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Gabriel Knight #2
The Beast Within
The ebook edition was offered to backers who pledged $50 or more to the "Jane Jensen's Moebius and Pinkerton Road Studio" Kickstarter campaign.
Just as Gabriel Knight is finally settling into his ancestral home in Germany, he is called upon in his role as schattenjagger, or "shadow hunter", to help solve the savage killing of a young girl. The authorities claim it was a wolf escaped from the zoo, but the townspeople say it is a werewolf. Gabriel soon becomes certain the answer lies within an exclusive hunting club in Munich that celebrates the nature of the beast. As his loyal assistant Grace delves into the past to discover the truth, Gabriel finds himself ensnared in a sinister trap, in which the beast within himself becomes the greatest threat of all
Just as Gabriel Knight is finally settling into his ancestral home in Germany, he is called upon in his role as schattenjagger, or "shadow hunter", to help solve the savage killing of a young girl. The authorities claim it was a wolf escaped from the zoo, but the townspeople say it is a werewolf. Gabriel soon becomes certain the answer lies within an exclusive hunting club in Munich that celebrates the nature of the beast. As his loyal assistant Grace delves into the past to discover the truth, Gabriel finds himself ensnared in a sinister trap, in which the beast within himself becomes the greatest threat of all
374 pages, ebook
First published December 3, 1998
12 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Jane Jensen
24 books190 followersJane Jensen is the game designer of the popular and critically acclaimed Gabriel Knight adventure games and author of the novels Judgement Day and Dante's Equation.
Jane Jensen was born Jane Elizabeth Smith, the youngest of seven children. She received a BA in Computer Science from Anderson University in Indiana and worked as a systems programmer for Hewlett-Packard. Her love of both computers and creative writing eventually led her to the computer gaming industry and Sierra Online where she worked as a writer on Police Quest III: The Kindred and EcoQuest: The Search for Cetus. After co-designing King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow with veteran game designer Roberta Williams, Jensen designed her first solo game: Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, which was released in 1993. The dark, supernatural mystery was a departure for Sierra but the game was enthusiastically received, with the strength of Jensen's writing, along with the game's horror and gothic sensibilities coming in for particular praise from the gaming press and earning the title Computer Gaming World's "Adventure Game of the Year" title.
Jensen followed up Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers with two sequels: The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery in 1995 and Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned in 1999. Somewhat unusually for an adventure game series, each Gabriel Knight title was produced in an entirely different format to the others. Whereas the original was a traditional 2D animated game, the sequels were realised through full motion video and a custom built 3D engine, respectively. Despite further acclaim for Jensen's design in both cases (The Beast Within was Computer Gaming World's "Game of the Year"), the large expenses associated with making the sequels, coupled with the declining marketability of adventure games (especially within Sierra) meant that a fourth in the series was not commissioned.
In 1996, Jensen published a novelization of the first Gabriel Knight game. A second Gabriel Knight novelization followed in 1998. In 1999, Jensen published her first non-adapted novel, Millennium Rising (later retitled Judgment Day). Her fourth book, Dante's Equation was published in 2003. Dante's Equation was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.
Jensen has been involved in designing casual online games at Oberon Media, of which she is a co-founder. Her work in the Hidden Object/light adventure category can partially be credited with moving casual games in the direction of full adventure games in puzzle and story sophistication. Some of her more notable recent hits include Deadtime Stories (2009) and Dying for Daylight (2010). After leaving Oberon in 2011, she briefly worked at Zynga.
Jensen's most recent full adventure game was called Gray Matter, which was developed by Wizarbox and published by dtp entertainment in 2010. On April 2, 2008 the game, originally intended to be developed by Hungarian software house Tonuzaba, switched to another developer, French company Wizarbox: as a result, the tentative release was changed and shifted to 2010.
