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Warcraft: Movie Novelization #0
Warcraft: Durotan: The Official Movie Prequel
In the world of Draenor, the strong and fiercely independent Frostwolf Clan are faced with increasingly harsh winters and thinning herds. When Gul’dan, a mysterious outsider, arrives in Frostfire Ridge offering word of new hunting lands, Durotan, the Clan’s chieftain, must make an impossible abandon the territory, pride and traditions of his people, or lead them into the unknown.An original tale of survival, conflict and magic that leads directly into the events of Warcraft, an epic adventure from Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures, based on Blizzard Entertainment’s global phenomenon.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2016
111 people are currently reading
1298 people want to read
About the author
Christie Golden
173 books1,884 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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May 16, 2016
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2016/05/16/...
Warcraft: Durotan is the official prequel novel to the Warcraft movie, set to hit theaters later this summer. As a fan of the game franchise, I almost feel like I have an obligation to go out and see this film, though whether or not it’ll actually be good remains to be seen. Call me cynical, but I’ve been burned way too many times by underwhelming movie adaptations, and so while part of me is excited to finally see one of my favorite games come to life on the big screen, I will also remain cautiously optimistic for now.
Still, I picked up this book because I knew I would want the background story. A lot of people don’t realize that Warcraft is more than just a game series—it’s also an immense, indescribably huge body of lore. Its world encompasses a countless number of locations and characters, and its history stretches back thousands upon thousands of years. And as much as I enjoy playing the games, in some ways I enjoy hearing about the stories even more. I love the epic tales of legendary heroes, reading about their great deeds and how they made their mark on the world of Warcraft and its history.
The Frostwolf orc clan chieftain Durotan is one of these legendary figures. The eponymous main character of this novel will also be one of the key players in the upcoming film, and this is the story of how he led his people out of the dying lands of Draenor to find their home in a new world.
When the book begins, Draenor is already on the brink of destruction. With the spirits of the elements weakened, winters are becoming increasingly harsher and the dwindling herds mean that the orcs will soon have to abandon their territory or face death by exposure and starvation. However, when a mysterious warlock named Gul’dan arrives with an offer to save them, the Frostwolf Clan decides to turn him away, preferring to maintain their independence. No stranger to tough times, Durotan believes it would be better to take their chances on their own rather than join the outsider’s “Horde”, especially since he does not trust the warlock. But while the Frostwolf may be one of the last clans to hold out, things in Draenor are going from bad to worse, and soon they too will have to make a decision on how to move forward, or risk dying with their homeland.
Believe it or not, finishing this book actually made me feel more confident about the movie. The events portrayed here offer us a solid foundation and a promise of some fantastic things to come. But then again, it’s Christie Golden. She’s written some of my favorite Warcraft and Star Wars novels of all time, and I knew even before going into this novel that it was going to be great. I’m beyond excited that this was everything I expected, especially since Durotan’s story was one that I’ve always wanted to get to know better.
I’m also pleased that this novel was entirely about the orcs. I say this even as a diehard Ally, as I honestly believe not enough attention is being given to the races of the Horde when it comes to media tie-ins, plus fantasy in general can be so human-centric. It’s easy to get caught up in the faction pride sometimes, reducing the “other guys” to nothing more but enemies to kill, but the truth is, orcs are a complex race with values deeply rooted in their society and culture. We get to see many examples of this in Warcraft: Durotan, as our protagonist realizes that being a leader is about more than just his strength and pride. Wisdom is just as important, as is compassion—even for your enemies. Durotan often finds himself torn between his honor and what he knows is best for his people, but knowing when to listen and when you have to sacrifice for the greater good are just some of the lessons he learns first as the Frostwolf’s chieftain, and then as a husband and a father-to-be. This book is simply filled to the brim with feels.
Kudos also goes to Toby Longworth for doing a superb job narrating the audio version. He has a very strong voice, great for reading fantasy novels and perfect for capturing the personalities of larger-than-life characters like Durotan. In addition, this audiobook was very easy to get into; at seven-and-a-half hours in length, I finished this one in good time, probably within two or three listening sessions. Finally, the audiobook ends with an audio excerpt of the “sequel”, which is the novelization of the movie itself, also written by Christie Golden.
If you plan on seeing Warcraft, I highly recommend picking up Warcraft: Durotan first, because it shows a larger picture and puts some of the movie’s events in context. Lore hounds will also love this book, especially if you want deeper insight into those who had a hand in shaping the face of Azeroth. All told, this is a wonderful, fascinating look into the life of Durotan, who is the loving mate of Draka, a contemporary of Orgrim Doomhammer, and the future father of one of Warcraft’s most prominent characters.
Warcraft: Durotan is the official prequel novel to the Warcraft movie, set to hit theaters later this summer. As a fan of the game franchise, I almost feel like I have an obligation to go out and see this film, though whether or not it’ll actually be good remains to be seen. Call me cynical, but I’ve been burned way too many times by underwhelming movie adaptations, and so while part of me is excited to finally see one of my favorite games come to life on the big screen, I will also remain cautiously optimistic for now.
Still, I picked up this book because I knew I would want the background story. A lot of people don’t realize that Warcraft is more than just a game series—it’s also an immense, indescribably huge body of lore. Its world encompasses a countless number of locations and characters, and its history stretches back thousands upon thousands of years. And as much as I enjoy playing the games, in some ways I enjoy hearing about the stories even more. I love the epic tales of legendary heroes, reading about their great deeds and how they made their mark on the world of Warcraft and its history.
The Frostwolf orc clan chieftain Durotan is one of these legendary figures. The eponymous main character of this novel will also be one of the key players in the upcoming film, and this is the story of how he led his people out of the dying lands of Draenor to find their home in a new world.
When the book begins, Draenor is already on the brink of destruction. With the spirits of the elements weakened, winters are becoming increasingly harsher and the dwindling herds mean that the orcs will soon have to abandon their territory or face death by exposure and starvation. However, when a mysterious warlock named Gul’dan arrives with an offer to save them, the Frostwolf Clan decides to turn him away, preferring to maintain their independence. No stranger to tough times, Durotan believes it would be better to take their chances on their own rather than join the outsider’s “Horde”, especially since he does not trust the warlock. But while the Frostwolf may be one of the last clans to hold out, things in Draenor are going from bad to worse, and soon they too will have to make a decision on how to move forward, or risk dying with their homeland.
Believe it or not, finishing this book actually made me feel more confident about the movie. The events portrayed here offer us a solid foundation and a promise of some fantastic things to come. But then again, it’s Christie Golden. She’s written some of my favorite Warcraft and Star Wars novels of all time, and I knew even before going into this novel that it was going to be great. I’m beyond excited that this was everything I expected, especially since Durotan’s story was one that I’ve always wanted to get to know better.
I’m also pleased that this novel was entirely about the orcs. I say this even as a diehard Ally, as I honestly believe not enough attention is being given to the races of the Horde when it comes to media tie-ins, plus fantasy in general can be so human-centric. It’s easy to get caught up in the faction pride sometimes, reducing the “other guys” to nothing more but enemies to kill, but the truth is, orcs are a complex race with values deeply rooted in their society and culture. We get to see many examples of this in Warcraft: Durotan, as our protagonist realizes that being a leader is about more than just his strength and pride. Wisdom is just as important, as is compassion—even for your enemies. Durotan often finds himself torn between his honor and what he knows is best for his people, but knowing when to listen and when you have to sacrifice for the greater good are just some of the lessons he learns first as the Frostwolf’s chieftain, and then as a husband and a father-to-be. This book is simply filled to the brim with feels.
