Dungeons and Dragons Adapting Popular Campaign Into a Novel

Penguin Random House is teaming up with Dungeons and Dragons to release Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd, a new novel inspired by the iconic Curse of Strahd adventure. Written by award-winning author Delilah S. Dawson, this book marks the first novel set in the Dungeons and Dragons realm of Ravenloft in 17 years.

Though Wizards of the Coast has released more than two dozen official adventures over the last 10 years, few have reached as much popularity among Dungeons and Dragons fans as Curse of Strahd. A brutal gothic horror adventure featuring the eponymous vampire lord within the Domain of Dread known as Barovia, Curse of Strahd is a part of Ravenloft, a campaign setting released back in 1983 during 1st Edition D&D.

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Now, Wizards of the Coast is preparing to release a new Dungeons and Dragons novel set in Ravenloft and featuring Count Strahd von Zarovich. Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd is an epic horror story following a group of five adventurers transported to Barovia under mysterious circumstances. Shortly after arriving, Fielle the Human Artificer, Kah the Kenku Cleric, Rotrog the Orc Wizard, Alishai the Tiefling Paladin, and Chivarion the Drow Barbarian receive an invitation to Castle Ravenloft from Strahd himself, where they must band together if they want to survive their stay at the macabre manse.

Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd – First Ravenloft D&D Novel in 17 Years

Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd is written by Delilah S. Dawson, a New York Times bestselling author known for penning franchise tie-ins like Star Wars: Phasma, Disney Mirrorverse: Pure of Heart, and the Minecraft Mob Squad series, as well as original works like The Violence and the Blud series. The novel is being published by Penguin Random House, which has put out other D&D books, including Heroes’ Feast: Flavors of the Multiverse, Spelljammer: Memory’s Wake, and two tie-in novels to the Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves film.

Fairest Friends,

I pray you accept my humble Hospitality and dine with me tonight at Castle Ravenloft. It is rare we receive Visitors, and I do so Endeavor to Make your Acquaintance. The Carriage shall bear you to the Castle safely, and I await your Arrival with Pleasure.

Your host,

Strahd von Zarovich

There have been many other Dungeons and Dragons books set in Ravenloft over the years, beginning with Christie Golden’s Vampire of the Mists in 1991. However, the last novel set in Ravenloft – Black Crusade by Ari Marmell – was released in 2008, but the last one featuring Count von Zarovich was I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin from 1998. This makes Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd the first Ravenloft novel in 17 years, and the first one featuring the vampire lord in 27 years.

This new Dungeons and Dragons novel is set to release on May 13. Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd is available for pre-order from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other booksellers for $30 hardcover, $20 as an audiobook, or $15 as an ebook.

Dungeons and Dragons

Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.

Franchise

Dungeons & Dragons

Original Release Date

1974

Designer

E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson