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Blood Ties
An official prequel novel to World of Midnight
Arator the Redeemer was born to heroism. The son of High Exarch Turalyon and the legendary Alleria Windrunner, Arator has long borne the weight and expectations of their legacy . . . a legacy he inherited as a babe, the day his parents disappeared through the Dark Portal.
Alleria and Turalyon’s journey took them farther afield than they’d intended. While their absence spanned mere decades on Azeroth, the heroes experienced a thousand years at war against the Burning Legion—a demonic army seeking the destruction of all worlds. When at last they reunited with their son, Arator was a man grown, pledged to the very order of paladins for which they had once fought. The Legion fell quickly in a decisive final battle, yet the millennium of distance between the family was less easily conquered.
Now, on the other side of recent events in Khaz Algar, Arator embarks on a new journey, investigating rumors of a strange glow emanating from the ruins of a long-abandoned Legion base. Turalyon and Alleria volunteer to assist, eager to eliminate their ancient enemy before it can threaten their world anew. As the family delves further into the mystery, Arator works to reconcile his parents’ heroic legacy with the flawed people he has come to know. He sees both of his parents in his father’s high standards, his mother’s intellect, their unwavering commitment to the defense of Azeroth. But Arator exists at the conflux of their greatest strengths and weaknesses—weaknesses that are revealed as the demonic threat proves to be a former lieutenant of the Burning Legion, intent on using Azeroth to launch a new campaign of destruction.
Arator the Redeemer was born to heroism. The son of High Exarch Turalyon and the legendary Alleria Windrunner, Arator has long borne the weight and expectations of their legacy . . . a legacy he inherited as a babe, the day his parents disappeared through the Dark Portal.
Alleria and Turalyon’s journey took them farther afield than they’d intended. While their absence spanned mere decades on Azeroth, the heroes experienced a thousand years at war against the Burning Legion—a demonic army seeking the destruction of all worlds. When at last they reunited with their son, Arator was a man grown, pledged to the very order of paladins for which they had once fought. The Legion fell quickly in a decisive final battle, yet the millennium of distance between the family was less easily conquered.
Now, on the other side of recent events in Khaz Algar, Arator embarks on a new journey, investigating rumors of a strange glow emanating from the ruins of a long-abandoned Legion base. Turalyon and Alleria volunteer to assist, eager to eliminate their ancient enemy before it can threaten their world anew. As the family delves further into the mystery, Arator works to reconcile his parents’ heroic legacy with the flawed people he has come to know. He sees both of his parents in his father’s high standards, his mother’s intellect, their unwavering commitment to the defense of Azeroth. But Arator exists at the conflux of their greatest strengths and weaknesses—weaknesses that are revealed as the demonic threat proves to be a former lieutenant of the Burning Legion, intent on using Azeroth to launch a new campaign of destruction.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2025
114 people are currently reading
2436 people want to read
About the author
Christie Golden
170 books1,871 followersAward-winning author Christie Golden has written over thirty novels and several short stories in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror. She has over a million books in print.
2009 will see no fewer than three novels published. First out in late April will be a World of Warcraft novel, Athas: Rise of the Lich King. This is the first Warcraft novel to appear in hardcover. Fans of the young paladin who fell so far from grace will get to read his definitive story.
In June, Golden’s first Star Wars novel, also a hardcover, sees print. Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi—Omen is the second in a nine-book series she is co-authoring with Aaron Allston and Troy Denning. Also in June comes the conclusion of Golden’s StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga with the release of Twlight, the third book in the series. The first two are Firstborn and Shadow Hunters.
2004 saw the launch of an original fantasy series called The Final Dance, from LUNA Books. The first novel in the series, On Fire's Wings, was published in July of that year. The second, In Stone’s Clasp , came out in September of 2005. With In Stone’s Clasp, Golden won the Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel for the second time. The third book, Under Sea’s Shadow, is available only as an e-book
Golden is also the author of two original fantasy novels from Ace Books, King's Man and Thief and Instrument of Fate, which made the 1996 Nebula Preliminary Ballot. Under the pen name of Jadrien Bell, she wrote a historical fantasy thriller entitled A.D. 999, which won the Colorado Author's League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel of 1999.
Golden launched the TSR Ravenloft line in 1991 with her first novel, the highly successful Vampire of the Mists , which introduced elven vampire Jander Sunstar. Golden followed up Vampire with Dance of the Dead and The Enemy Within . In September of 2006, fifteen years to the month, The Ravenloft Covenant: Vampire of the Mists enabled Jander Sunstar to reach a whole new audience.
Other projects include a slew of Star Trek novels, among them The Murdered Sun , Marooned , and Seven of Nine , and "The Dark Matters Trilogy," Cloak and Dagger , Ghost Dance and Shadow of Heaven .