Kudos also goes to Toby Longworth for doing a superb job narrating the audio version. He has a very strong voice, great for reading fantasy novels and perfect for capturing the personalities of larger-than-life characters like Durotan. In addition, this audiobook was very easy to get into; at seven-and-a-half hours in length, I finished this one in good time, probably within two or three listening sessions. Finally, the audiobook ends with an audio excerpt of the “sequel”, which is the novelization of the movie itself, also written by Christie Golden.
If you plan on seeing Warcraft, I highly recommend picking up Warcraft: Durotan first, because it shows a larger picture and puts some of the movie’s events in context. Lore hounds will also love this book, especially if you want deeper insight into those who had a hand in shaping the face of Azeroth. All told, this is a wonderful, fascinating look into the life of Durotan, who is the loving mate of Draka, a contemporary of Orgrim Doomhammer, and the future father of one of Warcraft’s most prominent characters.
June 28, 2018
I'm going to say something here that even my wife knows and understands. I love Christie Golden! I love the way she tells me stories and keeps me glued to the book.
She writes such awesome stories, placed in many different universes - Star Wars, Warcraft, Starcraft, Star Trek... and every time she does, her knowledge about them is more than enough to tell a great story. Even to the most hardcore of fans.
This has to be my 7th or 8th book written by Christie. I loved each and every one of them.
Her writing style reminds me of Timothy Zahn, another author who seriously changed my view of the Star Wars universe. Yes, here comes the obligatory "Screw you, Disney shot-callers for destroying a beautiful franchise! I hope you all end up in your own private hells."
So, Warcraft universe this time. I couldn't wait to start.
After finishing the official movie novelization (A book written after the movie, based on the script) I was pleasantly surprised to see there's a prequel ready. Being a prequel to the first book, this one ended up with a number 0. Yeah, I know. I just read the 0th book in the series ;-)
We've seen what orcs can do when fighting for the survival of their race. All united in the Gul'Dan's Horde, they looked like an unstoppable force. But we got only a glimpse of why.
You don't mess with the Horde ;-)
The prequel tells us. We learn more about Draenor, the ruined orc world, about their old ways and orcs themselves. Proud warriors, who value tradition and family above all, were split into numerous clans. Like humans, they frequently fought against other clans, but always with honor.
It was not until the arrival of the warlock Gul'Dan that orcs became united under a single leader, for the first time in their long history.
Draenor is dying. Spirits of Life, Earth, Air, Water and Fire commune with clan shamans less and less. The end is near, and the clan-less Gul'Dan offers salvation.
He shows just enough of his dark powers to sway clans, one by one, under his banner. What looked like the power of Life provided hope to many.
But not the Frostwolf clan. Durotan, son of Garad, the chieftain of the Frostwolf clan, has seen first-hand what terrible power fuels the warlock's magic. Yet, the world is inevitably coming to an end.
You might not want to mess with Gul'Dan either ;-)
Air is turning to poison, Water and Fire are becoming enemies, and Earth and Life cannot be trusted anymore. Draenor is turning on the orc clans. And Gul'Dan, however mad, is the only one with the plan.
With the help of his friend, Orgrim Doomhammer, Durotan searches for a way out. Can the father of Thrall, the future Warchief of the Horde, play Gul'Dan for long enough to save his clan?
The Dark Portal is opening. The First War against humans is at hand. Will the Horde stand united? Or will all the effort to save the orc race be in vain?
The forces of Azeroth, however ill-prepared for the full-blown orc invasion, will fight to the last man to protect their lands from survivors of the dying world.
Spoiler alert! Don't look at the vid-- too late :-)
As usual, Toby Longworth's narration was a music to my ears. Both he and Christie brought their A game here. I cannot recommend this enough for the fans of Warcraft universe.
A special, and a completely unrelated, note: There's a "DC comics in GraphicAudio" audio bundle sale happening on Humble Bundle right now. Grab it, even if only the lowest 5-books-for-1$ bundle. There are awesome audiobook bundles there, all for bargain prices. Active until 2018.07.12.
Warcraft: Durotan (Warcraft: Movie Novelization 0)
by Christie Golden, Toby Longworth (Narrator)
She writes such awesome stories, placed in many different universes - Star Wars, Warcraft, Starcraft, Star Trek... and every time she does, her knowledge about them is more than enough to tell a great story. Even to the most hardcore of fans.
This has to be my 7th or 8th book written by Christie. I loved each and every one of them.
Her writing style reminds me of Timothy Zahn, another author who seriously changed my view of the Star Wars universe. Yes, here comes the obligatory "Screw you, Disney shot-callers for destroying a beautiful franchise! I hope you all end up in your own private hells."
So, Warcraft universe this time. I couldn't wait to start.
After finishing the official movie novelization (A book written after the movie, based on the script) I was pleasantly surprised to see there's a prequel ready. Being a prequel to the first book, this one ended up with a number 0. Yeah, I know. I just read the 0th book in the series ;-)
We've seen what orcs can do when fighting for the survival of their race. All united in the Gul'Dan's Horde, they looked like an unstoppable force. But we got only a glimpse of why.
You don't mess with the Horde ;-)
The prequel tells us. We learn more about Draenor, the ruined orc world, about their old ways and orcs themselves. Proud warriors, who value tradition and family above all, were split into numerous clans. Like humans, they frequently fought against other clans, but always with honor.
It was not until the arrival of the warlock Gul'Dan that orcs became united under a single leader, for the first time in their long history.
Draenor is dying. Spirits of Life, Earth, Air, Water and Fire commune with clan shamans less and less. The end is near, and the clan-less Gul'Dan offers salvation.
He shows just enough of his dark powers to sway clans, one by one, under his banner. What looked like the power of Life provided hope to many.
But not the Frostwolf clan. Durotan, son of Garad, the chieftain of the Frostwolf clan, has seen first-hand what terrible power fuels the warlock's magic. Yet, the world is inevitably coming to an end.
You might not want to mess with Gul'Dan either ;-)
Air is turning to poison, Water and Fire are becoming enemies, and Earth and Life cannot be trusted anymore. Draenor is turning on the orc clans. And Gul'Dan, however mad, is the only one with the plan.
With the help of his friend, Orgrim Doomhammer, Durotan searches for a way out. Can the father of Thrall, the future Warchief of the Horde, play Gul'Dan for long enough to save his clan?
The Dark Portal is opening. The First War against humans is at hand. Will the Horde stand united? Or will all the effort to save the orc race be in vain?
The forces of Azeroth, however ill-prepared for the full-blown orc invasion, will fight to the last man to protect their lands from survivors of the dying world.
Spoiler alert! Don't look at the vid-- too late :-)
As usual, Toby Longworth's narration was a music to my ears. Both he and Christie brought their A game here. I cannot recommend this enough for the fans of Warcraft universe.
A special, and a completely unrelated, note: There's a "DC comics in GraphicAudio" audio bundle sale happening on Humble Bundle right now. Grab it, even if only the lowest 5-books-for-1$ bundle. There are awesome audiobook bundles there, all for bargain prices. Active until 2018.07.12.
Warcraft: Durotan (Warcraft: Movie Novelization 0)
by Christie Golden, Toby Longworth (Narrator)
Verdict A feast for the fans of Warcraft universe.
