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Ravenloft #8
The Enemy Within: A Ravenloft Novel
Sir Tristan Hiregaard of Nova Vaasa appears outwardly to be a kind nobleman who would never harm anyone. But his sinister alter-ego, the evil crime lord Malken, finds no act too base when it comes to extending his vast criminal empire.
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First published February 1, 1994
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About the author
Christie Golden
199 books1,864 followersAward-winning author Christie Golden has written over thirty novels and several short stories in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror. She has over a million books in print.
2009 will see no fewer than three novels published. First out in late April will be a World of Warcraft novel, Athas: Rise of the Lich King. This is the first Warcraft novel to appear in hardcover. Fans of the young paladin who fell so far from grace will get to read his definitive story.
In June, Golden’s first Star Wars novel, also a hardcover, sees print. Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi—Omen is the second in a nine-book series she is co-authoring with Aaron Allston and Troy Denning. Also in June comes the conclusion of Golden’s StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga with the release of Twlight, the third book in the series. The first two are Firstborn and Shadow Hunters.
2004 saw the launch of an original fantasy series called The Final Dance, from LUNA Books. The first novel in the series, On Fire's Wings, was published in July of that year. The second, In Stone’s Clasp , came out in September of 2005. With In Stone’s Clasp, Golden won the Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel for the second time. The third book, Under Sea’s Shadow, is available only as an e-book
Golden is also the author of two original fantasy novels from Ace Books, King's Man and Thief and Instrument of Fate, which made the 1996 Nebula Preliminary Ballot. Under the pen name of Jadrien Bell, she wrote a historical fantasy thriller entitled A.D. 999, which won the Colorado Author's League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel of 1999.
Golden launched the TSR Ravenloft line in 1991 with her first novel, the highly successful Vampire of the Mists , which introduced elven vampire Jander Sunstar. Golden followed up Vampire with Dance of the Dead and The Enemy Within . In September of 2006, fifteen years to the month, The Ravenloft Covenant: Vampire of the Mists enabled Jander Sunstar to reach a whole new audience.
Other projects include a slew of Star Trek novels, among them The Murdered Sun , Marooned , and Seven of Nine , and "The Dark Matters Trilogy," Cloak and Dagger , Ghost Dance and Shadow of Heaven .
The Voyager novel relaunch, which includes Homecoming and The Farther Shore , were bestsellers and were the fastest-selling Trek novels of 2003. Golden continued writing VOYAGER novels even though the show went off the air, and enjoyed exploring the creative freedom that gave her in the two-parter called Spirit Walk, which includes Old Wounds and Enemy of my Enemy .
Golden has also written the novelization of Steven Spielberg's Invasion America and an original "prequel," On The Run , both of which received high praise from producer Harve Bennett. On The Run, a combination medical thriller and science fiction adventure, even prompted Bennett to invite Golden to assist in crafting the second season of the show, if it was renewed.
Golden lives in Loveland, Colorado, with her artist husband and their two cats.
2009 will see no fewer than three novels published. First out in late April will be a World of Warcraft novel, Athas: Rise of the Lich King. This is the first Warcraft novel to appear in hardcover. Fans of the young paladin who fell so far from grace will get to read his definitive story.
In June, Golden’s first Star Wars novel, also a hardcover, sees print. Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi—Omen is the second in a nine-book series she is co-authoring with Aaron Allston and Troy Denning. Also in June comes the conclusion of Golden’s StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga with the release of Twlight, the third book in the series. The first two are Firstborn and Shadow Hunters.
2004 saw the launch of an original fantasy series called The Final Dance, from LUNA Books. The first novel in the series, On Fire's Wings, was published in July of that year. The second, In Stone’s Clasp , came out in September of 2005. With In Stone’s Clasp, Golden won the Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel for the second time. The third book, Under Sea’s Shadow, is available only as an e-book
Golden is also the author of two original fantasy novels from Ace Books, King's Man and Thief and Instrument of Fate, which made the 1996 Nebula Preliminary Ballot. Under the pen name of Jadrien Bell, she wrote a historical fantasy thriller entitled A.D. 999, which won the Colorado Author's League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel of 1999.
Golden launched the TSR Ravenloft line in 1991 with her first novel, the highly successful Vampire of the Mists , which introduced elven vampire Jander Sunstar. Golden followed up Vampire with Dance of the Dead and The Enemy Within . In September of 2006, fifteen years to the month, The Ravenloft Covenant: Vampire of the Mists enabled Jander Sunstar to reach a whole new audience.
Other projects include a slew of Star Trek novels, among them The Murdered Sun , Marooned , and Seven of Nine , and "The Dark Matters Trilogy," Cloak and Dagger , Ghost Dance and Shadow of Heaven .
The Voyager novel relaunch, which includes Homecoming and The Farther Shore , were bestsellers and were the fastest-selling Trek novels of 2003. Golden continued writing VOYAGER novels even though the show went off the air, and enjoyed exploring the creative freedom that gave her in the two-parter called Spirit Walk, which includes Old Wounds and Enemy of my Enemy .
Golden has also written the novelization of Steven Spielberg's Invasion America and an original "prequel," On The Run , both of which received high praise from producer Harve Bennett. On The Run, a combination medical thriller and science fiction adventure, even prompted Bennett to invite Golden to assist in crafting the second season of the show, if it was renewed.
Golden lives in Loveland, Colorado, with her artist husband and their two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 26, 2017
The Enemy Within is one of the darker stories written in the Ravenloft series. Considering that this is a gothic horror series, that is saying something.
Sir Tristan Hiregaard is a honorable nobleman. He is the commander of the Guard and a close friend of the King of Nova Vaasa. But, when that King dies and is replaced by his stupid heir, Othmar, things start to go terribly wrong. Othmar feuds with a young Vistana named Amasa. Eventually this leads to Amasa's death and Sir Tristan is blamed. Yet, he still travels with the boy's body to the Vistani encampment to make amends. He survives the Vistani trial, yet the boy's sister Rozalia is consumed by hate for him and unleashes and awful curse that draws Nova Vaasa into the mists of Ravenloft.
This curse is also the birth of Malken. Malken, in a Dr. Jekyll and Hyde style, is the malevolent alter ego to Sir Tristan. Malken founds a cult devoted to Sehkmaa, the Cat God. It is merely a cover for the vast criminal organization founded by Malken. The story then follows Sir Tristan and the City guard in trying to solve a series of brutal murders and the strange behavior of all the cats-from the great plains cats to ordinary domestic cats, all of whom seem to have become feral.
This tale is part detective story and part magical struggle between two sides of Sir Tristan's personality. While it is considerably darker than the usual Ravenloft story, I just couldn't bring myself to really care for any of the main characters, with the exception of Sigfrid who is second in command of the Guard. Rozalia is one of the most dislikeable characters in the book. Her mindless and unthinking rage are the cause of this entire mess. In many ways she is far worse the villain than Malken, who is a product of her curse.
The character of Malken is also not to my liking. Many of the other dark lords of Ravenloft from Strahd to Azalin are awesome characters. Malken? Not so much. His attempts to wield a vast criminal network seems a little banal compared to the goal of the other dark lords. Still with a grim ending this story is a good one. While never rising to the levels of the other Ravenloft works, it is a rather good story. The fact that Sir Trsitan knowns what he is and tries many means to fight Malken is also rather interesting. All in all this is a 3 star story for me. Other's may like it far more than I did, but I leave that up to their judgement. To me this is one of those "yep I read that" kind of books that I am unlikely to pick up again for years, if ever. Whereas some of the other Ravenloft tales are so good that I often revisit them when the mood strikes me.
Sir Tristan Hiregaard is a honorable nobleman. He is the commander of the Guard and a close friend of the King of Nova Vaasa. But, when that King dies and is replaced by his stupid heir, Othmar, things start to go terribly wrong. Othmar feuds with a young Vistana named Amasa. Eventually this leads to Amasa's death and Sir Tristan is blamed. Yet, he still travels with the boy's body to the Vistani encampment to make amends. He survives the Vistani trial, yet the boy's sister Rozalia is consumed by hate for him and unleashes and awful curse that draws Nova Vaasa into the mists of Ravenloft.
