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Arkham Horror #9
The Investigators of Arkham Horror
An essential tome for all the most daring fans of Arkham Horror, Eldritch Horror, Elder Sign, Mansions of Madness, and the other Arkham Horror Files games, The Investigators of Arkham Horror contains fifty-two short stories with full-color illustrations by more than forty of the industry's most talented artists.
Discover the hidden secrets of the investigators who risk everything to save humanity from certain doom! With its lavish art and haunting stories, this gorgeous, 264-page, hardcover art and setting book delves deep into the lives of the investigators from the acclaimed Arkham Horror Files games. These men and women explore those parts of our reality that lie outside of what our senses and science can perceive, often confronting beings of such unfathomable power that simply beholding them can shatter the mind. With The Investigators of Arkham Horror, the tales of these heroic men and women gain new focus as they explore 1920s Arkham, the far-flung corners of the Earth, and the strange worlds of the Cthulhu Mythos.
Discover the hidden secrets of the investigators who risk everything to save humanity from certain doom! With its lavish art and haunting stories, this gorgeous, 264-page, hardcover art and setting book delves deep into the lives of the investigators from the acclaimed Arkham Horror Files games. These men and women explore those parts of our reality that lie outside of what our senses and science can perceive, often confronting beings of such unfathomable power that simply beholding them can shatter the mind. With The Investigators of Arkham Horror, the tales of these heroic men and women gain new focus as they explore 1920s Arkham, the far-flung corners of the Earth, and the strange worlds of the Cthulhu Mythos.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 2016
27 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
Katrina Ostrander
27 books48 followersKatrina Ostrander has served as editor for over a dozen media tie-in novellas spanning multiple genres including cyberpunk, fantasy, Lovecraftian horror, and science fiction. She has worked with emerging writers as well as New York Times–bestselling authors. In 2021 her debut novella, Ice and Snow, was published in the Great Clans of Rokugan Volume 1 anthology from Aconyte Books.
As the Creative Director of Story and Setting with the Asmodee Franchise Development Team, she oversees the internal and licensed development of the company's proprietary IPs. Besides her work as an editor of tie-in fiction and developer of IPs, she has written for or developed over a dozen roleplaying game products, including adventures, supplements, and core rulebooks. Recent writing credits include contributing to Cubicle 7's Age of Sigmar: Soulbound Core Rulebook and Starter Set.
She writes advice and how-to articles relating to gamemastering, adventure design, writing tips, and more at KatrinaOstrander.com.
As the Creative Director of Story and Setting with the Asmodee Franchise Development Team, she oversees the internal and licensed development of the company's proprietary IPs. Besides her work as an editor of tie-in fiction and developer of IPs, she has written for or developed over a dozen roleplaying game products, including adventures, supplements, and core rulebooks. Recent writing credits include contributing to Cubicle 7's Age of Sigmar: Soulbound Core Rulebook and Starter Set.
She writes advice and how-to articles relating to gamemastering, adventure design, writing tips, and more at KatrinaOstrander.com.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 20, 2018
3.5 stars. An aesthetically pleasing, eye-catching book. For players of the Arkham Horror board game, here's a look at some of your favorite investigators backstories.
The stories contained within are brief snippets of the Mythos while primarily focusing on the environs/ locations of Arkham as depicted in the game.
As a media tie-in, this is an entertaining diversion for amateur/new Mythos fans, but for a better overview, I'd recommend most readers start with HPL and work out from there.
The stories contained within are brief snippets of the Mythos while primarily focusing on the environs/ locations of Arkham as depicted in the game.
As a media tie-in, this is an entertaining diversion for amateur/new Mythos fans, but for a better overview, I'd recommend most readers start with HPL and work out from there.
May 25, 2022
The Investigators of Arkham Horror is a collection of fifty-two short stories with full-color art by several authors and artists. Each story revolves around one of the investigators known - or unknown perhaps, if you're not a player of boardgames - to the lore of the Arkham Horror series of games (Arkham Horror, Arkham Horror: the Card Game, Mansions of Madness, etc.) all based on H.P. Lovecrafts supernatural horror stories.