Runtime 07:29
Overall
Performance
Story
January 12, 2022
Oh Durotan. So honorable and noble (dreamy sigh). This is a precursor to the movie. It's the story of how the Horde came to be and why and how the Frostwolf clan joined the Horde. The characters are the ones we know and love. The story is sad, tragic and heart wrenching, especially if you know hwta happens after this. I listened to the audio book which is read by Toby Longworth. He did ok but know what would've been even better? get one of the voice actors from World of Warcraft to read this! Like they did for Shadows Rising . It's read by QUEEN TALANJI herself (Susan Wokoma)
June 22, 2016
The narrator was excellent and I always enjoy Golden's writing. There was a discrepancy in the story though. If you have read Rise of the Horde, there is a story of Durotan and his best friend Orgrim being saved by a draeni hunting party, but in this one it is implied that Durotan's first interaction with draeni is as an adult. That point wasn't crucial to the story, so my nerd girl sensibilities were a bit agitated about it. If you haven't read any of the Warcraft stories and are looking for a starting place this would be a good one to pick up if you don't want too much backstory on the world of Draenor. If you really want a detailed beginning I HIGHLY recommend picking up Rise of the Horde if you can find it, or the anthology, Chronicles of War which has it as the first book. It's what got me hooked on this fantastic series. Full review to come.
August 10, 2016
Review also published here
We all knew that changes would be inevitable for the upcoming Warcraft movie. The lore is convoluted in a lot of ways, and with the previous expansion to World of Warcraft, Warlords of Draenor, things got even more complicated for the early days of the orc tribes before their exodus to Azeroth. Adding time travel didn't help, either.
As a result, I'd recommend putting all you know aside for Warcraft: Durotan , prequel novel to the movie. Things have been changed and adjusted to make the material more approachable to a new audience, and while hardcore fans may groan about it at first, I believe it is a good thing overall. Let the movie franchise stand separate, and just nod in recognition when you encounter familiar elements or easter eggs. You'll be happier that way.
Durotan 's main concern is the Orc Chieftain the book is named after, and his Frostwolf Tribe. First presented as the heir to the clan's leadership, Durotan is soon forced to take on his father's role himself, and find ways to deal with the world's changing nature. As the hunts grow less successful and the elements themselves turn against the orcs, a warlock called Gul'dan appears to offer the Frostwolves a choice:
Join him and his Horde and leave the world of Draenor behind, or die alongside the doomed realm.
Gul'dan, however, is not to be trusted, so Garad and his son Durotan both refuse him, and decide to stay true to their own identities and brave the seasons.
As a result, the bulk of the story deals with the changing ways of the Frostwolves to cope with colder winters, scarce food supplies and the forces of nature unleashed, as well as rival orc clans that seemingly turned to cannibalistic attitudes to survive. Durotan has to come into his own as the legendary chieftain that he is destined to be. Maintaining his authority is challenging, as is keeping up the morale of his whole clan, as well as balancing the old traditions with new ideas needed for survival.
It really is a hero's journey to greatness, a character piece and showcase of what made the Horde leave Draenor for Azeroth. The prologue sets the tone for the novel, firmly rooting it around the Frostwolf Clan's respect for nature and the spirits. That theme is maintained throughout, which I loved. Experiencing shaman Drek'Thar commune with the elements, seeing Durotan find love, or feeling the deep friendship between orc and wolf, all of these parts I found enjoyable and satisfying.
Sure, it isn't the same story we already knew about the characters. The roles of many of them are very different from the games, but taken together, they are all working in their positions and felt well-balanced and properly used to make the journey of the Frostwolves an exciting and relatable one.
It is a classic tale of hardships to be overcome that can be enjoyed by anyone, I believe. No further knowledge is required to understand the struggles of Durotan, and the easy writing style helps making it even more accessible. Even if you have never even heard of Warcraft before, this book (and by extension the upcoming movie or its novelization) could be an ideal starting point.
It must have been difficult for Christie Golden, who has a few Horde-related books to her name already (Lord of the Clans especially), to set aside all her pre-existing knowledge and expectations for the characters to write this novel, but I am glad that she did. It is a success, in my eyes.
Unto the Dark Portal, and off to Azeroth, I say. I'll be looking forward to reading the Movie Novelization by the same author, and have to say that, for the first time, I am actually excited for the movie.
We all knew that changes would be inevitable for the upcoming Warcraft movie. The lore is convoluted in a lot of ways, and with the previous expansion to World of Warcraft, Warlords of Draenor, things got even more complicated for the early days of the orc tribes before their exodus to Azeroth. Adding time travel didn't help, either.
As a result, I'd recommend putting all you know aside for Warcraft: Durotan , prequel novel to the movie. Things have been changed and adjusted to make the material more approachable to a new audience, and while hardcore fans may groan about it at first, I believe it is a good thing overall. Let the movie franchise stand separate, and just nod in recognition when you encounter familiar elements or easter eggs. You'll be happier that way.
Durotan 's main concern is the Orc Chieftain the book is named after, and his Frostwolf Tribe. First presented as the heir to the clan's leadership, Durotan is soon forced to take on his father's role himself, and find ways to deal with the world's changing nature. As the hunts grow less successful and the elements themselves turn against the orcs, a warlock called Gul'dan appears to offer the Frostwolves a choice:
Join him and his Horde and leave the world of Draenor behind, or die alongside the doomed realm.
Gul'dan, however, is not to be trusted, so Garad and his son Durotan both refuse him, and decide to stay true to their own identities and brave the seasons.
As a result, the bulk of the story deals with the changing ways of the Frostwolves to cope with colder winters, scarce food supplies and the forces of nature unleashed, as well as rival orc clans that seemingly turned to cannibalistic attitudes to survive. Durotan has to come into his own as the legendary chieftain that he is destined to be. Maintaining his authority is challenging, as is keeping up the morale of his whole clan, as well as balancing the old traditions with new ideas needed for survival.
It really is a hero's journey to greatness, a character piece and showcase of what made the Horde leave Draenor for Azeroth. The prologue sets the tone for the novel, firmly rooting it around the Frostwolf Clan's respect for nature and the spirits. That theme is maintained throughout, which I loved. Experiencing shaman Drek'Thar commune with the elements, seeing Durotan find love, or feeling the deep friendship between orc and wolf, all of these parts I found enjoyable and satisfying.
Sure, it isn't the same story we already knew about the characters. The roles of many of them are very different from the games, but taken together, they are all working in their positions and felt well-balanced and properly used to make the journey of the Frostwolves an exciting and relatable one.
It is a classic tale of hardships to be overcome that can be enjoyed by anyone, I believe. No further knowledge is required to understand the struggles of Durotan, and the easy writing style helps making it even more accessible. Even if you have never even heard of Warcraft before, this book (and by extension the upcoming movie or its novelization) could be an ideal starting point.
It must have been difficult for Christie Golden, who has a few Horde-related books to her name already (Lord of the Clans especially), to set aside all her pre-existing knowledge and expectations for the characters to write this novel, but I am glad that she did. It is a success, in my eyes.
Unto the Dark Portal, and off to Azeroth, I say. I'll be looking forward to reading the Movie Novelization by the same author, and have to say that, for the first time, I am actually excited for the movie.
June 23, 2016
I wasn't expecting much from this story, but it wound up being an excellent addition to the lore! It tells the original history of the Frostwolf clan, but in doing so, it makes some of the things that you see in the Warlords of Draenor expansion of the game make sense. I was able to easily relate to the characters and their struggle for survival, and was even heartened to see the evidence of the coexistence between the Draenei and the Orcs of Draenor. My chief complaint is that some of the lore that I knew was only vaguely referred to or hinted at, and the book ends on a very abrupt note. All things considered, it was a great read, but one I wanted more out of.
September 27, 2018
A Surprisingly Good Tale, Even for Non- Gamers - or Perhaps Especially for Them
Aside from one multi-hour binge of the original, I have not played the Warcraft game. I've dabbled in Starcraft - again on a binge or two that showed me how addictive these games can be - but I am not well versed in the game.
And perhaps this is why Warcraft: Durotan by Christie Golden appealed to me.
It sounds kind of cheesy - a prequel novel to a movie based on a video game, but as these franchise things so often are - they brought in Christie Golden one of the best in the business to novelize it, and it is great.
I am reminded of these two disparate tales -
* Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom by A.C. Crispin
* A Shore Thing by Snooki and Valerie Frankel
The former, Disney got one of the best in the business to make the origin of their big franchise, the latter, Snooki and co. got Valerie Frankel, a chick lit auteur superstar - and yes, A Shore Thing is both hilarious and a page turner.
In any case, it is great - because Golden finds a way to make orcs robust characters
One of the criticisms of J.R.R. Tolkien is that he separated the world into good and evil, with nothing in the middle. His orcs were firmly on the side of evil, with no ambiguity.
Warcraft the video game may split the world into two, but Golden does not.
She takes on the character of Durotan, an orc in the Frostwolf clan, who are known for honor, and courage, and not preying upon the weak.
From this standpoint, she paints the picture of Durotan, who takes the chieftainship of his Frostwolf clan, and must make a difficult decision - his home world of Draenor is filled with clans of fighting orcs, and it is dying. And then an orc sorcerer named Gul'dan arrives and says he has a plan to save all the orcs, provided they bow to him -
Not an easy decision.
But Durotan can handle it.
The book is a prequel, and helps set up the movie -
Which I saw afterwards, and liked as well.
But regardless - check out this book - it's a lot of fun!
Aside from one multi-hour binge of the original, I have not played the Warcraft game. I've dabbled in Starcraft - again on a binge or two that showed me how addictive these games can be - but I am not well versed in the game.
And perhaps this is why Warcraft: Durotan by Christie Golden appealed to me.
It sounds kind of cheesy - a prequel novel to a movie based on a video game, but as these franchise things so often are - they brought in Christie Golden one of the best in the business to novelize it, and it is great.
I am reminded of these two disparate tales -
* Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom by A.C. Crispin
* A Shore Thing by Snooki and Valerie Frankel
The former, Disney got one of the best in the business to make the origin of their big franchise, the latter, Snooki and co. got Valerie Frankel, a chick lit auteur superstar - and yes, A Shore Thing is both hilarious and a page turner.
In any case, it is great - because Golden finds a way to make orcs robust characters
One of the criticisms of J.R.R. Tolkien is that he separated the world into good and evil, with nothing in the middle. His orcs were firmly on the side of evil, with no ambiguity.
Warcraft the video game may split the world into two, but Golden does not.
She takes on the character of Durotan, an orc in the Frostwolf clan, who are known for honor, and courage, and not preying upon the weak.
From this standpoint, she paints the picture of Durotan, who takes the chieftainship of his Frostwolf clan, and must make a difficult decision - his home world of Draenor is filled with clans of fighting orcs, and it is dying. And then an orc sorcerer named Gul'dan arrives and says he has a plan to save all the orcs, provided they bow to him -
Not an easy decision.
But Durotan can handle it.
The book is a prequel, and helps set up the movie -
Which I saw afterwards, and liked as well.
But regardless - check out this book - it's a lot of fun!
May 12, 2016
My review will be a list of changes from the original origin story in Rise of the Horde, for those that are curious and have some knowledge of the original and want to know how the movie will be different. The whole of this novel is from the perspective of the Frostwolf clan, so some of the origin story details may still be present in the movie. Please keep in mind that in game lore and other novel lore are separate from movie lore, these are not retcons. Sorry if I miss anything.
November 18, 2018
Christie did it again! Lives up to Rise of the Horde and Lord of the Clans.
August 24, 2025
The WoW universe has always had my heart. The book was interesting and an easy read. Cant wait to get my hands on more of the stories <3
March 8, 2022
I've never played the game Warcraft, but was a little familiar with the concept and storyline. However when the live action came out I was intrigued. I didn't watch the movie right away, but when I finally got around to watching it I enjoyed the film. While it is a bit campy, it an enjoyable campy. So when I found out there was a prequel novel to the live action movie I was intrigued to see what it was about. The noel fallow Durotan, the main Orc you fallow in the live action movie. The prequel novel tells the story of how Durotan became chieftain, and how his clan joined the Horde. The novel gave insight and background to Durotan and the Horde while also making them amazing characters to fallow and watch grow. The heartfelt interactions between the Frostwolves and humorous moments together really built sympathy for some of the Orcs and there situations. Enjoyed and flew through this prequel novel.
September 30, 2016
This is most definitly a must for fans the WarCraft movie, particularly those who liked or want to know more about the Frostwolves, Draenor, and/or orcs. Also for those who appreciate orcs in general (both of which I am ^_^).
The WarCraft and by extension the WoW universe is as rich as it is convoluted so this may not be the book for "purists" of the game as it does change some canon for the movie universe (that hopefully continues *fingers crossed*).
The book follows the events that lead to a long series of tragic trials that Frostwolves (and all of Draenor) which eventually comes to the beginning of the movie. The dramatic irony is strong in this book and at times I found myself shouting (in my head of course) to try and curb unwise decisions. In terms of content its typical fantasy trash (not to say its bad, trash can be good....excuse my wording. I do really love this book) with most outcomes predicable (not aided by the fact that if you know anything of WarCarft lore you know nothing is going to end well for anybody. That being said two events genuinely surprised me (although this may be due in part to me losing myself in the book).
I loved all of the main characters and wanted to save them all. This totally would have been a 5/5 had the OTP ship sailed (Orgrim/Durotan FTW <3) but amazingly I did not hate Draka.
Really that is all there is to say. Fans of orcs, WarCraft (particularly the movie universe), and those looking for a quick romp in a Fantasy world though a different perspective (enough of frail humans, flouncy elves, and stumpy hobbits/halflings) take a dive into the world of Draenor!
Say it with me "Zug-Zug!"
The WarCraft and by extension the WoW universe is as rich as it is convoluted so this may not be the book for "purists" of the game as it does change some canon for the movie universe (that hopefully continues *fingers crossed*).
The book follows the events that lead to a long series of tragic trials that Frostwolves (and all of Draenor) which eventually comes to the beginning of the movie. The dramatic irony is strong in this book and at times I found myself shouting (in my head of course) to try and curb unwise decisions. In terms of content its typical fantasy trash (not to say its bad, trash can be good....excuse my wording. I do really love this book) with most outcomes predicable (not aided by the fact that if you know anything of WarCarft lore you know nothing is going to end well for anybody. That being said two events genuinely surprised me (although this may be due in part to me losing myself in the book).
I loved all of the main characters and wanted to save them all. This totally would have been a 5/5 had the OTP ship sailed (Orgrim/Durotan FTW <3) but amazingly I did not hate Draka.
