Full disclosure, I was very excited for this adventure. It had a couple of things going for it – a classic BBEG and an adventure targeted to the higher character levels that may adventures aren’t designed for.

There was no chance I wasn’t going to purchase this adventure. I am a bit of a completionist and I was enthralled with the idea of a higher level adventure.

Upon initial review there are some hits and misses that become apparent. (I am still in the process of reading the full adventure so I will write a much more detailed reviewed later)

HIT – The book is gorgeous. The illustrations and maps are excellent. A

HIT – The Bestiary in Appendix A is also excellent. The monsters are almost worth the price all by themselves. I find that since adventures aren’t geared to higher levels, the monsters are also lacking. This Bestiary addresses this and the monsters are excellent and I look forward to using them elsewhere – especially the Spyder-fiends. A+

HIT – The over-arching plot. Collection of an artifact of seven parts is a well used trope, but I love the type of quest when you have to collect various parts of an item. This type of plot allows for individual variety of campaign quests that are still is linked to a central plot. B+

MISS – I find myself a wee disappointed that similar to “Tales from the Yawning Portal”, this adventure is built upon previous adventures. Now I still need to read all of the chapters and maybe they are unique, but I like to learn about new settings and environments that will also be new to my players. I am curious how players will enjoy the game when they are replaying locations in classic adventures. I am thinking about the Death House specifically.

Overall there are enough HITs to make me buy it and prepare to run it. I hope there is enough new aspects in the locations to make them new for everyone.

I think the real hits that Wizards of the Coast have had recently have been novel and original adventures like The Wild beyond the Witchlight. After I finish Rise of the Drow, I think I am more likely to run AAW’s Rultmoork than Eve of Ruin. Or GrimHollow. Or Oathbreaker. (you get the point)

Part of the fun for me as a Dungeon Master is reading and experiencing new and wondrous worlds. (I am reading a novel and game adventure combined) I think this is why many of us are draw towards independent publishers and their creativity and originality.