Spectre of the Black Rose (Ravenloft Terror of Lord Soth, Vol. 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

James Lowder (Author), Voronica Whitney-Robinson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ravenloft | Publication Date: March 1, 1999

In this chilling sequel to the best-selling Knight of the Black Rose, factions vie for control of Sithicus as Lord Soth -- darklord and former knight from the Dragonlance world -- fights to keep his reign from crumbling. Even as he struggles to defeat his enemies, rumor reaches him that the White Rose haunts the land. Has Kitiara finally returned to Soth, or is this another spectre from the death knight's tragic past?

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786913339
• ISBN-13: 978-0786913336
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Gaming > Dungeons & Dragons

More About the Author

James Lowder has worked extensively on both sides of the editorial blotter. His credits include the bestselling novels Prince of Lies and Knight of the Black Rose, short fiction for such anthologies as Truth Until Paradox and Shadows Over Baker Street, and comic book scripts for DC, Devil's Due, Moonstone, and the city of Boston's First Night celebration. His work has been translated into more than ten languages, including Hungarian, Yiddish, and Russian. He's written hundreds of feature articles and book, film, and game reviews for such diverse publications as Dragon, Amazing Stories, Sci-Fi Universe, Milwaukee Magazine, and The New England Journal of History, and published role-playing game material for Dungeons & Dragons, Call of Cthulhu, Marvel Super Heroes, and various other systems. As an editor, he's directed book lines or series for TSR, Green Knight, and CDS Books, and has helmed a dozen critically acclaimed anthologies, including The Book of All Flesh, Hobby Games: The 100 Best, and Worlds of Their Own. He's been a finalist for the International Horror Guild Award and the Stoker Award, and has won five Origins Awards and a silver ENnie Award.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soth and Lowder a match made in Hea...er Ravenloft!, August 18, 2005

By 

Andrew Gray "Beezer Review" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spectre of the Black Rose (Ravenloft Terror of Lord Soth, Vol. 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is the sequel to Knight of the Black Rose. Once again Lowder does a masterful job of telling the story of Lord Soth and what makes him tick. Past book about Lord Soth focus on him being a supreme villian and the history of his 'transformation' into a Death Knight. Yet, in this book, Lowder does a very good job of getting inside Soth's head and letting the reaer know what he is thinking.

Unlike the first Ravenloft book about Soth this one has a little more intrique in it. There is a mystery in this book that Soth is continually faced with, just who is the White Rose? Fans of the Dragonlance Chronicles will understand this subplot the more they read about it.

Lowder again proves that he can create interesting characters and stories behind those characters with seemingly very little effort. The Bloody Cobbler being one of the most interesting Ravenloft characters I have ever read about. I wish he would have gotten his own book, but alas we don't always get what we want.

If you are a fan of the Dragonlance books I highly suggest you pick up this book and give it a shot, I don't think you will be disappointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Soth! Bad as he wants to be!, June 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Spectre of the Black Rose (Ravenloft Terror of Lord Soth, Vol. 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

These two authors do an excellent job creating some fresh characters and tying them all together in a tale that establishes once and for all just how evil Soth can be. The Ghost Cobbler and the Whispering Beast are two very unique creations. One is a spirit that has a horrific method of guiding people to their proper paths in life by, shall we say, exchanging the soles of their feet with those of another. The other is a relentless master of all those who break their oaths. The White Rose also makes an appearance for the first time. There are clues as to the identity of this trio midway through the novel. The author reveals just who they are at the finale, in a confrontation that explains why Soth and Sithica became imprisoned in the Ravenloft realm. I disagree with readers who say that Soth was written as gullible. Despite his staggering power, and tactical mind past tales have established that Soth has always been a slave to his rage. And in this story he stays true to form. The reader's attention is held by the story all the way to the last page not just by the mysterious trio, but by the covert power play occuring in Sithica unbeknownst to Soth, and by the efforts of one young man to recover his bride in the midst of all this. This book provides a thrilling, intricate story with rich characters. But the ending leaves me thinking that this is the last tale for the character Soth. I don't see how his character can develop from this point. But I must say that if his story concludes here, it is a well-thought and powerful conclusion.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It could've been better., March 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Spectre of the Black Rose (Ravenloft Terror of Lord Soth, Vol. 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Disappointing. Soth barely appears, everybody fools him, and he does nothing interesting or new. Anyway, there are some good characters and subplots. Predictable.