I think that my feelings about this product are my fault. I was expecting too much.
SECRETS OF THE DREAD REALMS is a 64-paage, soft-cover book. It has two "chapters . . ." One that describes one ( count it . . . ONE) prestige class, and one that describes twenty-two Darklords, one Darklord-wannabe and Dr. Mordenheim. Included with the book is a four-panel DM Screen. Obviously, the book is necessary if you plan to DM a game in Ravenloft and use the Darklords. However, I simply feel as if I just didn't get my money’s worth.
I’ll try my hardest to end on a positive note. I’ll start with the CONS:
Point One: All of the art on the DM Screen, as well as all but three of the pieces in the book, are taken from past sources. The recycled Darklord pictures in the book seem to have been photocopied (some of them BADLY) right out of DOMAINS OF DREAD. Even the book cover is essentially a copy of the first Ravenloft d20 book (***see note below***).
Point Two: Of the forty-or-so domains listed in the core book, only the lords of twenty are detailed here. Frustratingly, we are told that Inza Kulchevich (from SPECTRE OF THE BLACK ROSE) is the new lord of Sithicus, but are given Azrael’s stats, instead. I understand that they had limited space, but I question some of their choices.
Point Three: Still no fold-out map.
The PROS:
Point One: The new pictures of Azlin and Azrael were good and looked as if they were drawn in the same detail as the DOMAINS OF DREAD pics.
Point Two: The DM Screen is very useful, including Powers Checks and Fear, Horror and Madness saves.
Point Three: The "Witch-Hunter" prestige class is a nice touch that fits the theme of the setting, though I can’t help but feel as if it didn’t deserve a chapter of its own in this particular book. They could have waited to put it in a later book and fit another Darklord here.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed in Arthaus’s second journey into the Realm of Dread. The book feels very rushed. A nice map and some new art for more than two Darklords may have pulled this book up the "one to ten" scale from a four to at least an eight.
My hope is that DENIZENS OF DARKNESS fares better.