Really that is all there is to say. Fans of orcs, WarCraft (particularly the movie universe), and those looking for a quick romp in a Fantasy world though a different perspective (enough of frail humans, flouncy elves, and stumpy hobbits/halflings) take a dive into the world of Draenor!
Say it with me "Zug-Zug!"
May 17, 2016
I've played World of Warcraft for almost 9 years, and I was not sure what to expect of a book that was based on the upcoming movie Warcraft The Beginning. It's definitely a departure from the established Lore of the game. The movie is intentionally parallel with the game. It is not a movie made from a computer game as some may think.
Because of that, I think Christie Golden had an added challenge to bring a story to the pages, which was fresh, and which presented the characters as humane, compassionate, often times as people with their own hopes, dreams, wishes, and desires. The danger they face is real, and it is vividly described so that I, as a game player of World of Warcraft, can actually imagine how the world they knew, was actually like.
Draka and Geyah are two characters in the World of Warcraft Lore that I was always curious and in awe of. Two strong women who where thrust into a life that neither asked for or wanted. In this book they come to life in a beautiful way, and earned a renewed respect from me for Christie Golden as an author.
Worth reading even if you've never played the game, as this story stands up on its own merits.
Because of that, I think Christie Golden had an added challenge to bring a story to the pages, which was fresh, and which presented the characters as humane, compassionate, often times as people with their own hopes, dreams, wishes, and desires. The danger they face is real, and it is vividly described so that I, as a game player of World of Warcraft, can actually imagine how the world they knew, was actually like.
Draka and Geyah are two characters in the World of Warcraft Lore that I was always curious and in awe of. Two strong women who where thrust into a life that neither asked for or wanted. In this book they come to life in a beautiful way, and earned a renewed respect from me for Christie Golden as an author.
Worth reading even if you've never played the game, as this story stands up on its own merits.
July 1, 2016
Pleasantly surprised, though I guess I shouldn't be considering Christie Golden wrote it. Compelling prequel to the movie which I now really want to see detailing how Durotan came to be the leader of the Frostwolves and what led him to bring his people into the Horde.
Toby Longworth was a fantastic narrator. Wish he narrated more often.
Toby Longworth was a fantastic narrator. Wish he narrated more often.
April 25, 2016
Another fantastic story from Christie Golden. A great set up for the movie coming out in June. Golden makes the characters come to life in such a way that you want to jump into the book to aid them. A must read for any fan of the Warcraft worlds.
June 14, 2016
Warcraft: Durotan - Christie Golden | Titan Books, 2016, 304 páginas | Lido de 09.06.2016 a 11.06.2016 | Nota 3.8 em 5
SINOPSE
No mundo de Draenor, o forte e independente Clã Frostwolf sofrem com invernos cada vez mais duros e mortes de suas manadas. Quando Gul'dan, um estranho misterioso, chega no cume Frostfire oferecendo a esperança de novas terras de caça, Durotan, chefe do clã, deve tomar uma decisão impossível: Permanecer no seu território natal, ou esquecer o seu orgulho e as tradições de seu povo para levá-los ao desconhecido.
RESENHA
Curti muito a qualidade da escrita essa prequela ao filme do Warcraft. Eu conheço muito pouco da história do universo de Warcraft, e aproveitei esse livro, que se passa no passado do universo, antes da invasão dos orcs, para começar a me familiarizar com o cenário.
Christie Golden mandou muito bem no livro, que é basicamente sobre as difíceis decisões de um líder frente a possível destruição de seu povo. O protagonista Durotan ficou muito bem caracterizado!
A prosa é bem escrita e eficiente, direta ao ponto. O protagonista é muito bem caracterizado, a descrição da cultura orc é interessante, e a trama segue veloz e emocionante até o final.
Me surpreendeu mesmo, devo ler mais livros da Christie no futuro, gostei muito, principalmente dos personagens femininos!
E esse livro me fez pensar nessas diferenças artificiais entre os gêneros literários: para mim, tudo é narrativa, tudo é história, e o que realmente importa para mim é a viagem que tenho com um livro, seja ele classicão, trash, pop, pulp, romântico, terrozão, literário, experimental ou o escambau!
E por isso respeito muito uma escritora como a Christie, que, mesmo sabendo que muitos nunca lerão os seus livros (ela é especializada em livros de franquias de videogames e cinema), ela manda ver na prosa, na trama e na caracterização, demonstrando paixão pelos seus leitores alvo.
Recomendo para quem curte Warcraft, literatura de fantasia sobre tribos primitivas, e quem curte uma aventura de ação bem escrita e despretensiosa!
TRECHO
"The wave of wolves and riders descended upon the hapless cow. Had she been but a few strides closer to the herd, she might have been protected by their sheer number, but although she bellowed plaintively, the herd merely increased its speed. The lead bull had abandoned her, too intent on driving the rest far enough out of range of the terrifying orcs so that no more of his herd would fall. The clefthooves were not stupid, and the cow realized soon enough that this was a fight she would have to win—or lose—on her own.
She wheeled with a speed belying her enormous size and turned to face her would-be killers. Clefthooves were prey animals, but that did not mean they did not have personalities, nor did it mean they were not dangerous. The cow that stood to face them, her cleft hooves churning up the snow as she snorted, was a fighter, as they were—and she clearly intended to take more than a few orcs and wolves down with her.
Durotan grinned. This one was worthy prey! There was no honor, only the sense of a need fulfilled, in hunting beasts that did not stand and fight. He was glad of the clefthoof’s courageous choice. The rest of the party saw her defiance, too, and their cries increased in delight. The cow snorted, lowered her head crowned with massive, sharp horns, and charged directly at Garad.
The orc chieftain and his wolf moved as one, springing out of danger long enough for Garad to hurl Thunderstrike. The spear caught the great beast in her side. Ice gathered himself to attack. As he and other white wolves leaped for the clefthoof’s throat, Garad, Durotan, Orgrim, Geyah, and the rest of the hunting party hurled spears, arrows, and shouts of challenge at the clefthoof."
SINOPSE
No mundo de Draenor, o forte e independente Clã Frostwolf sofrem com invernos cada vez mais duros e mortes de suas manadas. Quando Gul'dan, um estranho misterioso, chega no cume Frostfire oferecendo a esperança de novas terras de caça, Durotan, chefe do clã, deve tomar uma decisão impossível: Permanecer no seu território natal, ou esquecer o seu orgulho e as tradições de seu povo para levá-los ao desconhecido.
RESENHA
Curti muito a qualidade da escrita essa prequela ao filme do Warcraft. Eu conheço muito pouco da história do universo de Warcraft, e aproveitei esse livro, que se passa no passado do universo, antes da invasão dos orcs, para começar a me familiarizar com o cenário.
Christie Golden mandou muito bem no livro, que é basicamente sobre as difíceis decisões de um líder frente a possível destruição de seu povo. O protagonista Durotan ficou muito bem caracterizado!
A prosa é bem escrita e eficiente, direta ao ponto. O protagonista é muito bem caracterizado, a descrição da cultura orc é interessante, e a trama segue veloz e emocionante até o final.
Me surpreendeu mesmo, devo ler mais livros da Christie no futuro, gostei muito, principalmente dos personagens femininos!
E esse livro me fez pensar nessas diferenças artificiais entre os gêneros literários: para mim, tudo é narrativa, tudo é história, e o que realmente importa para mim é a viagem que tenho com um livro, seja ele classicão, trash, pop, pulp, romântico, terrozão, literário, experimental ou o escambau!
