Shadowborn

Despite the admitted lack of a definate setting as mentioned before this story flowed. It was very nicely paced, and had a good blend of mystery, action, and character development. This is one of the best ravenloft novels I have read thus far, easily beating any of the Strahd novels and even the Deweese Azalin books as well. Alexi is a knight who is about to become a paladin, joining the Circle of Light, his church's highest honor when he experiences what is called the Darkening. Believing himself to be in disfavor with his god he sets out to avenge his mother's murder. Along the way he is joined by the Paladin that took his place in the Circle, a mysterious cleric, and his brother/squire. The undead of this book consists mainly of Ghouls, but they are used effectively. This book proves you don't need a Lich or Vampire to scare the reader. There are surprises contained within, those who live die or even become undead keep the reader ready for anything else to happen. The villain is a little too over the top type of evil SOB, but otherwise this tale was excellent! By the way, a little spoiler here. . . . .. .Alexi IS a paldin, he is what is called a Lodestone Paladin. I won't tell you what it means, or how he came by this station. But, being that he is not your average Paladin I don't reccommend reading this book to see how a Paladin works in the Ravenloft setting. I would love to see a sequel to this book!

The book started out fast for the fist chapter or so and then slowed down until about the tenth chapter. The story had a lot of plot twists. It lacked any real interesting fights, but overall it was a good book.

I've read all of the Ravenloft Novels, and enjoy them thoroughly. Shadowborn however, was very unique to the others. It takes a Holy Knight, and puts him against seemingly weak, and easy opposition: Ghouls. However, the rich background, and constant plot twists turn this foe into an army of despair, and when backed with the many woe's subjagated to Alexi, turns Shadowborn into a very suspenseful novel. The chapters with Ebonbane's thoughts are great! They show modernism from the likes of the early twentieth century. My only problem with this novel is, that I didn't feel it was connected to Ravenloft in a real way. The macabre setting definateley existed, but something else set it apart, in it's own world. But, overall this is a great book, and one I would suggest to any fantasy, or horror lovers, not just the "Dungeons and Dragons" fans!

Alexi Shadowborn aspired to become a paladin for his God. When the moment arrives, his God gives the title of Paladin to another Knight. Alexi must discover the reason he was rejected. What must he do to redeem himself? The answer lies in his past with his mother. When she died, her dark burden became his. Alexi travels with his brother and a cloaked figure to the blackest part of Ravenloft. Dark powers from ghouls to ghosts and worse. Should Alexi live through everything there is no guarantee he will be redeemed. If he loses, the world will belong to the ultimate of all evils.I found this book to be full of twists and surprises. Some I could figure out before it became clear. Others were shocking in the way they were delivered to the reader. This one is one of the better ones in the Ravenloft series. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Shadowborn is a great novel. The writing is excellent, the characters engrossing, and the plot well thought-out (for the most part). In fact, very few things keep this from being a 5-star review, most of them dealing with the fact that the book alters too much established history in the end.For most of the book, S is a wealth of information about the lands where Shadowborn Manor hails from. We get everything from gods, to holy wars, to much information about the Circle (the inspiration for the Ravenloft secret society of the same name), to info and a name for the place in question: the Great Kingdom of Avonleigh (Avonleigh is also the name of a domain in the newly-formed Shadowborn Cluster, suggesting similar roots).Then, towards and up to the end, the book seemingly spasms, sending out several uncomfortable scenarios and changes to established canon. We get, in all, a seemingly-pointless, abrupt death which ended a thriving, intriguing sub-plot; two revelations of the siredom of Alexi Shadowborn (the hero of the tale), and the signicant altering of the domain of Shadowborn Manor, as opposed to the information surrounding the place now, nearly a century and a half aftert the culmination of this novel.Overall, S is a good read and well-worth it. The above points are as well-done as the rest of the book, but the fact that they took place is as unacceptable as the idea of the dark powers being what Lord of the Necropolis made them out to be. Thus, it is only a 4-star book.