John Gregory Betancourt - Roger Zelazny's The Dawn of Amber

Three stars. Solid and enjoyable.

If you take this for what it is, an add-on novel in a shared universe, rather than an actual new Amber book by Zelazny, then it's actually quite entertaining. If you've played the Amber RPG at all, then it will all seem very familiar: new relatives springing from the woodwork, the world or universe is in danger, intrigue and treachery yada yada. There's nothing here that hasn't already been done in dozens of Amber RPG scenarios. But nevertheless, it's not bad at all. The plot moves along quickly, there are some exciting moments, and the scene is set for further adventure. Think of it as fan fiction done by a professional writer, and you won't be disappointed.