Jane Jensen owns a farm in Pennsylvania where she lives with her husband, composer Robert Holmes, who composed the music for the Gabriel Knight series and for Gray Matter. On April 5, 2012, the couple announced the formation of Pinkerton Road, a new game development studio to be headquartered on their Lancaster, Pennsylvania farm. The studio will use a Community Supported Gaming (CSG) model to give subscribers direct access to the games they produce, similar to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) where small farms provide consumers with regular produce deliveries. With this announcement, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to raise funds for the studio's first year of game development.
Jensen is also a story consultant on Phoenix Online Studios' adventure game Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller.
Jane Jensen was born Jane Elizabeth Smith, the youngest of seven children. She received a BA in Computer Science from Anderson University in Indiana and worked as a systems programmer for Hewlett-Packard. Her love of both computers and creative writing eventually led her to the computer gaming industry and Sierra Online where she worked as a writer on Police Quest III: The Kindred and EcoQuest: The Search for Cetus. After co-designing King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow with veteran game designer Roberta Williams, Jensen designed her first solo game: Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers, which was released in 1993. The dark, supernatural mystery was a departure for Sierra but the game was enthusiastically received, with the strength of Jensen's writing, along with the game's horror and gothic sensibilities coming in for particular praise from the gaming press and earning the title Computer Gaming World's "Adventure Game of the Year" title.
Jensen followed up Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers with two sequels: The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery in 1995 and Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned in 1999. Somewhat unusually for an adventure game series, each Gabriel Knight title was produced in an entirely different format to the others. Whereas the original was a traditional 2D animated game, the sequels were realised through full motion video and a custom built 3D engine, respectively. Despite further acclaim for Jensen's design in both cases (The Beast Within was Computer Gaming World's "Game of the Year"), the large expenses associated with making the sequels, coupled with the declining marketability of adventure games (especially within Sierra) meant that a fourth in the series was not commissioned.
In 1996, Jensen published a novelization of the first Gabriel Knight game. A second Gabriel Knight novelization followed in 1998. In 1999, Jensen published her first non-adapted novel, Millennium Rising (later retitled Judgment Day). Her fourth book, Dante's Equation was published in 2003. Dante's Equation was nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award.
Jensen has been involved in designing casual online games at Oberon Media, of which she is a co-founder. Her work in the Hidden Object/light adventure category can partially be credited with moving casual games in the direction of full adventure games in puzzle and story sophistication. Some of her more notable recent hits include Deadtime Stories (2009) and Dying for Daylight (2010). After leaving Oberon in 2011, she briefly worked at Zynga.
Jensen's most recent full adventure game was called Gray Matter, which was developed by Wizarbox and published by dtp entertainment in 2010. On April 2, 2008 the game, originally intended to be developed by Hungarian software house Tonuzaba, switched to another developer, French company Wizarbox: as a result, the tentative release was changed and shifted to 2010.
Jane Jensen owns a farm in Pennsylvania where she lives with her husband, composer Robert Holmes, who composed the music for the Gabriel Knight series and for Gray Matter. On April 5, 2012, the couple announced the formation of Pinkerton Road, a new game development studio to be headquartered on their Lancaster, Pennsylvania farm. The studio will use a Community Supported Gaming (CSG) model to give subscribers direct access to the games they produce, similar to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) where small farms provide consumers with regular produce deliveries. With this announcement, a Kickstarter campaign was launched to raise funds for the studio's first year of game development.
Jensen is also a story consultant on Phoenix Online Studios' adventure game Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 31, 2018
I found a digital copy of this as it turns out the paperback is near-impossible to acquire these days. I wasn't expecting much in the way of literary merit, simply a way to get my Gabriel Knight fix having exhausted many of the best classic adventure game titles (not unlike how Gabriel might hunt down a shot of caffeine with little regard for much else).
I was pleasantly surprised to find some fairly solid characterisation (at least, for a game novelisation) and a wealth of details on the enigmatic central historical figure, 'Mad' King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Much research clearly went into this, and Jensen offers more than an uninspired rehash of the game (*cough*, Sins of the Fathers), with more context and motivation provided (and the convoluted puzzle logic removed, although a few game-driven devices remain). Oh, and certain aspects of the game, particularly the glaringly homoerotic subtext, also make much more sense.
