Prince of Wolves [PATHFINDER TALES]

Prince of Wolves is the first in a line of novel-length fiction set in the world of Golarion, home of the Pathfinder role-playing game.  Written by Dave Gross, the book consists of alternating chapters told from two points of views: an aristocratic Pathfinder (professional explorer and knowledge-hunter) named Varian Jeggare and his bodyguard, a rough-and-tumble streetsmart Hell-touched bodyguard named Radovan.  The pair are on a mission in Ustalav (a land of mists, moors, and the undead reminiscent of Ravenloft) in order to find out the fate of another missing Pathfinder.  Both of the main characters are interesting, as neither fits squarely into an "adventuring class" and they have distinct but likable personalities.  The plotting seems a bit rough in spots, but was solid overall.  Gross wasn't shy about littering the book with references to Golarion, so fans of the campaign setting should be happy.  After reading the book, I learned there were some short stories published on the Paizo website that gave a great deal of backstory to the characters--I wish the novel would have mentioned them!