The Enemy Within (Ravenloft)

Rating:
Summary: Good RL book...
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Good RL book...
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent horror
Review: An excellent telling of the story of one of Ravenloft's more tragic darklords. The ending leaves you satisfied, but wanting more.

Rating:
Summary: An excelent example of Gothic Horror
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A good read, even if it is completely false
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A good read, even if it is completely false
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A good book without a story book ending
Review: 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

Rating:
Summary: An interesting crime fantasy
Review: Tristin Hiregaard is the fuedal lord of Nova Vassa, which has fallen under seige of a serial killer who has the city in the grip of fear and panic. At the same time a bizare cat cult springs up out of nowhere, with a rarely seen but possibly dangerous leader Malken. If you have read the back cover of the book, and know the story of "Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde", than you have probably figured out that Melken and Tristan are the same person. But the story also goes a lot deeper than that. Malken is a lot more dynamic than you might expect, with equal parts of, yes, Mr. Jekell, but also Jim Jones, Darth Vader, Al Capone, Marques De Sade, and a little bit of Jack the Ripper; you have still only scratched the surface. Tristan is a powerful but good community leader, a man who has worked hard for a peace that Malken is tearing a part. He is working closely with his captian of the guard Sigfrid to try to root out the killer and the cult that seems to run more like the mafia. I liked "Enemy Within" because it is a very complicated crime novel, a serial killer/police procedural, and still distictly Dungeons and Dragons all at the same time.