Crypt of the Vampire (Golden Dragon) [Paperback]

Dave Morris (Author), Leo Hartas (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

ea. vol: illus. by Leo Hartas. unpaged. (Golden Dragon Fantasy Gamebook Series). Pacer/Berkley. Mar. 1986. $2.50. Grade 7-12 These fantasy adventures are considerably more complicated than most participation books. They are actually role-playing games, and must be read with paper, pencil, and a pair of dice at hand. Dice rolls establish your assets and abilities at the beginning of the book, and determine your success against the hideous monsters that wait at every turn of the path. Both the Crypt and the Temple are filled with ingenious traps, and it is very easy to get killed.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback
• Publisher: Berkley Pub Group (Mm) (December 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425087611
• ISBN-13: 978-0425087619
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,279,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dave Morris is a bestselling author - in fact, he was 1990's top-selling author in the UK.

In addition to having written a string of adventure novels and role-playing gamebooks for older kids and young adults, he is also an award-winning videogame designer with two Top Ten hits to his name.

As a mentor in the American Film Institute digital content lab, he has worked with partners like NBC and Microsoft to create new forms of entertainment that fuse the best of traditional storytelling and interactivity. As a scriptwriter he has worked for the BBC, Endemol, Carlton, Pearson and Flextech.

All of these skills of drama, visual storytelling, interactive design and new media come together in his epic 900-page graphic novel saga Mirabilis, part-funded by Random House, which was launched in both digital and print media in early 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Golden Dragon: Crypt of the Vampire, a good read?, April 12, 2004

By 

Jon L. (My body, where else!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crypt of the Vampire (Golden Dragon) (Paperback)

Well the answer to my title is yes. This unlike other gamebooks I have read let the player name their character and gave me very open roleplaying decisions. I also like the excitement factor which the author is maintaining constantly. I loved how clever traps were thrown at my character and how I nearly reached failure in some of the traps. The illustrations in Crypt of the Vampire are well done too. The combat system the author uses is very simple and easy to pick up too so this game can be played by not only the seasoned roleplayer. My friend who normally does not roleplay even enjoyed this book. All together, I think that this is a great book which most people seeking a short fantasty trip or many will enjoy. Defintely a book which you should purchase!

4.0 out of 5 stars This is what I was expecting!, August 5, 2011

By 

Wmpyr - See all my reviews

This review is from: Crypt of the Vampire (Golden Dragon) (Paperback)

The best choose your own adventure vampire book I've read.
The author's writing style sets the mood very well. This book did not feel too kiddy. A movie I can compare this to in feel would be, Young Sherlock Holmes. The book is not terribly difficult nor is it easy. Although I've heard people say it's on the difficult side. This book is meant to be played with dice, paper and of course making decisions by going to the right page. The ending is very suspenseful, and something to look forward to! Every good book like this has a worthy villain and this one is no exception. The vampire Lord Tenebron is a worthy adversary!

more in depth...
A short and easy read, a relatively thin book that can fit in your coat pocket.
Basically a "Choose your adventure book" that also requires paper, pencil & two dice, but it's possible to read through without doing so.

You are a generic hero that embarks on an adventure to defeat the vampire Lord Tenebron.
The main aspect of this book is to explore a creepy mansion while finding and collecting the right items to make it through the book and to also defeat Lord Tenebron.
You will encounter a hell hound, an elf, giant spider, barbarian, witch and other things that go bump in the night. Personally I wish that there were more encounters with vampire-esque things. A note worthy creative scene is when you encounter an old man to play a game of Chess.

The game is a little hard because there are some blind choices you have to make, and it seems like the only way to get it right for certain is from your experience of having been through both choices.

All in all a fun read, wait until you finally get to encounter Lord Tenebron for the final battle. They did a good job for that scene simply by the way they put the illustrations into the book.