I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin

This is kinda like the sequel to I, Strahd: Memories of a Vampire.. But for true Azalin fans you still need to acquire 2 more books which he stars in.. King of the Dead Lord of Nercopolis

Of course, this is coming from a 25 year old woman with a poster of Strahd hanging in her living room! I read "I Strahd" and closed the book with tears in my eyes, never before have I read a book that moved me like that one. So when I picked up "the war against Azalin" I tried not to get my hopes up, I know how sequels can be. BOY WAS I WRONG! This book kept me on the edge of my seat and screaming for more when it was done!Tatyana would be proud!

P.N.Elrod returns with "I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin." To begin, the book is supurbly written. Ms. Elrod has a wonderful grasp of language, and a great sence to her craft as a writer. She also has a wonderful grasp of the characters, both Strahd, and Azalin. Despite being undead, she fills them with the tribulations of the living, only she marvelously stretches them over the course of years, even decades! The manipulations, and the power games which ultimately escalate into a war are wonderfully developed. The entire arrival of Azalin, the powerful, and evil lich; and further, his struggle with his sudden prison and the yoke he finds himself bound under are grand. The continuing struggle for Strahd, to search out Tatyana only to lose her time and time again is heart wrenching (allowing for a macabre irony of course). Despite the fact you have to loath both of the main characters--let's face it, they're abominations!--the author does a wonderful job of pulling you into a position of picking a "worse of two evils." Of course, the novel is written as the journal of Strahd Von Zarovich; so like Dr. Rudolf vanRichten, whether you take it at face value, or ponder whether it's merely Propoganda by the briliant Vampire lord, you have to admit, it's a great read. I recommend this novel to all, especially those who love gothic fantasy/"horror" novels, and more so if you've read either: "I, Strahd: Memoirs of a Vampire"(also by P.N.Elrod) or "Vampire of the Mist"(by Christie Golden).

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. Azalin, an opponent whose power dwarfs Strahd's, realizes that he needs Strahd ( for a while anyway) in order to escape this plane. Strahd in turn bides his time by assisting Azalin and acquiring more magic skills from him, until the moment he can rid himself of Azalin and liberate Barovia from the plane of Mists that hold it captive. And so the two reluctant adversaries make a delicate truce to reach their common goal of freedom. But all the while they engage in an intense yet subtle game of cloak and dagger. Each of them covertly endeavors to learn the other's strengths and weaknesses, waiting for the moment to strike. The dynamic between these two well written characters is truly engaging. Elrod continues to write Strahd's story from the first person perspective, which is very satisfying as it lets the reader get directly into Strahd's head. We know his fears, his motivations, everything. My only problem with the novel, and perhaps this is just nit-picking, is the title. The novel isn't really about a war. The war does eventually occur, ofcourse, but it's not the heart of the story. The story's true appeal is the dynamic between Strahd and Azalin.

The sequel to P. N. Elrod's I, Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampire is a worthy continuation in the story. The only errors I found were a typographical one on page 265 and a possible error in the name of one of the Tatyanas Strahd is always persuing; the last book said her name to be Olya, but this calls her Allina. No matter. The events set down within concerning Azalin blend almost seemlessly with those from King of the Dead by Gene De Weese, and one is left wondering which account to believe. In all, I,S:TWAA is an excellent novel, and one does not have to know the history of Ravenloft or even had to have read the first novel to understand it. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first, to Ravenloft fans in general, and to those who like vampire stories, and have never read about a lich before.