The Voyager novel relaunch, which includes Homecoming and The Farther Shore , were bestsellers and were the fastest-selling Trek novels of 2003. Golden continued writing VOYAGER novels even though the show went off the air, and enjoyed exploring the creative freedom that gave her in the two-parter called Spirit Walk, which includes Old Wounds and Enemy of my Enemy .
Golden has also written the novelization of Steven Spielberg's Invasion America and an original "prequel," On The Run , both of which received high praise from producer Harve Bennett. On The Run, a combination medical thriller and science fiction adventure, even prompted Bennett to invite Golden to assist in crafting the second season of the show, if it was renewed.
Golden lives in Loveland, Colorado, with her artist husband and their two cats.
2009 will see no fewer than three novels published. First out in late April will be a World of Warcraft novel, Athas: Rise of the Lich King. This is the first Warcraft novel to appear in hardcover. Fans of the young paladin who fell so far from grace will get to read his definitive story.
In June, Golden’s first Star Wars novel, also a hardcover, sees print. Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi—Omen is the second in a nine-book series she is co-authoring with Aaron Allston and Troy Denning. Also in June comes the conclusion of Golden’s StarCraft: The Dark Templar Saga with the release of Twlight, the third book in the series. The first two are Firstborn and Shadow Hunters.
2004 saw the launch of an original fantasy series called The Final Dance, from LUNA Books. The first novel in the series, On Fire's Wings, was published in July of that year. The second, In Stone’s Clasp , came out in September of 2005. With In Stone’s Clasp, Golden won the Colorado Author’s League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel for the second time. The third book, Under Sea’s Shadow, is available only as an e-book
Golden is also the author of two original fantasy novels from Ace Books, King's Man and Thief and Instrument of Fate, which made the 1996 Nebula Preliminary Ballot. Under the pen name of Jadrien Bell, she wrote a historical fantasy thriller entitled A.D. 999, which won the Colorado Author's League Top Hand Award for Best Genre Novel of 1999.
Golden launched the TSR Ravenloft line in 1991 with her first novel, the highly successful Vampire of the Mists , which introduced elven vampire Jander Sunstar. Golden followed up Vampire with Dance of the Dead and The Enemy Within . In September of 2006, fifteen years to the month, The Ravenloft Covenant: Vampire of the Mists enabled Jander Sunstar to reach a whole new audience.
Other projects include a slew of Star Trek novels, among them The Murdered Sun , Marooned , and Seven of Nine , and "The Dark Matters Trilogy," Cloak and Dagger , Ghost Dance and Shadow of Heaven .
The Voyager novel relaunch, which includes Homecoming and The Farther Shore , were bestsellers and were the fastest-selling Trek novels of 2003. Golden continued writing VOYAGER novels even though the show went off the air, and enjoyed exploring the creative freedom that gave her in the two-parter called Spirit Walk, which includes Old Wounds and Enemy of my Enemy .
Golden has also written the novelization of Steven Spielberg's Invasion America and an original "prequel," On The Run , both of which received high praise from producer Harve Bennett. On The Run, a combination medical thriller and science fiction adventure, even prompted Bennett to invite Golden to assist in crafting the second season of the show, if it was renewed.
Golden lives in Loveland, Colorado, with her artist husband and their two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 19, 2025
I'm assuming anyone who picks this book is already a Warcraft fan and familiar with the overall lore & universe. There's no way a story attached to a decades old franchise could make sense without the wider context.
From the perspective of a Warcraft fan, the story reads nostalgic, like playing one of the WoW questlines and sometimes stopping to "stand around and listen" what the characters have to say in their bonus banters. The story focuses on meeting as many old favorites as possible: except the main trio of Arator, Alleria and Turalyon, we meet the leaders of the Silver Hand, the leaders of Blood Elves and Nightborne, the prominent demon hunters, the warlocks, and several other characters a long term player will recognize. Similarly, we visit many iconic locations from Suramar to Outlands, including Light's Hope Chapel, Silvermoon, Fel Hammer, Auchindoun, etc. It's all easter egg galore for people familiar with the characters and places.
However, one of the biggest annoyances to me was the amount of recapping and overexplaining the backstory, lore and who's who. For a reader who somehow is unfamiliar with the franchise, they'll be still confused because there are just too many characters to keep track of. For the intended reader, familiar with the cast, it's extremely unnecessary and nearly patronizing.
The prose itself feels very basic and workmanlike, which is common for IP tie-ins, but still I wished it was flowing better.
The story itself felt like a part wild goose chase, part errand quest, where at the end you feel "well, this happened, at least I got my XP and a pair of greenies". Not really epic. A side quest. With a lot of plot conveniences to delay the climax. But if you enjoy questing in WoW, it feels familiar in structure.
Finally, Turalyon seems to be a massive prick most of the time, and I admit this with sadness as an alliance paladin main. He's extremely stereotypical, rigid, judgemental, stuck up and all around unfun to be around. Meanwhile Alleria is going emo even though her struggles with void whispers and temptations seem to be downplayed and not sufficiently visceral. I felt sorry for Arator waiting for ages to see his parents back and then they behave like self-centered youth, not like a thousand years old veterans. Well, except the moments when Turalyon behaves like a boomer criticizing Arator making friends because of his prejudices. C'mon, man, you weren't there, let the kid have friends, especially when they're politically beneficial?
Recommended for: Warcraft fans who like to spend more time with the specific characters, or enjoy soaking every bit of lore, or want to experience going on a WoW quest in a book form.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Worlds for the ARC.
From the perspective of a Warcraft fan, the story reads nostalgic, like playing one of the WoW questlines and sometimes stopping to "stand around and listen" what the characters have to say in their bonus banters. The story focuses on meeting as many old favorites as possible: except the main trio of Arator, Alleria and Turalyon, we meet the leaders of the Silver Hand, the leaders of Blood Elves and Nightborne, the prominent demon hunters, the warlocks, and several other characters a long term player will recognize. Similarly, we visit many iconic locations from Suramar to Outlands, including Light's Hope Chapel, Silvermoon, Fel Hammer, Auchindoun, etc. It's all easter egg galore for people familiar with the characters and places.
However, one of the biggest annoyances to me was the amount of recapping and overexplaining the backstory, lore and who's who. For a reader who somehow is unfamiliar with the franchise, they'll be still confused because there are just too many characters to keep track of. For the intended reader, familiar with the cast, it's extremely unnecessary and nearly patronizing.
The prose itself feels very basic and workmanlike, which is common for IP tie-ins, but still I wished it was flowing better.
The story itself felt like a part wild goose chase, part errand quest, where at the end you feel "well, this happened, at least I got my XP and a pair of greenies". Not really epic. A side quest. With a lot of plot conveniences to delay the climax. But if you enjoy questing in WoW, it feels familiar in structure.
Finally, Turalyon seems to be a massive prick most of the time, and I admit this with sadness as an alliance paladin main. He's extremely stereotypical, rigid, judgemental, stuck up and all around unfun to be around. Meanwhile Alleria is going emo even though her struggles with void whispers and temptations seem to be downplayed and not sufficiently visceral. I felt sorry for Arator waiting for ages to see his parents back and then they behave like self-centered youth, not like a thousand years old veterans. Well, except the moments when Turalyon behaves like a boomer criticizing Arator making friends because of his prejudices. C'mon, man, you weren't there, let the kid have friends, especially when they're politically beneficial?
Recommended for: Warcraft fans who like to spend more time with the specific characters, or enjoy soaking every bit of lore, or want to experience going on a WoW quest in a book form.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Worlds for the ARC.
December 19, 2025
I am biased since this whole book follows my favorite characters and I even when it's really cheesy I loved every second of it. BUT I have to admit that it fails at being a Midnight prequel, it's pretty much all about the Legion and associated characters who won't matter at all next expansion.
December 18, 2025
Annoying characterization of some otherwise good characters. Story felt drawn out and felt like it had some bullet points it needed to hit. A bit of a boring read, but some fun WoW lore here and there.
November 30, 2025
Arator has always been an interesting character and I'm happy he's getting some spotlight. I think Midnight is gonna be a great expansion from what I've played on the beta so far. 😁
October 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds and Inklore for providing me with an ARC copy to review prior to the novel's general release. All thoughts below are my own. #BloodTiesWorldofWarcraftMidnight #NetGalley
This was a 2.75 star read for me and I am unfortunately a bit underwhelmed, since I believe Christie Golden to be one of the stronger authors working in the World of Warcraft Universe. Setting aside several grammar errors I encountered, as well as very obvious and frequent repetition of certain words/phrases, which I assume will be fixed by the time the novel hits the shelves, my qualms are not as much with the story as with the character development.
Story-wise the first 210 pages are quite strong - the plot flows fluidly, the pacing is fast, the writing style is pleasant and easy to read. There are some impressively written action sequences that will surely make fans of the world feel like they are in the game smiting and sending volleys of arrows against evil demons and demon lords. However, around the 200-page mark we approach a major event in the novel - which really grinds events to a halt. The book completely shifts gears tonally and one wonders are they reading a fantasy romance for about 30 pages or so, or are they in the world of Azeroth. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the scenes were necessarily poorly written, just that what was happening prior was not indicative of where the story would end up. This event takes up too much space in my opinion, to then be quickly discarded in an underwhelming and rushed finale - the "final epic battle" barely registered,
And here comes my biggest gripe with the novel - character development. Unfortunately, both in-game and on the page, WOW characters in the last few years are written quite juvenile, for usually being centuries-old battle-hardened warriors that have faced insurmountable losses and have been forced to make multiple difficult and life-altering decisions. The language the characters use is too modern at times, which also applies to their interactions and "banter" - sometimes the jokes are a bit much. The main heroes are quite tropey and slightly one-note - Arator being the son that seeks validation from his parents he never had a chance to bond with, possessing progressive views, a sense of humor to hide his feelings, a rebellious streak, always good and pure in his intentions; Turalyon - the stern father that always goes by the rules and strongly dislikes his son's questionable friendships and rule-breaking behaviors; Alleria - ice-cold, calculated and strategic, aiming to protect her loved ones mostly by running away from them (which gets quite exhausting at a certain point). Usually when we read a novel we see characters progress and change - for better or worse. Here, where we find them in the beginning is exactly where we leave them in the end. This book is to a large extent an examination on Alleria and Turalyon's relationship, as well as the one they share with their son. Arator has been raised by Alleria's sister, and this quest is a long overdue family reunion, a chance for him to get to know his parents. This was an incredibly anticlimactic ending and leads one to the question what is the purpose of the novel, if not to advance character relations and develop the plot.
Overall, if we ignore the underwhelming character relations, Blood Ties is a mostly fast-paced, action-packed novel with a cast of memorable and likeable side characters, as well as some fan-favorite cameos. The novel takes us on a beautiful journey around the epic world of Azeroth, and I cannot wait to find out how it will tie to the latest expansion's main plot line.
This was a 2.75 star read for me and I am unfortunately a bit underwhelmed, since I believe Christie Golden to be one of the stronger authors working in the World of Warcraft Universe. Setting aside several grammar errors I encountered, as well as very obvious and frequent repetition of certain words/phrases, which I assume will be fixed by the time the novel hits the shelves, my qualms are not as much with the story as with the character development.
Story-wise the first 210 pages are quite strong - the plot flows fluidly, the pacing is fast, the writing style is pleasant and easy to read. There are some impressively written action sequences that will surely make fans of the world feel like they are in the game smiting and sending volleys of arrows against evil demons and demon lords. However, around the 200-page mark we approach a major event in the novel - which really grinds events to a halt. The book completely shifts gears tonally and one wonders are they reading a fantasy romance for about 30 pages or so, or are they in the world of Azeroth. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the scenes were necessarily poorly written, just that what was happening prior was not indicative of where the story would end up. This event takes up too much space in my opinion, to then be quickly discarded in an underwhelming and rushed finale - the "final epic battle" barely registered,
And here comes my biggest gripe with the novel - character development. Unfortunately, both in-game and on the page, WOW characters in the last few years are written quite juvenile, for usually being centuries-old battle-hardened warriors that have faced insurmountable losses and have been forced to make multiple difficult and life-altering decisions. The language the characters use is too modern at times, which also applies to their interactions and "banter" - sometimes the jokes are a bit much. The main heroes are quite tropey and slightly one-note - Arator being the son that seeks validation from his parents he never had a chance to bond with, possessing progressive views, a sense of humor to hide his feelings, a rebellious streak, always good and pure in his intentions; Turalyon - the stern father that always goes by the rules and strongly dislikes his son's questionable friendships and rule-breaking behaviors; Alleria - ice-cold, calculated and strategic, aiming to protect her loved ones mostly by running away from them (which gets quite exhausting at a certain point). Usually when we read a novel we see characters progress and change - for better or worse. Here, where we find them in the beginning is exactly where we leave them in the end. This book is to a large extent an examination on Alleria and Turalyon's relationship, as well as the one they share with their son. Arator has been raised by Alleria's sister, and this quest is a long overdue family reunion, a chance for him to get to know his parents. This was an incredibly anticlimactic ending and leads one to the question what is the purpose of the novel, if not to advance character relations and develop the plot.
Overall, if we ignore the underwhelming character relations, Blood Ties is a mostly fast-paced, action-packed novel with a cast of memorable and likeable side characters, as well as some fan-favorite cameos. The novel takes us on a beautiful journey around the epic world of Azeroth, and I cannot wait to find out how it will tie to the latest expansion's main plot line.
October 2, 2025
As a long-time World of Warcraft player and a self-proclaimed lore buff, Christie Golden's Blood Ties was a real treat. The chance to dive deeper into the past and the relationship of Alleria, Turalyon, and their son Arator was fantastic.
I was highly engaged by the smooth flow and compelling pacing of the story, making it an overall great read that just felt right. Golden delivers some terrific, unexpected twists that I genuinely enjoyed. However, the book wasn't flawless. The extensive focus on the wedding preparations dragged on for me, and I felt the climax was a bit rushed and unsatisfying.
