Axis Mundi is another compendium-type sourcebook from White Wolf for the Werewolf: The Apocalypse game which details the spirits of the Middle Umbra, those having relations with the Garou. Axis Mundi fills a gap in the Werewolf milieu which has needed detailing for some time. I would have to say that this 160 page book is one of the more necessary gamebooks for Werewolf, unless of course you are one of those prolific Storytellers who make up everything and anything for your games.

I don't see the need for Mage Storytellers to rush out and buy this product. It is heavily slanted toward the Werewolf outlook and unless you have some of the more 'primitive'Traditions begging for more spirits to interact with or you really want to throw your players for a loop, Axis Munch may or may not be worth it for you. It covers the history of Garou and Umbral spirit relations in classic Garou form: the tale around the campfire. It goes on to detail how to go about binding, or more properly befriend, the spiritual allies the Garou need to fight the War of the Apocalypse.

For the most part, this book details the family of spirits known as Totem Spirits and their families of lesser spirits. I don't see much on the 'esoteric' spirits such as the Australian or Amazonian types, though there are some natural spirits (Naturae) and elementals too.

Each spirit is given a history, statistics, a habitat, what they know, and how to get it out of them. Some spirits are cruel, ready to play tricks on the unsuspecting, and some are friendly, eager for friendship with anyone willing to pay their price. My favorite spirits are Rat Gafflings who demand that potential allies perform the Rite of the Pizza. "The Rat-spirit will test the solidarity of the pack by seeing how well they negotiate the intricacies of the rite, such as agreeing upon toppings, deciding who gets which slices, and so on . .

Worth the money for that alone.

Game Reviews Fantasy Role Playing

Mage: The Ascension Tarot
Chicago Chronicles: Volume 3
Oblivion
Constantinople By Night
The Shadow Court
A World of Darkness 2nd Edition
Trolls, Masquers, Silent Striders, and Shadow Lords
Rage: Warriors of the Apocalypse
Axis Mundi: The Book of Spirits
Book of the Kindred
The Risen