I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin [Mass Market Paperback]

 

 

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"We are born with the dead : See, they return and bring us with them." (T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding)

Another marvelous edition to the practically perfect Ravenloft series! This exciting novel (and second to the last in the series) chronicles the developing animosity between the powerful vampire and inadvertent creator of the demi-plane, Strahd, and the undead necromancer, Azalin. This novel begins with Strahd's heartrending loss of another of Tatyana's reincarnations and his subsequent "introduction" to Azalin. Despite their extreme abhorrence of one another they decide to join magical forces in an attempt to escape the melancholy plane of their imprisonment. For many decades they attempt to escape Ravenloft while slyly trying to discover each other's weaknesses. After numerous failures and the mysterious addition of other realms to Ravenloft Azalin, now the tyrannical dictator of Darkon, declares open warfare on Strahd. Actually, despite the title and the summary on the back of the novel a war never transpires due to Strahd's clever plan of espionage. While I found the scheming and edge-of-the-seat intrigue to be very well written and absorbing, I was slightly disentranced that a war between Ravenloft's most powerful lords never actually materialized.

Most of the novel is narrated by Strahd, however, there are a few segments written by my personal favorite, Azalin. The author, P.N. Elrod, did a magnificent job of presenting the characters' thoughts in such a way that I felt I had entered their minds. I particularly enjoyed this aspect of the novel.

Also, although it is not absolutely essential to the comprehension of this novel I recommend reading I Strahd, King of the Dead, and its sequel Lord of the Necropolis first since this novel retells many events and adds information to the novels previously mentioned. Also, the aforesaid novels give more background information about Strahd and Azalin and help to explain their motives and life stories.

For those of you who are new to the Ravenloft series, I would like to stress that it is not essential to have played the Ravenloft games to understand and enjoy the novels. I, myself, have very little knowledge of them and have never played them. Understanding how they work is not essential to the novels.

In summarization, this is another quintessential edition to the Ravenloft series and a must read for all Ravenloft fans or fans of classic literature fraught with high drama and horror.

"But at my back in a cold blast I hear
The rattle of the bones, and chuckle spread from ear to ear."
(T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land.)

War against azalin is worthy book, Elrod's Narrating really awesome , In my opinion if there was some action more it could be excellent work, but its still very good and must read. I like faster-movin acts so gave it 4 stars but i impressed....

There is somthing about the appeal to this novel I cannot put into words. I really can't say what it is. I found myself so enthralled in the text it felt like I wasn't reading a book, but rather Strahd was standing over my shoulder reading his thoughts out loud. Creepy. Surreal. Those two words come to mind.

Strahd is an evil worth rooting for. But Azalin the lich is worse. The author invariable gives us the lesser of two evils to choose from. While Strahd seems only to be striving to protect his own, one can't help but wonder the real meaning to his actions. Everyone colors their own stories. Strahd's viewpoint must indeed conflict with Azalin's, and we catch a glimpse of it through a few biting commentaries by the master wizard himself. It would be very interesting to read the title, "I, Azalin: The War Against Strahd".

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4.0 out of 5 stars A was unlike any you have ever known
When I started reading the book I had no idea as to what Azalin was. When Strahd found out it was almost as much of a surprise to me as it was to him. Read more

Published on July 19 2000 by R Trace Sinclair

4.0 out of 5 stars No other D&D author compares to Elrod.
I've read about a dozen D&D based novels (Realms and Dragonlance stuff too). This book is only hampered by the inherent constraints of any D&D author, and a bit of... Read more

Published on April 14 2000 by snowtiger

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST!
Of course, this is coming from a 25 year old woman with a poster of Strahd hanging in her living room! Read more

Published on Feb 1 2000 by A. Peterson

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique
Well, this book really put some of my faith back in the series of Ravenloft. Sometimes the series is hopeless and doesn't really captivate you; that's not the case here. Read more

Published on Jan 13 2000 by Faebinder

5.0 out of 5 stars Lesser of two evils?
P.N.Elrod returns with "I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin." To begin, the book is supurbly written. Ms. Read more

Published on Jan 12 2000 by estrolof

2.0 out of 5 stars Azalin IS more powerful then in the book
After reading 'the Lord of Necropolis', where Azalin was presented as 'virtualy omnipotent', I am a bit disappointed with this one. Read more

Published on Nov 30 1999 by Szymon Nowakowski

5.0 out of 5 stars everything i wanted out of this sequel i got.
the war against azalin is a excellent addition to the strahd collection. i hope TSR turns this series into a franchise. Read more

Published on Sep 24 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars A chess match on steriods!
This excellent novel continues the story of Strahd the magically talented vampire extraordinaire by recounting the time Azalin made his entrance into the Mists of Barovia... Read more

Published on Aug 7 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars a marvellous captivating story
WOW a fantastic book&sequel. Strahd is one of the best literary characters around, dynamic and well rounded. Read more

Published on July 13 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Awsome but not enough and too much
Great book. Azailin and Strahd booth are excellent characters especially in the same book but the title of the book disapinted me. Read more

Published on April 25 1999

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