Lord of the Necropolis

This is a great ravenloft book. The characterization of the main character, Azalin, is excellent, and his tormenters are also suitably wicked enough that you can even sympathise with Azalin even after all the evil things he has done. Buy this book if you are a ravenloft fan.

I can ask for nothing more than this book gave me. The conclusion of the tale of Azalin, Lich Lord of Darkon, is truly done with great skill by Gene DeWeese. The book not only ties loose ends from "King of the Dead", it tells the ultimate truth, and reveals the true nature of the Dark Powers. A must read for fans of Ravenloft, or anyone who has read the first novel.

This novel, though complete on its own, really requires the reader to be familiar with the character of Azalin. This will already be the case with those who play the AD & D game (in particular, the award-winning Ravenloft campaign setting), or those who have read the prequel, 'King of the Dead' (by the same author). Following 'King of the Dead', the author has improved upon his style and delivery -- though it may be presumptuous of me to say so, I believe that 'Lord of the Necropolis' is far superior to its prequel, both in plot and description. This is in part thanks to the lack of limitations on the author's part (the story of 'King' was practically already written by the makers of AD & D) and also to the writer's commendable imagination. The plot of 'Lord' is at first glance incredible (an undead wizard king goes back in time, with the intention of saving his son and killing a vampire), but the smooth form employed by the writer lends a strange credence to the novel. Not only does 'Lord' conveniently answer unresolved issues in 'King', it also flawlessly blends with the events described in another book by a P N Elrod (this being the thoroughly enjoyable 'I, Strahd'). Although the conventional reader may balk at the many references to magic and illusion, anybody even vaguely familiar with Dungeons & Dragons will find this book good entertainment. And, if the reader already is a fan of Darkon, Azalin, and the Kargat, 'Lord' is an unmissable addition to his Ravenloft library!

I have read many of Ravenloft's novels, and can call them little more than attrocities, but Lord of the Necropolis was one heck of a read. The way Gene DeWeese taunted and mystified you with the mystery of Lord Azalin's imprisonment and his tormentors was masterfull. I look forward to reading the next volume in the tragic tale of Lord Azalin.

Undead Lord Azalin of Darkon wants only two things: to bring his son back to life and to get out of Ravenloft. In trying to do so, he travels back 400 years through the mists, in the body of a young boy, in order to prevent Count Strahd von Zarovich to become a vapire lord, who created the plane of Ravenloft with his transformation. He does not succeed. He tries by another method. He becomes a demi-lich and so can travel through the mists to rescue his son. But when he opens the gate behind which his son is locked, a nightmare far worse happens. A very good read that makes you wander very much what happens after this. For those who like concersation: there is very little! I cannot wait for the follow-up to become released!