Jensen has an unfortunate habit of lapsing into clichéd language, and the characters sometimes say things like 'Geez Louise!' This was also longer than it needed to be, and I would've liked to see more intersections between Gabriel and Grace, as their romantic tension is largely neglected.
At the same time, I would've appreciated learning a bit more about Grace outside her focus on all things Gabriel, as dreamy as his hair may be (the lady has an independent streak and a master's in history and classics but seems largely motivated by pursuing Gabriel all over the world). In addition, while the book gathers pace towards the end, the finale was rather unsatisfying.
Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable and easily absorbed dose of lycanthropic escapism with a warming glow of 90s nostalgia – perfect for a few long, wintry nights.
For other bookishly inclined posts, please check out my blog, Inky Squiggles.
I was pleasantly surprised to find some fairly solid characterisation (at least, for a game novelisation) and a wealth of details on the enigmatic central historical figure, 'Mad' King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Much research clearly went into this, and Jensen offers more than an uninspired rehash of the game (*cough*, Sins of the Fathers), with more context and motivation provided (and the convoluted puzzle logic removed, although a few game-driven devices remain). Oh, and certain aspects of the game, particularly the glaringly homoerotic subtext, also make much more sense.
Jensen has an unfortunate habit of lapsing into clichéd language, and the characters sometimes say things like 'Geez Louise!' This was also longer than it needed to be, and I would've liked to see more intersections between Gabriel and Grace, as their romantic tension is largely neglected.
At the same time, I would've appreciated learning a bit more about Grace outside her focus on all things Gabriel, as dreamy as his hair may be (the lady has an independent streak and a master's in history and classics but seems largely motivated by pursuing Gabriel all over the world). In addition, while the book gathers pace towards the end, the finale was rather unsatisfying.
Nevertheless, this was an enjoyable and easily absorbed dose of lycanthropic escapism with a warming glow of 90s nostalgia – perfect for a few long, wintry nights.
For other bookishly inclined posts, please check out my blog, Inky Squiggles.
February 5, 2025
Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within is clearly miles ahead of its predecessor. I hadn't read this one that much (twice, at most, really), and I didn't remember much of it except for the general story of the game. I didn't recall it being SO good and entising.
One of the best things in the book is how the story is told from two points of view: Gabriel's and Grace's. They're both working on the same case, but start off at different backgrounds, so that makes them both important characters, and the "hero" and "sidekick" idea is not that obvious. Grace is Gabriel's assistant, but she gets a lot of the action, too (in her own way, of course, she's more the intellectual and historical side of the story). We also get to learn a lot of more of the relationship between them both, even if they are appart, and a bit of their fears and doubts about themselves.
And Jane Jensen took the story to another level. While the idea of the game and a lot of its situations are still included, they're explained from a different point view and a more realistic, less round-about one. And I think it's absolutely amazing how this story of (supposed) fiction revolves around real history around King Ludwig II of Bavaria. I've researched a bit and it's like everything coincides: he was diagnosed and condemned as insane and the real reasons of his death remain a mistery. That's where the author seizes the opportunity to come up with a fantastic explanation, but the rest of the subjects touched upon his history seem to be REAL.
It's a much darker story as Sins of the Fathers, and it deals with a lot of duality for the main characters (hence, the title, I guess) and scenarios that trully put the heroes to the test. It's unexpectedly good.
One of the best things in the book is how the story is told from two points of view: Gabriel's and Grace's. They're both working on the same case, but start off at different backgrounds, so that makes them both important characters, and the "hero" and "sidekick" idea is not that obvious. Grace is Gabriel's assistant, but she gets a lot of the action, too (in her own way, of course, she's more the intellectual and historical side of the story). We also get to learn a lot of more of the relationship between them both, even if they are appart, and a bit of their fears and doubts about themselves.