Each story reveals a bit about the lives and motivations of the investigators - those (un)fortunate souls that try to fight back when faced with unspeakable evil: why do they risk their lives, going up against impossible odds? How did they come to learn of the evil that lurks beneath the veil of reality? Or even, how did they end up in Arkham, Massachusetts, the fictive city that serves as a staging grounds for the 'ancient ones' to break through into our reality.
For me though, the most interesting by far was to find out how the different investigators are connected to each other. How does Amanda Sharp (the student) know Rita Young (the athlete)? And what is the link between William Yorick (the gravedigger) and Jim Culver (the musician)? Honestly? The book made me want to start a chart to show who's linked to whom and what place and which particular ancient one. I'm silly like that.
Is it, however, "an essential tome for all the most daring fans of our Arkham Horror Files games" as game company and publisher Fantasy Flight Games states? Well, no. You're perfectly fine to play any and all Arkham Horror games without the book, obviously. The games are described as RPG-like and you're encouraged to play them 'in character' and with that, the book would certainly be helpful. But I play the games without any RPG elements and I enjoy them thouroughly anyway. I've played the games before I read the book and after, and trust me when I say: there's not a lick of difference.
Can the book then hold its own as a good read? Yes, it certainly can. While the stories are written by different authors, in different styles and from different viewpoints, they have one thing in common: they're without exception high quality writing. Entertaining, thought-invoking, emotional, every single one. And all are beautifully illustrated.
Of course, the stories are based on H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos, so don't expect any happy endings. All of the stories breathe the same dark hopelesness. The battle against all odds that is not heroic, but realisticly written. The book reads as the games play: a struggle for survival, with little to no chance of defeating the ancient evil threatening Arkham and the world.
If you're already into the Cthulhu mythos, The Investigators of Arkham is yet another great way to enjoy it more and keep it alive. If you don't know the world of H.P. Lovecraft, I daresay this book is a friendly way to get aquainted. It is - put simply - a great collection of darkly entertaining stories about people hopelessly struggling to survive their encounter with ancient evils not of this world. Frankly, the only thing that should stop you from reading it, is the price. Although perhaps that's not entirely true, for in Arkham knowledge can be dangerous...
Each story reveals a bit about the lives and motivations of the investigators - those (un)fortunate souls that try to fight back when faced with unspeakable evil: why do they risk their lives, going up against impossible odds? How did they come to learn of the evil that lurks beneath the veil of reality? Or even, how did they end up in Arkham, Massachusetts, the fictive city that serves as a staging grounds for the 'ancient ones' to break through into our reality.
For me though, the most interesting by far was to find out how the different investigators are connected to each other. How does Amanda Sharp (the student) know Rita Young (the athlete)? And what is the link between William Yorick (the gravedigger) and Jim Culver (the musician)? Honestly? The book made me want to start a chart to show who's linked to whom and what place and which particular ancient one. I'm silly like that.
Is it, however, "an essential tome for all the most daring fans of our Arkham Horror Files games" as game company and publisher Fantasy Flight Games states? Well, no. You're perfectly fine to play any and all Arkham Horror games without the book, obviously. The games are described as RPG-like and you're encouraged to play them 'in character' and with that, the book would certainly be helpful. But I play the games without any RPG elements and I enjoy them thouroughly anyway. I've played the games before I read the book and after, and trust me when I say: there's not a lick of difference.
Can the book then hold its own as a good read? Yes, it certainly can. While the stories are written by different authors, in different styles and from different viewpoints, they have one thing in common: they're without exception high quality writing. Entertaining, thought-invoking, emotional, every single one. And all are beautifully illustrated.
Of course, the stories are based on H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos, so don't expect any happy endings. All of the stories breathe the same dark hopelesness. The battle against all odds that is not heroic, but realisticly written. The book reads as the games play: a struggle for survival, with little to no chance of defeating the ancient evil threatening Arkham and the world.
If you're already into the Cthulhu mythos, The Investigators of Arkham is yet another great way to enjoy it more and keep it alive. If you don't know the world of H.P. Lovecraft, I daresay this book is a friendly way to get aquainted. It is - put simply - a great collection of darkly entertaining stories about people hopelessly struggling to survive their encounter with ancient evils not of this world. Frankly, the only thing that should stop you from reading it, is the price. Although perhaps that's not entirely true, for in Arkham knowledge can be dangerous...
