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Ravenloft #1
Vampire of the Mists
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR --- THE DARK POWERS OF RAVENLOFT MIGHT HEAR YOU.
Jander Sunstar is a gold elf, a native of magical Evermeet in the Forgotten Realms. He is also a five-hundred-year-old vampire.
Torn by rage and grief, Jander is transported into the nightmare realm of Ravenloft, where he gains the attention of the demiplane's master, Count Strand Von Zarovich. But can Jander trust this elegant fellow vampire once he discovers that his own quest for revenge is linked to the dark heritage of the count's domain?
Vampire of the Mists is the first in an open-ended series of Gothic horror tales dealing with the masters and monsters of the RAVENLOFT dark fantasy setting.
Jander Sunstar is a gold elf, a native of magical Evermeet in the Forgotten Realms. He is also a five-hundred-year-old vampire.
Torn by rage and grief, Jander is transported into the nightmare realm of Ravenloft, where he gains the attention of the demiplane's master, Count Strand Von Zarovich. But can Jander trust this elegant fellow vampire once he discovers that his own quest for revenge is linked to the dark heritage of the count's domain?
Vampire of the Mists is the first in an open-ended series of Gothic horror tales dealing with the masters and monsters of the RAVENLOFT dark fantasy setting.
341 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1991
About the author
Christie Golden
186 books1,934 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 - 30 of 225 reviews
August 2, 2024
En esta historia hay un personaje que recuerda mucho al conde Drácula creado por Bram Stoker; eso me gusta mucho; sin embargo el resto de personajes me parecen insípidos; en cuánto a la historia de este libro, tampoco me parece la gran cosa.
July 21, 2010
When I learned that there is a book about a vampire elf I was already interested. Now I have finished the book and I can only say that I am truly and really impressed. The book is very emotional and the author phenomenally well tells the sad, haunting and melancholy tale of an elf, who is turned into a vampire, an embodiment of everything which is an elf is not. The pace of the book is a bit slow at the beginning, but in that way the reader falls fully into the story, which tells how this elf meets a Count Strahd, truly evil, even if polite, vampire. This contrast is very interesting as it not only pits two very interesting characters, but also two concepts of the vampire, one, a tragic hero, the other, of the ultimate villain. The conclusion of this clash is heartbreaking and touching and in the end, in my humble opinion, this is not only the best vampire novel I have read (the only other which comes close is "The Vampire Lestat", but this story IMO is told more fluently), but also one of the best DnD novels ever, up there with "The Legend of Huma" and the "Dark Elf Trilogy". Kudos for Christie Golden.
March 26, 2012
Della mia insana passione per Ravenloft ho parlato anche troppo in qualche altra recensione quindi non mi dilungherò oltre, basti sapere che è sempre un piacere per me tornare tra le Nebbie di tanto in tanto ed anche questa volta non sono rimasto deluso. Storia appassionante, personaggi ben curati e la solita brillante commistione di orrore gotico e fantasy. Il conflitto tra i due vampiri, l'elfo Jander Sunstar ed il conte Strahd Von Zarovich (versione fantasy di Dracula), é reso magistralmente dall'autrice, stesso dicasi per lo sviluppo dei personaggi.
Un gran bel libro se siete amanti di fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons, orrore gotico e vampiri vecchio stampo non "luccicanti" come il sottoscritto.
February 2, 2010
I think I was about 15 the first time I read this book, and I absolutely loved it then. The main character, Jander Sunstar, had such an effect on me that I wanted so desperately to hear more about his adventures before becoming a vampire, and I frequently used his name when given the choice to name characters in video games. I even created an email address using j_sunstar. I had borrowed the book from my then boyfriend (who, from what I recall, was more interested in Strahd than Jander) and so post break up I no longer had access to the book, and its obviously been many many years since I read it. Noticing it on the cheap used, I decided to pick it up and see if I still would love it as much as I did.
This is by no means a perfect book. I think the fact that this is Christie Golden's first novel shows through, but I also think a lot of it is not her fault. I believe this was also one of the first (if not THE first) book of the Ravenloft series, and she was tasked with largely introducing us to that world and its main character, Strahd, who for all intents and purposes is Dracula. As such, his story had to mirror the Bram Stoker story, and in a way Jander is nothing more than Jonathon Harker with a twist. But I think the twist makes up for all the difference. The time line in the book also feels incredibly rushed. We follow along on a daily basis, and then jump 10 to 15 years in the future suddenly. I think you could make the argument that this is to signify what life is like for an immortal, how fast time can pass when you live forever.. but it can also be momentarily jarring to the reader. It also means that characters are introduced and then quickly disappear, and some characters don't enter the book until quite late and yet you're still supposed to be attached to them. To Golden's credit, you do for the most part care about them.
While I would not go into this book expecting a masterpiece, I think anyone who enjoys fantasy and the more fantastic elements of horror will enjoy the book.
This is by no means a perfect book. I think the fact that this is Christie Golden's first novel shows through, but I also think a lot of it is not her fault. I believe this was also one of the first (if not THE first) book of the Ravenloft series, and she was tasked with largely introducing us to that world and its main character, Strahd, who for all intents and purposes is Dracula. As such, his story had to mirror the Bram Stoker story, and in a way Jander is nothing more than Jonathon Harker with a twist. But I think the twist makes up for all the difference. The time line in the book also feels incredibly rushed. We follow along on a daily basis, and then jump 10 to 15 years in the future suddenly. I think you could make the argument that this is to signify what life is like for an immortal, how fast time can pass when you live forever.. but it can also be momentarily jarring to the reader. It also means that characters are introduced and then quickly disappear, and some characters don't enter the book until quite late and yet you're still supposed to be attached to them. To Golden's credit, you do for the most part care about them.
While I would not go into this book expecting a masterpiece, I think anyone who enjoys fantasy and the more fantastic elements of horror will enjoy the book.
May 2, 2023
Vampy Times in Barovia
A fine, if uneven, generation-spanning tale of the struggle between a reluctant bloodsucker and his unrepentedly depraved landlord.
No, not these ones.
The High Fantasy touches of the story helps differentiate it from the Rice oevre, and the secondary characters of Vampire Hunters, vulnerable fiancees, lycanthropes and streetwise thieves are engaging ones. There is gore and horrific evil aplenty, so not for the squeamish, but I am definitely glad I got off the fence I'd been sitting on some 30-odd years and read it.
Just when you thought Count Strahd couldn't be any more evil...
September 20, 2017
3.5 stars.
I read this as a teen and it still holds up really well. Even dark fantasy/horror fans who don't care about D&D at all would probably get a kick out of this novel, as it doesn't really have many D&D trappings (the only instance that really stood out to me was the Vancian "memorized spells" system of magic that crops up once or twice and a few of the spell names).
Things I liked:
Cool vampires. The more terrible vampire books I read the more I can appreciate plain, old fashioned, rip-your-throat out vampires that don't sparkle and aren't sexy.
Dark fantasy that is actually dark fantasy. People are massacred, throats are ripped out, werewolves and vampires hunt mortals like sheep, and generally evil times are had by all.
The main character tries to be a good guy, but he isn't annoying about it. He isn't running around crying about every innocent that gets slaughtered, even if he doesn't always agree with it.
Things I didn't like:
There are a few places that drag a bit. If you come to this book with the mindset of "It's a D&D book, so there is going to be a lot of sword swinging and monster slaying", then you will be disappointed. A good chunk of the book involves the main character hanging out in a spooky castle, reading books, and having flashbacks.
There is a little chunk of the book that goes into Strahd's past. This is pointless for three reasons. First, monsters are scarier if you don't understand what they are or where they come from. Second, this is Jander's story, and therefore we should have gotten more of his (more interesting, in my opinion) back-story. Third, I, Strahd was released a few years after this that goes over this same material, making this part extra unnecessary.
This book has it's faults, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any fan of vampires or dark fantasy.
I read this as a teen and it still holds up really well. Even dark fantasy/horror fans who don't care about D&D at all would probably get a kick out of this novel, as it doesn't really have many D&D trappings (the only instance that really stood out to me was the Vancian "memorized spells" system of magic that crops up once or twice and a few of the spell names).
Things I liked:
Cool vampires. The more terrible vampire books I read the more I can appreciate plain, old fashioned, rip-your-throat out vampires that don't sparkle and aren't sexy.
Dark fantasy that is actually dark fantasy. People are massacred, throats are ripped out, werewolves and vampires hunt mortals like sheep, and generally evil times are had by all.
The main character tries to be a good guy, but he isn't annoying about it. He isn't running around crying about every innocent that gets slaughtered, even if he doesn't always agree with it.
Things I didn't like:
There are a few places that drag a bit. If you come to this book with the mindset of "It's a D&D book, so there is going to be a lot of sword swinging and monster slaying", then you will be disappointed. A good chunk of the book involves the main character hanging out in a spooky castle, reading books, and having flashbacks.
There is a little chunk of the book that goes into Strahd's past. This is pointless for three reasons. First, monsters are scarier if you don't understand what they are or where they come from. Second, this is Jander's story, and therefore we should have gotten more of his (more interesting, in my opinion) back-story. Third, I, Strahd was released a few years after this that goes over this same material, making this part extra unnecessary.
This book has it's faults, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to any fan of vampires or dark fantasy.
December 1, 2018
Partiamo da quello che, almeno sulla carta, è il nostro protagonista: Jander Sunstar
Un tipo molto curioso… elfo dalla pelle dorata, ripone la propria fede nel dio Lathander - il Signore del Mattino, di cognome fa pure Sunstar! Eppure è un vampiro… e non uno di quelli malvagi, o neutrali, o caotico buono; questo qui è proprio buono come il pane.
Inizialmente, data la natura fantasy del volume, non capivo bene dove andasse a parare la sua ‘relazione’ con Anna. Ciò non toglie che è stata una splendida parentesi drammatica, in grado di far percepire il dolore del non-morto, il cui cuore a quanto pare non è ancora del tutto privo di vita.
Questa romantica vicenda (ma mica roba da fighette né, roba tosta), avrà un esito tragico. E tra le nebbie della disperazione, ma soprattutto quelle ambientali, condurrà il nostro sventurato in quel di… Barovia *_*
I love this land <3
Non fraintendetemi, è tetra da far paura, ma in senso buono ;P L’area di nostro interesse è un piccolo borgo circondato da nebbie venefiche, abitato da persone bigotte e inospitali. All’esterno invece stanno i “Vistani”, gli zingari. E su tutto e tutti svetta il castello del conte Strahd Von Zarovich, praticamente lo stereotipo della Transilvania trasposto in ottica fantasy - lavoretto fatto coi fiocchi.
Se inizialmente ho accennato al fatto che Jander è il protagonista ma con qualche riserva, il motivo è proprio questo. Lui è quasi sempre presente durante l’intera narrazione, giocando un po’ il ruolo di “occhi del lettore”, ma non spicca su tutti come spesso accade al personaggio principale. Forse un po’ è dovuto al fatto che, pur analizzandone l’esistenza travagliata e contraddittoria, l’elfo non ha poi tutto questo carisma. Ci viene narrato persino l’episodio che l’ha reso un nosferatu, ma senza particolare enfasi.
Questo però non deve affatto sminuire il ruolo meritevole degli altri personaggi in campo che si sono distinti non per demeriti altrui ma grazie alle loro qualità. Dal chierico alla ladra, passando per la licantropa e molti altri e altre ancora… uno su tutti? Beh, facilissimo, ancora lui: Il conte Strahd. Uno con tutte le carte in regola, compreso castello terrificante e carrozza spettrale…
…i Vistani sono in un certo qual modo sue spie e alleati, è accompagnato da lupi, da attraenti serve succhiasangue, zombi, scheletri; spadroneggia sul territorio celando la propria natura pur incutendo timore. Tutto il “pacchetto Dracula” insomma, compresa la tragica e morbosa vicissitudine familiare/amorosa, in edizione deluxe.
Ma… ma, nonostante l’ottima prestazione di tutti quanti, devo ribadire che ad incantarmi letteralmente è stata la Barovia intera nel suo complesso. In passato ho letto diversi fantasy e diverse storie di vampiri, un connubio così perfetto però non m’era mai capitato prima d’ora. La storia, pur rispettando tutti i canoni classici e un andamento abbastanza prevedibile, si conclude in modo sorprendente - in ogni accezione del termine, e non aggiungo altro perché non voglio spoilerarvi il finale.
Mi è piaciuto talmente tanto che mi sono già messo alla ricerca degli altri titoli di Ravenloft. Lettura fantastica!!!!! (e ci metto 5 punti esclamativi, tanti quante le stelle :D).
Un tipo molto curioso… elfo dalla pelle dorata, ripone la propria fede nel dio Lathander - il Signore del Mattino, di cognome fa pure Sunstar! Eppure è un vampiro… e non uno di quelli malvagi, o neutrali, o caotico buono; questo qui è proprio buono come il pane.
Inizialmente, data la natura fantasy del volume, non capivo bene dove andasse a parare la sua ‘relazione’ con Anna. Ciò non toglie che è stata una splendida parentesi drammatica, in grado di far percepire il dolore del non-morto, il cui cuore a quanto pare non è ancora del tutto privo di vita.
Questa romantica vicenda (ma mica roba da fighette né, roba tosta), avrà un esito tragico. E tra le nebbie della disperazione, ma soprattutto quelle ambientali, condurrà il nostro sventurato in quel di… Barovia *_*
I love this land <3
Non fraintendetemi, è tetra da far paura, ma in senso buono ;P L’area di nostro interesse è un piccolo borgo circondato da nebbie venefiche, abitato da persone bigotte e inospitali. All’esterno invece stanno i “Vistani”, gli zingari. E su tutto e tutti svetta il castello del conte Strahd Von Zarovich, praticamente lo stereotipo della Transilvania trasposto in ottica fantasy - lavoretto fatto coi fiocchi.
Se inizialmente ho accennato al fatto che Jander è il protagonista ma con qualche riserva, il motivo è proprio questo. Lui è quasi sempre presente durante l’intera narrazione, giocando un po’ il ruolo di “occhi del lettore”, ma non spicca su tutti come spesso accade al personaggio principale. Forse un po’ è dovuto al fatto che, pur analizzandone l’esistenza travagliata e contraddittoria, l’elfo non ha poi tutto questo carisma. Ci viene narrato persino l’episodio che l’ha reso un nosferatu, ma senza particolare enfasi.
Questo però non deve affatto sminuire il ruolo meritevole degli altri personaggi in campo che si sono distinti non per demeriti altrui ma grazie alle loro qualità. Dal chierico alla ladra, passando per la licantropa e molti altri e altre ancora… uno su tutti? Beh, facilissimo, ancora lui: Il conte Strahd. Uno con tutte le carte in regola, compreso castello terrificante e carrozza spettrale…
…i Vistani sono in un certo qual modo sue spie e alleati, è accompagnato da lupi, da attraenti serve succhiasangue, zombi, scheletri; spadroneggia sul territorio celando la propria natura pur incutendo timore. Tutto il “pacchetto Dracula” insomma, compresa la tragica e morbosa vicissitudine familiare/amorosa, in edizione deluxe.
Ma… ma, nonostante l’ottima prestazione di tutti quanti, devo ribadire che ad incantarmi letteralmente è stata la Barovia intera nel suo complesso. In passato ho letto diversi fantasy e diverse storie di vampiri, un connubio così perfetto però non m’era mai capitato prima d’ora. La storia, pur rispettando tutti i canoni classici e un andamento abbastanza prevedibile, si conclude in modo sorprendente - in ogni accezione del termine, e non aggiungo altro perché non voglio spoilerarvi il finale.
Mi è piaciuto talmente tanto che mi sono già messo alla ricerca degli altri titoli di Ravenloft. Lettura fantastica!!!!! (e ci metto 5 punti esclamativi, tanti quante le stelle :D).
February 20, 2010
This one pretty much fit in my mood to read a decent vampire tale, and I mean real vampires, not the b.s. sparkling variety. This is as "old school" as it gets: the garlic, the vampire has to be invited to walk into a house, so on. You know, the way vampires are supposed to be. I had read this book a years ago, and I had forgotten about it. It was kind of neat getting to reread it now.
Jander Sunstar is a gold elf; he also happens to be a 500 year old vampire who finds himself in the horror realm of Ravenloft. He ends up the unwilling guest of the local lord, Count Strahd, who is also a vampire. Jander fell in love with a mad woman, and he eventually discovers there is a link between her and Strahd. Personally, the elf as a vampire angle was one that I found interesting, since it is rare to have vampires in literature who are not humans. I noticed some reviewers here complain that time passes, or that Jander needs a lot of time (about 50 years) to figure out the link to Strahd, but they are vampires. As the author writes at the end, what is time to a vampire? I found that made the novel seem a bit more "authentic." Decades are nothing to a vampire. Strahd and Jander are different vampires; Strahd embraces his evil nature while Jander is tormented by it.
The story is a bit lengthy, but this is the first book in the Ravenloft series. So you are getting a lot of the background of the realm as well. The good news for readers is that the novels stand on their own. You can pick them up in any order. Overall, this is a light escapist novel. It is gothic horror, which means it is not heavy on the gore. The story moves along pretty well, and it is overall an entertaining read. Some readers may complain of cliches, for example, the gypsies, but that is part of what makes a novel like this fun to read. And it may make you want to go back and read a classic like Dracula. It certainly is better than a lot of the dreck that passes for vampire and horror fiction these days.
Jander Sunstar is a gold elf; he also happens to be a 500 year old vampire who finds himself in the horror realm of Ravenloft. He ends up the unwilling guest of the local lord, Count Strahd, who is also a vampire. Jander fell in love with a mad woman, and he eventually discovers there is a link between her and Strahd. Personally, the elf as a vampire angle was one that I found interesting, since it is rare to have vampires in literature who are not humans. I noticed some reviewers here complain that time passes, or that Jander needs a lot of time (about 50 years) to figure out the link to Strahd, but they are vampires. As the author writes at the end, what is time to a vampire? I found that made the novel seem a bit more "authentic." Decades are nothing to a vampire. Strahd and Jander are different vampires; Strahd embraces his evil nature while Jander is tormented by it.
The story is a bit lengthy, but this is the first book in the Ravenloft series. So you are getting a lot of the background of the realm as well. The good news for readers is that the novels stand on their own. You can pick them up in any order. Overall, this is a light escapist novel. It is gothic horror, which means it is not heavy on the gore. The story moves along pretty well, and it is overall an entertaining read. Some readers may complain of cliches, for example, the gypsies, but that is part of what makes a novel like this fun to read. And it may make you want to go back and read a classic like Dracula. It certainly is better than a lot of the dreck that passes for vampire and horror fiction these days.
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May 25, 2013
Well, color me surprised. I knew Christie Golden solely from her sub-par World of WarCraft novels and assumed she was just another tie-in novel hack. But this book? This book is solid. It's fun, it's well-paced, the characters are likable, and she even masters the relative perceptions of time for three sets of characters with very different lifespans... Where did this Christie Golden go in the intervening decades?
As good as it is, though, there are some glimpses of the unfortunate author-who-is-to-be. The male characters are definitely stronger and her approach to the female characters sometimes smacks of misogyny; there ARE moments (infrequent, mind you) during which she resorts to telling rather than showing, and sometimes her characters suffer from momentary plot-specific stupidity.