E por isso respeito muito uma escritora como a Christie, que, mesmo sabendo que muitos nunca lerão os seus livros (ela é especializada em livros de franquias de videogames e cinema), ela manda ver na prosa, na trama e na caracterização, demonstrando paixão pelos seus leitores alvo.
Recomendo para quem curte Warcraft, literatura de fantasia sobre tribos primitivas, e quem curte uma aventura de ação bem escrita e despretensiosa!
TRECHO
"The wave of wolves and riders descended upon the hapless cow. Had she been but a few strides closer to the herd, she might have been protected by their sheer number, but although she bellowed plaintively, the herd merely increased its speed. The lead bull had abandoned her, too intent on driving the rest far enough out of range of the terrifying orcs so that no more of his herd would fall. The clefthooves were not stupid, and the cow realized soon enough that this was a fight she would have to win—or lose—on her own.
She wheeled with a speed belying her enormous size and turned to face her would-be killers. Clefthooves were prey animals, but that did not mean they did not have personalities, nor did it mean they were not dangerous. The cow that stood to face them, her cleft hooves churning up the snow as she snorted, was a fighter, as they were—and she clearly intended to take more than a few orcs and wolves down with her.
Durotan grinned. This one was worthy prey! There was no honor, only the sense of a need fulfilled, in hunting beasts that did not stand and fight. He was glad of the clefthoof’s courageous choice. The rest of the party saw her defiance, too, and their cries increased in delight. The cow snorted, lowered her head crowned with massive, sharp horns, and charged directly at Garad.
The orc chieftain and his wolf moved as one, springing out of danger long enough for Garad to hurl Thunderstrike. The spear caught the great beast in her side. Ice gathered himself to attack. As he and other white wolves leaped for the clefthoof’s throat, Garad, Durotan, Orgrim, Geyah, and the rest of the hunting party hurled spears, arrows, and shouts of challenge at the clefthoof."
May 26, 2016
Christie Golden is probably the best author of Warcraft novels that I've read. Whenever a new Warcraft book is being released, I check who wrote it. If Christie Golden's name appears, I pre-order without hesitation. I've never been disappointed in her novels, and this one was no exception.
Warcraft the movie is about to be released June 10th, and when I found out there was a prequel book, I wanted to read it. Prequels give a lot of back story that directors aren't able to put into their films, and I like going into the theater knowing a bit about what's going on and what led up to the point the movie begins.
I think Christie Golden did a fabulous job with this story. The scenes flow seamlessly into each other without the reader ever feeling like there is filler. There aren't any holes left at the end of the book, so the reader isn't left wondering what happened. I found myself looking for spare time so I could sit and read the next few chapters. It kept me engaged, and I was sorry when it ended. This book leads nicely into the movie, and now I can't wait to see it in theaters! If the movie is even half as good as this book, it will be worth the price of admission.
I can't wait for Christie Golden's next Warcraft novel!
Warcraft the movie is about to be released June 10th, and when I found out there was a prequel book, I wanted to read it. Prequels give a lot of back story that directors aren't able to put into their films, and I like going into the theater knowing a bit about what's going on and what led up to the point the movie begins.
I think Christie Golden did a fabulous job with this story. The scenes flow seamlessly into each other without the reader ever feeling like there is filler. There aren't any holes left at the end of the book, so the reader isn't left wondering what happened. I found myself looking for spare time so I could sit and read the next few chapters. It kept me engaged, and I was sorry when it ended. This book leads nicely into the movie, and now I can't wait to see it in theaters! If the movie is even half as good as this book, it will be worth the price of admission.
I can't wait for Christie Golden's next Warcraft novel!
May 8, 2016
Durotan is a solid, but flawed, entry in the Warcraft canon written by the hit-or-miss Christie Golden. I've never been a huge fan of Golden's prose--it's always seemed a little too childish for me--but this book is one of the exceptions to that. Whatever misgivings I have about the changes made to make this book match with the upcoming film, I will say that Golden's writing wasn't cringe-inducingly juvenile this time around. The dialogue wasn't as sharp as I would have liked, but it was better than I expected.
The novel tells the story of Durotan, father of Go'el/Thrall, before the Horde invades Azeroth, which will be the premise for the upcoming movie this serves as a prequel to. I thought it was strange that they had this book written with this premise--and by this author--because she's already told the story of the rise of the Horde before in a book literally called Rise of the Horde, another Golden novel I enjoyed more than I had expected to, and one of my first exposures to a World of Warcraft novel.
My main problem with this novel is the story and the unnecessary changes made to Warcraft canon for no apparent reason. Orgrim Doomhammer, rather than being a childhood friend of Durotan's from another clan, is now a Frostwolf himself; Durotan's father, Garad, no longer dies in a battle with the hellish gronn, but after being slowed (it is heavily implied) by poison from Gul'dan's dagger during a parley ritual that leaves him to weak to properly combat an enemy orc; and other, minor things throughout.
None of these changes are horrible--and the book's still not bad--but they seem so unnecessary. An intimate story that ties Durotan to the upcoming movie could have been written without the canon changes--if it weren't for Rise of the Horde already telling Durotan's story in the time leading up to the opening of the Dark Portal, I wouldn't have had such a problem with them, but to write off a moving, detailed novel like Rise of the Horde with lighter fare that cancels out key events from that novel and changes the background of important characters (like Orgrim) seems a little unnecessary, especially when you have the author who wrote the original story write the replacement.
It's not really fair to judge this by its predecessor, but I can't help it because I'm a shitty person. RotH felt like a sprawling epic with real weight to its narrative when I read it way back when, while Durotan is just a little too unconcerned with the events described in RotH to make me feel that same sense of awe at the fall of the orcs because you're not really witnessing it firsthand.
This is an epic writ small and I was hoping for something a little different.
The novel tells the story of Durotan, father of Go'el/Thrall, before the Horde invades Azeroth, which will be the premise for the upcoming movie this serves as a prequel to. I thought it was strange that they had this book written with this premise--and by this author--because she's already told the story of the rise of the Horde before in a book literally called Rise of the Horde, another Golden novel I enjoyed more than I had expected to, and one of my first exposures to a World of Warcraft novel.
My main problem with this novel is the story and the unnecessary changes made to Warcraft canon for no apparent reason. Orgrim Doomhammer, rather than being a childhood friend of Durotan's from another clan, is now a Frostwolf himself; Durotan's father, Garad, no longer dies in a battle with the hellish gronn, but after being slowed (it is heavily implied) by poison from Gul'dan's dagger during a parley ritual that leaves him to weak to properly combat an enemy orc; and other, minor things throughout.
None of these changes are horrible--and the book's still not bad--but they seem so unnecessary. An intimate story that ties Durotan to the upcoming movie could have been written without the canon changes--if it weren't for Rise of the Horde already telling Durotan's story in the time leading up to the opening of the Dark Portal, I wouldn't have had such a problem with them, but to write off a moving, detailed novel like Rise of the Horde with lighter fare that cancels out key events from that novel and changes the background of important characters (like Orgrim) seems a little unnecessary, especially when you have the author who wrote the original story write the replacement.
It's not really fair to judge this by its predecessor, but I can't help it because I'm a shitty person. RotH felt like a sprawling epic with real weight to its narrative when I read it way back when, while Durotan is just a little too unconcerned with the events described in RotH to make me feel that same sense of awe at the fall of the orcs because you're not really witnessing it firsthand.
