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While the art is enticing having a racial slur used as the title and class name completely removed any interest I had in this product.

LinnormsLinnormsLinnormsLinnormsLinnormsLinnormsLinnorms
LinnormsLinnormsLinnormsLinnormsLinnormsLinnormsLinnorms
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LINNORMS!

*cough*

Okay, now that I got that out of my system a bit of expectation management, no actual Linnorms in this book, but a nice trait concerning their curses, feat abilities covering more cursing, Bloodline abilities, and Linnorm Style is nasty, getting AoOs when you're attacked, when you're dropped, and finally being able to stun your dropper.

While there's plenty of stuff for the standard "True" Dragons this book also does a good job for giving options (both thematic and mechanical) for the other dragon types.

The Wyvaran race also gets a lot of love, with alternate racial traits, FCB, feats, and their history upon Golarion.

The Drake Companions for certain classes is also very interesting, and opens up a bit of new playing styles with them as well.

Definitely a book I'd recommend.

That's up to you.

While this book (which is awesome) gives you plenty of options for how to make monsters out of people (and PCs) there are still spots for heroes to be a beacon when all is the lost.

The Tortured Crusader archetype for Paladins for example, ACTUALLY makes me want to play a Paladin (Psssst, Paladins with 4 skill points and Perception and Stealth as class skills just for starters).

The Corruptions are wonderfully and horrifically well done, and no need to worry, cautious GMs, there is more than enough bad to go with the power to make most actually think twice before they let their characters devolve into monsters.

And that's only two small parts of the book, you still have the rest of thing to go through with!

Don't have really anymore to add beyond that, love all the eldritch and occult flavor being pumped in ^w^

Came up in a The Skinsaw Murders game I'm playing in. Instead of two NPCs dying flat out these rules allowed one of them to be saved!

It was a tense and grizzly and awesome moment.

I actually didn't have high hopes for this book, and so I didn't really bother with the Vigilante playtest.

But I like Paizo and what they produce so I kept my subscription, especially since I really liked Unchanined and Occult Adventures.

I was not disappointed.

Verbal Duels and the Vigilante class both look like they're gonna be a lot of fun, can't wait to try them out. Also hey, parkour stuff!

WIP

I did a quick read through, when I first got my copy but now I'm going back over and giving it a much more deserving read through. So the rating may change, but I doubt it. Even as much disinterest I have in the plot (agents of Throne vs the Glorious Reclamation rather than simply being an Evil AP) I still like the additional parts of this product, such as the bestiary and the information on the Glorius Reclamation itself.

Ever get that feeling your being railroaded? Well it sucks, but when it's not happening to you it's quite funny. Poor sardonic Krunzle finds this out the hard way when he ends up being the wrong guy at the wrong place at the right time. A very good and humorous read with an interesting cast of characters. I recommend it with the caveat that you don't take it too seriously.

Also, F+$* OKENO, seriously.

Wow... just wow.

To speak of the emotional torque within this novel would be an understatement to it, to call it a roller coaster the same, this story was a tempest that almost tore me apart. Like the previous story a core feature of this one is a relationship, that of Vreva the spy and an Inquisitor hired to hunt her down, more than one type of cat and mouse is played about with these two, and it is beautiful, it is tear inducing, it is maddening, it is quite possibly one of the most well written relationships I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

Not to leave out Torius and the rest of the Stargazers though, there here too! And righteous wrath ensues when you turn your blade upon slavers, even moreso when they've hurt you and the ones you care about.

Man F$%& OKENO, that place has single handedly become my most hated place upon all of Golarion.

As others have pointed out, this is quite possibly the most visceral, horrific Tales novel to date (beating out Nightglass and Nightblade in my books), and I loved it. Not just for the fighting, or the violence, but for the simple fact of how this story showcases what people are truly capable of when you piss them off. Especially when said people is a Mother and you endanger the people she cares for.

Highly recommended.

First let me start off by saying that while the story is awesome it is the dialogue where this novels rises heads and shoulders above others, similar to Pratt's equally good City of the Fallen Sky. Hrym is hands down my favorite Tales character that I've had the joy of reading. I'll come right out and say it, I keep a little notebook where I write down my favorite pages and lines in it. Liar's Blades and City of the Fallen Sky each have more pages to themselves than the rest of the Tales novels combined. The dialogue is just that good.

