Terror of Lord Soth, Vol. 2

This is a sequel to a painfully sub par roleplaying spin-off book. Surprisingly it’s pretty good. It’s worth it just for the two villains, the Bloody Cobbler and the Whispering Beast. I felt that the first novel in this series tried and failed to be both a fantasy and a gothic horror novel; this one succeeds particularly in these characters as they are wonderful gothic motifs, two creatures formed from the unresolved and suppressed pathos of the main character. They each serve a role in this little tragedy and they aren’t what they originally seem. There is a nice supporting cast as well. While roleplaying fiction rarely rises above sub-par standards this book holds its own on the bookshelf next to similar bubblegum sci-fi fantasy books. ( )