This book is an incredible entry into the Lost Omens line. It takes a unique approach with each character it highlights, and expands the world around them. By the end of the book, you truly have an idea of how these people have the power to shape the world beyond their assumed areas of influence and just what directions Golarion may be taking in the years to come.
I'll be honest, the first thing that struck me as I leafed through the pages in a quick skim was how many entries didn't have any items, rules, or mechanics attached to them. It was definitely less than I expected.
However, the first thing I noticed as I began reading the entries is that I didn't miss those mechanics at all! I'm serious, this is the rare sort of tabletop book that will have you reading it cover to cover. I went in with very specific entries in my mind, ones I felt would help me expand and develop my own campaigns.
Not only did many of those entries end up on the backburner while I went through the book in order, constantly hooked by entries that varied from letters about the characters, fiction from the perspective of a character, traditional top down looks at the characters, or a pair of students reading legends in preparation for an oral exam. But I found that many of the seemingly unconnected character entries had direct interest in things I could use!
These characters interact with each other. A lot. And in ways you don't expect. The back of the book has six different character webs, showing how they all interact (such as the alliance against Tar-Baphon or the growing abolition movement that's spreading through the Inner Sea. And then there's easily a dozen more you can put together yourself if you look through their entries!
Legends has surprises in its entry too. There's plenty of big names we've heard about over the long life of Pathfinder, brought forward to the modern political landscape and set into motion once again. But there's also new names among them! And also allies from some old adventures, brought into legends of their own.
Perhaps the most striking thing is how diverse these characters actually are. Women, queer characters, and people of color are everywhere. And none of it feels like checking off a list, because it's so naturally done.
All in all this is probably at the top of my must-buy list for the Lost Omens line right now. Even more than the World Guide, this brought me into Golarion and sent my mind firing with ideas to carry me through years of campaigns. Perhaps my only regret is that it didn't arrive until after my campaigns had already begun, only because of the ways I could have improved my own work with the tools of this supplement. I sincerely hope to see similar products in the future, there's more characters and plots in Golarion to carry another book like this, especially if we start to look beyond the Inner Sea itself.