Also this novel contains the absolute best way to kill a Final Boss. Period.

I can't recomend this novel enough.

This was a rather pleasant adventure novel, even moreso through the pov of the magical-scientific personage of Alearon. Though while the traveling is smooth (from the reader's chair anyway hehe) and the places they visit fantastical it is the characters and interactions where this novel truly shines. I actually found myself getting aggravated when action or some other dire element interrupted conversations wherein, not to say that those parts are boring or not well written (cause they aren't), the dialogue is just that good. I highly, highly recommend this one.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this one, while on one hand I enjoyed the adventure and plot of revenge and all the strange and wonderful sights gleamed within it just never snapped me up. As the story goes on various parts and travels seem to lurch up or slog down hapharzardly. This seems to straighten out as it nears the end which has an excellent lead up and plays out wonderfully... For a point, then the ending just sort of happens more or less. Also while not a bad ending its not one I really cared for. I feel at odds that my favourite parts of the book are when the characters are dreamimg, from there they are more alive and more interesting than in all of the rest of the book combined.

I think this just became my favorite Tales novel. This is a story of family and friends, united under hardships and constant threats surrounding them. This is as much a coming of age story for the main characters as it is for every character within, this novel shows them all grow, together, and it does so beautifully.

I highly, highly recommend it.

This book is, simply put, beautiful. The story, just like the characters within, is a slow burning candle, picking up speed till it comes at you like a raging inferno of depth and emotional torque. There was not a single non well written character in the book, Arcil I can safely say is my favorite Tales character I have read of to date. I could see myself going along the way he did with his motivations for going about things.

Along with Plane of Shadow, which is described awesomely, large parts of this story take place in Galt, which, if you did not hate before alongside its insane moronic Citizens you will after reading this Tale.

Very much recommended.

While I liked this book I can definitely align myself with Sif, I would have preferred if more had been done to the villagers for what they did. Their nonchalantness and supposed moral superiority about the whole thing made me want to axe something. That little twinge aside this is a very good read and very well written when the events start to snowball and collide with each other as everything plays out.

Also this book contains my single most favorite use of Necromancy ever.

Also also I was pleasantly surprised when the motivations of all the players in this story came about, some of them threw me for a loop, but they were all very satisfying

Also also also Irrisen.

Definitely recommend.

I'm coming to love how Mr. Gross writes these novels. The adventuring trek that follows Radovan and the mystery that Varian attempts to unravel while in one of my favorite countries in all of Golarion is a great horror read, that actually does feel what horror in the pathfinder setting might feel like. Readers who are interested in horror, mystery, and/or adventure or all three will greatly enjoy this book.

Highly recommended.

I was a bit hesitant about getting a Pirate themed novel but passing by Chris' booth at Dragoncon I couldn't resist and ending up getting it (Which now I attribute to his Stupid Pirate Charm and dashing good looks *flails fists*). I do not regret that decision, this story is all kinds of awesome. The relationship and how it changes, evolves, and matures between Torius and Celeste is beautifully well written, I seriously felt warm and fuzzy at parts reading how they interacted. I'd actually say it's them and their relationship that is the main story, with the revenge and pirating an aside, not to say that those parts arn't well written or not any good, the relationship between the two main characters and how the events and revelations of the other plots and stories affect them and how they overcome is JUST THAT GOOD.

Highly recommended.

I must say this is probably one of my favorite Tales that I've read, it's competing with Death's Heretic atm for absolute favorite.

First off I love the descriptions and effects of the Citysong, very well written and my favorite part of the book.

This is also one of the best revenge stories I have ever read, or seen in other media for that matter.

Thank you Mr. Laws, for giving us this book. I greatly enjoyed it.

P.S. The Sorcerer is made of all different kinds of awesome.

Highly recommended.

The Savage is a class born from (some would say unholy) fusion of the Monk and the Barbarian, combining the the Barbarian's battle ferocity with the Monk's enhanced state of being. This is class that is great to play for those who want to play an unarmored berserker/tribal protector/ just all around badass.

Starting off the class gets d12 HD, Full BaB, 6 Skill Ranks, and good Reflex and Fortitude save progression.

