Interested in reading The Conqueror’s Shadow by Ari Marmell, but are unsure if you will like the author’s style? Try on a completely free novel in Black Crusade – a part of the Ravenloft series of books from Wizards of the Coast that never saw print but is available as a free PDF download.
Marmell explains why the book never saw print publication at his website:
Black Crusade was originally written to be one of the first of the Ravenloft: Dominion line of novels from Wizards of the Coast. “Ravenloft” is the name of a gothic horror/fantasy setting. Although Ravenloft was created for the Dungeons and Dragons game, the Dominion line was meant to give it a new flavor–specifically, rather than drawing characters and domains from various D&D worlds, it would draw them from various periods of real-world history. In the case of Black Crusade, that period was the First Crusade.
Alas, Black Crusade was pushed back on the schedule for marketing reasons, and thus became a victim when the line was canceled. The novel was done, however, and Wizards decided to make it available in electronic format. It was initially released chapter-by-chapter as a weekly serial, but it’s now available in completed form. While I’m disappointed that it won’t see print, I’m delighted that you folks are able to see it in some form.
(Available in electronic pdf format only.)
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I enjoyed the Ravenloft books as well as that campaign in D&D. Glad they decided to release it.
I like the Ravenloft concept. I have only read one of the novels, and that was early last year, but I was intrigued. Too bad they were discontinued.
Thanks for letting me know about this. Marmell's new book sounds interesting and I have been curious what his writing is like.
You are welcome, of course. This is exactly the kind of thing I am here for.