Having read this title, and having run Rise of the Runelords myself as a GM, I found this title extremely satisfying to read. It weaves lore from the 1e titles Rise of the Runelords, Shattered Star and Return of the Runelords into a very clever and intriguing tale. It makes you question the nature of a well-known villain and asks the question: what if a tyrant was given a second chance?
Characterization, setting and the like were spot-on. I truly felt that this writer KNEW what they were writing about, and breathed a unique life into it that I think any Pathfinder fan should take a peek at.
That being said, if you're unfamiliar with RotR or some of the more specific lore behind this title, it may be a little less enjoyable, simply because some of the story beats won't hit quite as well. This isn't to say that means it's not worth reading-- it is, 100%. I think this title would make for an excellent entryway into that very lore.
My main criticism is that some of the prose reads a little formulaic -- there are instances where some of the wording of Karzoug's abilities, or other such things, sound as if they were pulled directly from a sourcebook rather than translated into readable prose. That being said, this didn't happen often. When it did, it broke my immersion, but only temporarily.
All in all? Fantastic work. I'd recommend it to anyone.
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