BlizzPlanet reviews upcoming Arthas novel
by Alex Ziebart 
Feb 22nd 2009 at 3:00PM
One of the Warcraft novels I've actively been looking forward to is Arthas, Rise of the Lich King. It's set to be released to the world on April 21, 2009 but BlizzPlanet.com has gotten its hands on a few bound galleys of the book early. Some of them are being given away, but he's also reading one on his own and has gifted us with a quick review.The review makes the book sound incredible, though perhaps a bit too cluttered. The novel is roughly 300 pages in length (I believe) and the first 100 pages covers his childhood from the arrival of the Stormwind refugees in Lordaeron to the beginning of Warcraft III. That covers about fourteen years, and that's potentially a lot of territory to cover!
Still, if it's pulled off well, it has a lot of room to be incredibly awesome. BlizzPlanet says we'll see some interaction between Young Varian Wrynn and Young Arthas, which should be really, really cool. I'd love to see what Varian is like in the hands of a capable author. There will also be a deeper look into the love triangle between Kael'thas, Jaina, and Arthas.
I strongly recommend checking out the review over on BlizzPlanet if you're at all interested in this novel, or even if you're not. He hasn't finished the book, so take is more of a review preview. It made me very excited for the book, so hopefully it'll do the same for you.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Lore, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
GreatWizard Feb 22nd 2009 3:15PM
All the Warcraft novels I read ranged from readable though pretty bad (Day of the Dragon and war of the ancients) to horrible (Lord of the Clans). All in all, while learning the background of wow is nice, there are far far better fantasy novels out there.
JBurg Feb 22nd 2009 3:28PM
Guess we have the opposite opinion of these books. I found "Lord of the Clans" and "Rise of the Horde" to be very entertaining, but things like "Day of the Dragon" to be so bad I could barely stand to finish them.
I've never had much interest in Arthas or the whole Frozen Throne/undead stuff. I'm still looking forward to this book to see what Christie Golden can do with all this material.
omnimon Feb 22nd 2009 3:28PM
/agree
Entertaining enough in a way, and great for fillnig in the lore gaps, but well written they ain't. Last Guardian wasn't too bad but Tides of Darkness made me want to gouge out my eyes wth a spoon it was that poorly written. Hopefully Arthas will be more like the former
majorfalcon Feb 22nd 2009 4:21PM
I found Lord of the Clans to be the best, and Day of the Dragon to be pretty terrible. It's weird how that happens.
raingod Feb 22nd 2009 3:53PM
The book looks interesting, but the article made me chuckle. An opinion, about an article regarding a galley of a book, the reviewer hasn't finished yet?
Slow news day?
Medievaldragon Feb 22nd 2009 5:34PM
I am the reviewer. You don't really want me spoiling the whole thing do you? lol
I am already around page 210/3308.
Arthas killed Terenas, and now is doing one of his first missions in the Undead Campaign -- to gather Kel'Thuzad's corpse and to retrieve the Urn from Uther.
Kakistocracy Feb 22nd 2009 3:47PM
Now if they just slip the only way to beat Arthas into the novel, and make the readers sign a NDA, they'll be sure to sell piles of these books.
Lovecrafter Feb 22nd 2009 3:49PM
So long as Knaak the Hack isn't writing this one, I will pick it up and read it. I have never hated an author more than I do Dicky Knakk.
Kia Feb 22nd 2009 4:22PM
Meh, I'll pass. I read the preview excerpt and it was absolutely horrible. I've yet to read a single good licensed fantasy novel. They're always really, really, -really- awful. It's a shame, 'cause I really like the Warcraft lore, too.
Muse Feb 22nd 2009 4:34PM
Reading isn't for everyone.
Urza Feb 22nd 2009 5:49PM
Take your head out of your arse and enjoy it for what it is instead of what you think it should be.
Ugkul Feb 22nd 2009 6:52PM
I always thought the Games Workshop stuff was pretty decent. Not all of it, but quite a lot. Pity Blizzard hasn't kept to the same standards.
Deadly. Off. Topic. Feb 23rd 2009 9:20AM
This is true. Most of the time people who are licensed to write these books really have no idea about the lore, don't have a clue about writing properly and then mixing that together they do a mighty big MESS with everything.
They need to find people who love the game, love the lore and have some skill with writing. Until they can fill all those criteria, the novels will continue to be complete suckage.
Kia Feb 23rd 2009 1:06PM
@ Muse
Hon, if you had any clue about the number of books I own...xD
Kellerune Feb 22nd 2009 4:46PM
I love Christie Golden's Warcraft books. Lord of the Clans was the first Warcraft novel I have ever read, and I loved every page. Reading the review, I got chills knowing how awesome this book would be under Christie's hands.
Haven't gotten around to reading Knakk's stuff, but people say its bad. Which is a damn shame. I also haven't read the comics, which is again, a damn shame.
R. Sue Feb 22nd 2009 5:31PM
Everyone I've talked to who's read the Warcraft novels either adores Christie Golden and hates Richard Knaak, or vice versa. (Though I've met more of the former.)
I've not read Knaak's work yet, but I just devoured Rise of the Horde and Lord of the Clans over the weekend, and keep picking them both back up to re-read the parts that stuck in my chest. So odds are good that I'll enjoy this one.
Golden is excellent at making me care about characters -- I went into LotC just wanting orcish backstory for a character and ended up inexplicably adoring Drek'Thar so much it made me want to go do several AVs just to stand next to him. To see her do this for a character who'll become a terrifying villain (Arthas) as well as a character I already fiercely dislike (Varian) will be really interesting.
Malkia Feb 22nd 2009 5:42PM
To be fair I like Christie Golden's other books too. And I actually like a few of Knaak's Diablo books.
Either way it's Thrall and Jaina forever!
Urza Feb 22nd 2009 5:50PM
I like both, it's the other authors that have been rough to read. Grubb wasn't bad, but I'm used to his style because of his Realms work.
Pat Feb 22nd 2009 5:37PM
"I'd love to see what Varian is like in the hands of a capable author."
I strongly suggest you reconsider that sentence unless you want a 6 foot tall hopping mad toad to go all god of thunder on your ass.
Trust me. You do NOT want to mess with those old shcool fans.
Did you see that Beta Ray Bill statue at the New York Comic Con? That used to be my prized race-horse. :(
Alex Ziebart Feb 22nd 2009 6:43PM
I respect the man for his previous work but he's done an atrocious job with the Warcraft universe so far. I think that's pretty undeniable.