Rhaelin, a Professor at the Kardan University, finds herself on an adventure in the city of Rhu Tan. Being primarily a researcher, she doesn't think she has the magical skills to accomplish what she is faced with. However, she is helping a friend and protecting students. That is enough for her to take on the challenge.
I was a given a copy of The Cost of Dealing with Demons by the publisher, Midnight Campaign Games, for review purposes.
Plot
Rhealin is working with her hellkite in her office when a messenger stops by with a task from the Dean of the University. This simple task sends her to find another professor, who needs help recovering a lost creature. This creature would be dangerous if allowed to start wandering a crowded city. Luckily for her friend, Rhealin's skill in summoning magic is well suited to help.
While recovering the creature, Rhealin runs afoul of rat hunters. This leads to a confrontation with succubi and eventually a demon. She also gains allies along the way. There is also someone who is manipulating the entire adventure from the shadows, both helping and hindering.
The story finishes with the confrontation with the demon and Rhealin gaining some understanding of her racial heritage. It is clear, however, there will be more to Rhealin's story—the prologue promises it.
Style
The Cost of Dealing with Demons is an easy read. It is written in first person with the point of view being a research professor. As our professor guide goes into descriptions, she is obviously familiar with, as would most residents of the world, it is clear the information is for an outsider—the audience she is telling the story to. At times it felt like reading descriptive lists. This presentation provides details about the world, races, magic system, etc. of the game Mayhem.
Characters
I liked the lead character, Rhealin, and the personal conflict she is working through with her own racial identification. As mentioned before, the persona of a research professor was well used. Her narrative read at times like she was giving simplified lectures to make sure her audience understood her interests and knowledge. She even makes a comment about not liking to be out trivia'd.
During the story we learn about the different races, as Rhealin gives her information about them. There are subtle hints about the individual characters because it is clear that Rhealin is more interested in what they are instead of who they are. I would have preferred seeing the information flipped. Many of the points of background about the characters felt like they were placed so a tangent of information could be given about another aspect of the game world. Though it felt strained at times, the presentation works for the character's profession and the purpose of the story.
Purpose of the Book (as I see it)
The Cost of Dealing with Demons is a romp through the capital city of Rhu Tan. Our guide is Rhaelin, a sylph by race, who is a professor at Kardan University where magic is taught. She looks at things with a researcher's eye, which gives us a more detailed look at the people and places we are introduced to as she travels around the city.
This view of the city is a great introduction to the game world, the Crimson Realms, introduced in the roleplaying game (RPG)
Mayhem.
Overall
Players of Mayhem, and those who are interested in playing the RPG, will find this book informative about the game world. There is a lot of information contained in the story. Those who are already familiar will get more from the story, which is to be expected.
The story is fast paced and moves along nicely. We are given vivid scenes with deep descriptions.
The copy of The Cost of Dealing with Demons I reviewed was still in the editing process. From past experience with their products I'm sure the grammar and word flow issues will be cleared up in later copy edits.
I'm interested in seeing the story develop to fulfill the prophetic promise set forth in the beginning of the book.
I give The Cost of Dealing with Demons 3 1/2 out of 5.
The Cost of Dealing with Demons is available on Amazon (
link).
About the Author, From the Publisher
Robert Spencer is a writer, game designer, and overall hobbyist in the Salt Lake City Area. Working primarily as a therapist, he uses skills in psychology, game theory and general philosophy to weave together projects for Midnight Campaign games, a small family company for publishing card, board and role-playing games. Come find him at a local convention to chat and enjoy a game or two.
