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World of Warcraft #16 (2/2)
A Good War
Tension and drama unfolds between the Horde and the Alliance in the Battle for Azeroth novellas Elegy by Christie Golden and A Good War by Robert Brooks. These two tales explore the Horde and the Alliance versions of a fateful event, but only you can decide which faction tells it best.
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https://worldofwarcraft.com/en-us/sto...
88 pages, Digital
First published August 14, 2018
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417 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 19, 2018
This book was actually included in the Collector's Edition of Battle for Azeroth, and gives more insight to the Horde events of the Pre-patch leading up to the expansion's release. I actually really liked reading this, as the Horde side in game felt woefully inadequate to tell the story properly. It gave me a better understanding as to what was going on in the thought processes of the major players and actually sets things up rather nicely for the upcoming story being told. I can't wait to see where the Horde goes from here!
July 2, 2020
4.5 really l, it was well written. I read the alliance side first so it was more emotional this was more about being proud to be horde. I think maybe I should have read this side first. But overall I enjoyed it. I like how linking both sides was a factor.
September 27, 2018
Again making me want to renew my sub. Sylvanas has always been an interesting character to me, but she really goes all out in this novella. Still needing to read the Alliance side, and I hope it is just as mindblowing.
August 15, 2020
I will never be over it. This will always make me cry.
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August 7, 2018A look into the mind of a mad warchief Sylvanas (forgive my bias, I hate hersince Cataclysm), her bootlicking follower Nathanos and the tactically still sharp Overlord Saurfang. It shows more about the background and execution of the push through Ashenvale and Darkshore, yet... I maybe expected more, at least more inner struggle from Saurfang.
August 18, 2018
The story of the Invasion of the Horde from the defeat of the Burning Legion through to the burning of Darnasses as seen from the Horde’s POV and mostly through the eyes of Saurfang, the leader of the Orcs.
It’s found in a HB book included in the Battle for Azeroth Collectors’ edition. There are several wonderful B&W illustrations of related events scattered throughout. If you haven’t played much or recently in Ashenvale and/or Darkshore you may want to have a map available as you read.
Syvanas’s tirade and conversation with Saurfang is very enlightening about her motives as to why she attacked the Alliance. She’s very intelligent and crafty, too bad she’s also insane. It’s obvious she’s playing with Saurfang, but she doesn’t realize how honorable he is.
Footnote: 1) Since I play mostly Alliance it was interesting to see the Horde, and Syvanas’s, POVs.
2) There’s a lot of editing mistakes in this version.
Fave scenes: Syvanas’s tirade to Saurfang, Morka & the spy and Saurfang sparing Malfurion.
It’s found in a HB book included in the Battle for Azeroth Collectors’ edition. There are several wonderful B&W illustrations of related events scattered throughout. If you haven’t played much or recently in Ashenvale and/or Darkshore you may want to have a map available as you read.
Syvanas’s tirade and conversation with Saurfang is very enlightening about her motives as to why she attacked the Alliance. She’s very intelligent and crafty, too bad she’s also insane. It’s obvious she’s playing with Saurfang, but she doesn’t realize how honorable he is.
Footnote: 1) Since I play mostly Alliance it was interesting to see the Horde, and Syvanas’s, POVs.
2) There’s a lot of editing mistakes in this version.
Fave scenes: Syvanas’s tirade to Saurfang, Morka & the spy and Saurfang sparing Malfurion.
September 22, 2019
Mostly a dull book. Only good part is the beginning, while we learn about Sylvanas' motives about going into war with Alliance. I find her reasoning rather sensible. Cold, cut-throat but logical, after all "Honor means nothing to a corpse" can be interpreted ambiguously.
Disappointing to see all these discrepancies within her character though. Even in the book, with no apparent reason (probably due to influence of the old gods but without any hint it feels rather silly) she turns into a genocidal maniac. Don't get me start on the BfA lore.
As many others pointed out this whole BfA affair and the lore behind it are some poor stuff, sadly.
Disappointing to see all these discrepancies within her character though. Even in the book, with no apparent reason (probably due to influence of the old gods but without any hint it feels rather silly) she turns into a genocidal maniac. Don't get me start on the BfA lore.
As many others pointed out this whole BfA affair and the lore behind it are some poor stuff, sadly.
August 7, 2018
Nada como poder ver com mais detalhe e profundidade o ponto de visto do seu adversário, para tentar entender um pouco da motivação por trás de atos que até então pareciam sem sentido. Esse livro te prende página atrás de página, valendo cada minuto da leitura. Além disso, não poderia ter sido escolhido um título melhor para a obra.
August 17, 2018
For all the people who are confused about the Sylvanas' decision to burn Teldrassil, this book actually gives good insight on why that had to happen and why Sourfang didn't just cut her head off on the spot when it happened.
February 28, 2020
First novella I've ever read and it was outstanding, beginning to end. Not even one dull page. This novella was better than some full length WoW books I've read. We'll see if Christie Golden's alliance part will hold up next.
August 7, 2018
Background novella about the War of the Thorns from the Horde perspective.
August 11, 2018
Same as "Elegy," a decent lead in to the next WoW expansion.
August 12, 2018
Excellent insight into the deception and fighting on the Horde's side of the invasion of Teldrassil. So happy with this from Blizzard!
August 24, 2018
I enjoyed seeing the lead up to ‘Battle for Azeroth’ from both the Horde side and the Alliance side, and this gave lots of insights into what was going on!
August 27, 2018
This short story really helps explain the motivations behind Sylvanas' actions while also having amazing character writing.
November 3, 2018
My only question is why did this not play out in game exactly as it did in the book?! It would have been stunning!
April 2, 2025
It's hard to rate this book. The writing is a splendid 5 stars, but the content hardly earns 3 stars.