And Jane Jensen took the story to another level. While the idea of the game and a lot of its situations are still included, they're explained from a different point view and a more realistic, less round-about one. And I think it's absolutely amazing how this story of (supposed) fiction revolves around real history around King Ludwig II of Bavaria. I've researched a bit and it's like everything coincides: he was diagnosed and condemned as insane and the real reasons of his death remain a mistery. That's where the author seizes the opportunity to come up with a fantastic explanation, but the rest of the subjects touched upon his history seem to be REAL.
It's a much darker story as Sins of the Fathers, and it deals with a lot of duality for the main characters (hence, the title, I guess) and scenarios that trully put the heroes to the test. It's unexpectedly good.
February 23, 2018
It's a better-than-average little Werewolf story, I think. Unlike "Sins of the Fathers" which read very much like a walkthrough of the game, this one concentrates a little harder on actually working as a novel. Don't get me wrong, the game was an absolute blast, but I'm glad Jensen worked around the ol' adventure game logic in this novelization. No cuckoo clocks and pigeons being pulled out of hammer space in the book, thankfully. I'd have liked a lot more character development, but overall, it's a fun light read for one long evening in, or two shorter ones.
July 1, 2020
I love Sierra games, and the Gabriel Knight series is no exception. This novelization of the second game was really well done. While the puzzle-solving got a little bogged down in the first book, it was handled much better in this book. Plenty of gothic horror and excitement and a well done mystery, though I had forgotten how graphic the game can be at times.
**read for book scavenger hunt - a book that takes place in another country (Germany)**
**read for book scavenger hunt - a book that takes place in another country (Germany)**
November 21, 2025
3/5
Not as good, interesting, or fun as the first novel, but still a worthwhile read. Too bad more books weren't written.
Not as good, interesting, or fun as the first novel, but still a worthwhile read. Too bad more books weren't written.
May 26, 2019
Unlike Jane Jensen's novelization of Sins of the Fathers, which occasionally read like a walkthrough with protagonist Gabriel Knight jumping through the hoops of all kinds of convoluted adventure game puzzles, The Beast Within reads like an actual novel, and a highly enjoyable one. Part of this is because Jane is a better writer this time around, with more confident prose and the foresight to simplify the game's sillier puzzles which wouldn't work well in a book (like Gabriel sticking a cuckoo clock in a plant to distract the guy at the front desk of an exclusive hunting club with its thumping noises...shudder). Part of it is also because The Beast Within was an FMV game (one of the few that has aged relatively well) and therefore had a plot that was more movie-like and suitable for book adaptation in the first place.
And what a plot it is. This is a tale of werewolves, a curse that plagued the last monarch of Bavaria, Wagner's operas and the nature of man's primal urges. Just like how Sins of the Fathers got me interested in voodoo and the culture of New Orleans, The Beast Within has me hankering to study the real-life Ludwig II and book a trip to Germany. The only major issue the book has is a very abrupt ending...but I have a feeling that the game might suffer from this problem as well. (Not sure yet, since at the time of writing this I'm only halfway done my playthrough. Just happened to wrap up the novel first due to my morning and evening commutes; oh well.)
And what a plot it is. This is a tale of werewolves, a curse that plagued the last monarch of Bavaria, Wagner's operas and the nature of man's primal urges. Just like how Sins of the Fathers got me interested in voodoo and the culture of New Orleans, The Beast Within has me hankering to study the real-life Ludwig II and book a trip to Germany. The only major issue the book has is a very abrupt ending...but I have a feeling that the game might suffer from this problem as well. (Not sure yet, since at the time of writing this I'm only halfway done my playthrough. Just happened to wrap up the novel first due to my morning and evening commutes; oh well.)
February 16, 2023
This is one of my favorite werewolf stories! I’ve faithfully returned to it over the years, and I even have my original copy. It’s one of the few books that I never could abandon, no matter where I landed in life.
It’s a shame there was never a full fledged book series, as I really adore Gabriel Knight as a protagonist. (Jane Jensen only wrote two full length books in the series, both novelizations of games she created while working for Sierra.) I think the author has a gift for engaging supernatural mysteries, and I would have loved to follow Gabriel and Grace on more adventures.