This curse is also the birth of Malken. Malken, in a Dr. Jekyll and Hyde style, is the malevolent alter ego to Sir Tristan. Malken founds a cult devoted to Sehkmaa, the Cat God. It is merely a cover for the vast criminal organization founded by Malken. The story then follows Sir Tristan and the City guard in trying to solve a series of brutal murders and the strange behavior of all the cats-from the great plains cats to ordinary domestic cats, all of whom seem to have become feral.
This tale is part detective story and part magical struggle between two sides of Sir Tristan's personality. While it is considerably darker than the usual Ravenloft story, I just couldn't bring myself to really care for any of the main characters, with the exception of Sigfrid who is second in command of the Guard. Rozalia is one of the most dislikeable characters in the book. Her mindless and unthinking rage are the cause of this entire mess. In many ways she is far worse the villain than Malken, who is a product of her curse.
The character of Malken is also not to my liking. Many of the other dark lords of Ravenloft from Strahd to Azalin are awesome characters. Malken? Not so much. His attempts to wield a vast criminal network seems a little banal compared to the goal of the other dark lords. Still with a grim ending this story is a good one. While never rising to the levels of the other Ravenloft works, it is a rather good story. The fact that Sir Trsitan knowns what he is and tries many means to fight Malken is also rather interesting. All in all this is a 3 star story for me. Other's may like it far more than I did, but I leave that up to their judgement. To me this is one of those "yep I read that" kind of books that I am unlikely to pick up again for years, if ever. Whereas some of the other Ravenloft tales are so good that I often revisit them when the mood strikes me.
November 14, 2023
In her last (to my knowledge) Ravenloft novel author Golden just goes for broke with the Evil- this book, though starting somewhat tamely with an troubled royal succession and a good old-fashioned Gypsy Curse on the protagonist then goes bonkers with serial murders, wild animal attacks, brainwashing of orphans, false prophets and underground orgies. The denouement, as well, was...uncoventional, to say the least, but on the whole I enjoyed this one even if it was relentlessly bleak.
This book features a Very Strange Case indeed...
This book features a Very Strange Case indeed...
January 29, 2016
Another fast-paced and enjoyable Ravenloft tome. Like most of the others, it's pure popcorn fiction, but it's also suitably ghoulish and chilly when needed. And yes, it's a rewrite of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but I found that no impediment to the book's innate enjoyment. As I keep saying in these D&D novel reviews - it's all good fun.
February 19, 2016
I have decided that if Strahd is not involved (that interesting vampire bastard), then Ravenloft is boy for me.
April 15, 2021
This was a good one. One of my favorite Ravenloft novels. Granted, it has been many years since I've read it.
September 5, 2023
A solid Ravenloft novel with a lot of gruesome deaths!
Read
October 6, 2020זה ספר פנטזיה-אימה פסיכולוגי כתוב היטב, למי שבתחום, מומלץ
June 7, 2021
I enjoyed this overall. It's a bit slow for a while, but when it picked up I couldn't wait to see what happened. I like Tristan, and it's pretty tragic the way the story pans out. If you like Ravenloft, I think you'll enjoy this Jeckyll and Hyde tale.
November 4, 2025
This one is a little strange, and I'm kind of wondering if Christie Golden was saddled with a lot of demands from editorial that were self-contradictory, because I've read plenty of her stuff before that was not this unfocused.
So here's the thing. Like, is the fact that Tristan is Malken supposed to be a twist? Sometimes it feels that way, and sometimes it's the most oddly overmentioned piece of dramatic irony ever. Like, it can't be, right? Literally this is shown on the cover. Yet it hinders Tristan for a shockingly long time, not realizing it.
Everything about the Church of Sekhmaa (sp?) is bonkers. Like it makes sense on zero levels. But I'm willing to suspend my disbelief.
There are other things, but I won't bother listing them.
Basically I just kept reading, hoping things would make more sense eventually, and because the writing itself is still perfectly readable, and I wasn't disappointed. The ending is batshit OTT and ridiculously bloody, as a good Ravenloft tale should be. I was honestly a little sad for it to be over with. I need to go find a copy of the Ravenloft ... whatever the book was that listed all the domains and their lords and gave background info. Pretty sure Nova Vassa is in there.