Despite those minor issues, if you're a WoW fan who loves the lore. especially if you main a Paladin like me, I highly recommend Blood Ties. There's plenty of satisfying action to sink your teeth into.
I was highly engaged by the smooth flow and compelling pacing of the story, making it an overall great read that just felt right. Golden delivers some terrific, unexpected twists that I genuinely enjoyed. However, the book wasn't flawless. The extensive focus on the wedding preparations dragged on for me, and I felt the climax was a bit rushed and unsatisfying.
Despite those minor issues, if you're a WoW fan who loves the lore. especially if you main a Paladin like me, I highly recommend Blood Ties. There's plenty of satisfying action to sink your teeth into.
December 17, 2025
S/O and TY to Netgalley and the publisher Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the eARC of this title.
I haven’t played World of Warcraft before but I have played the original warcraft games for PC. I really enjoyed the lore in those earlier games and I got a sense of nostalgia for those times while reading this. It’s a familiar enough of story of good hunters vs evil demons but still a very fun read. I’m intrigued by a lot of the other adventures that are mentioned during character descriptions and will probably go back and read some of the early entries of this series to see how we got here. It wasn’t until I read other reviews that this is also a prequel for a new expansion of the video game. I won’t start playing that but if there are more novels released I’d definitely read them in the future.
I’d recommend this title to readers who enjoy paladins, complicated video game lore, and bio family adventures.
3.5/5 stars.
I haven’t played World of Warcraft before but I have played the original warcraft games for PC. I really enjoyed the lore in those earlier games and I got a sense of nostalgia for those times while reading this. It’s a familiar enough of story of good hunters vs evil demons but still a very fun read. I’m intrigued by a lot of the other adventures that are mentioned during character descriptions and will probably go back and read some of the early entries of this series to see how we got here. It wasn’t until I read other reviews that this is also a prequel for a new expansion of the video game. I won’t start playing that but if there are more novels released I’d definitely read them in the future.
I’d recommend this title to readers who enjoy paladins, complicated video game lore, and bio family adventures.
3.5/5 stars.
November 22, 2025
Blood Ties was a pretty enjoyable read for this World of Warcraft player. I liked seeing Turalyon, Alleria and Arator in a new light (pun intended) and how they are all trying to make up for the lost time defending worlds has taken on them. And as always, it’s just a fun time being in Azeroth, in whatever format that may be.
I flew through the majority of the book, interested in how or why the Legion may be returning once more, especially with the next expansion aimed in a much different direction. It was fun seeing quite a few different locations in the world, and several important characters pop up. I really did find myself interested in the backstory of Alleria and Turalyon, and I grew to like Arator much more through this book than I had in the years of the game. The battles were well written, small attention to details were taken, and the love of Azeroth Christie Golden has is evident on the page.
That being said, the last third of the book seemed to slow the pace while at the same time rushing the main conflict. I was prepared for a tidy conclusion with a sweet ending before I saw I had a bit left to go, making me realize things weren’t actually concluding. So much of what Alleria and Turalyon say to each other seems repetitive, especially with their last interaction. The combination of where things are left with our main characters as well as the antagonist just sort of feels hollow and a bit of a letdown. Both plots seemed to be heading somewhere epic but just kind of fizzled out. I know it’s a tie-in for an expansion, and that it provides backstory and setup at the same time, but I wish there was a bit more of a final resolution within the book.
Overall, I had a good time. Great for World of Warcraft fans that love the lore.
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for my ARC in exchange for my review.
I flew through the majority of the book, interested in how or why the Legion may be returning once more, especially with the next expansion aimed in a much different direction. It was fun seeing quite a few different locations in the world, and several important characters pop up. I really did find myself interested in the backstory of Alleria and Turalyon, and I grew to like Arator much more through this book than I had in the years of the game. The battles were well written, small attention to details were taken, and the love of Azeroth Christie Golden has is evident on the page.
That being said, the last third of the book seemed to slow the pace while at the same time rushing the main conflict. I was prepared for a tidy conclusion with a sweet ending before I saw I had a bit left to go, making me realize things weren’t actually concluding. So much of what Alleria and Turalyon say to each other seems repetitive, especially with their last interaction. The combination of where things are left with our main characters as well as the antagonist just sort of feels hollow and a bit of a letdown. Both plots seemed to be heading somewhere epic but just kind of fizzled out. I know it’s a tie-in for an expansion, and that it provides backstory and setup at the same time, but I wish there was a bit more of a final resolution within the book.
Overall, I had a good time. Great for World of Warcraft fans that love the lore.
Thank you to NetGalley, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for my ARC in exchange for my review.
December 21, 2025
wow books are soooo hit or miss but think this might be my favourite one? actually surprisingly slapped
November 25, 2025
The Christie Golden WoW novels are by far my favorite due to the writing style and flow, so I was looking forward to reading another lore tie-in by Golden. She didn't disappoint! Lore has kept me engaged in WoW for so long, and the Windrunners have always been my favorite to read about (other than Anduin Wrynn, of course). I was excited to see more of Arator and read more about his story. The way the relationship between Turalyon and Alleria was described felt so real, too, especially based on their emotional characteristics to begin with. Reading more about their specific relationship was rewarding; however, the whole wedding thing, with all its details, did drag a bit. All in all, another excellent novel that I will definitely re-read at some point, as I do with Sylvanas on the regular.
November 15, 2025
I love lore in video games, but I've never played the game, so I honestly didn't know what to expect. However, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would!
I adore the main family in Blood Ties. Their dynamics are incredibly relatable filled with hilarious little quips. The plot was fast-paced and I loved watching them work together and interact further after some time apart!
Unexpectedly, there was romance and my avid romantasy self was here for it! I liked how well the romantic elements were integrated into the backdrop of Azeroth.
This was my first journey into the WoW lore but it definitely won't be my last. Time to add more WoW books to my TBR... and maybe download the game as well...
Thank you so much Del Rey for this ARC! I don't know how it worked that my first WoW would have fun romantasy elements in it, but it knew their audience.
I adore the main family in Blood Ties. Their dynamics are incredibly relatable filled with hilarious little quips. The plot was fast-paced and I loved watching them work together and interact further after some time apart!
Unexpectedly, there was romance and my avid romantasy self was here for it! I liked how well the romantic elements were integrated into the backdrop of Azeroth.
This was my first journey into the WoW lore but it definitely won't be my last. Time to add more WoW books to my TBR... and maybe download the game as well...
Thank you so much Del Rey for this ARC! I don't know how it worked that my first WoW would have fun romantasy elements in it, but it knew their audience.
November 21, 2025
Love Arator
Arator was really a lot of fun to read about. I wish more of this was in game. I hate that we never get to experience a wedding. Loved all the folks we got to meet in this book as well. This was a fun read.
Arator was really a lot of fun to read about. I wish more of this was in game. I hate that we never get to experience a wedding. Loved all the folks we got to meet in this book as well. This was a fun read.
October 19, 2025
Blood Ties (World of Warcraft: Midnight) by Christie Golden
3.65 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮 orbs
Pub. Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore
Light’s Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands….
💡 Orbs Prologue: The sun shines on the single blade as it is placed upon both my shoulders. “From now on, ye shall be known as Orb the Reviewer!” A resounding round of applause comes from the Knights of the Silverhand. Without hesitation, the magic of the moment dissipates into disorganized chaos. On command, a shimmering fel portal appears, and with it steps through a small army of horned demons thirsting for blood. In my right hand, I pluck my book to the skies, and in utterance, I cast the spell of consecration to slow my enemies. A luminescence casts forth from my fingertips, bathing those around in a blinding glow. I call out for Arator, our hero, for some needed healing of the victims of this invasion. Arator, standing proud, a son of both light and dark, steps forward… For this is his story to tell.
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: Legends among Azeroth, Alleria Windrunner, and High Exarch Turalyon have raised a son. However, this would be far too simplistic. War has torn their family apart, and with it, Arator has been under the tutelage of extended family while his mother and father have been engaged in stopping the forces of evil. What has become of their offspring? Under the weight of lofty expectations, Arator lives to belong, to call a place his true home, and in this search, he may find out more than he ever realized about his parents. Written by Christie Golden, the novel examines the intriguing lore of what happens when Alleria, Turalyon, and Arator are thrust into a most unforeseeable mission, finding who is responsible for starting up the invasions yet again. This is the tale of how the family must come to grips with who they are in the world of Azaroth, and though they love one another unconditionally, the deep-rooted issues remain unscathed, no matter how much they wish it were different. No, in this story, dear reader, a demon named Sarothar dwells in Felsoul Hold, and the fate of Suramar hangs in the balance. The threat is back. Can opposing factions unite as one and rebuke this powerful entity, with one remaining goal: Azeroth’s destruction?
👍 Orbs Pros: Shockingly, Orb plays World of Warcraft. That said, I have not delved into the lore too much. What better opportunity to jump into some of the exciting backstory of heroic lineage than this? This is plainly written in an extremely accessible package. Christie Golden’s prose has a certain soothing, comforting nature about it. In a world full of chaos, this novel searches for answers within the complexity of what it means to love. On the surface, this is a war story. While that certainly remains true, the true tale looks at the heartache and determination of a family looking to survive against insurmountable odds. Our heroic son, proving his worth amidst a father’s overbearing nature and a mother who flees complex situations to find the comfort and familiarity of working on her own. This unexpected complexity provided an emotional reading journey.
👎 Orbs Cons: There is a particular event in the story that was somewhat puzzling, and for the sake of not spoiling anything, I will just say I plainly couldn’t understand the importance. From a character standpoint, some of the actions of Turalyon and Alleria were tough to swallow and, as such, made them both more unlikable. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly at what juncture, but the story waned somewhat for me. Perhaps I wished the focal point was even more heavily focused on Arator, who I found fascinating.
Recommended! While I do have my issues with the actual story, the execution was commendable. The reading of these books can only enhance your experience in Azeroth, and as such, I do recommend those who love the game to learn more about the lore via novels or other means.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Searing light pierces the sky as legion forces are repelled. Arator, firmly by my side, unsheathes his one-handed mace. An unearthly fire engulfs the weapon, which he throws expertly at the nearest demonic combatant. Through the middling confusion, the tide has swung into our favor. I hold my hand steadily to the sky as I bring forth judgment upon my enemies. Slashing brilliance of rays expels souls, one by one. Arator begs us to push forward and judge those from the recesses of the dark. An eerie quietness stills the air. Ravaged from this failed siege, the bodies of the immortal beings lay about the hill. Their deaths signal another warning for us on Azeroth. Our complacency is our worst enemy; we must remain vigilant, for we know this is only another dire chapter in this ever-growing saga that is the World of Warcraft! For the Alliance!
Many thanks to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
3.65 rounded up to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮 orbs
Pub. Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore
Light’s Chapel, Eastern Plaguelands….
💡 Orbs Prologue: The sun shines on the single blade as it is placed upon both my shoulders. “From now on, ye shall be known as Orb the Reviewer!” A resounding round of applause comes from the Knights of the Silverhand. Without hesitation, the magic of the moment dissipates into disorganized chaos. On command, a shimmering fel portal appears, and with it steps through a small army of horned demons thirsting for blood. In my right hand, I pluck my book to the skies, and in utterance, I cast the spell of consecration to slow my enemies. A luminescence casts forth from my fingertips, bathing those around in a blinding glow. I call out for Arator, our hero, for some needed healing of the victims of this invasion. Arator, standing proud, a son of both light and dark, steps forward… For this is his story to tell.
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: Legends among Azeroth, Alleria Windrunner, and High Exarch Turalyon have raised a son. However, this would be far too simplistic. War has torn their family apart, and with it, Arator has been under the tutelage of extended family while his mother and father have been engaged in stopping the forces of evil. What has become of their offspring? Under the weight of lofty expectations, Arator lives to belong, to call a place his true home, and in this search, he may find out more than he ever realized about his parents. Written by Christie Golden, the novel examines the intriguing lore of what happens when Alleria, Turalyon, and Arator are thrust into a most unforeseeable mission, finding who is responsible for starting up the invasions yet again. This is the tale of how the family must come to grips with who they are in the world of Azaroth, and though they love one another unconditionally, the deep-rooted issues remain unscathed, no matter how much they wish it were different. No, in this story, dear reader, a demon named Sarothar dwells in Felsoul Hold, and the fate of Suramar hangs in the balance. The threat is back. Can opposing factions unite as one and rebuke this powerful entity, with one remaining goal: Azeroth’s destruction?
👍 Orbs Pros: Shockingly, Orb plays World of Warcraft. That said, I have not delved into the lore too much. What better opportunity to jump into some of the exciting backstory of heroic lineage than this? This is plainly written in an extremely accessible package. Christie Golden’s prose has a certain soothing, comforting nature about it. In a world full of chaos, this novel searches for answers within the complexity of what it means to love. On the surface, this is a war story. While that certainly remains true, the true tale looks at the heartache and determination of a family looking to survive against insurmountable odds. Our heroic son, proving his worth amidst a father’s overbearing nature and a mother who flees complex situations to find the comfort and familiarity of working on her own. This unexpected complexity provided an emotional reading journey.
👎 Orbs Cons: There is a particular event in the story that was somewhat puzzling, and for the sake of not spoiling anything, I will just say I plainly couldn’t understand the importance. From a character standpoint, some of the actions of Turalyon and Alleria were tough to swallow and, as such, made them both more unlikable. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly at what juncture, but the story waned somewhat for me. Perhaps I wished the focal point was even more heavily focused on Arator, who I found fascinating.
Recommended! While I do have my issues with the actual story, the execution was commendable. The reading of these books can only enhance your experience in Azeroth, and as such, I do recommend those who love the game to learn more about the lore via novels or other means.
💡 Orbs Epilogue: Searing light pierces the sky as legion forces are repelled. Arator, firmly by my side, unsheathes his one-handed mace. An unearthly fire engulfs the weapon, which he throws expertly at the nearest demonic combatant. Through the middling confusion, the tide has swung into our favor. I hold my hand steadily to the sky as I bring forth judgment upon my enemies. Slashing brilliance of rays expels souls, one by one. Arator begs us to push forward and judge those from the recesses of the dark. An eerie quietness stills the air. Ravaged from this failed siege, the bodies of the immortal beings lay about the hill. Their deaths signal another warning for us on Azeroth. Our complacency is our worst enemy; we must remain vigilant, for we know this is only another dire chapter in this ever-growing saga that is the World of Warcraft! For the Alliance!
Many thanks to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
November 14, 2025
🗡️✨🧙♂️🏹𝕭𝖔𝖔𝖐 𝕽𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜🏹🧙♂️✨🗡️
The new WoW (World of Warcraft) expansion is still months away, so it was a treat to read Blood Ties by Christie Golden while I wait. Not only is it a chance to learn some of the lore leading up to the events which are coming in World of Warcraft: Midnight, Blood Ties is an entertaining fantasy adventure (and a little bit horror) in its own right.
Blood Ties follows Arator, the son of two heroes, Alleria Windrunner and Turalyon (though he was raised by Alleria’s sister as his parents were lost in the Void for a thousand years - yeah, that’s as bad as it sounds) as he works to distinguish himself and make his own name as a hero.
By chance, an opportunity arises to investigate a potential new demonic threat in Felsoul Hold, a former demon stronghold while his parents are in Suramar - the city closest to the hold, so the three of them set out together.
When they find signs that a soul engine - a terrible machine that converts living souls into demonic fel energy - is active, the three of them strike out to eliminate the demons, the trail leading them to Outland - the location of the Void that had taken Arator’s parents away from him for so long.
As its name would indicate, Blood Ties isn’t just an adventure story, it’s also a story about family, about the centuries long relationship between two soldiers and about them reconnecting with each other and with their son that had been left behind.
Blood Ties is the perfect action adventure horror romance to read while waiting for WoW: Midnight to drop or if you’ve never played the game. Christie Golden does a masterful job describing enough of the world and characters for those unfamiliar with the game but not so much that fans will get bored.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for the advance copy for my unbiased review.
The new WoW (World of Warcraft) expansion is still months away, so it was a treat to read Blood Ties by Christie Golden while I wait. Not only is it a chance to learn some of the lore leading up to the events which are coming in World of Warcraft: Midnight, Blood Ties is an entertaining fantasy adventure (and a little bit horror) in its own right.
Blood Ties follows Arator, the son of two heroes, Alleria Windrunner and Turalyon (though he was raised by Alleria’s sister as his parents were lost in the Void for a thousand years - yeah, that’s as bad as it sounds) as he works to distinguish himself and make his own name as a hero.
By chance, an opportunity arises to investigate a potential new demonic threat in Felsoul Hold, a former demon stronghold while his parents are in Suramar - the city closest to the hold, so the three of them set out together.
When they find signs that a soul engine - a terrible machine that converts living souls into demonic fel energy - is active, the three of them strike out to eliminate the demons, the trail leading them to Outland - the location of the Void that had taken Arator’s parents away from him for so long.
As its name would indicate, Blood Ties isn’t just an adventure story, it’s also a story about family, about the centuries long relationship between two soldiers and about them reconnecting with each other and with their son that had been left behind.
Blood Ties is the perfect action adventure horror romance to read while waiting for WoW: Midnight to drop or if you’ve never played the game. Christie Golden does a masterful job describing enough of the world and characters for those unfamiliar with the game but not so much that fans will get bored.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for the advance copy for my unbiased review.
December 24, 2025
"Blood Ties: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work"
WoW books are always going to have an element of corniness to them, but this was truly an enjoyable read. Golden's warm writing style, as well as her understanding of the characters and their relationship facilitates a deep dive into the dynamics of this family. By also bringing in places, characters, and threats the game has moved on from, Golden keeps Azeroth alive: the Burning Legion is not gone, they continue to plot; each city, race, and class continues to face their own threats. And as WoW evolves, Arator is a great character to bridge the divides in an empathetic and fun way (I may have laughed out loud at "blessing...things.")
This book felt like questing: lots of interesting stories and relationships and some fun little lore drops.
WoW books are always going to have an element of corniness to them, but this was truly an enjoyable read. Golden's warm writing style, as well as her understanding of the characters and their relationship facilitates a deep dive into the dynamics of this family. By also bringing in places, characters, and threats the game has moved on from, Golden keeps Azeroth alive: the Burning Legion is not gone, they continue to plot; each city, race, and class continues to face their own threats. And as WoW evolves, Arator is a great character to bridge the divides in an empathetic and fun way (I may have laughed out loud at "blessing...things.")
This book felt like questing: lots of interesting stories and relationships and some fun little lore drops.
December 24, 2025
cmon alleria smfh
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