Customer Reviews

The Enemy Within

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Recently I have read a lot of "happy" endings. Where the main character saves the maiden, blah blah blah. I have read almost all of Christie Golden's work and find her a superb author. She seems to understand that real life is not what some write. Mistakes are made, and family memebers *DO* die from time to time. When you finish one of her books, any of them, you feel sad for the main character and all those who lost their lives, but at least you don't feel like they should live happily-ever-after. The Enemy Within was certainly her classic style, right down to the win/lose ending. It might lag a touch in certain areas, but it more than makes up for it in the climax and resolution

In yet another example of the misinterpreted, confused history of Sir Tristen Hiregaard, we have TEW, Christie Golden's third (and worst) RL novel. However, that is not to say it is bad. Quite the opposite, it is well done and a rousing tale.

Let me clarify my above statement by saying Sir Tristen Hiregaard (not Tristan, as it is in this book) is known for having the worst continuity of any RL character, having no less than four histories, this being the third such. To help, however, the "true" one can be found in Domains of Dread, the hardcover sourcebook for the Ravenloft role-playing game.

This book, however, take all of the previous histories (which coincided fairly well) and tossed it out the window, giving us a strange tale that is not only completely opposite to Tristen/Malken's character, but completely opposite to the very history of Nova Vaasa itself.

But, I am speaking as a fan of the game world. As a fan of the novel series, I still have to say it is an excellent read (though not as good as Vampire of the Mists or Dance of the Dead, Golden's other contributions), even if it is non-canon.

An excellent telling of the story of one of Ravenloft's more tragic darklords. The ending leaves you satisfied, but wanting more.

Christie Golden has always impressed me with her ability to scare us witless. Not only with monsters and killers, but with plain facts about our own darkness. The Enemy Within is a Dr Jekyle/Mr Hyde story, but Christie Golden was able to shed new light on this age old tale.

After reading 4 other Ravenloft books back-to-back-to-back-to-back and not really liking any of them, this book was a nice change. It wasn't fantastic, but based on the other 9 Ravenloft books I've read thus far, this one easily ranks in the upper half. I found the story to be quite interesting and had no problem reading it from beginning to end without ever feeling bored. I do recommend this book but as always, "Vampire of the Mists", "I, Strahd" (both of them) and "Knight of the Black Rose" was better.