Customer Reviews

King of the Dead (Ravenloft Novel, No 13)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After decades of reading typical TSR tripe about how anything which isn't US is a "monster," along comes DeWeese and shows us that not only are the Monsters on Maple Street, they are in TSR's Oerth, too, as he explores the twisted and convoulted beginnings of Azalin the Lich, one of the most evil of Ravenloft's Darklords.

DeWeese's Azalin is *NOT*, however, a simple good-and-evil kind of guy, or even a good guy who becomes a villain. Rather, he is an exceedingly complex character whose hubris is matched only by his damnably Lawful sense of absolute duty (a personality flaw in almost all of the worst rulers of Ravenloft domains).

By the time the book is over (although it continues -- even more poignantly -- in "Lord of the Necropolis"), one is almost tempted to weep for poor Azalin, who we learn, isn't even "Azalin" by name -- he is a man (?) who has lost even his own identity in his efforts to be as rigid as steel, a fault which the Powers of Ravenloft use against him, imposing on him rules even more tortuous than those which he imposes on others. The suffering of (most of) Azalin's victim's eventually ends; his never does.

The Ravenloft campaign setting features "domains" ruled by evil lords. DeWeese shows us one of them in greater detail than any other, even Strahd the vampire lord. Azalin's struggles are against Strahd, whom Azalin believes can free him from the doom which he has brought upon himself and his family and his realm, and against the mysterious Powers which actually rule Ravenloft, torturing the lords of the domains in their own private mental hells are poignantly drawn, and Azalin's frustration and his tortured madness resonate through this novel. "King of the Dead" is a valuable addition to anyone's library of Ravenloft books, but it also makes a good read for anyone interested in a book which examines the tortured soul of a man who is doomed to do what he thinks is "good," only to have horrible consequences arise from his every deed. Azalin never wanted to be evil, but he is the victim of a terrible fate, and "King of the Dead" shows us his unfolding doom....

Every so often, TSR publishes a novel that is above and beyond all the others written so far. KotD, by Gene DeWeese- whose only other work in RL was the enjoyable short story "Von Kahrkov" in the Tales of Ravenloft anthology -is one of these books.

It joins previous greats Heart of Midnight, I, Strahd: the Memoirs of a Vampire, Mordenheim, and Scholar of Decay on the "what's what" list of RL novels (from what I've read, only the new I, Strahd: the War Against Azalin is the only other worthy addition published after KotD, though I have yet to read Lord of the Necropolis, by the same author, and Shadowborn).

The book is an example of a retelling of past history as part of the current storyline (a literary idea so well-done in Mordenheim), allowing for the entire book to take place in the space of about two to three days. The end result is to die for, and Azalin establishes himself as one of Ravenloft's greatest terrors. The best part, though, is that Azalin hails from the (until now) discontinued world of Greyhawk, and much of his history takes place there, giving novice readers and players (like myself, to a point) a glimpse into one of the most-popular worlds ever made. In all, KotD is an excellent tale and well-recommended.

This was one book that I had a lot of trouble finding, since it is no longer being printed. However, when I managed to get my hands on it, it was well worth the trouble. Azalin's past and his coming to power was a story that needed to be told. After all he is a major rival to Lord Strahd for control. "King of the Dead" is one book that needs to find it's way back into print for others to enjoy.

This is a great book describing the lord of Ravenloft. It gives details of his life and death, or undeath, that makes it seem highly believable. Any that have read books mentioning or concerning Strahd will find that this books gives enlightenment to his inner self. A very well writen book and I recommend it to anyone.

A book like this, should never be passed up on. It tells the beginning of the only darklord to ever escape Ravenloft. With only the I Strahd, War against Azalin farce about Strahd out-thinking Azalin, all Ravenloft books, depict a close similarity to the game setting, while making the world come alive in ways only the best DM's could.

This book is the best version yet of how a dark lord came to Ravenloft. A must for a D&D reader or just for fun.

Ugh! Finishing this book, I felt like Sisyphus eternally rolling the (book) stone up his hill - the task never ended. Random words on a page would have been marginally more entertaining and could have possibly held more meaning.

There is one character in this book. The rest are just names (with an occasional, conservative dash of personality). This single character is completely unlikable, uninteresting, and ultimately incomprehensible, as he is split into multiple "personalities".

The story covers a couple hundred years taking 20-40 years at a leap between every other short chapter. This gives the story a rushed feel or makes the reader feels like he's reading a history without much detail (or an outline).

Strahd makes an appearance and is equally uninteresting and has no personality. The ending is confused and sad...

Throw out "A catcher in the rye","To Kill a Mocking bird",and Their eyes were watching God".This book is a good read.Azalin is a charecter to end all charecters!

This book is better than any other monkey book I have ever read.