This is an epic writ small and I was hoping for something a little different.
May 10, 2016
На 3-ти май 2016 г. излезе книгата „Дуротан“, написана от Кристи Голдън. Книгата ни разказва официалната предистория на филма Warcraft, който предстои да излезе на 10 юни.
Веднага щом беше оповестено, че ще излезе филм, базиран на известните видеоигри от серията Warcraft, стана ��сно, че историята във филма ще се различава съществено както от играта, така и от книгите, написани по играта („Денят на дракона“, „Последният пазител“, „Повелителят на клановете“, „Кръгът на омразата“ и т.н.). Това наложи написването на две нови книги съобразно промените, наложени от филма. Първата книга е току що излязлата „Дуротан“, а втората – „Warcraft: официална филмова новелизация“ ще излезне през юни заедно с филма.
Безспорно книгата „Дуротан“ е грабваща и увлекателна, но действително в нея става въпрос за съвършено различен Warcraft. И както пишат други критици – ако това е действителната история на филма, много хора ще бъдат разочаровани. Знаете за фразата – „филмът развали книгата“. Знаете колко хора (даже аз в това число), които първо изчетохме „Хобит“ и „Властелинът на пръстените“ на Толкин, намразихме някои от промените, които видяхме във филмите на Питър Джаксън. Макар че разбирам, че понякога такива промени са наложителни. Филмовото изкуство действа спрямо други правила, различни от литературата. Във филма „Властелинът на пръстените“ е било трудно да се направи финал едно към едно спрямо разказа на Толкин (съсипаното Графство, завладяно от Саруман). Опитали са се, но не се е получило. Затова след унищожението на пръстена са се спрели на алтернативен финал – Графство, в което всичко е като по цветя и рози.
Сега представете си какво би се случило, ако някой се опита да романизира филма „Властелинът на пръстените“ според това, което ни показва Питър Джаксън. Помислете си колко по-различен би бил този продукт от официалния разказ на Толкин … и ще добиете представа какво представлява новата книга „Дуротан“.
Моят съвет е, започвайки да четете книгите „Дуротан“ и „Warcraft: официална филмова новелизация“ и започвайки да гледате филма, да забравите всичко, което знаете за Warcraft RTS, World of Warcraft и досега публикуваните книги. Предупреждавам ви – това няма да е филм по World of Warcraft. Това ще е филм, който ще е вдъхновен от World of Warcraft и от героите в него, но дори самите герои няма да са съвсем същите.
Прочетете цялото ревю тук: https://probujdane.wordpress.com/2016...
Веднага щом беше оповестено, че ще излезе филм, базиран на известните видеоигри от серията Warcraft, стана ��сно, че историята във филма ще се различава съществено както от играта, така и от книгите, написани по играта („Денят на дракона“, „Последният пазител“, „Повелителят на клановете“, „Кръгът на омразата“ и т.н.). Това наложи написването на две нови книги съобразно промените, наложени от филма. Първата книга е току що излязлата „Дуротан“, а втората – „Warcraft: официална филмова новелизация“ ще излезне през юни заедно с филма.
Безспорно книгата „Дуротан“ е грабваща и увлекателна, но действително в нея става въпрос за съвършено различен Warcraft. И както пишат други критици – ако това е действителната история на филма, много хора ще бъдат разочаровани. Знаете за фразата – „филмът развали книгата“. Знаете колко хора (даже аз в това число), които първо изчетохме „Хобит“ и „Властелинът на пръстените“ на Толкин, намразихме някои от промените, които видяхме във филмите на Питър Джаксън. Макар че разбирам, че понякога такива промени са наложителни. Филмовото изкуство действа спрямо други правила, различни от литературата. Във филма „Властелинът на пръстените“ е било трудно да се направи финал едно към едно спрямо разказа на Толкин (съсипаното Графство, завладяно от Саруман). Опитали са се, но не се е получило. Затова след унищожението на пръстена са се спрели на алтернативен финал – Графство, в което всичко е като по цветя и рози.
Сега представете си какво би се случило, ако някой се опита да романизира филма „Властелинът на пръстените“ според това, което ни показва Питър Джаксън. Помислете си колко по-различен би бил този продукт от официалния разказ на Толкин … и ще добиете представа какво представлява новата книга „Дуротан“.
Моят съвет е, започвайки да четете книгите „Дуротан“ и „Warcraft: официална филмова новелизация“ и започвайки да гледате филма, да забравите всичко, което знаете за Warcraft RTS, World of Warcraft и досега публикуваните книги. Предупреждавам ви – това няма да е филм по World of Warcraft. Това ще е филм, който ще е вдъхновен от World of Warcraft и от героите в него, но дори самите герои няма да са съвсем същите.
Прочетете цялото ревю тук: https://probujdane.wordpress.com/2016...
June 20, 2016
Durotan by Christie Golden is a prequel novel for the Warcraft movie by Duncan Jones and Chris Metzen. It is a quasi-biographical tale of Durotan the Orc, one of the main characters from the movie, and tells of his life before those events.
The novel tells the story of how Durotan became chief of the Frostwolves, met his wife Draka, his friendship with Ogrim and more. Christie manages to convey a lot of excellent, and interesting background lore, which fantasy fans can enjoy. The pacing in the last two thirds of the novel is excellent, with a steady build of tension. The Orcs are faced with great turmoil in the book, and the different ways they have to face it make for an exciting read.
Unfortunately the first third of the novel feels a little rushed comparatively. It is understandable why that is, as the focus on the story is on Durotan, but the time it takes for him to become chief and established as a leader is very quick. I think that Christie could have taken more time on this, as she is a good writer and more time would have given her more space to expand on Durotan's experiences at this point.
It must be noted that, this is specifically canon for the movie universe and not the games and other novels. That being said, fans of the franchise could still comfortably treat this as both. While there are differences in the movie version to the original, that appear here, they aren't horrible changes and the book is still a worthy read in that regard. Also, as there was no Warlords of Draenor novels published during the expansion, and Blizzard have already moved onto publishing Legion novels, you can treat this as the former. It comfortably feels like a novel for the Warlords period.
Approaching this as a fantasy novel alone, the book is a great addition to a fantasy readers library. It is a refreshing change of pace to not focus on human characters, and is an interesting read. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers and Warcraft fans.
The novel tells the story of how Durotan became chief of the Frostwolves, met his wife Draka, his friendship with Ogrim and more. Christie manages to convey a lot of excellent, and interesting background lore, which fantasy fans can enjoy. The pacing in the last two thirds of the novel is excellent, with a steady build of tension. The Orcs are faced with great turmoil in the book, and the different ways they have to face it make for an exciting read.
Unfortunately the first third of the novel feels a little rushed comparatively. It is understandable why that is, as the focus on the story is on Durotan, but the time it takes for him to become chief and established as a leader is very quick. I think that Christie could have taken more time on this, as she is a good writer and more time would have given her more space to expand on Durotan's experiences at this point.
It must be noted that, this is specifically canon for the movie universe and not the games and other novels. That being said, fans of the franchise could still comfortably treat this as both. While there are differences in the movie version to the original, that appear here, they aren't horrible changes and the book is still a worthy read in that regard. Also, as there was no Warlords of Draenor novels published during the expansion, and Blizzard have already moved onto publishing Legion novels, you can treat this as the former. It comfortably feels like a novel for the Warlords period.
