Cainite Heresy is a very well done book. Well written, intensely researched, and caringly presented. And, as a Black Dog book, it's not too bad.
I mean, the nunly nipples are a nice touch (but did medieval nuns have access to such good depilatory technology? I mean, they were silky. Silky smooth satanic sisters? I think NOT), but there's nothing that's quite as over the top as The Picture from Montreal by Night (which is a good book when you read it with your eyes closed). Why, then, don't I think it's a very substantial gaming book?
I read through it and my problem is its subtlety. I must admit, my style of GMing is derived from Jackie Chan and Clint Eastwood. I strive for action and carnage. Cainite Heresy is just too darn subtle.
It does a wonderful job of informing us about heresies through the ages. It's so evocative you can smell the hickory, lemme tell ya (heathens roasting on an open fire, and all that).
Of course, the Black Dog label seems kind of odd to me; I mean, aside from nekkid nuns (and what WW book hasn't been getting a high nipple count lately?) there isn't that much horrifying about it. Sure, there's the heresies themselves, but are they any worse than, oh, Ghouls:FA (quick kids, what's worse: Satanism, or buggery!)?
The tales of the heresy make for good reading, and I might go peeking for some of the bibliographical stuff (the author warns that two of the books are 'heavy going'. Hah. I read Red Mars. Nothing's heavy going after THAT).
But, of course, the book is not meant as a 'gnostic research is fundamental' primer. The historical (Real and Wod world both) info is well researched and interesting. The game information is slightly more sparse. It lets you customise the Path of Hell, and has a few new backgrounds, abilities and Merits & flaws.
All in all, Cainite Heresy is a good read, but it doesn't make me jump up and rub my palms together. As well, its listing as a Year of the Reckoning book seems more like a ploy to boost sales; the naked nuns should have taken care of that.
Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 2 (Sparse)
