The 11th Expert Level module put out by TSR for BECMI D&D, this is actually a different animal from most of the latest X series publications. The X series has been dominated in recent times by the productions of TSR UK, which always puts a fresh twist on its D&D materials. Unfortunately this isn’t the case with this module.

It’s unfortunate because there isn’t much original or to write home about it, but it’s still a perfectly competent module for players at expert level. It’s also a pretty big module, being double sized and essentially containing two different interconnected adventures that end up making a kind of mini-campaign. 

The story revolves around the titular Shadow Lord, the nemesis for the players in both adventures. The story isn’t particularly inspired but there are some good moments and there is plenty of good art in the module to make up for it, with a cover by Keith Parkinson and interior illustrations by Mark Nelson.