Approaching this as a fantasy novel alone, the book is a great addition to a fantasy readers library. It is a refreshing change of pace to not focus on human characters, and is an interesting read. Highly recommended for fantasy lovers and Warcraft fans.
May 16, 2016
This is a prequel to the movie and it covers the Frost wolf clan, a group of honorable orcs who are challenged by the dying of their world Draenor.
I really loved this book. I've never followed World of Warcraft lore much, but I was a fan and player of the original 3 Warcraft games. This book goes into so much detail about who the orcs are and how they live. The Frost Wolves are noble and honorable, only doing what is necessary to survive off of the animals and land. It has a real Native American (or even Klingon) vibe to it. They are brown-skinned (not green), and very intelligent. They are also very spiritual and the spirits of their world play an active and important role in the story. However, the world is dying and the Frost Wolves must change or perish. Led by Durotan, they leave their home and head towards the seat of the spirits to figure out how to save their world. Meanwhile, a dark sorcerer named Gul'dan tries to unite all the clans to leave the world and go to a new one that they can conquer (and this is where it starts tying into the games and movie). The book was very well written and there weren't any slow spots for me. Durotan was really well developed and you could follow his inner turmoil and his wisdom. Several of the other characters in his clan were also very well done. Gul'dan didn't have a lot of depth but perhaps that will be expanded on in the movie/sequel. The audiobook was great in that the narrator has a wonderful accent and is able to switch voices with ease. Overall, this was a great intro the world and really makes me excited to go see the movie (and read the sequel).
NOTE: I received this for free in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved this book. I've never followed World of Warcraft lore much, but I was a fan and player of the original 3 Warcraft games. This book goes into so much detail about who the orcs are and how they live. The Frost Wolves are noble and honorable, only doing what is necessary to survive off of the animals and land. It has a real Native American (or even Klingon) vibe to it. They are brown-skinned (not green), and very intelligent. They are also very spiritual and the spirits of their world play an active and important role in the story. However, the world is dying and the Frost Wolves must change or perish. Led by Durotan, they leave their home and head towards the seat of the spirits to figure out how to save their world. Meanwhile, a dark sorcerer named Gul'dan tries to unite all the clans to leave the world and go to a new one that they can conquer (and this is where it starts tying into the games and movie). The book was very well written and there weren't any slow spots for me. Durotan was really well developed and you could follow his inner turmoil and his wisdom. Several of the other characters in his clan were also very well done. Gul'dan didn't have a lot of depth but perhaps that will be expanded on in the movie/sequel. The audiobook was great in that the narrator has a wonderful accent and is able to switch voices with ease. Overall, this was a great intro the world and really makes me excited to go see the movie (and read the sequel).
NOTE: I received this for free in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2016
I think that this was a great book, it had lots of action. In the beginning I was a bit confused but I understood it, Durotan was the chief-tan of the frost wolves (there king/ leader). Then the warlock Guldan came to invite them to the war clan and claimed that it would be all of the orc clans combined, to move to a new world because theirs was falling apart, this planet they were going to was Earth.
In this book my favorite character was Durotan, he was smart and I think he chose the right side to fight with (the humans/ warlocks). I also felt like it had good imagery and I felt like I could have a picture in my head of what every character looks like. The story was pretty strait forward and didn't really keep me on my toes but there were parts where I was like "whats going to happen???" My favorite part was probably were Orgim betrayed Guldan to help his old friend (Durotan) because he realized he made a mistake helping Guldan. At some points of the book I was sad like when Durotan died.
I think that this was A great book and I think that you should read it!
In this book my favorite character was Durotan, he was smart and I think he chose the right side to fight with (the humans/ warlocks). I also felt like it had good imagery and I felt like I could have a picture in my head of what every character looks like. The story was pretty strait forward and didn't really keep me on my toes but there were parts where I was like "whats going to happen???" My favorite part was probably were Orgim betrayed Guldan to help his old friend (Durotan) because he realized he made a mistake helping Guldan. At some points of the book I was sad like when Durotan died.
I think that this was A great book and I think that you should read it!
June 24, 2016
4.5 stars rounded up.
An essential read for any long time Warcraft fan or interested viewer of the movie. The book shines light upon the FrostWolf clan and how they did eventually, join the Horde. The characters are exceptionally written and when you do see the movie, small scenes will hold much more resonance for you emotionally. I'm very grateful I made the effort to read this book before I saw the movie (I left to see it immediately afterwards) because although I love the game, the history of this great world was given even more light.
I have just learned of a Comic series to prequel the Alliance side which I now plan to read. Seeing as this book was entirely Orc/Horde, I would be very interested to know if this book swayed my preference towards the Orcs over the Humans, and whether or not, if I had read the Alliance comic first, could my opinion have been different again. Book prequels do pay off people, this one is highly recommended!
An essential read for any long time Warcraft fan or interested viewer of the movie. The book shines light upon the FrostWolf clan and how they did eventually, join the Horde. The characters are exceptionally written and when you do see the movie, small scenes will hold much more resonance for you emotionally. I'm very grateful I made the effort to read this book before I saw the movie (I left to see it immediately afterwards) because although I love the game, the history of this great world was given even more light.
I have just learned of a Comic series to prequel the Alliance side which I now plan to read. Seeing as this book was entirely Orc/Horde, I would be very interested to know if this book swayed my preference towards the Orcs over the Humans, and whether or not, if I had read the Alliance comic first, could my opinion have been different again. Book prequels do pay off people, this one is highly recommended!
May 6, 2016
I saw this at barnes and nobel for six dollars; I thought would be a cheap-read tie in to the Warcraft movie and when I saw who the author was I just went "Cool, I just won't have to think about it too hard."
Nope! Christie struck gold with this one.
Its very well done, easily the best written book in this franchise that I've read. If you're interested in naturalistic fantasy I recommend giving this a try. Even if you're unfamiliar with the Warcraft universe, this book does an excellent job of making it accessible to the average reader.
Nope! Christie struck gold with this one.
Its very well done, easily the best written book in this franchise that I've read. If you're interested in naturalistic fantasy I recommend giving this a try. Even if you're unfamiliar with the Warcraft universe, this book does an excellent job of making it accessible to the average reader.
May 31, 2016
Skończyłem w nocy czytać prequel do nadchodzącego filmu Warcraft o tytule Durotan - Christie Golden podołała zadaniu. Co prawda w WoW-a nie grywam, ale wygląda to na dobre wprowadzenie do filmu z perspektywy orków, choć momentami jest mocno pompatyczne. Na film po lekturze się chętnie wybiorę, a jeśli nie zawiedzie, to pewnie wezmę się za kolejne książki z cyklu - dawno nie czytałem fantasy.
August 7, 2016
Read the novelization first, I enjoyed that. This one, dragged a a bit. The time line too seemed off. It would seem like months would pass and it was like days. A better established time line probably would've been good. Plus some more in depth story, but that might just because I'm used to the events for the game and not the actual story time.
June 16, 2016
Livre captivant et très bien écrit mais attention, ce n'est pas du tout la vraie histoire du jeu.
June 18, 2016
Whoa! Very interesting as a prequel: why did the Frostwolves join the Horde, what lead to Draenor's death... I love it
July 9, 2016
Ładnie wyplątali się z problemu dołączenia klanu Frostwolf do Hordy. Fabuła ok, poza tym grafomania.
October 19, 2016
Všechny knihy ze světa WarCraftu se čtou takřka samy a nejdou odložit. Tak tomu bylo i s Durotanem. :)
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