What Do You Get When You Mix The Omen’s Damien with Neverending Story's Atreyu?
A.E. Jackson Review Score: 3 / 5 Ravens
How was this review scored?
Fans of origin stories will rejoice at their chance to play through the twisted path taken by Malinkar to become the dreaded villain of The Druids Of Pneuma. The work is a complete gamebook that serves as a prequel to that book and also a fully realized exploration of complex character development.
CONTENT WARNING
This gamebook will NOT be for everyone. There is a bit of adult language and some themes or character actions that may trigger readers. Consider this your Content Warning.
After writing The Druids Of Pneuma, James Hirons was inspired to further the story through sequels and prequels. Malinkar was a great villain in the author’s eyes, but very little was known about the character in the book. Such a strong character deserves a complete backstory of his own.
The very adult theme is written quite graphically in some areas. The author says the reason was to best tell Malinkar’s tale in raw detail so readers understand his torment, corruption, and hatred for certain people. It starts with Malinkar coming of age and wrestling with those emotions. Always being a little different, but not realizing how. One night, the bullied outcast hears a voice calling his name…
Imagine being someone with vengeful tendencies and losing everything you loved. Then, finding out you were capable of doing something about it. Players assume the role of the villain. From the character’s early corruption, through his rise to power, and even reveals the source of his hatred for others.
You always did feel different from everybody else in Hatherton. Even at school, you were something of a loner, looking at the world differently to everybody else. It was never kept a secret that you were adopted by your parents, a Reverend Amba and his wife - Erith - on the outskirts of town. Even your jet black hair did not match their own respective hazel and blond colors.