Again, if wishes were kittens.
(I’d have a lot of cats.)
It’s a shame there was never a full fledged book series, as I really adore Gabriel Knight as a protagonist. (Jane Jensen only wrote two full length books in the series, both novelizations of games she created while working for Sierra.) I think the author has a gift for engaging supernatural mysteries, and I would have loved to follow Gabriel and Grace on more adventures.
Again, if wishes were kittens.
(I’d have a lot of cats.)
August 24, 2009
The novelization of the second Gabriel Knight game is a hard to find collector's item, but worth owning for the Gabriel Knight fan. Jane Jensen really fleshes out bits of the story for the novel, especially the parts dealing with homosexuality. The novel was sort of a confirmation of everything I always assumed was true of the game, but wasn't spelled out explicitly.
March 10, 2019
I came to this book from the author's other works as Eli Easton. My son, knowing that I enjoyed her other books, thought I'd like this one, based on one of his favorite adventure games, and I have to say, that he knew what he was talking about.
The story was riveting and kept my attention throughout the book. The two different arcs, the one that Gabriel pursued, investigating the savage death of a little girl, and the one that Grace was investigating, the history behind Bavaria's beloved King Ludwig, were well done. Especially the whole history of King Ludwig. It motivated me into reading more about him.
I hadn't read the first in the series, Sins of the Fathers, so I missed some of their backstory, but I felt that I had sufficient information given to me about it. I do have to say that there were times that I wanted to shake Gabriel and his impulsive, "jump in with both feet" behavior, which got him into trouble. But I loved Gracie. Thank goodness for her and her incredible brain, putting all the clues together.
I might check out Sins of the Fathers. I do have to say that I'm a little sad that there are only two books in this series. These characters definitely hold a lot of potential in my mind.
The story was riveting and kept my attention throughout the book. The two different arcs, the one that Gabriel pursued, investigating the savage death of a little girl, and the one that Grace was investigating, the history behind Bavaria's beloved King Ludwig, were well done. Especially the whole history of King Ludwig. It motivated me into reading more about him.
I hadn't read the first in the series, Sins of the Fathers, so I missed some of their backstory, but I felt that I had sufficient information given to me about it. I do have to say that there were times that I wanted to shake Gabriel and his impulsive, "jump in with both feet" behavior, which got him into trouble. But I loved Gracie. Thank goodness for her and her incredible brain, putting all the clues together.
I might check out Sins of the Fathers. I do have to say that I'm a little sad that there are only two books in this series. These characters definitely hold a lot of potential in my mind.
May 21, 2023
The dedicated following behind the '80s and '90s Sierra adventure games never ceases to amaze me, and the fact that readers are still talking about a '90s werewolf horror novel in the 2020s serves as rock-solid proof.
I absolutely love the Gabriel Knight games, and seeing them in novel form is a treat for sure. The shifting Gabriel-Grace perspective adds a lot to the story, as we come behind the mystery of the Black Wolf's identity from two different directions. As others have noted, this novel goes beyond the first in relying less on a walkthrough of the game (aside, perhaps, from the footprint in cement and tape recorder puzzles, which I was happy to see!) and more as a standalone story that blends history with suspense and mystery all on its own. The storytelling is superb, the tension real, and the pacing perfect in a way that will keep the pages turning.
All that said, I would have loved to see more from the Grace chapters, which feel less about her as a character and more about her relationship to the mystery (and her inexplicable love for Gabriel...). The dynamic between the two of them is just so damned great that it's a shame we never get to learn more about Grace's past, her career ambitions, and her relationship with her family (aside from one cliched call with her mother in an early scene).
Fans of the game would do well to track this book down and give it a read -- or better yet, in the digital age, can we convince the copyright holders to issue an eBook to better open this book up to the fans??