I'm sure much of my enjoyment stems from the gothic Ravenloft setting, as well, one of the best settings D&D ever put out. But it's a solid book and it's a shame Golden didn't stay this sort of author.
As good as it is, though, there are some glimpses of the unfortunate author-who-is-to-be. The male characters are definitely stronger and her approach to the female characters sometimes smacks of misogyny; there ARE moments (infrequent, mind you) during which she resorts to telling rather than showing, and sometimes her characters suffer from momentary plot-specific stupidity.
I'm sure much of my enjoyment stems from the gothic Ravenloft setting, as well, one of the best settings D&D ever put out. But it's a solid book and it's a shame Golden didn't stay this sort of author.
May 30, 2020
Synopsis: Jander Sunstar is a gold elf, a native of magical Evermeet in the Forgotten Realms. He is also a five-hundred-year-old vampire. Torn by rage and grief, Jander is transported into the nightmare realm of Ravenloft, where he gains the attention of the demiplane's master, Count Strand Von Zarovich. But can Jander trust this elegant fellow vampire once he discovers that his own quest for revenge is linked to the dark heritage of the count's domain?
Review: A tragic romance between a vampire and an asylum patient falls into a paranormal revenge story after Jander learns that his lover's insanity was caused by a magic curse. The imagery is phenomenally gothic, a vampire doing battle by controlling other nocturnal creatures was really cool and I liked the bond between Jander and Strand, it reminded me of Louie and Lestat from Interview with the Vampire. The characters were a bit bland overall and it was hard to care about what happened to them, but I really enjoyed the Castlevania/Bloodborne style setting.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
Review: A tragic romance between a vampire and an asylum patient falls into a paranormal revenge story after Jander learns that his lover's insanity was caused by a magic curse. The imagery is phenomenally gothic, a vampire doing battle by controlling other nocturnal creatures was really cool and I liked the bond between Jander and Strand, it reminded me of Louie and Lestat from Interview with the Vampire. The characters were a bit bland overall and it was hard to care about what happened to them, but I really enjoyed the Castlevania/Bloodborne style setting.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
March 14, 2017
Hem kurguyu hem de karakterleri cok yaratici buldum. Özellikle elf-vampir birlesimi sıradışıydı. Ama saglam olmayan bir seyler de vardi. Gecisler cok hizliydi, belki de o beni rahatsiz etmistir. Devam kitaplarini okusam mi okumasam mi kararsizim. ^.^
July 17, 2007
This books is so full of clichés that it's not even funny. You have a vampire - Strahd - who lives in a dark and misty country, he lives in a ruinous castle but he still wears luxious clothing, he plays the organ and has heaps and heaps of female vampire slaves who blindly follow his orders (if it was written by a man, I would say that the author was trying to stress his masculinity and heterosexuality). But all he does is pine after his lost love Tatyana and murder the villagers.
And take a vampire golden elf - Jander Sunstar - who falls in love with a mad woman *snorts* called Anna and after she dies, he falls through a mist into the country where said vampire lives. And oops, it takes him more than fifty years to figure out that Anna and Tatyana are the same woman and that it was Strahd who caused Anna's madness.
And the names - Maruschka, Petya, Katya... Maybe because I'm Slavic myself it really bothers me that so many authors overuse such names. It's becoming a similar problem like all the apostrophes in fantasy names some years ago.
So yeah, I didn't like the book X(
And take a vampire golden elf - Jander Sunstar - who falls in love with a mad woman *snorts* called Anna and after she dies, he falls through a mist into the country where said vampire lives. And oops, it takes him more than fifty years to figure out that Anna and Tatyana are the same woman and that it was Strahd who caused Anna's madness.
And the names - Maruschka, Petya, Katya... Maybe because I'm Slavic myself it really bothers me that so many authors overuse such names. It's becoming a similar problem like all the apostrophes in fantasy names some years ago.
So yeah, I didn't like the book X(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2023
4.2 ☆
Woah.
This right here was, surprisingly, way more enjoyable than I thought it would be!
First, I don't recommend reading it if you plan on playing the Ravenloft/Curse of Strahd setting because the book spoils absolutely everything about Strahd's motivations and backstory. If you plan on GMing it, however, I'd say it's pretty handy for some extra layers of lore/info! xD
Now the book;
While I think most characters were pretty bland (except for perhaps Sasha, and mostly the two vampires of whom I talk a little below), the story was fairly good, at least for the majority of the book. It begins with the main character Jarden, a 700 year old Golden elf vampire who finally finds a motivation in his boring, long centuries of undead: After the girl he loves, Anna, dies by a mysterious illness caused by someone in "Barovia", he must seek revenge, no mather how many years (decades, even) it takes him.
This leads him to a slow-paced adventure across this dark and living demiplane, where he meets various people and seeks clues about Anna and her mysterious past, helping some characters and making future allies in the process.
The authors' writing was also incredibly easy to read and the chapters were of the right length in my opinion (A shame they were just numbered and not also titled, at least that's something I always love in novels).
But, what I loved the most, was the two main characters; the Golden elf, Jarden Sunstar, and his interactions with the count and lord of Barovia, Strahd Von Zarovich.
Their contrasting, clashing personalities, looks and their views about their vampirism (of which one sees as a curse, and the other as a gift) were AMAZING through the whole book; while Jarden keeps seeking beauty on the simplest of things, such as keeping a flower garden which the count has abandoned for decades, or how he simply wishes to see few a rays of sunlight and constantly refuses his vampiric condition, the dark, blood-thirsty lord of Barovia embraces this and uses it to seize control and terror at the citizens of the land he has at his feet.
This. This was the cherry on top and why I'm giving it one or one-and-half stars more.
Just love those two.
Woah.
This right here was, surprisingly, way more enjoyable than I thought it would be!
First, I don't recommend reading it if you plan on playing the Ravenloft/Curse of Strahd setting because the book spoils absolutely everything about Strahd's motivations and backstory. If you plan on GMing it, however, I'd say it's pretty handy for some extra layers of lore/info! xD
Now the book;
While I think most characters were pretty bland (except for perhaps Sasha, and mostly the two vampires of whom I talk a little below), the story was fairly good, at least for the majority of the book. It begins with the main character Jarden, a 700 year old Golden elf vampire who finally finds a motivation in his boring, long centuries of undead: After the girl he loves, Anna, dies by a mysterious illness caused by someone in "Barovia", he must seek revenge, no mather how many years (decades, even) it takes him.
This leads him to a slow-paced adventure across this dark and living demiplane, where he meets various people and seeks clues about Anna and her mysterious past, helping some characters and making future allies in the process.
The authors' writing was also incredibly easy to read and the chapters were of the right length in my opinion (A shame they were just numbered and not also titled, at least that's something I always love in novels).
But, what I loved the most, was the two main characters; the Golden elf, Jarden Sunstar, and his interactions with the count and lord of Barovia, Strahd Von Zarovich.
Their contrasting, clashing personalities, looks and their views about their vampirism (of which one sees as a curse, and the other as a gift) were AMAZING through the whole book; while Jarden keeps seeking beauty on the simplest of things, such as keeping a flower garden which the count has abandoned for decades, or how he simply wishes to see few a rays of sunlight and constantly refuses his vampiric condition, the dark, blood-thirsty lord of Barovia embraces this and uses it to seize control and terror at the citizens of the land he has at his feet.
This. This was the cherry on top and why I'm giving it one or one-and-half stars more.
Just love those two.
June 12, 2010
Dull, boring, slow and not scary. A disappointment.
February 21, 2021
I can't say I liked reading it as much as I do for most books so that I can say it was good. But it was good to some level.
September 1, 2021
الرواية التي بين يدي فرنسية تستحق 4نجمات عن جدارة
الأسلوب شيق والقصة حلوة والأحداث تخطف الأنفاس .تعلقت بها لآخر حرف
أحداث القصة تدور حول لنقل جني مذهب عاش ل200سنة ثم تحول لمصاص دماء
لكنه بقي محافظا على نوع من الطيبة.فكان لا يقتات على الدم البشري الا نادرا و كان لا يقتل ضحاياه
جاندر .وهذا اسمه ذهب لمكان يجمع فيه المجانين والمنبوذون ليقتات بعد جوع شديد . هناك وجد امرأة جميلة ولكنها مجنونة وقع في غرامها و تعهد ان يعتني بها
ل30 عاما بقي يعتني بها وهي لا يتغير بها شيء لانها واقعة تحت سحر شديد .فهي لا تشيب ولا تكبر .حتى مرضت يوما بشدة وبعد ايام ماتت من الحمى
جاندر اقسم ان ينتقم لها لانها كانت الشيء الوحيد الذي احبه
فهم منها انها من بافوري . وهو متجه للبحث عن المكان ابتلعه الضباب ووجد نفسه بمكان آخر
الكل خائف مرتعب ويخاف الظلام
مدينة ملعونة تقع تحت سلطة الكونت ستراهد المخيف
اشخاص مستذئبون .مصاصو دماء ..غجر وعرافات
جاندر وصلته دعوة من الكونت ليكتشف انه مثله مصاص دماء
تدور الأيام ويقطن قصره ومرت السنوات وهو يبحث عن خيط يدله على حبيبته
ليكتشف الغازا خطيرة وأن غريمه هو الكونت نفسه
لكن كيف السبيل لقتله وهو ييستعمل السحر ?ومحاط بجواسيس رهيبة من غجر لمصاصي دماء خدم لمستذئبون ?
وهكذا يتحالف جاندر مع كاهن كان قد انقذه طفلا ومع لصة صغيرة ليقتلوا الكونت
الذي علم بمغامرتهم الصغيرة
روايات رايفنلوفت ليست لمن يتوقع النهايات السعيدة
نهاياتها مفتوحة ومحزنة ومخيبة امل
لكن تشويقها رائع .لم اترك الرواية من يدي ل3ايام رغم مشاغلي كنت اقرء كلما اجد فرصة
القصة تحتوي قصصا صغيرة جانبية تعزز الرواية .قصة حب ستراهد وكيف تحول لمصاص دماء
قصة تاتيانا حبيبة جاندر المجنونة
قصة ساشا الراهب الذي ساعد جاندر ..والكثير
وكلها على نفس درجة التشويق ..
احببت .وجدا
الأسلوب شيق والقصة حلوة والأحداث تخطف الأنفاس .تعلقت بها لآخر حرف
أحداث القصة تدور حول لنقل جني مذهب عاش ل200سنة ثم تحول لمصاص دماء
لكنه بقي محافظا على نوع من الطيبة.فكان لا يقتات على الدم البشري الا نادرا و كان لا يقتل ضحاياه
جاندر .وهذا اسمه ذهب لمكان يجمع فيه المجانين والمنبوذون ليقتات بعد جوع شديد . هناك وجد امرأة جميلة ولكنها مجنونة وقع في غرامها و تعهد ان يعتني بها
ل30 عاما بقي يعتني بها وهي لا يتغير بها شيء لانها واقعة تحت سحر شديد .فهي لا تشيب ولا تكبر .حتى مرضت يوما بشدة وبعد ايام ماتت من الحمى
جاندر اقسم ان ينتقم لها لانها كانت الشيء الوحيد الذي احبه
فهم منها انها من بافوري . وهو متجه للبحث عن المكان ابتلعه الضباب ووجد نفسه بمكان آخر
الكل خائف مرتعب ويخاف الظلام
مدينة ملعونة تقع تحت سلطة الكونت ستراهد المخيف
اشخاص مستذئبون .مصاصو دماء ..غجر وعرافات
جاندر وصلته دعوة من الكونت ليكتشف انه مثله مصاص دماء
تدور الأيام ويقطن قصره ومرت السنوات وهو يبحث عن خيط يدله على حبيبته
ليكتشف الغازا خطيرة وأن غريمه هو الكونت نفسه
لكن كيف السبيل لقتله وهو ييستعمل السحر ?ومحاط بجواسيس رهيبة من غجر لمصاصي دماء خدم لمستذئبون ?
وهكذا يتحالف جاندر مع كاهن كان قد انقذه طفلا ومع لصة صغيرة ليقتلوا الكونت
الذي علم بمغامرتهم الصغيرة
روايات رايفنلوفت ليست لمن يتوقع النهايات السعيدة
نهاياتها مفتوحة ومحزنة ومخيبة امل
لكن تشويقها رائع .لم اترك الرواية من يدي ل3ايام رغم مشاغلي كنت اقرء كلما اجد فرصة
القصة تحتوي قصصا صغيرة جانبية تعزز الرواية .قصة حب ستراهد وكيف تحول لمصاص دماء
قصة تاتيانا حبيبة جاندر المجنونة
قصة ساشا الراهب الذي ساعد جاندر ..والكثير
وكلها على نفس درجة التشويق ..
احببت .وجدا
September 6, 2010
In this, the first installment in the long-running horror/fantasy series Ravenloft, Christie Golden breathes terrifying life into one of the most unique, recognizable characters in modern fantasy: Strahd von Zarovich, vampire lord of the undead and ruler of the mist-enshrouded realm of Barovia. Although Strahd is, indeed, given spotlight in his first fictional appearance (the character was a popular mainstay of tabletop modules before this), he is actually not the protagonist of this story. That distinction falls to the vampiric sun elf Jander, displaced to the pocket universe of Ravenloft from his homeland in the Forgotten Realms fantasy world setting. This will become a common theme in future installments, as Ravenloft functions as something of a hub world with ties to many of the more popular fantasy settings and its characters, particularly those evil, undead, or otherwise tainted in their own world.
The roaming mists reach out to Jander and sweep him from his homeland to Barovia, a ravaged land haunted by ghouls, shape-shifting beast men, and other creatures of the night. He soon arrives at Castle Ravenloft, home to the coolly menacing Count Strahd and his subservient minions. Jander and Strahd develop a strange bond, but soon discover that they have far more in common than vampirism - each has the same deep-seated yearning, and each will kill for it. So begins the warring conflict between the two powerful vampires, and once the action kicks up, it doesn't quit until the end.
Though an interesting and tragic character in his own right, Jander pales in comparison to the complexity and intrigue of Count Strahd, and as such, this novel does stumble a bit in painting the latter as the villain. Though villainous to the core he certainly is, Strahd is shown here in more of a terrifying, monstrous light, rather than as a flawed, tragic character possessing human qualities. Though fitting for a first novel in the series, it does little to explain the true nature of the nightmare realm to which he is bound. For that, readers would have to wait until Strahd's own story was given full light in P.N. Elrod's "I, Strahd: Memoirs of a Vampire." Taken on its own, though, "Vampire of the Mists" is a blast to read. The ghostly land of Ravenloft, with its mist-divided fiefdoms, scattered gypsy caravans, & crumbling, overgrown castles, is a great example of fantasy world building, and is the quintessential horror/fantasy melding, original and distinctive in the sub-genre.
As a writer, there's plenty to learn here - Count Strahd, though not entirely fleshed out to the max in his own right, is a wonderful example of how to introduce a monstrous villain as friend-turned-fiend archetype. The aforementioned seamless melding of horror and fantasy, as well, is something to be learned from. Elements of magic and high fantasy are interspersed throughout, but their presence is unobtrusive and subtle, not detracting from the monster-mash horror themes that run most prevalent in this setting.
The roaming mists reach out to Jander and sweep him from his homeland to Barovia, a ravaged land haunted by ghouls, shape-shifting beast men, and other creatures of the night. He soon arrives at Castle Ravenloft, home to the coolly menacing Count Strahd and his subservient minions. Jander and Strahd develop a strange bond, but soon discover that they have far more in common than vampirism - each has the same deep-seated yearning, and each will kill for it. So begins the warring conflict between the two powerful vampires, and once the action kicks up, it doesn't quit until the end.
Though an interesting and tragic character in his own right, Jander pales in comparison to the complexity and intrigue of Count Strahd, and as such, this novel does stumble a bit in painting the latter as the villain. Though villainous to the core he certainly is, Strahd is shown here in more of a terrifying, monstrous light, rather than as a flawed, tragic character possessing human qualities. Though fitting for a first novel in the series, it does little to explain the true nature of the nightmare realm to which he is bound. For that, readers would have to wait until Strahd's own story was given full light in P.N. Elrod's "I, Strahd: Memoirs of a Vampire." Taken on its own, though, "Vampire of the Mists" is a blast to read. The ghostly land of Ravenloft, with its mist-divided fiefdoms, scattered gypsy caravans, & crumbling, overgrown castles, is a great example of fantasy world building, and is the quintessential horror/fantasy melding, original and distinctive in the sub-genre.
As a writer, there's plenty to learn here - Count Strahd, though not entirely fleshed out to the max in his own right, is a wonderful example of how to introduce a monstrous villain as friend-turned-fiend archetype. The aforementioned seamless melding of horror and fantasy, as well, is something to be learned from. Elements of magic and high fantasy are interspersed throughout, but their presence is unobtrusive and subtle, not detracting from the monster-mash horror themes that run most prevalent in this setting.
March 1, 2009
Going into this novel I felt like Golden was going to give me a story much like her later novel Arthas: Rise of the Lich King where the main character has suffered a tragic incident in his life and cannot get beyond it. For Jander this seemed to be magic, though at the outset you don't know why he abhors magic as much as he does and even in the end I am not sure about his hatred of the mystical art. I guess he associates it with his vampirism, not really sure. Other than this one comparison to her later novel Vampire of the Mists is a good book. Golden really captures the dark, foreboding atmosphere of the world of Ravenloft which as a gamer I have adventured in a few times and always greatly enjoyed the setting. Jander's torment at being undead is a wonderful counter to the pleasure Strahd feels at being the most powerful undead in his land. There are many stories within stories that add depth to the characters and the main plotline.
November 30, 2012
Having last time read this book during high school I decided to revisit some of my youth by reading this book again. I have been intrigued by Strahd's character since the first time I (or rather a character of mine) encountered him in the original gaming module back in junior high. I thought this novel did justice to the vampire and I liked the contrast between the two vampires (Jander being a likable "good" vampire). I tend to enjoy the traditional vampire stories like this more than the popularize club hopping 90210-ish versions you mainly get today.
July 29, 2007
My favorite book from when I was a wee lass. I think I've read this book about four or five times (and that is huge, I hardly ever re-read). Jander Sunstar is just about the neatest character for a fantastical land I could imagine. And I am speaking from my innocent, lovely, ethereal teenage self.
November 11, 2019
The main character (Jander, not Strahd) is insufferable. He is the Felix Unger of vampires. When he gets upset, he starts crying bloody tears and goes into the next room to apply their version of Lemon Pledge to the furniture. At least with Neil Simon you get something funny.
October 7, 2008
I do love this series, but I have noticed something. In this world, evil will prevail.
March 18, 2009
I rarely re-read books, but this one is one of the few that get taken off my shelf again and again. Gothic Horror has never held more interest to me.
August 7, 2009
Great read, mix of gothic horror and fantasy. I always wanted to read the Ravenloft books just never got around to it. Now I demand more Ravenloft!
July 18, 2025
2.75/5
For a standalone fantasy novel, this was decent enough, but for a start to a large multiauthor fantasy world, this fell short.
For a standalone fantasy novel, this was decent enough, but for a start to a large multiauthor fantasy world, this fell short.
November 27, 2017
"Is this book any good?"
"Nope"
"Didn't think so"
How you doing, young lady?
That feelin' that you givin' really drives me crazy
You don't have a player on the choke
I was at a loss of words first time that we spoke
You're looking for a girl that'll treat you right
You lookin' for her in the day time with the light
You might be the type if I play my cards right
I'll find out by the end of the night
You expect me to just let you hit it
But will you still respect me if you get it
All I can do is try, gimme one chance
What's the problem I don't see no ring on your hand
I be the first to admit it, I'm curious about you, you seem so innocent
You wanna get in my world, get lost in it
Boy I'm tired of running, let's walk for a minute
Promiscuous girl wherever you are
I'm all alone and it's you that I want
Promiscuous boy you already know
That I'm all yours what you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl you're teasing me
You know what I want and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy let's get to the point
'Cause we're on a roll are you ready?
Roses are red
Some diamonds are blue
Chivalry is dead
But you're still kinda cute
Hey! I can't keep my mind off you
Where you at? Do you mind if I come through?
I'm out of this world come with me to my planet
Get you on my level. Do you think that you can handle it?
They call me Thomas
Last name Crowne
Recognize game
I'mma lay mine's down
I'm a big girl I can handle myself
But if I get lonely I'mma need your help
Pay attention to me I don't talk for my health
I want you on my team
So does everybody else.
Baby we can keep it on the low
Let your guard down ain't nobody gotta know
If you with it girl I know a place we can go
What kind of girl do you take me for?
Promiscuous girl, wherever you are
I'm all alone, and it's you that I want
Promiscuous boy, you already know
That I'm all yours, what you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl, you're teasing me
You know what I want, and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy, let's get to the point
'Cause we're on a roll, you ready?
Don't be mad, don't get mean
Don't get mad, don't be mean
Hey! Don't be mad, don't get mean
Don't get mad, don't be mean
Wait! I don't mean no harm
I can see you with my T-shirt on
I can see you with nothing on
Feeling on me before you bring that on
Bring that on?
You know what I mean
Girl, I'm a freak you shouldn't say those things
I'm only trying to get inside of your brain
To see if you can work me the way you say
It's OK, it's alright
I got something that you gon' like
Hey is that the truth or are you talking trash?
Is your game M.V.P. like Steve Nash?
Promiscuous girl wherever you are
I'm all alone and it's you that I want
Promiscuous boy I'm calling your name
But you're driving me crazy the way you're making me wait
Promiscuous girl you're teasing me
You know what I want and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy we're one and the same
So we don't gotta play games no more
"Nope"
"Didn't think so"
How you doing, young lady?
That feelin' that you givin' really drives me crazy
You don't have a player on the choke
I was at a loss of words first time that we spoke
You're looking for a girl that'll treat you right
You lookin' for her in the day time with the light
You might be the type if I play my cards right
I'll find out by the end of the night
You expect me to just let you hit it
But will you still respect me if you get it
All I can do is try, gimme one chance
What's the problem I don't see no ring on your hand
I be the first to admit it, I'm curious about you, you seem so innocent
You wanna get in my world, get lost in it
Boy I'm tired of running, let's walk for a minute
Promiscuous girl wherever you are
I'm all alone and it's you that I want
Promiscuous boy you already know
That I'm all yours what you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl you're teasing me
You know what I want and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy let's get to the point
'Cause we're on a roll are you ready?
Roses are red
Some diamonds are blue
Chivalry is dead
But you're still kinda cute
Hey! I can't keep my mind off you
Where you at? Do you mind if I come through?
I'm out of this world come with me to my planet
Get you on my level. Do you think that you can handle it?
They call me Thomas
Last name Crowne
Recognize game
I'mma lay mine's down
I'm a big girl I can handle myself
But if I get lonely I'mma need your help
Pay attention to me I don't talk for my health
I want you on my team
So does everybody else.
Baby we can keep it on the low
Let your guard down ain't nobody gotta know
If you with it girl I know a place we can go
What kind of girl do you take me for?
Promiscuous girl, wherever you are
I'm all alone, and it's you that I want
Promiscuous boy, you already know
That I'm all yours, what you waiting for?
Promiscuous girl, you're teasing me
You know what I want, and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy, let's get to the point
'Cause we're on a roll, you ready?
Don't be mad, don't get mean
Don't get mad, don't be mean
Hey! Don't be mad, don't get mean
Don't get mad, don't be mean
Wait! I don't mean no harm
I can see you with my T-shirt on
I can see you with nothing on
Feeling on me before you bring that on
Bring that on?
You know what I mean
Girl, I'm a freak you shouldn't say those things
I'm only trying to get inside of your brain
To see if you can work me the way you say
It's OK, it's alright
I got something that you gon' like
Hey is that the truth or are you talking trash?
Is your game M.V.P. like Steve Nash?
Promiscuous girl wherever you are
I'm all alone and it's you that I want
Promiscuous boy I'm calling your name
But you're driving me crazy the way you're making me wait
Promiscuous girl you're teasing me
You know what I want and I got what you need
Promiscuous boy we're one and the same
So we don't gotta play games no more
March 21, 2020
I was a fanatical Dungeons and Dragons player back in the 80s, but I haven't played in almost a decade. So, with this Coronavirus keeping me, pretty much, inside my apartment, I went into my back shed and began looking for books I hadn't read in a long time. I found this book (and quite a few others) so I sat down to read it.
Immediately I was transported back to Ravenloft and the world of D&D. Surprisingly, this book has held up over time. I found it just as enjoyable last night as I did when I first read it when it came out (1991). The premise is easy to understand. There is a world called Ravenloft surrounded by mist. When an individual proves to be so evil that he/she will be killed, he/she is teleported to Ravenloft, given a domain and can never leave the land of the mists ever again. Sounds simple right?
In this book, however, the line between good and evil is very thin. Jandar Sunstar is a vampire but he not evil. Unfortunately, he falls into the kingdom of Count Von Strahd and the two begin a series of skirmishes. Jandar has just lost someone he loved very much and is crazy with grief. A grief craved vampire will do things that are considered EVIL to most people. However, the author makes it plain why Jandar is being evil (other than being a vampire). Jandar does not want to be evil but...
The author also makes it clear that Strahd is the resident EVIL bad guy and Jandar is sort of caught in a situation he was not and (probably) will never be comfortable in.
If you like vampire books that aren't terrifying with a main character who is likeable dispite all his faults, then find a copy of this book and read it. I truly believe you will not be disappointed.