March 13, 2017
Even if the stories are not all that great, this is a usefull book for the rpg Call of Cthulhu. It depicts Arkham perfectly with evocative stories and awesome illustrations. This is one of the most beautiful book I ever read for sure!
August 31, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Aconyte Books for an advanced copy of this updated introduction to the characters that inhabit the world of Arkham and its environs, from plucky investigators, true believers, those from the other side, and those seeking to make a profit from the never-ending battle between the old Gods and humanity.
There is nothing like the sensation of going along with your day, and having a moment that is both odd and unsettling. In some jobs a little weird is expected, being a police man, a waitress, a reporter, even a politician. Sometimes antique dealers have odd birds looking for relics of a past that no one seems to remember. Heck, as a bookseller if I don't have a weird question, or customer, I wonder what is wrong with the world. However those who have never thought about a world outside of this one, those whose lives have always been A+B=C in their thinking, these little moments might mean a lot, and can be many different things. A street that never existed before. A building that seems to have added an additional floor. A smell a chanting from fields that look empty, a conversation between strangers, but with their eyes locked on you. This can make one paranoid, maybe even hide inside a bedroom, while the mind tries to recover. In some these incidents start a chain reaction in the soul. What is happening, I have to know more. I need to understand. For to understand could mean everything. Order and chaos. The Investigators of Arkham Horror is edited by Katrina Ostrander and is a collection of tales about people in the town of Arkham, Massachusetts who have all been touched with something, or by something, and the different paths this chance encounter could lead to.
This collections is a source book for the Arkham Horror Game, and is a collection of updated for a digital edition with 55 stories, featuring different characters who appear in the city of Arkham, probably the most interesting place on Earth, with some voyages outside of town. The book is lavishly illustrated, introduces the characters, and gives a little bit of background, previous dealings with the unknown, or gives ideas for further adventures. The book also serves as a mini-guide book to the city, its history, and the kep people good, bad and indifferent, that appear, or in some cases disappear.
My familarity with Arkham is from of course the original stories written first by H.P. Lovecraft, and his friends and cowriters. I was also a player of the role playing game Call of Cthulhu from Chaosium, way back in the day. In fact my Cthulhu for President" political campaign kit is one of my finest treasures. I have not played Arkham Horror, though after all this I do want to. I have read a few of the source books and even as a layman to the game enjoy the work, and stories that go into creating everything. The stories are mostly good, a lot end on cliffhangers I assume are answered in the gameplay, gameplay that really sounds like a lot of fun.
I have read most of the book that take place in the universe and feel that that these tie-ins are some of the best RPG novels I have read, and I have read a lot. There is a lot of care and concern and a lot of work done to make this work as well as they do. I can't wait to read more.
There is nothing like the sensation of going along with your day, and having a moment that is both odd and unsettling. In some jobs a little weird is expected, being a police man, a waitress, a reporter, even a politician. Sometimes antique dealers have odd birds looking for relics of a past that no one seems to remember. Heck, as a bookseller if I don't have a weird question, or customer, I wonder what is wrong with the world. However those who have never thought about a world outside of this one, those whose lives have always been A+B=C in their thinking, these little moments might mean a lot, and can be many different things. A street that never existed before. A building that seems to have added an additional floor. A smell a chanting from fields that look empty, a conversation between strangers, but with their eyes locked on you. This can make one paranoid, maybe even hide inside a bedroom, while the mind tries to recover. In some these incidents start a chain reaction in the soul. What is happening, I have to know more. I need to understand. For to understand could mean everything. Order and chaos. The Investigators of Arkham Horror is edited by Katrina Ostrander and is a collection of tales about people in the town of Arkham, Massachusetts who have all been touched with something, or by something, and the different paths this chance encounter could lead to.
This collections is a source book for the Arkham Horror Game, and is a collection of updated for a digital edition with 55 stories, featuring different characters who appear in the city of Arkham, probably the most interesting place on Earth, with some voyages outside of town. The book is lavishly illustrated, introduces the characters, and gives a little bit of background, previous dealings with the unknown, or gives ideas for further adventures. The book also serves as a mini-guide book to the city, its history, and the kep people good, bad and indifferent, that appear, or in some cases disappear.
My familarity with Arkham is from of course the original stories written first by H.P. Lovecraft, and his friends and cowriters. I was also a player of the role playing game Call of Cthulhu from Chaosium, way back in the day. In fact my Cthulhu for President" political campaign kit is one of my finest treasures. I have not played Arkham Horror, though after all this I do want to. I have read a few of the source books and even as a layman to the game enjoy the work, and stories that go into creating everything. The stories are mostly good, a lot end on cliffhangers I assume are answered in the gameplay, gameplay that really sounds like a lot of fun.
I have read most of the book that take place in the universe and feel that that these tie-ins are some of the best RPG novels I have read, and I have read a lot. There is a lot of care and concern and a lot of work done to make this work as well as they do. I can't wait to read more.
March 1, 2025
Out of all the books my friend sent me in that large lot of Call of Cthulhu books, this was the only one that surprised me. I've loved the board game Arkham Horror and its spin off Elder Sign for a very long time. They're not directly related to the Call of Cthulhu RPG but they have so much in common with it that they make an incredible source of inspiration for players and Keepers alike. When I pulled this book out of one of the numerous boxes my friend sent me I was thrilled as I thought that an Arkham Horror sourcebook had been released for CoC without my being aware of the fact. It is not a sourcebook but it's a fun book nevertheless.
This is a lorebook for the aforementioned board game universe. While the games make use of the expected elements of Lovecraft's fiction (such as the horrors of the Mythos and eccentricities of his fictional town of Arkham, MA), they make you play as a pregenerated investigator that encompasses one of a variety of archetypes commonly found within Lovecraft's fiction or things adjacent to Lovecraft's fiction. This book consists of little vignettes that flesh out all of the investigators that were available to play in the Arkham Horror board game up to 2018 or so.
This is lovely book. The writing is a bit inconsistent, but for the most part I was really impressed with it. It wasn't deep storytelling by any means but the fact that they managed to tell a unique story for each character is quite impressive, particularly considering how many characters are in this book. The art is great. Much of it is borrowed from the board game naturally but there are a lot of beautiful backgrounds and other bits that are new that make this book pop. I think it's meant to be something of a coffee table type book so that stands to reason. If you enjoy Arkham Horror and/or Elder Sign, give this book a look if you can find it. It's lovely and it's a fun way to give more context to the excellent cast of investigators within in that universe.
This is a lorebook for the aforementioned board game universe. While the games make use of the expected elements of Lovecraft's fiction (such as the horrors of the Mythos and eccentricities of his fictional town of Arkham, MA), they make you play as a pregenerated investigator that encompasses one of a variety of archetypes commonly found within Lovecraft's fiction or things adjacent to Lovecraft's fiction. This book consists of little vignettes that flesh out all of the investigators that were available to play in the Arkham Horror board game up to 2018 or so.
This is lovely book. The writing is a bit inconsistent, but for the most part I was really impressed with it. It wasn't deep storytelling by any means but the fact that they managed to tell a unique story for each character is quite impressive, particularly considering how many characters are in this book. The art is great. Much of it is borrowed from the board game naturally but there are a lot of beautiful backgrounds and other bits that are new that make this book pop. I think it's meant to be something of a coffee table type book so that stands to reason. If you enjoy Arkham Horror and/or Elder Sign, give this book a look if you can find it. It's lovely and it's a fun way to give more context to the excellent cast of investigators within in that universe.
October 27, 2024
As a board game enthusiast, one of the games I've been wanting to try to play and collect is Arkham Horror. It has many extensions and the main game was difficult to find. So having saw this on the ARC list, I immediately requested it and it did not disappoint!
The Investigators of Arkham Horror contains fifty-two short stories with full-color illustrations by more than forty of the industry's most talented artists. In every turn, you would see various colorful depictions of the world and the current situation of each character being narrated. If you're not familiar with the game or no idea about it at most, I think it will be quite difficult for you to navigate the world and its characters. Each short story can be mind-boggling or confusing. As for my experience, the illustrations helped me imagine each story. I'm sure, once all artworks are complete, it will be more enjoyable to read especially at night or during the Halloween season. Story-wise, they were able to create a sinister feel while reading it. Not to sound repetitive, but this is why I can't wait for the completion of all the illustrations.
In summary, The Investigators of Arkham Horror is a great supplementary read especially when you play any of the Arkham Horror, Eldritch Horror, Elder Sign, Mansions of Madness, and the other Arkham Horror Files games. Moreover, it's also a nice introduction for those curious about the game or those interested in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural, and Lovecraftian.
Thank you Aconyte Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book!
The Investigators of Arkham Horror contains fifty-two short stories with full-color illustrations by more than forty of the industry's most talented artists. In every turn, you would see various colorful depictions of the world and the current situation of each character being narrated. If you're not familiar with the game or no idea about it at most, I think it will be quite difficult for you to navigate the world and its characters. Each short story can be mind-boggling or confusing. As for my experience, the illustrations helped me imagine each story. I'm sure, once all artworks are complete, it will be more enjoyable to read especially at night or during the Halloween season. Story-wise, they were able to create a sinister feel while reading it. Not to sound repetitive, but this is why I can't wait for the completion of all the illustrations.
In summary, The Investigators of Arkham Horror is a great supplementary read especially when you play any of the Arkham Horror, Eldritch Horror, Elder Sign, Mansions of Madness, and the other Arkham Horror Files games. Moreover, it's also a nice introduction for those curious about the game or those interested in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural, and Lovecraftian.
Thank you Aconyte Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book!
September 10, 2024
I love anything Arkham Horror so was excited to see the digital version of The Investigators of Arkham Horror book available to review. Now I want to say that while the digital version does not contain illustrations throughout from what I’ve seen so far it’s a gorgeous book that would be worthy to grace any fans shelf. I will definitely be getting myself a physical copy.
Now on to the other content. I adored that each investigator has a story about them and the varying content within. It’s so fun to read about, not only my favourite characters, but also ones I might not have had a huge interest in before. It’s also a great way to give new players an insight into the characters before going into the world of Arkham be it via the games or books.
If you are an Arkham Horror fan you need this book in your collection. It’s beautiful, informative and will be full of stunning illustrations. What more could you want?
As always thank you to Aconyte Books for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.
Now on to the other content. I adored that each investigator has a story about them and the varying content within. It’s so fun to read about, not only my favourite characters, but also ones I might not have had a huge interest in before. It’s also a great way to give new players an insight into the characters before going into the world of Arkham be it via the games or books.
If you are an Arkham Horror fan you need this book in your collection. It’s beautiful, informative and will be full of stunning illustrations. What more could you want?
As always thank you to Aconyte Books for the copy to review. My review is always honest and truthful.
October 10, 2024
Each investigator gets a few pages of a little short story. Takes maybe ten minutes to read each entry.
It is not a must-have by any means unless you are a completionist. Goes well along with the Welcome to Arkham and Artwork of Arkham Horror. Great companion to those titles. The only problem with this book is that it does not include many of the recent Arkham Horror Files books published recently. I believe they’ve updated the ebook edition but have not printed the book since then. I’m a paper guy though, so I had to have it despite this flaw.
Pros:
Illustrations are amazing.
Well written stories.
Nice as a random short read when you have a few minutes.
Fits well with the other Arkham Horror Files literature.
Cons:
Does not include some of the more recent novel’s characters.
Cannot be used as a complete guide to the characters but merely a brief intro to each.
I gave it a 4/5 instead of a 5/5 because it does not include recent Arkham Horror Files literature and needs to be updated with a new printed edition.
It is not a must-have by any means unless you are a completionist. Goes well along with the Welcome to Arkham and Artwork of Arkham Horror. Great companion to those titles. The only problem with this book is that it does not include many of the recent Arkham Horror Files books published recently. I believe they’ve updated the ebook edition but have not printed the book since then. I’m a paper guy though, so I had to have it despite this flaw.
Pros:
Illustrations are amazing.
Well written stories.
Nice as a random short read when you have a few minutes.