It really shines when it shows off what Armor and Weapons the class has access to, instead of simply saying the class has simple weapons and light armor proficiency the PDF actually breaks down what specific equipment the Savage is proficient in and what it can use with its class abilities (Macuahuitl!).

As for the Archetypes:

Dread Savage: A much more death obsessed Savage, this variant switches the effects of Positive and Negative energy upon herself, and altering her abilities so that she put Status effects and other Debuffs on her foes while gaining bonuses to things that Undead are usually immune to.

Noble Savage: A more social inclined variant, most this Archetype's abilities are keyed off of Charisma and is great for Leader types who still wanna lay the hurt down when they want to.

Phrenic Savge: A Psionic Variant, and finally a Psionic class that I could actually see myself playing as, which is saying a LOT. Keeps the same HD, BaB, and Skill Ranks but its good Saves are Fortitude and Will. Alas, my knowledge of Psionics is nil, but this class does do a good job of getting me interested in them.

And then there are the weapons, courtesy of Red Goblin Games: We have the Tomahawk, Riding Club, Gunstock Club, Macuahuitl!!!, Great Macuahuitl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, and the Tepoztopilli.

Overall the PDF is 17 pages long, 13 of which is content, and a great read for the price they're asking for it. I highly recommend it :3

Let me start by saying I enjoy the multiple perspectives Gross employs in writing these novels, especially with the addition of Arnisant.

With Varian's storyline he finds himself trapped in a strict monastery in a land surrounded by dangerous, and quite often magical, beasts. For someone looking for a good portable of how an intellectual and skilled fighter performs rather than just one relying on brute strength, this is an interesting read.

With Radavon he finds himself trapped in his "super" mode and under contract with the rather eccentric and enigmatic Master of Devils as they travel around the country looking for challengers in order to increase his strength and skill so that he might "avenge" his boss (Readers of Prince of Wolves will get a kick out of this nice throwback).

And my personal favorite the Story of Arnisant the Wolfhound finds the poor dog cut off from both his master and Radovan, and so with an ever increasing army of Spirits and magical beasts he sets off on an epic quest that rivals if not outright surpasses the other two storylines.

If you were to compare Varian's tale would be that of a movie, Radovan's would be that of a video game, and Arnisant's would be that of an Epic from mythology. If you enjoy good storytelling, folklore, interesting characters, and badassery I cannot recommend this novel enough.

This book delivers not only great options for the GM, but for players as well.

For players (as well as NPCs) you are given a very nice selection of background options to choose from which can also help you to narrow down your decision on traits and story feats to take (Options from lineage, family, place of birth, even types of birth).

For those you who have played it, the story Feats herein remind me of the destinies a player could pick in Star Wars Saga. As feats they give you certain bonuses or abilities under certain situations and when certain prerequisites are met (differant for every feat) they become upgraded to be even better, basically 2 feats for the price of 1! Good enough of a feat to stand on their own, the story aspect can greatly help to tie characters and players to whatever story and plot a GM wants to tell, and vice-versa.

The Retraining options are a welcome addition, not only allowing players to alter or update their characters as new material and options come out but also from an in story perspective to better adapt to certain circumstances. Ranging from things like a HD to skill points to feats, even archetypes and class abilities (the ranger's favored enemy and terrain comes to mind).

Now for the really fun stuff.

The rules for Mass Combat (army vs. army) look really interesting but alas, I will admit, I did not read too much into this as my GM did, who likes now having an actual option for combat like this instead of just relagating it to cutscenes.

And the Kingdom Building rules. *drool* Oh the Kingdom Building rules. Building on(pun not intended) the hex based rules introduced in the Kingmaker Adventure Path the rules presented here have been largely expanded on and polished up, as befitting a whole chapter in a 250+ page hardcover as opposed to an article in a 100 page softcover. All manner of buildings, their functions, their needs, and their uses are explained within, as well as all manner of other types of architecture such as roads, defenses, safety, and aesthetics.

To accompany this we also have Kingdom Managing rules and guides. Various roles player characters and NPCs can play in running, protecting, and expanding your kingdom, as well as managing running a kingdom while still adventuring.

A very much loved addition at our gaming table, I can safely say it is worth every penny and highly recommend you adding it to your gambling group.