yeah. That's right. As good as Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter but takes itself more seriously. If the other entries in the series are anything like this, I'm going to be indisposed for a bit. 5 Stars.

I haven't played Strahd yet, but our Sunday group is going to, so I wanted to get some lore. Dayum. Yep, be afraid of that whole module is what I took away from this book.