Fits well with the other Arkham Horror Files literature.
Cons:
Does not include some of the more recent novel’s characters.
Cannot be used as a complete guide to the characters but merely a brief intro to each.
I gave it a 4/5 instead of a 5/5 because it does not include recent Arkham Horror Files literature and needs to be updated with a new printed edition.
July 25, 2019
Exactly what I hoped for:
Expectations are important for this book. It's half art book, half gateway drug and half short stories. Three halves cause I can't tell which is the most important aspect.
It provides background, motivation and characterization for most of the 55 arkham investigators. I say most cause 5 or so stories are deadly dull and contribute little to nothing to the character (the journalist) or the characters themselves are just uninteresting (both college professors, the secretary...).
Most stories are good to great, with highlights such as the Lawyer, the Expedition Leader and the Gangster. It sets the tone and expectations for the games expertly and therefore it's a great contribution to the Arkham universe. It did exactly what I expected and I'm really glad I got this one.
4'5/5
Expectations are important for this book. It's half art book, half gateway drug and half short stories. Three halves cause I can't tell which is the most important aspect.
It provides background, motivation and characterization for most of the 55 arkham investigators. I say most cause 5 or so stories are deadly dull and contribute little to nothing to the character (the journalist) or the characters themselves are just uninteresting (both college professors, the secretary...).
Most stories are good to great, with highlights such as the Lawyer, the Expedition Leader and the Gangster. It sets the tone and expectations for the games expertly and therefore it's a great contribution to the Arkham universe. It did exactly what I expected and I'm really glad I got this one.
4'5/5
December 18, 2019
A fine book, within the limits of what it is: a collection of very short (3-4 pages) stories about specific characters - more character types, really - in an adventury, pulp-like Cthlhu Mythos world. I picked it up because I'm running a Call of Cthulhu tabletop RPG game and wanted some good characterizations and references, and it's great for that. As a work of literature, people would probably find it very repetitive. Also, since these character presumably would go on to figure in the game, the stories are mostly about the barest touches of their encounters with the Cthulhu mythos, rather than full-blown descents into madness, action, and terror.
The art, it should be added, is GREAT. Very atmospheric, works fantastically well with the stories; likewise the general artistic design and execution of the entire book.
The art, it should be added, is GREAT. Very atmospheric, works fantastically well with the stories; likewise the general artistic design and execution of the entire book.
September 21, 2024
Received as an ARC from Netgalley:
This book certainly manages to capture the tone of Arkham Horror extremely well, however the stories near the middle seem to get a bit samey feeling. You get a lot of very short stories that will introduce something really interesting but won't resolve it. Which is what I feel like this book is attempting to achieve, it just isn't fun to read for more than 25 pages at a time.
Near the end of the book there are some more fleshed out stories and those seem to be the newer additions for the 2024 release, those were really outstanding but they feel different from the rest of the book.
Some gorgeous artwork near the beginning and is certainly handy to help intro people to the setting, however I'd go with 'Welcome to Arkham: An Illustrated Guide for Visitors' as a starting off point for newcomers.
This book certainly manages to capture the tone of Arkham Horror extremely well, however the stories near the middle seem to get a bit samey feeling. You get a lot of very short stories that will introduce something really interesting but won't resolve it. Which is what I feel like this book is attempting to achieve, it just isn't fun to read for more than 25 pages at a time.
Near the end of the book there are some more fleshed out stories and those seem to be the newer additions for the 2024 release, those were really outstanding but they feel different from the rest of the book.
Some gorgeous artwork near the beginning and is certainly handy to help intro people to the setting, however I'd go with 'Welcome to Arkham: An Illustrated Guide for Visitors' as a starting off point for newcomers.
October 15, 2024
I'd been looking forward to getting my paws on this book from my local gaming shop - so when the opportunity came up for a PDF, I jumped at it! And I'll still be getting the physical copy, because in line with the other Arkham 'foundation' titles, it's amazing.
Each character bio read like a tiny story in itself, all tied together like the best Stephen King 'small town' horror. As I've read about the geography and history of Arkham, now I'm seeing those who live there - whether by choice or not - and it's so engaging. I'm inspired with regard to character creation for games, but also wanting to read more about these folk in other fiction.
The art is also beautiful (as usual!), and this is certainly a book that I'm recommending to fellow gamers and lovers of modern Lovecraft.
I was kindly sent a copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are my own.
Each character bio read like a tiny story in itself, all tied together like the best Stephen King 'small town' horror. As I've read about the geography and history of Arkham, now I'm seeing those who live there - whether by choice or not - and it's so engaging. I'm inspired with regard to character creation for games, but also wanting to read more about these folk in other fiction.
The art is also beautiful (as usual!), and this is certainly a book that I'm recommending to fellow gamers and lovers of modern Lovecraft.
I was kindly sent a copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are my own.
November 28, 2018
I've always been a huge fan of Fantasy Flight Games and the world of Arkham Horror. This book is a nice showpiece to supplement the Arkham Horror Universe. I enjoyed the short backstories of the various investigators that inhabit Arkham and I really liked the artwork. The quality of the stories is a bit uneven, but mostly enjoyable. Great for any fan of the board games tied to these characters!
January 11, 2021
My brother sent me this as a birthday gift this year. Appropriate, as he’s the one who got us hooked on Eldritch Horror a number of years ago. Since then, he’s moved on to the Arkham Horror Card Game and we’ve moved on to Mansions of Madness, but whichever one(s) you play, these stories add some fun background flavor to your favorite investigators.
December 4, 2023
Very conflicting; I like some of the little vignettes but the issue with these characters is that I know them, primarily, from playing the games and so their voices in these stories are not necessarily the voices I had for them in my head. It’s an interesting conundrum; I’ll be curious to find out how the inclusion of Alessandra Zorzi in The Feast of Hemlock Vale makes me feel.
August 29, 2024
This collection has some absolutely stunning artwork, which is largely what drew me to it. I haven't played the table top game but it sounds pretty cool and the stories are well thought out.
The stories are written by different authors, but they combine to make a collection that I'm sure fans of the game would love.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC
The stories are written by different authors, but they combine to make a collection that I'm sure fans of the game would love.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC
March 1, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this. A fun short story for each investigator in the Arkham Horror games? What a great idea! It did leave me wanting more. It would be really cool to have a volume 2 with another story for each investigator!
February 18, 2021
I did expect a bit more from an expensive book. The artwork is pretty good but the investigator stories are a bit weak and did not give me any additional insight into their characters. There was no attempt to link the narrative in any way either.
January 1, 2023
Really great insight into all the Arkham investigators. Most stories were done well to set the tone, though some were perhaps a tad too short, and a couple ran a bit long. A few that also had novellas, like Jenny Barnes seemed to fit perfectly, where this story lead right into the novella.
May 24, 2017
taking from many of the ffg stories this compendium really helps build the characters of the games and looks amazing
July 6, 2018
Some stories were better than others. The art is great, most stories a at least good.
April 15, 2020
Was an entertaining read for a fan of the Arkham Horror series of Board games. A collection of short stories in a world of Lovecraftian terror.
August 11, 2020
The illustrations are excellent and the stories suck you in!
January 11, 2022
Bueno para los fanaticos de los Arkham files que no quieran ahondar en los Mitos pero si en los personajes del universo de Fantasy Flight.
November 1, 2023
Some stories really intriguing and wanted to know more. Some cool cliffhangers. Very nice illustrations.
September 8, 2024
The artwork in this book is fantastic, very eye catching and vibrant!
I really enjoyed reading through the stories in this book and learning about the characters. I have several friends and family members who play the board games and after reading this I think that I am going to give it a try also.
Thank you the authors, Net Galley and Aconyte for providing me with an ARC of this book!
I really enjoyed reading through the stories in this book and learning about the characters. I have several friends and family members who play the board games and after reading this I think that I am going to give it a try also.
Thank you the authors, Net Galley and Aconyte for providing me with an ARC of this book!
January 31, 2018
While the idea of getting the back stories for all the characters in the game is interesting, this book ended up being pretty dull. Since the fate of the characters is in the hands of the people playing the game, none of these stories has a resolution - its a ton of stories with no endings, which makes for a frustrating read.
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