Good story / OK narration

Good story, Good pace. the narrator could have been a bit more dramatic / invested in the telling.

4 people found this helpful

Lord Soth's One Demensional Characteristics

The Character of Lord Soth doesn't seem to have any flaws, weaknesses, or draw backs to his undead condition. He has nearly godly powers and Strahd isn't even regarded as a threat. in fact, he literally patronizes the count knowing full well nothing can come of it which only dilutes the near non existent risks. This type of character is boring, and I found myself not caring at all about him, or what would become of him. the character is not likeable, nor rooted in any foundations that connect the reader with the character.

That being said, it was somewhat interesting to learn more of Barovia and the monsters within Castle Ravenloft (the gargoyle, and Black Dragon etc). but toward the end of the book, I found myself eagerly awaiting the end, to which was predictable and lack luster of any real conclusion.

2 people found this helpful

ONLY For Serious Fans Who Have Read the Book!!!

Any additional comments?

I am a huge fan of this book and the story of both Lord Soth individually and of his experience in Ravenloft. I have read the book in paperback several times. As such, for the sake of a story I so thoroughly enjoy, I am able to sufficiently put up with what is probably the single worst audiobook narrator I have EVER listened to.

First problem with the narrator: the gentleman is very evidently attempting to capture the nuanced dictation style of a news reporter instead of the loose and engaging style of someone reading a story or play. His attempts to be intentionally deliberate with enunciation just shred the narrative to pieces.

Second problem with the narrator: the MISPRONUNCIATIONS and ERRORS!!! I'm not sure if this is the fault of the narrator or the editors, but WOW! The mistakes stated in previous reviews cannot be understated. They are highly distracting. Due to my enjoyment of the story, though, I am largely able to just laugh this off. But NO ONE should be laughing ANYTHING off during a RAVENLOFT BOOK!!!

Third problem with the narrator: Not only does he sound like a news reporter. He sounds like an old curmudgeon news reporter. He sounds like what would have happened if Walter Cronkite were given a lobotomy.

In conclusion, I really think this audiobook would have been a massive success if they had gotten a creepier sounding (and more gifted) narrator. So, if you have read the story before and love it like I do, and would listen to it for nostalgia, sure. bear with the narrator and go for it. (You can do it! I believe in you!) But if you have never read this story before, PLEASE, for the sake of the story and all that it's worth, AVOID THIS AUDIOBOOK LIKE THE PLAGUE!

8 people found this helpful

Below average

after reading the I, Strahd part of Ravenloft novels, this came as a bitter dissapointment. Strahd was quite out of character, there was once more a villain/anti-hero/whatever you want to call Soth whose "doom" was brought on by women... I enjoyed Azalin as Strahd's enemy much more. the performance was fine, although again, if you became used to or enjoyed the above mentioned books, this can't compare and the difference is jarring. If there was a way to get a refund, I would so that I could spend my credit on a book I'd enjoy more.

1 person found this helpful

Pretty great with some notable problems.

This story takes place in a fantastical world based on the Dungeons and Dragons world of Ravenloft. Before I go further, note that I did enjoy this book very much, despite some issues, one of which may be my own personal problem. James Lowder has a mixed comprehension of this world and its creatures. The performance of the Death Knight Soth is amazing and those he allies with are engaging. However, the key of the Ravenloft world, Lord Strahd Von Zarovich, was not his regular self. This Strahd was a noble host to a monster of equal horror to his own, something Strahd would never do. Despite it being unreliable to compare two authors, the work of P. F. Elrod’s “I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin” finds Strahd doing all in his power to keep the lich away from him once he discovers the creatures identity. Danny Campbell, this story’s mostly skilled and charismatic narrator sometimes stumbles over words, mixing up two similar words such as Strahd and Soth to form Stroth and made me have to rewind the chapter in a form of double take, as well as the occasional mix-up of his voices for the story’s characters. However, these problems in this Audible presentation are minor flaws in what is a rather wonderful experience. James Lowder and Danny Campbell gave me a book that I will revisit with great joy as a more permanent member of my Audible library.

1 person found this helpful

just a good story

even if you don't know the Dragon Lance series this spin off of Lord Soth entering this vampire ruled relm through a magical mist that lord Soth paid to mind to cause he was about to catch the woman of his dreams and then suddenly things get better/worse different

a good book

I have always been a fan of lord soth and this book is a great read about this death knight

cool backstory, but poor delivery

fun to find out about the death knight Lord Soth, but just wasn't that engaged in the actual story

better than I had remembered it

I read this book when I was a kid back in my dungeons & dragons day it was a great trip down memory lane.

Hit and Miss

I personally love the Ravenloft setting, but this story had a few grating issues that made me not enjoy the story. First of all are the characters, Soth was a crotchety old bastard most of the time which really made him seem like a npc in a video game. This goes for most of the characters in the Knight of the Black Rose, they all seem like cardboard cutouts of real people in a way. Except of course for Strahd who is more interesting and animated than all of the cast combined. It was a strain to listen to the antiheroes backstory, the only memorable parts of the book were the parts with Strahd which I enjoyed very much.

I liked the expansions out of Barovia into the lands of dread, read the I Strahd books if you want to see more of them. I read through half the sequel book and so far it features no Strahd or Barovia so I wouldn't recommend it. So for that I gave it a Three out of Five.