I absolutely love the Gabriel Knight games, and seeing them in novel form is a treat for sure. The shifting Gabriel-Grace perspective adds a lot to the story, as we come behind the mystery of the Black Wolf's identity from two different directions. As others have noted, this novel goes beyond the first in relying less on a walkthrough of the game (aside, perhaps, from the footprint in cement and tape recorder puzzles, which I was happy to see!) and more as a standalone story that blends history with suspense and mystery all on its own. The storytelling is superb, the tension real, and the pacing perfect in a way that will keep the pages turning.
All that said, I would have loved to see more from the Grace chapters, which feel less about her as a character and more about her relationship to the mystery (and her inexplicable love for Gabriel...). The dynamic between the two of them is just so damned great that it's a shame we never get to learn more about Grace's past, her career ambitions, and her relationship with her family (aside from one cliched call with her mother in an early scene).
Fans of the game would do well to track this book down and give it a read -- or better yet, in the digital age, can we convince the copyright holders to issue an eBook to better open this book up to the fans??
September 26, 2019
I read this book as something of a nostalgia kick as the original game is one of my all-time favourites and one I found hugely inspirational as a 15 year old. Inevitably this novel spin-off is a much lesser concoction, lacking the magic that came from the original interactive adventure that combined real-life actors with CGI generated scenery. Everything about GABRIEL KNIGHT 2: THE BEAST WITHIN is wonderful, from the mannered performances to the humour and especially the evocative score, and the broad writing, full of depth, is still superb even today, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone and everyone - it can still be purchased online, very cheaply, in a version which runs on PCs and laptops with the latest version of Windows. This feels like a speedily-written novelisation, skipping a lot (but not all) of the puzzles found in the game and expanding other sections, particularly at the climax. I did find that the extra information spoils a little of the mystique and there's no denying the workmanlike prose, but at least I got my nostalgia kick.
May 12, 2023
I didn't finish playing The Beast Within, so I didn't really feel nostalgic reading this. The riddles are unique, but the characters feel flat. I wish Jensen would write a third (and possibly fourth) GK's books, but I understand it is difficult with copyright issues and such.
August 22, 2019
A great novelization of one of the best games of the classic point-and-click PC gaming era. The story diverges a bit from the game, but it works well. The overall plot is still mostly the same.
January 19, 2020
A ton of fun, especially if you’ve been to Munich!
April 8, 2022
Not as good as the game (although I enjoyed that it confirmed the sexualities of multiple characters). Too many weird womb metaphors (why, Jane?)
December 13, 2020
As a fan of the video games, I was eager to return to the world of Gabriel Knight, and curious how the game’s story would translate to print. Although the book turned out to be not quite as engrossing as the game, it was a worthy revisit. It gave me insight in a few places that the game glossed over. It has a different style – whereas the game feels more grand and profound, in the book the characters appear more down-to-earth, even ordinary, but in a good way.
What I love about the story – both in game and book form - is that it takes many of the typical werewolf tropes, burns through them in a very effective, suspenseful way… and then, were ostensibly the story might have ended, it drives forward, diving into a whole new, deeper layer of story, featuring one of the more intriguing, multilayered antagonists I have encountered in horror fiction.
The way Jane Jensen manages to merge real history with supernatural fiction is very believable and convincing. She offers a supernatural explanation for one of the more lasting mysteries in German history, but she does so without actually altering any of the known facts. If you can, for a moment, suspend any disbelief you might have in the supernatural, it’s not hard to believe it really may have happened this way…
What I love about the story – both in game and book form - is that it takes many of the typical werewolf tropes, burns through them in a very effective, suspenseful way… and then, were ostensibly the story might have ended, it drives forward, diving into a whole new, deeper layer of story, featuring one of the more intriguing, multilayered antagonists I have encountered in horror fiction.
The way Jane Jensen manages to merge real history with supernatural fiction is very believable and convincing. She offers a supernatural explanation for one of the more lasting mysteries in German history, but she does so without actually altering any of the known facts. If you can, for a moment, suspend any disbelief you might have in the supernatural, it’s not hard to believe it really may have happened this way…
August 7, 2014
I have been searching for a copy of this book for years, originally it was pack in with the video game of the same title and released in limited print copies for sale. Powell's Books is usually my go to for out of print books, but was unsuccessful over the years trying to locate a copy. I lucked out and was able to get an eBook copy as one of the rewards from a Kick-starter by the author. I loaded it up on my Kindle and went to town.
