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aoc's review
3.0
Just like its predecessor, The Eye of Gehenna is yet again a compilation of novels published in the Clan Novel Saga for Vampire: the Masquerade earlier. Sharing its structure we are once again dealing with chapters from the original novels re-arranged in chronological order as things surrounding the mysterious Eye of Hazimel and upcoming Final Nights themselves.
Looming against the backdrop of Sabbat's conquest of Atlanta and surrounding cities we get to inhabit plenty of characters observing the crisis while taking refuge elsewhere. From exiled Ventrue Prince, Toreador courtier of legendary renown and information brokers that are clan Nosferatu - all must find a way to strike back as Europe sends its own Jan Pieterzoon to be their chief advisor. Except, all these scheming Camarilla vampires pale in comparison to true monsters that are Sabbat members and their own brutal power plays. Courts on both sides get fleshed out providing the reader with quite the insight into how these sects operate top to bottom.
At a glance unrelated to this crisis, beyond losing his agent in Atlanta, we continue with archeological adventures of Hesha Ruhadze, Setite on a mission to procure the mystical Eye that's been in the background for quite some time. We see in great detail how a vampire elder would actually run an organization of ghouls and wealth that makes travel around the world a breeze even for an undead manipulator. And with the latest addition of Elizabeth Dimitros as his academic we get to explore a warped dynamic. Also, all hell breaks down in India with greater implications for greater World of Darkness lore.
Above are the two biggest arcs in the compilation and I won't go others beyond saying there's a lot of Gangrel stuff as it introduces Ramona, a fledgling vampire, and a lot of psychedelic stuff surrounding the Eye of Hazimel and Tremere sorcery. Some bits featuring characters telling tales got my eyes glazing, but they're not intolerable. Really, biggest credit to The Eye of Gehenna is how seamlessly integrated all the parts are considering we're dealing with four authors and fragmented chapters. You don't need to know much about World of Darkness and it might actually help as more than few POV characters are supposed to be totally lost about what's going on. I think it carries across rather well. Others, like the Tremere esoteric nature of magic and ritual spellcasting, might require a re-read if you don't know anything about them beyond "fireball-throwing vampires".
There's lot of seemingly unrelated throwaway stories or characters here, but if The Fall of Atlanta was anything to go by they may return in the forthcoming compilation(s) so keep mental notes.
Looming against the backdrop of Sabbat's conquest of Atlanta and surrounding cities we get to inhabit plenty of characters observing the crisis while taking refuge elsewhere. From exiled Ventrue Prince, Toreador courtier of legendary renown and information brokers that are clan Nosferatu - all must find a way to strike back as Europe sends its own Jan Pieterzoon to be their chief advisor. Except, all these scheming Camarilla vampires pale in comparison to true monsters that are Sabbat members and their own brutal power plays. Courts on both sides get fleshed out providing the reader with quite the insight into how these sects operate top to bottom.
At a glance unrelated to this crisis, beyond losing his agent in Atlanta, we continue with archeological adventures of Hesha Ruhadze, Setite on a mission to procure the mystical Eye that's been in the background for quite some time. We see in great detail how a vampire elder would actually run an organization of ghouls and wealth that makes travel around the world a breeze even for an undead manipulator. And with the latest addition of Elizabeth Dimitros as his academic we get to explore a warped dynamic. Also, all hell breaks down in India with greater implications for greater World of Darkness lore.
Above are the two biggest arcs in the compilation and I won't go others beyond saying there's a lot of Gangrel stuff as it introduces Ramona, a fledgling vampire, and a lot of psychedelic stuff surrounding the Eye of Hazimel and Tremere sorcery. Some bits featuring characters telling tales got my eyes glazing, but they're not intolerable. Really, biggest credit to The Eye of Gehenna is how seamlessly integrated all the parts are considering we're dealing with four authors and fragmented chapters. You don't need to know much about World of Darkness and it might actually help as more than few POV characters are supposed to be totally lost about what's going on. I think it carries across rather well. Others, like the Tremere esoteric nature of magic and ritual spellcasting, might require a re-read if you don't know anything about them beyond "fireball-throwing vampires".
There's lot of seemingly unrelated throwaway stories or characters here, but if The Fall of Atlanta was anything to go by they may return in the forthcoming compilation(s) so keep mental notes.
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