The story starts so well with the demonstration of Sylvanas's brilliant tactician mind. She lays out exactly the Horde's future and demonstrates that a preemptive strike is the most logical option. Saurfang agrees. But here's when the story starts falling apart, although it only becomes clear once you know what will happen in the end.
Sylvanas says two things:
1. "We can divide the Alliance only if the war to conquer Darnassus does not unite them against us. That only happens if the Horde wins an honorable victory, and I am not blind—the Horde does not trust me to wage war that way.”
2. “The plague would not work,” Sylvanas said. She seemed to consider something, but then shook her head. “Saurfang is right. The Alliance would never believe we would use it. It is unthinkable, wiping out an entire city like that—a bluff with no teeth.”
So, the story is set up in a way that the most logical strategic thing to do is to capture Teldrassil. Only to Sylvanas decides to burn it at the end... She does provide a half-assed reason of it will break their spirit! She has to do it now because Saurfang failed to kill Malfurion, and the rumors of Malfurion's miraculous salvation will spread among Night elves and their hope will rise again!
First, the Night elves wouldn't lose hope simply because Malfurion died. He's not even the leader, Tyrande is. Secondly, why would they lose hope? The night elves have lived for ten thousand years. They've lost numerous commanders and lieutenants, what's one more'
Second, burning of Teldrassil literally made zero sense.
Sylvanas says in conversation with Saurfang that taking Teldrassil is a strategic move. The Alliance wouldn't dare attack Undercity nor Silvermoon because the Horde can threaten with hostages. Also, it would introduce political fights into the Alliance because the Night elves would want for Alliance to help them retake their homeland, which would anger the Gilneans because they would want the same!
Here are some quotes from the book:
“They might try to conquer the Undercity … but Darnassus becomes our hostage against
that. The night elves will not allow your city to fall if they fear it means you will destroy theirs. The
same goes for a strike against Silvermoon.” Saurfang’s thoughts raced. She’s right. This could work.
“And even if the Alliance agrees to retake Darnassus … The Gilneans!”
And at the end, she says the following:
"Darnassus was never the prize. It was a wedge that would split the Alliance apart. It was the weapon that would destroy hope. And you, [Saurfang], gave that up to spare an enemy you defeated. I have taken it back. When they come for us, they will do so in pain, not in glory. That may be our only chance at victory now.”
Well, the only explanation is that Sylvanas is bipolar, because she literally contradicted everything she said at the beginning. She lost the strategic advantage, she won the battle without honor and could have had the same effect if she had captured Teldrassil first. You can always burn it later to kill hope.
I am utterly disappointed and I hope this was merely a setback in the lore and that Blizzard will atone themselves in the expansion.
The story starts so well with the demonstration of Sylvanas's brilliant tactician mind. She lays out exactly the Horde's future and demonstrates that a preemptive strike is the most logical option. Saurfang agrees. But here's when the story starts falling apart, although it only becomes clear once you know what will happen in the end.
Sylvanas says two things:
1. "We can divide the Alliance only if the war to conquer Darnassus does not unite them against us. That only happens if the Horde wins an honorable victory, and I am not blind—the Horde does not trust me to wage war that way.”
2. “The plague would not work,” Sylvanas said. She seemed to consider something, but then shook her head. “Saurfang is right. The Alliance would never believe we would use it. It is unthinkable, wiping out an entire city like that—a bluff with no teeth.”
So, the story is set up in a way that the most logical strategic thing to do is to capture Teldrassil. Only to Sylvanas decides to burn it at the end... She does provide a half-assed reason of it will break their spirit! She has to do it now because Saurfang failed to kill Malfurion, and the rumors of Malfurion's miraculous salvation will spread among Night elves and their hope will rise again!
First, the Night elves wouldn't lose hope simply because Malfurion died. He's not even the leader, Tyrande is. Secondly, why would they lose hope? The night elves have lived for ten thousand years. They've lost numerous commanders and lieutenants, what's one more'
Second, burning of Teldrassil literally made zero sense.
Sylvanas says in conversation with Saurfang that taking Teldrassil is a strategic move. The Alliance wouldn't dare attack Undercity nor Silvermoon because the Horde can threaten with hostages. Also, it would introduce political fights into the Alliance because the Night elves would want for Alliance to help them retake their homeland, which would anger the Gilneans because they would want the same!
Here are some quotes from the book:
“They might try to conquer the Undercity … but Darnassus becomes our hostage against
that. The night elves will not allow your city to fall if they fear it means you will destroy theirs. The
same goes for a strike against Silvermoon.” Saurfang’s thoughts raced. She’s right. This could work.
“And even if the Alliance agrees to retake Darnassus … The Gilneans!”
And at the end, she says the following:
"Darnassus was never the prize. It was a wedge that would split the Alliance apart. It was the weapon that would destroy hope. And you, [Saurfang], gave that up to spare an enemy you defeated. I have taken it back. When they come for us, they will do so in pain, not in glory. That may be our only chance at victory now.”
Well, the only explanation is that Sylvanas is bipolar, because she literally contradicted everything she said at the beginning. She lost the strategic advantage, she won the battle without honor and could have had the same effect if she had captured Teldrassil first. You can always burn it later to kill hope.
I am utterly disappointed and I hope this was merely a setback in the lore and that Blizzard will atone themselves in the expansion.
October 3, 2019
Nice book for Warcraft fans. Since I did play the pre-BFA launch event (War of Thorns in Darkshore) I knew the plot almost to the end, but still I enjoyed the book. If you're a Warcraft fan, this is a must on your reading list.
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August 7, 2018Так он чого Сільвана спалила Тельдрассіл... Якщо раптом кому цікаво, то на останніх 10-ьох сторінках
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews