Project Realms Reads discussion

I read this a couple years ago but I honestly loved it and I want to read the rest of the Ravenloft series at some point. I remember really loving Jander (even though he's pretty dumb in my opinion). Please feel free to join me on this read!

Feb 7th - Spoilers through chapter 7 allowed
Feb 14th- Spoilers through chapter 13 allowed
Feb 21st - Spoilers through chapter 19 allowed
Feb 28th – Spoilers for entire book allowed

Raechel wrote: "I read this a couple years ago but I honestly loved it and I want to read the rest of the Ravenloft series at some point. I remember really loving Jander (even though he's pretty dumb in my opinion..."

You'll be pleased to know that there is an official 2nd Edition of Jandar Sunstar in this book here, Children of the Night: Vampires complete with character stats and an appropriate portrait.

As for his intellect, I would argue that he is more naïve then dumb.
He desperately clings to his noble, almost child-like innocence typical of his elven heritage in anyway that he can, in spite of it being slowly eroded away by the 'gift'. Like the withering winds of a desert chipping away at a monument in a desert, his ideals, his virtues, his being is slowly whittled away.

I'll have to find a copy of that Children of the Night, it looks like there's a lot of interesting information in it and I love lore.

David wrote: "As for his intellect, I would argue that he is more naïve then dumb."

That's fair, though Jander has lived for a very long time and I remember reading a few scenarios in the book and immediately understanding what was happening, while Jander either didn't pick up on it or was mystified as to the cause. Either way, I think he's a fantastic character.

Often times, what can amplify the horror in a work is knowing what’s looming in the shadows just beyond the protagonist’s awareness yet being absolutely powerless to do anything about it.

I think Jander is great, though certainly naive. It’s easy to feel for him, and his honor is touching in such a horrible world. I picked up another Christie Golden novel at a used bookstore because of how much I enjoyed Vampire of the Mists.

Spoilers through chapter 7 are allowed!

This is my second time reading this book and I really like it. I think Golden has fantastic descriptive language. There's a point where she says something like Jander's guilt settled on him like dust on a gravestone and I thought it was really good.

I also think Golden is great about writing her male and female characters much more equally. In the previous Forgotten Realms books it felt like the female characters either weren't present or were just there to act as a love interest. We've gotten more female representation and they are also their own complicated people. It's refreshing.

I really like seeing Ravenloft through Jander's perspective. He's a bit awkward, but I think that comes from his self-isolation. I have mentioned I think he's a little dumb (or you could say naive), but I think that's endearing.

He and Strahd sort of posturing at each other when they first meet was really amusing.

Spoilers through chapter 13 are allowed!

Strahd and Jander as frenemies is such an interesting dynamic. Strahd is like that toxic friend that encourages the worst from you.

Raechel wrote: "This is my second time reading this book and I really like it. I think Golden has fantastic descriptive language."

Totally agree with this. I am late to this reading with you guys, sorry. My daughter wanted to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , which I did not mind doing, this month. I also read an ARC for a friend's book release.

Anyway, I finally delved into Vampire of the Mists today. I forgot how good this book is. I was captured by the book's magic a few words into the prologue! Golden is one of my favorite writers. I am excited to read this again.

I'd hate to rush through this book. It's one of those books you savor. But, I want to join the discussion, too! Jander just torched the asylum and is contemplating revenge.

Spoilers through chapter 19 are allowed!

No worries if you're a little behind, this is totally optional after all. I continue to be impressed by Golden's descriptive language and how she moves the plot along while balancing flashbacks, Barovian politics, and the slow creep of time that means nothing to the vampire duo.

I really like the flashbacks to Jander's past and how he became a vampire. I think Jander subtly hints that it's much darker than what we see as a reader, but Golden puts just the right amount of restraint in her description so our imagination is left to make up what horrors he endured for a century.

Since I'm re-reading this I'm picking up hints to certain things I completely missed and was surprised about later on in the book. I remember originally feeling like the surprise wasn't out of no where, but it's nice to see that if you really took the time to look, you would have figured it out.

Really looking forward to the last part of this book! I love the world Golden's created and how we get to experience Barovia through Jander's eyes. I also want to mention how much I love that she's got a variety of characters, male and female, who have different positives and negatives to them and we don't just have a few women off to the side who are regulated to "love interest." I wish more of our Forgotten Realms authors could follow Golden's lead.

Spoilers for the entire book are allowed!

As I mentioned earlier, this was my second time to read this book. I was still impressed by Golden's descriptive language and how she kept the feelings of dread in Ravenloft, even though a lot of time passes in this story. Each time the sudden realization that YEARS have gone by is surprising, and really puts you in the shoes of Jander, for whom the passage of time isn't really important.

I thought the ending did a great job at walking the line between "the heroes have saved the day" and "Strahd is as eternal as the land"--Barovia is safe... for a time. But we know the Dark Powers cannot be ended so easily.

Jander is my favorite character out of all the D&D books I've read. Even though he's a bit dumb/naive, he has a real struggle within him but ultimately overcomes his fear of the Crimson Death sacrifice himself and do what's right. He's been mentioned a couple times in some 5e books so I'm really curious to see what Wizards does with his character.

I'd love to hear what other people thought of this book. I know the Ravenloft books are a lot spookier than the Forgotten Realms books we've been reading. Horror is my favorite genre and to see it combined with D&D is just *chef's kiss*

Finally. It took me two months, but I finished Vampire of the Mists this evening. I'd forgotten so much of the book that it still held a few surprises for me. I am glad I read it again. I posted a 'main' review HERE, but I certainly wanted to share and respond to your guys' thoughts, too.

Raechel wrote: "I thought the ending did a great job at walking the line between "the heroes have saved the day" and "Strahd is as eternal as the land"--Barovia is safe... for a time. But we know the Dark Powers cannot be ended so easily."

Agreed! Though we do not know the fate of Sasha and Leisl at the end of this book, I still found satisfaction as the book ended.I struggled to feel much of the emotion presented during the novel, but Jander's 'end' was touching and well done.

Raechel wrote: "I also want to mention how much I love that she's [Christie Golden] got a variety of characters, male and female, who have different positives and negatives to them and we don't just have a few women off to the side who are regulated to "love interest."

Another nod of agreement from me on this point. I cannot add to how well Raechel says this. As I read, however, I did worry about the idea of a male villain with a couple dozen female 'slaves' under his control and doing his bidding. I feel that this idea works in a vampire book, though it may seem like an old, tired trope. Modern critics could pick this theme apart I suppose, but I would hope that readers see this notion as more of Strahd's depravity as a singular character who is trapped in an evil place physically, mentally and emotionally. His brood of vampiresses represent the malignant nature of the land's evil hold on him and his own misguided and perverted perceptions. It is not a characterization of the author's view - it's just good story telling in this genre.

I took to Sasha as a character relative to whom I was rooting for. His change from trouble maker to priest over the years was interesting to me. There was potential for racial divides to be explored more deeply relative to his Vistani heritage that I was curious about, though I know it was beyond he scope of this book to delve into. Speaking of Vistani, I loved learning more of their ways and culture as the novel unfolded. Very well developed in the limited space the book accommodated these Romani analogues.

I plan on reading the next book, Knight of the Black Rose soon. I haven't read that in twenty years, so looking forward to it and continuing my Ravenloft reading adventure.

Don wrote: "As I read, however, I did worry about the idea of a male villain with a couple dozen female 'slaves' under his control and doing his bidding. I feel that this idea works in a vampire book, though it may seem like an old, tired trope. Modern critics could pick this theme apart I suppose, but I would hope that readers see this notion as more of Strahd's depravity as a singular character who is trapped in an evil place physically, mentally and emotionally."

I totally agree! While it could be very easy for an author to exploit this detail in the book (and we see a very brief confirmation of just how far Strahd treats his slaves when he sends one to Jander's room with a message), it never felt sleazy or voyeuristic. It was an acknowledgement of just how evil Strahd is and how disposable those women are to him.