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shadowspinner's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Child death and Animal death
bloodravenlib's review
4.0
I had read a couple of the Ravenloft series books, so this seemed like a good one to pick up. The fact that it was short stories was appealing, as it makes it an easy book to pick and put down as need be. I got it used at Half Price books. We'll see how it turns out.
* * *
After a few months, I finally got it done. The nice thing about short fiction for me is that I can pick it up and drop it, then come back to it. That is what I did with this one. I had a couple of library books I needed to read sooner, so I put this to the side for a while. Overall, I will say this was a pretty good collection. The stories later in the book get better. There is one where Strahd Von Zarovich, the lord of Ravenloft appears, and another featuring the Knight of the Black Rose. These are regular characters of the series. While it is not necessary to have read other novels in the Ravenloft series, readers who have will probably appreciate the stories a bit more. I particularly liked the twist at the end on the Black Knight's tale. Actually, twists were a common feature in this anthology. If I recall, only one or two stories towards the beginning were a bit slow, but past that, the selections were good, some a bit scarier than others. Overall, if you are looking for some light entertainment with a horror element, this may be the book for you.
* * *
After a few months, I finally got it done. The nice thing about short fiction for me is that I can pick it up and drop it, then come back to it. That is what I did with this one. I had a couple of library books I needed to read sooner, so I put this to the side for a while. Overall, I will say this was a pretty good collection. The stories later in the book get better. There is one where Strahd Von Zarovich, the lord of Ravenloft appears, and another featuring the Knight of the Black Rose. These are regular characters of the series. While it is not necessary to have read other novels in the Ravenloft series, readers who have will probably appreciate the stories a bit more. I particularly liked the twist at the end on the Black Knight's tale. Actually, twists were a common feature in this anthology. If I recall, only one or two stories towards the beginning were a bit slow, but past that, the selections were good, some a bit scarier than others. Overall, if you are looking for some light entertainment with a horror element, this may be the book for you.
n8hanson's review
2.0
I wasn't expecting high literature from a collection of short stories based on a gothic horror campaign for Dungeons & Dragons. But even with rather low standards, a handful of mildly entertaining stories couldn't rescue the rest of the collection from cliched mediocrity. I honestly wondered if some of them were written by high school sophomores.
Oh, well; not every $0.25 flea market buy is going to rock my socks.
Oh, well; not every $0.25 flea market buy is going to rock my socks.
mw2k's review
4.0
This is a collection of mostly entertaining Ravenloft-themed short stories. Lots of cautionary tales in the classic horror vein, with people reaping the ghoulish consequences of their actions, falling for nasty traps and generally getting their comeuppances.
One of the better Ravenloft outings I've read, and gives fillip to the idea that the milieu is better suited to the short story format.
One of the better Ravenloft outings I've read, and gives fillip to the idea that the milieu is better suited to the short story format.
ipacho's review
3.0
A mixed collection of short stories that give a good feel of the RPG setting. However, some are better done than others.
ghotisticks's review
2.0
I wasn't expecting high literature from a collection of short stories based on a gothic horror campaign for Dungeons & Dragons. But even with rather low standards, a handful of mildly entertaining stories couldn't rescue the rest of the collection from cliched mediocrity. I honestly wondered if some of them were written by high school sophomores.
Oh, well; not every $0.25 flea market buy is going to rock my socks.
Oh, well; not every $0.25 flea market buy is going to rock my socks.
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