This book follows the events portrayed in the 1996 computer game very well and fleshes out the event and characters depicted. The story is a supernatural thriller that is based on historical locations and a prominent Bavarian monarch. The history and detail are spot on and really make you believe the back story and feel like your visiting the locations described in the book. It's very well written, but uses quite a bit obscure words and adjectives. It if wasn't for the dictionary features in the Kindle I think some of it would be lost on me.
All and all I think it was a great book and was glad I was able to get a copy to read. It has left me with a desire to go back and dust off the computer games and have another play through.
This book follows the events portrayed in the 1996 computer game very well and fleshes out the event and characters depicted. The story is a supernatural thriller that is based on historical locations and a prominent Bavarian monarch. The history and detail are spot on and really make you believe the back story and feel like your visiting the locations described in the book. It's very well written, but uses quite a bit obscure words and adjectives. It if wasn't for the dictionary features in the Kindle I think some of it would be lost on me.
All and all I think it was a great book and was glad I was able to get a copy to read. It has left me with a desire to go back and dust off the computer games and have another play through.
October 27, 2014
Jane Jensen's The Beast Within is a novelisation of the 1990's video game Gabriel Knight: The Beast Within. Game tie-in novels are known to be rather low quality reads, but - to my utter surprise - The Beast Within ended up being the exception to the rule. The story takes place in Bavaria, Germany, where Gabriel has moved to live in a castle that he's inherited from his uncle alongside the title of Shattenjager - Shadow Hunter.
Overall, I found the novel very engaging and a veritable page turner, but I must admit that it might not be as accessible for someone who hasn't either read the first novel or played the game. Gabriel's and Grace's relationship was introduced in the first part and it is not explained again in this one - rather it moves forward as both characters continue growing. It is still readable as a stand-alone novel, though, and is definitely one of the better werewolf novels that I've encountered. It is a shame that there's not a fresh reprint of it available.
Full review at:
http://susimetsa.blogspot.fi/2014/10/...
Overall, I found the novel very engaging and a veritable page turner, but I must admit that it might not be as accessible for someone who hasn't either read the first novel or played the game. Gabriel's and Grace's relationship was introduced in the first part and it is not explained again in this one - rather it moves forward as both characters continue growing. It is still readable as a stand-alone novel, though, and is definitely one of the better werewolf novels that I've encountered. It is a shame that there's not a fresh reprint of it available.
Full review at:
http://susimetsa.blogspot.fi/2014/10/...
September 12, 2007
Brilliant sequel to 'Sins of the Fathers', which now finds Gabriel in Germany in the family home, trying to write his latest novel. However, work is soon halted when people come seeking his services as the 'Shadow Hunter'. He must now set out on a hunt for a ferocious werewolf that murdered an innocent child and stop it before it can kill again. Meanwhile, Grace is not content to be running the bookshop anymore and sets out to Germany to join Gabriel in the investigation, only to be impeded by Gerde, whom Grace is greatly resentful of.
It's a thrilling read and offers far more than the game gives you, thus exceeding the novelisation of 'Sins of the Fathers'. Jensen's skill with words seems to have matured even more in this work. Highly enjoyable in every regard, I can't recommend this enough.
It's a thrilling read and offers far more than the game gives you, thus exceeding the novelisation of 'Sins of the Fathers'. Jensen's skill with words seems to have matured even more in this work. Highly enjoyable in every regard, I can't recommend this enough.
January 13, 2014
This book was more interesting than Sins of the Fathers because rather than doing a straight forward adaption of the game, it departs from it. The story is still the same but this time it's a bit more different
July 12, 2014
No great fiction, but a fun little extra for fans of the game. It's a fast read, but it could use a bit more detail here and there.
October 13, 2011
Great book and also a great game!!! Wonderful.....
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews