Vampire in the Mist by Christine Golden
Book review
by John Goodrich

 

Rating:

 

Jander Sunstar was a Golden Elf, bitten by a vampire and forever denied the sun he so loves. Then, in a moment of utter anguish, strange mists transport him from his existence in Waterdeep to Barovia, ruled by the vampire Strahd von Zarovich. Jander discovers that Strahd is curiously stronger and yet weaker than he, and Strahd is eager to discover Jander's weak points.

Honestly, this is pretty standard franchise writing by an novice author. Translating the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons game setting into a workable story universe is not easy, and first-time author Christine Golden manages it with moderate aplomb.

The redeeming feature of this book is the constant appearance of Strahd himself. Even through this pale shadow of himself, the power of Dracula shines through his diminished copy like a dark star. Where Jander Sunstar is a insufferably maudlin and self-pitying, Zarovich is unrepentantly manipulative and thoroughly, magnificently evil.