Anyway, definitely a pleasant experience overall.
So here's the thing. Like, is the fact that Tristan is Malken supposed to be a twist? Sometimes it feels that way, and sometimes it's the most oddly overmentioned piece of dramatic irony ever. Like, it can't be, right? Literally this is shown on the cover. Yet it hinders Tristan for a shockingly long time, not realizing it.
Everything about the Church of Sekhmaa (sp?) is bonkers. Like it makes sense on zero levels. But I'm willing to suspend my disbelief.
There are other things, but I won't bother listing them.
Basically I just kept reading, hoping things would make more sense eventually, and because the writing itself is still perfectly readable, and I wasn't disappointed. The ending is batshit OTT and ridiculously bloody, as a good Ravenloft tale should be. I was honestly a little sad for it to be over with. I need to go find a copy of the Ravenloft ... whatever the book was that listed all the domains and their lords and gave background info. Pretty sure Nova Vassa is in there.
Anyway, definitely a pleasant experience overall.
December 19, 2023
It starts off promising enough, but the initial plot quickly gets ignored when an idiotic plot happens and completely overtakes the story. Cue an unreasonable amount of escalation and literally everybody except the protag being absolutely braindead, and the story just.. sorta ends abruptly with an half-assed copout plot twist that doesn't make sense
January 19, 2020
Started slow with a predictable ending.
That being said, it is worth the read. Ravenloft books are always fun and this one is no different. One unanswered question was where did the powers come from?
That being said, it is worth the read. Ravenloft books are always fun and this one is no different. One unanswered question was where did the powers come from?
February 20, 2017
At times this book was so insanely predictable, and at other times all over the place. Probably the weakest of the series thus far.
August 31, 2019
Ravenloft novels are a safe bet. This is maybe a little bit worst than the other I've read but was anyway enjoyable.
December 24, 2021
The ravenloft series is dark and this entry is no different. This was just OK. The story line was interesting, but didn't move fast enough to keep me engaged.
April 1, 2025
A new Domain of Dread for me, this was a curious one to discover. I'm interested to know more about it, as I wonder if it was followed up on.
December 11, 2020
★★★★★ 4.75 stars
Golden pens another very impressive Fantasy Horror novel that goes beyond the normal literary flair of much of the Fantasy genre. This was a great Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Hyde-esque story, with enough clever plot twists, dread, dashed hopes, and tragic drama to set it apart from the classic tale.
A good man is condemned by a vindictive Vistania (Ravenloft’s gypsies) woman for a crime he didn’t commit, therein thrusting Nova Vaasa into the Mists of Ravenloft... and giving birth to a monster named “Malken the Cat”, a fiend that would make Jack the Ripper smile.
I have read in various Ravenloft lore that this rendition of Tristan Hiregaard’s backstory is not canonical. But I found Golden’s version here, where Tristan was merely an innocent man of sound morals cursed by a vindictive woman, to be much more interesting story than what the original 1990 Campaign setting box version depicted.
Golden pens another very impressive Fantasy Horror novel that goes beyond the normal literary flair of much of the Fantasy genre. This was a great Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Hyde-esque story, with enough clever plot twists, dread, dashed hopes, and tragic drama to set it apart from the classic tale.
A good man is condemned by a vindictive Vistania (Ravenloft’s gypsies) woman for a crime he didn’t commit, therein thrusting Nova Vaasa into the Mists of Ravenloft... and giving birth to a monster named “Malken the Cat”, a fiend that would make Jack the Ripper smile.
I have read in various Ravenloft lore that this rendition of Tristan Hiregaard’s backstory is not canonical. But I found Golden’s version here, where Tristan was merely an innocent man of sound morals cursed by a vindictive woman, to be much more interesting story than what the original 1990 Campaign setting box version depicted.
January 15, 2013
I just couldn't finish this one! It was very boring and the pace was horribly slow. Not much was going on and nothing seemed to be happening! Skip it if you are inclined to read fantasy!
October 28, 2012
Another Ravenloft!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews