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Arkham Horror #9.8
The Blood of Baalshandor
Discover the power of true magic in Blood of Baalshandor! This Arkham Horror novella by Richard Lee Byers invites readers to return to Arkham alongside Dexter Drake as he searches for arcane tomes that can shed some light on the secrets he first glimpsed in a torn page from the Necronomion during the Great War. Lured to an auction of occult items, “Drake the Great” and his assistant Molly Maxwell find themselves targeted by the depraved servants of an otherworldly force of disease and corruption. It will take more than a little misdirection to get the magician out of this scrape.
In addition to a hardcover copy of the novella, Blood of Baalshandor includes four exclusive cards to add Dexter Drake as an investigator in Arkham Horror: The Card Game. These cards allow readers to build a deck for Dexter Drake, complete with a signature asset and weakness, and mark his first appearance in the game.
In addition to a hardcover copy of the novella, Blood of Baalshandor includes four exclusive cards to add Dexter Drake as an investigator in Arkham Horror: The Card Game. These cards allow readers to build a deck for Dexter Drake, complete with a signature asset and weakness, and mark his first appearance in the game.
135 pages, Hardcover
Published April 1, 2020
3 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Richard Lee Byers
198 books370 followersA resident of the Tampa Bay area, Richard spends much of his leisure time fencing, playing poker, shooting pool and is a frequent guest at Florida science-fiction conventions. His current projects include new novels set in the Forgotten Realms universe and the eBook post-apocalyptic superhero series The Impostor.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 12, 2020
The Orne Library in the New England town of Arkham (also known as the Miskatonic University Library) was known to have an edition of the Necronomicon. Dex Drake had uncovered several pages of the John Dee edition while serving in the war and later after his return. But, those few pages weren't enough. He was determined to uncover all the mysteries of the legendary book. Sadly, while being a renowned magician 'Almost as good as Houdini!' those weren't the academical credentials he needed to be able to get past the watchdog guardian of the book. But...Arkham being Arkham...there was always other mysterious and darkly magical books available to the most determined. Unfortunately for Dex and his stage assistant Molly, those magical books typically have a price associated with them. And, the BLOOD OF BAALSHANDOR may have a price that the world itself may have to pay.
Richard Lee Byers is the author of over 60 books as well multiple short stories throughout a dozen anthologies. And, while he had become known for his tales and stories set in various fantasy universes, in this, his second book in the Arkham Horror line, he steps outside that genre to give the readers a fun and exciting journey through the world of horror and all things Arkham. Byers has always been an excellent story teller and it is even more apparent here as he creates a story that, while brief has all the elements that you could want in a horror story of this type. The only thing missing was a certain tentacled older god. But who knows what is lurking just around the corner?
Hopefully, Byers will have the opportunity to revisit Arkham once more in the future and give us another tour through his vision of horror.
Richard Lee Byers is the author of over 60 books as well multiple short stories throughout a dozen anthologies. And, while he had become known for his tales and stories set in various fantasy universes, in this, his second book in the Arkham Horror line, he steps outside that genre to give the readers a fun and exciting journey through the world of horror and all things Arkham. Byers has always been an excellent story teller and it is even more apparent here as he creates a story that, while brief has all the elements that you could want in a horror story of this type. The only thing missing was a certain tentacled older god. But who knows what is lurking just around the corner?
Hopefully, Byers will have the opportunity to revisit Arkham once more in the future and give us another tour through his vision of horror.
August 17, 2025
A surprisingly good read that caught me off guard by how much I enjoyed it.
Despite what I might say on goodreads this book was 165 pages for me, and I polished that off in 2 days, I say that as a testament to how much I enjoyed it. Is it better than the silver mask? No, but it was a surprisingly pleasant read and definitely one of the better pulp books that I've read, certainly better than the ravening deep.
Drake the great is a great mc, and Molly works perfectly as his right hand woman. The plot is simple but effective and interesting and fits perfectly into the 165 pages that it has. The prose is definitely solid and the entire thing just works really well.
I think certain parts were a bit rushed (the auction, the cave, the train) but then that's maybe because it felt the need to fit into its limited size? Also as much as I did enjoy it, its far from anything special and far from a 5, its a simple but effective story that breaks absolutely no boundaries but leaves you feeling satisfied. Solid 4.
Despite what I might say on goodreads this book was 165 pages for me, and I polished that off in 2 days, I say that as a testament to how much I enjoyed it. Is it better than the silver mask? No, but it was a surprisingly pleasant read and definitely one of the better pulp books that I've read, certainly better than the ravening deep.
Drake the great is a great mc, and Molly works perfectly as his right hand woman. The plot is simple but effective and interesting and fits perfectly into the 165 pages that it has. The prose is definitely solid and the entire thing just works really well.
I think certain parts were a bit rushed (the auction, the cave, the train) but then that's maybe because it felt the need to fit into its limited size? Also as much as I did enjoy it, its far from anything special and far from a 5, its a simple but effective story that breaks absolutely no boundaries but leaves you feeling satisfied. Solid 4.
May 3, 2020
Simple but engaging introduction to Dexter Drake. No reason to read this if If you don't play the Arkham Horror LCG or aren't starved for Mythos content.
June 9, 2024
Rating 3.5
An enjoyable quick read from the Arkham horror universe.
This novella was a fast paced, pulpy, quite predictable story that basically did exactly what it set out to do.
Yes it is essentially an introduction for players of the Arkham horror table top games of a new playable character but still ….. it isn’t trying to be anything else.
The plot hits the right notes which are expected in a story of this genre/universe.
It isn’t a badly written in my opinion, and as far as this series of novellas are concerned is probably above average.
The rating admittedly is difficult, objectively this should be a 3 (average read that was entertaining enough) but when comparing against others in this series then it should probably be moved to a 4 ….. hence the rating 3.5
An enjoyable quick read from the Arkham horror universe.
This novella was a fast paced, pulpy, quite predictable story that basically did exactly what it set out to do.
Yes it is essentially an introduction for players of the Arkham horror table top games of a new playable character but still ….. it isn’t trying to be anything else.
The plot hits the right notes which are expected in a story of this genre/universe.
It isn’t a badly written in my opinion, and as far as this series of novellas are concerned is probably above average.
The rating admittedly is difficult, objectively this should be a 3 (average read that was entertaining enough) but when comparing against others in this series then it should probably be moved to a 4 ….. hence the rating 3.5
June 20, 2022
The writing and the plot we're fine but I didn't connect with the characters. Dex is a stage magician and con man who is searching for a book of real magic and attracts the attention of cultists who are working to bring about the end of the world. His assistant Maggie gets infected by an evil spell and he has to use magic to save her.
October 27, 2020
There's not much to these short books, but this one was probably the best one so far. I like getting to know the board game characters a little better thru the short stories. I can't say that I'd recommend them to anyone unless you're an avid reader, and enjoy Eldrich Horror.
September 7, 2020
This was pretty good. I have read a couple of the Arkham Horror novellas and I think this one is my favorite so far. I liked the creepy monsters.
October 1, 2021
This absolute wreck of a book is as bad as commissioned IP work gets.
July 14, 2020
"The Blood of Baalshandor," by Richard Lee Byers, is the latest in the series of hardcover "Arkham Horror" novellas (which include cards for the Arkham Horror card game). The protagonist of this volume is the magician Dexter Drake--the Arkham Horror universe's equivalent to Houdini. He and his lovely assistant/girlfriend, Morgana/Molly, face the priest and thralls of the "god of chaos and disease" called Baalshandor. This is a new antagonist in the "Cthulhu and friends" pantheon of Eldritch horrors.
These Arkham Horror novellas feature a protagonist/Investigator from the Arkham Horror gaming universe (which includes the board games of Arkham Horror, Eldritch Horror, Elder Sign, Mansions of Madness, and the Arkham Horror card game). Most of the time, these novellas tell us the story of how a particular investigator came to Arkham to fight vile monsters and various inter-dimensional horrors.
Dexter's troubles begin at an auction of "forbidden" books, including a tome called "The Blood of Baalshandor." Baalshandor was banished by a more prominent "god" named Cthugha (not to be confused with Cthulhu). And one of Baalshandor's rogue priests is determined to resurrect his god at all costs, transforming anyone in his way into a leech monster.
Dexter had his first taste of "real magic" during the Great War and was in Arkham seeking a connection to more of the same in Arkham. He had collected pages from the Necronomicon while fighting in Europe, but didn't have much experience with the Mythos.
This Arkham Horror novella is certainly better than the author's last stab at writing in the Arkham Horror universe. But I'd say he's still writing as an "outsider" to the various games of the Arkham Horror universe and the Cthulhu Mythos itself. He can tell a decent story, but his work still doesn't have the usual Arkham Horror/Lovecraftian "feel" to it.
If you're a fan of the Arkham Horror LCG, you've probably already got this book for the Dexter Drake promo cards. I read the books for the books themselves and will probably sell the promo cards online. To each their own.
These Arkham Horror novellas feature a protagonist/Investigator from the Arkham Horror gaming universe (which includes the board games of Arkham Horror, Eldritch Horror, Elder Sign, Mansions of Madness, and the Arkham Horror card game). Most of the time, these novellas tell us the story of how a particular investigator came to Arkham to fight vile monsters and various inter-dimensional horrors.
Dexter's troubles begin at an auction of "forbidden" books, including a tome called "The Blood of Baalshandor." Baalshandor was banished by a more prominent "god" named Cthugha (not to be confused with Cthulhu). And one of Baalshandor's rogue priests is determined to resurrect his god at all costs, transforming anyone in his way into a leech monster.
Dexter had his first taste of "real magic" during the Great War and was in Arkham seeking a connection to more of the same in Arkham. He had collected pages from the Necronomicon while fighting in Europe, but didn't have much experience with the Mythos.
This Arkham Horror novella is certainly better than the author's last stab at writing in the Arkham Horror universe. But I'd say he's still writing as an "outsider" to the various games of the Arkham Horror universe and the Cthulhu Mythos itself. He can tell a decent story, but his work still doesn't have the usual Arkham Horror/Lovecraftian "feel" to it.
If you're a fan of the Arkham Horror LCG, you've probably already got this book for the Dexter Drake promo cards. I read the books for the books themselves and will probably sell the promo cards online. To each their own.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews