The mists of Barovia swirl once more as Penguin Random House and Dungeons and Dragons unveil 'Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd,' a chilling new novel inspired by the acclaimed 'Curse of Strahd' adventure.  Penned by award-winning author Delilah S. Dawson, this marks the first full-length return to the shadowed realm of Ravenloft in nearly two decades.

While Wizards of the Coast has consistently enriched the D&D universe with a plethora of adventures over the past decade, few have achieved the enduring popularity of 'Curse of Strahd.' This gothic horror masterpiece pits players against the sinister vampire lord Strahd von Zarovich within his dread domain of Barovia, a cornerstone of the Ravenloft campaign setting originally introduced in 1983.

This latest foray into Ravenloft promises a fresh, thrilling narrative centered around a band of five adventurers mysteriously drawn into Barovia. Fielle the Human Artificer, Kah the Kenku Cleric, Rotrog the Orc Wizard, Alishai the Tiefling Paladin, and Chivarion the Drow Barbarian find themselves facing an ominous invitation to Castle Ravenloft from Strahd himself.  Survival within the macabre walls of the castle hinges on their ability to forge an uneasy alliance.

Delilah S. Dawson, a New York Times bestselling author known for her work on popular franchises like Star Wars, Disney Mirrorverse, and Minecraft, as well as her original novels such as 'The Violence,' brings her distinctive storytelling style to the world of D&D.  Penguin Random House, who have previously published other D&D titles including 'Heroes’ Feast' and 'Spelljammer: Memory’s Wake,' continues their partnership with the iconic tabletop game.

Though numerous D&D novels have explored Ravenloft over the years, beginning with Christie Golden's 'Vampire of the Mists' in 1991, a significant gap has existed since the last novel truly centered within the domain.  Ari Marmell's 'Black Crusade' marked the last Ravenloft novel in 2008, while the last featuring Count von Zarovich himself was 'I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin' in 1998. 'Heir of Strahd' breaks this long silence, representing not only the first Ravenloft novel in 17 years but also the first Strahd-centric novel in 27 years.

Prepare to return to the shadows. 'Ravenloft: Heir of Strahd' launches May 13th and is available for pre-order now.