"In the course of centuries, many bold explorers, well armed and highly magicked, had gone in to deal with ‘the devil Strahd,’ as he was known locally. None had ever come out—at least not in the same condition as they’d gone in."

Before I get into the review, I want to give a piece of advice: If you're a current, or future, player in a Curse of Strahd campaign, refrain from reading this book until after your campaign ends to avoid spoilers.

With that aside... if you are a Curse of Strahd DM, or a fan of the Ravenloft modules, this book is a must read. I can't count how many highlights and annotations I've made throughout.

Can this book be read casually, as someone who knows nothing about Strahd, Barovia, or Ravenloft? Absolutely. It could still be an enjoyable read, and Elrod ensures that. However, the experience and immersion of reading this while knowing Strahd beforehand is unparalleled.

Elrod does a fantastic job of portraying Strahd. She gives us a deep-dive into the mind of the villain we've all grown to hate and love. Her analysis of the character adds a complexity that is vital to his understanding. She exceeds at creating a balance. She does not shy away from emphasizing that Strahd is merciless and 'too far gone', yet still succeeds in tugging at your heartstrings by portraying the grief and tragedy that plagues him.

Human Strahd was a delight to read. How he views himself, how he views the world, and others. His motivations. His upbringing. It helped me draw many comparisons from the man that he once was to the one that we see in modules and campaigns today. And of course... the crème de la crème of the book: Strahd's own account of that ill-fated night that changed everything.

There are slight canon variations, yet they're done so in a manner that is tasteful, and still true to the story and nature of Strahd and Ravenloft. I found myself even wishing to incorporate those changes into my campaigns as a DM.

Even the side characters were enjoyable, and didn't feel overshadowed by Strahd. Alek Gwilym was an amazing addition, and quickly became a favorite of mine.

Overall, this book was fantastic. I am a long-time Ravenloft fan, and a three-time Strahd DM. So perhaps my review is a bit biased. But I think coming into this already having an intrigue or fascination adds more to the experience, as opposed to taking away from it. So far, this may just be my favorite read of 2024.

I enjoyed this story though Stahd wasn't how I was expecting him to be. It has made me excited to start prepping to DM the campaign though!

Enjoyable book. I didn’t feel that attached to the characters so I don’t think I’ll end up rereading though.