Classical Egyptian flavoured solo adventure, with the usual tropes: a riddle-asking sphinx, a trap-filled pyramid to navigate, hieroglyphics, mummy-like creatures to battle. General structure is linear with branches and loops; there is no need to visit every location, but some items are essential, others very useful, whilst other areas offer only woe. A number of tricky and exciting combats to fight, but some can be avoided; lots of material to play through; some replay value as there are alternative routes between fixed points/through obstacles, although the lack of a second (possibly lesser) winning ending does limit this. One nice touch is that descriptions are given from a medieval European point of view, but the reader knows better and will identify, for example, a camel or a sphinx.

Accurately written. Clear readable type. Adaptable to other systems (with a little work). Plays well with different characters types/professions, although they must be able combatants. Difficult enough that you are likely to fail in an initial play, but not so tough as to become frustrating.

One suggested improvement: in entry 24, as the character is beside a lake, delete references to empty waterskins.

In three playthroughs the Necrochor seemed to be the toughest (unavoidable) opponent. Success with wizards and assassins.

Highly recommended.

Exploring a less commonly covered region of Legend DotGK is a rich and engaging gamebook from Red Ruin. Exceptional work.

From the striking cover art to the very last section this is a solo gamebook that doesn't disappoint. This book notionally follows on from the Village of the Damned although you don't need to have played that adventure. What seems like a relatively safe opening soon has you catapaulted half-way across the world, forced to make your way in an exotic and dangerously unfamiliar land. The author has deftly woven some classic genre elements into this tale without it feeling hackneyed and the quality of the writing is top-shelf. In fact I actually ound some passages of truly exquisite prose. The book gives you the option to pick up some companions along the way which can help overcome some difficult obstacles and opponents. There seems to be some good replayability with multiple options to proceed. All in all a great read I would have happily paid for - but best of all - it's free!