Immediately I was transported back to Ravenloft and the world of D&D. Surprisingly, this book has held up over time. I found it just as enjoyable last night as I did when I first read it when it came out (1991). The premise is easy to understand. There is a world called Ravenloft surrounded by mist. When an individual proves to be so evil that he/she will be killed, he/she is teleported to Ravenloft, given a domain and can never leave the land of the mists ever again. Sounds simple right?
In this book, however, the line between good and evil is very thin. Jandar Sunstar is a vampire but he not evil. Unfortunately, he falls into the kingdom of Count Von Strahd and the two begin a series of skirmishes. Jandar has just lost someone he loved very much and is crazy with grief. A grief craved vampire will do things that are considered EVIL to most people. However, the author makes it plain why Jandar is being evil (other than being a vampire). Jandar does not want to be evil but...
The author also makes it clear that Strahd is the resident EVIL bad guy and Jandar is sort of caught in a situation he was not and (probably) will never be comfortable in.
If you like vampire books that aren't terrifying with a main character who is likeable dispite all his faults, then find a copy of this book and read it. I truly believe you will not be disappointed.
April 27, 2014
(3 stars for the actual book, plus one for nostalgia)
Fifteen-year-old me loved unreservedly the tale of poor Jander Sunstar, nature-loving, sun-worshipping elf doomed by the curse of the vampire to walk always in the darkness, preying on the blood of the living ... and honestly, there is still a lot to enjoy for the (slightly) more mature reader, although if Vampire of the Mists is a classic it is only within the limited realm of RPG-to-novel tie-ins. Every trope you can imagine is fully present, the plot twists are not so very twisty, the writing is workmanlike but never brilliant, the characters and their trials sketched-out more than fully-formed. And let's not forget the figure of Strahd von Zarovich himself, ruler of Castle Ravenloft, a Dracula figure whose portrayal is cobbled together from Hammer Films and the early days of Universal Studios. (Not to say that's a bad thing! Strahd has a certain charm. I'd love to hear him say, "I never drink ... wine.")
And yet the book is still a pretty enjoyable read. Not brilliant, not a "ZOMG you must read this!" kinda novel, but perhaps the characters blaze more brightly in the imagination, for being archetypes. Perhaps the prose isn't going to win any awards, or bring tears to your eyes even during the most emotionally intense sequences, but it gets the job done. I've owned the same copy of Vampire of the Mists for nearly twenty years, and I reckon it can live on my shelf for another twenty more.
Fifteen-year-old me loved unreservedly the tale of poor Jander Sunstar, nature-loving, sun-worshipping elf doomed by the curse of the vampire to walk always in the darkness, preying on the blood of the living ... and honestly, there is still a lot to enjoy for the (slightly) more mature reader, although if Vampire of the Mists is a classic it is only within the limited realm of RPG-to-novel tie-ins. Every trope you can imagine is fully present, the plot twists are not so very twisty, the writing is workmanlike but never brilliant, the characters and their trials sketched-out more than fully-formed. And let's not forget the figure of Strahd von Zarovich himself, ruler of Castle Ravenloft, a Dracula figure whose portrayal is cobbled together from Hammer Films and the early days of Universal Studios. (Not to say that's a bad thing! Strahd has a certain charm. I'd love to hear him say, "I never drink ... wine.")
And yet the book is still a pretty enjoyable read. Not brilliant, not a "ZOMG you must read this!" kinda novel, but perhaps the characters blaze more brightly in the imagination, for being archetypes. Perhaps the prose isn't going to win any awards, or bring tears to your eyes even during the most emotionally intense sequences, but it gets the job done. I've owned the same copy of Vampire of the Mists for nearly twenty years, and I reckon it can live on my shelf for another twenty more.
January 28, 2017
I think going back and rereading these books well over a decade after the last time I read them is going to be an eye opening experience for me. I'm not the same person I was when I first read this for the first time over 20 years ago and it shows by how I see the ending much differently now. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and still love the world of Ravenloft and the character of Strahd Von Zarovich but appreciate that character for much different reasons now. He is a pitiable creature incapable of change or love or true happiness and is filled with a crippling self delusion that by his will and deplorable actions all can become his vision of perfection but it is an illusory perfection that is empty of any reality and also any true happiness.
I never completely understood Jander's actions at the end of the book when I was younger but now it seems different to me. It makes more sense and I can understand his motivations.
I like this book just as much as I ever did but I have found a different appreciation for it now that I am older and while it may have slight pacing issues and not a profound amount of character growth I still have to say I throughly enjoyed it and look forward to seeing what reading the next Ravenloft novel shakes loose from my memories.
I never completely understood Jander's actions at the end of the book when I was younger but now it seems different to me. It makes more sense and I can understand his motivations.
I like this book just as much as I ever did but I have found a different appreciation for it now that I am older and while it may have slight pacing issues and not a profound amount of character growth I still have to say I throughly enjoyed it and look forward to seeing what reading the next Ravenloft novel shakes loose from my memories.
April 27, 2018
This is my second time reading this novel. The first was easily over a decade ago, and I have to say, the book still lives up to my memory of it.
Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable book, even on the second time around. I had forgotten most of it, so rereading it was almost like reading it new. The twists were fresh, and the characters interesting. Ravenloft was an interesting world as it introduced the concept of vampires in other races besides humans. The concept of a vampire elf was a pretty neat one, and setting him up against a human vampire was extremely interesting.
Golden did a fairly good job with this book. The writing is solid, though like a lot of the books for Dungeons and Dragons at the time, it feels more like an older audience young adult novel rather than anything for an older audience. However, unlike, say the Dragonlance trilogy, rereading it doesn't feel like you're reading a YA book.
In the end, this is an excellent book and a perfect introduction into the Ravenloft world. I highly recommend it for those who are interested in a darker fantasy world and this book will get you knowledgeable about the setting and general things with the world.
Overall, this was a pretty enjoyable book, even on the second time around. I had forgotten most of it, so rereading it was almost like reading it new. The twists were fresh, and the characters interesting. Ravenloft was an interesting world as it introduced the concept of vampires in other races besides humans. The concept of a vampire elf was a pretty neat one, and setting him up against a human vampire was extremely interesting.
Golden did a fairly good job with this book. The writing is solid, though like a lot of the books for Dungeons and Dragons at the time, it feels more like an older audience young adult novel rather than anything for an older audience. However, unlike, say the Dragonlance trilogy, rereading it doesn't feel like you're reading a YA book.
In the end, this is an excellent book and a perfect introduction into the Ravenloft world. I highly recommend it for those who are interested in a darker fantasy world and this book will get you knowledgeable about the setting and general things with the world.
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