Reviewer: Matthew Murphy from Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada

The Sword of Caine: Sharp, Not Dull...
It is a common and persistent misconception that Vampire characters and chronicles should be Camarilla by default. Maybe this is because the core rulebook outlines the Camarilla more thoroughly than other possibilities, or perhaps because Camarilla society is closest to human in ideology and behaviour. Either way, other storytelling options tend to be neglected, and none more so than the Sabbat.

More than any other vampire group; the Sabbat is routinely labelled as the "bad guys". Most Storytellers present them as little other than marauding packs of bloodthirsty, monstrous, straightforward adversaries. Are they bloodthirsty? You're damn right. Monstrous? Maybe. Straightforward? Hardly.

If you've always found the Sabbat confounding and two-dimensional, this book will change that. The "Guide to the Sabbat" contains a wealth of information on Sabbat culture, lifestyle, philosophy, motivation, and behaviour. Included are useful guidelines for creating Sabbat characters, incorporating Sabbat into stories in a rich and interesting fashion, and developing and running Sabbat chronicles. This guide serves to show the depth and complexity of this misunderstood sect and reveals the many excellent storytelling opportunities it offers.

In all, the book is handsome, well formatted, thorough, and entertaining. An extremely useful volume, it makes a necessary addition for any Vampire game.