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God of War: Lore and Legends
A hardcover tome that authentically recreates Atreus' journal as seen in God of War, with expanded lore written in collaboration with the God of War writing team!
The hit game is brought to life in a tangible and exciting new way as readers are invited to plumb the lore of God of War through the eyes of Kratos' son, Atreus. This hardcover volume chronicles Atreus and Kratos' journey through the fabled Nine Realms, from the Wildwoods of Midgard to the mountains of J�tunheim and beyond. In addition to the record of their mythic journey, this wonderous collection also includes a bestiary that was assembled during those travels, intimate dossiers of the characters that inhabit the masterfully crafted universe, and much more!
Dark Horse Books and Santa Monica Studios present God of War: Lore and Legends. This lovingly produced edition is a must own item for any fan of God of War.
The hit game is brought to life in a tangible and exciting new way as readers are invited to plumb the lore of God of War through the eyes of Kratos' son, Atreus. This hardcover volume chronicles Atreus and Kratos' journey through the fabled Nine Realms, from the Wildwoods of Midgard to the mountains of J�tunheim and beyond. In addition to the record of their mythic journey, this wonderous collection also includes a bestiary that was assembled during those travels, intimate dossiers of the characters that inhabit the masterfully crafted universe, and much more!
Dark Horse Books and Santa Monica Studios present God of War: Lore and Legends. This lovingly produced edition is a must own item for any fan of God of War.
120 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2020
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247 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 9, 2020
In the game "God of War", Atreus, the son of the player character keeps a journal of their adventures, catalogues their encounters, ranking the monsters and gives a general commentary that allows the player to easily keep track of what they're doing in the game.
And this is like a copy of that journal. In the preface "Atreus" mentions that he's gone back over his original notes and added to them, cross referencing places, events and characters to give the reader a broader idea of what occurs in the game and why.
I really liked the first half of this book as it goes over the history of the Norse mythology in this universe, the lore and stories that have been passed down, as well as transcribing several conversations that occur in-game.
It's accompanied by a lot of artwork that's seen both in game and in the "Art of God of War" book. It can be hard reading all of this while playing the game, what with all the monster smashing, so it's nice to sit down and read this as it's own thing.
The second half the book is the bestiary that catalogues all the monsters, their strengths and powers. I was less interested in this because it is basically just tips for the player in fighting the monsters. It's cool seeing it written from Atreus's point of view but unless I've got the book open while playing the game, it was pretty dry.
I would have preferred covering more of the side missions, seeing more of the treasure maps and other items collected and less "throw your axe at this monster", but overall it's a nice companion to "The Art of God of War".
And this is like a copy of that journal. In the preface "Atreus" mentions that he's gone back over his original notes and added to them, cross referencing places, events and characters to give the reader a broader idea of what occurs in the game and why.
I really liked the first half of this book as it goes over the history of the Norse mythology in this universe, the lore and stories that have been passed down, as well as transcribing several conversations that occur in-game.
It's accompanied by a lot of artwork that's seen both in game and in the "Art of God of War" book. It can be hard reading all of this while playing the game, what with all the monster smashing, so it's nice to sit down and read this as it's own thing.
The second half the book is the bestiary that catalogues all the monsters, their strengths and powers. I was less interested in this because it is basically just tips for the player in fighting the monsters. It's cool seeing it written from Atreus's point of view but unless I've got the book open while playing the game, it was pretty dry.
I would have preferred covering more of the side missions, seeing more of the treasure maps and other items collected and less "throw your axe at this monster", but overall it's a nice companion to "The Art of God of War".
October 27, 2020
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
For a bit of background - I loved the latest iteration of God of War in both the story and gameplay, and ended up collecting every possible Playstation Trophy for the game. So likely I spent a bit more time on the game than most.Thus I was quite excited to pick up this book. It has been a few years since I finished the game but while some aspects of it I still remember vividly others are starting to fade. Perhaps with this I could relive those moments.
Unfortunately my excitement was never really fulfilled. I never really understood the purpose of this book, its intended audience or even its purpose.
The first two chapters cover the main story of the game. However this is done at such a high level, to feel like footnotes. At least in the first chapter we get a bit of additional detail which is not seen in the game. The second part that covers the story during the game is very thin.
The third part covers general Norse mythology. If you are relatively familiar with it to begin with, there's not much here. As these days there are so many movies, TV series and the like that cover Norse myths, most readers are likely to be familiar with the basics. Delving into the more obscure didn't really interest me, and I also never got a good feel of which parts are actual Norse mythology and which parts are made for this game.
The fourth part, the Bestiary, is also a bit weird. It reads as something between an RPG handbook (with each creature having a picture, a short description and a table that lists strengths and weaknesses) and a game guidebook. Again, here the descriptions are so short as to offer no interesting further insight and the strength/weakness information might have been useful when playing the game, not sure how useful it is now years after. I also don't recall it ever being a problem of determining which attacks to use against which creature.
Finally, the book is written in the voice of Atreus. This makes sense for the first two parts, but even there it doesn't add anything new to it. Most of the paragraphs could have been written from any POV and been the same, and this feels a bit of a waste. In the last two parts it even feels inappropriate given that they are information sections.
There's a fair bit of art everywhere in the book, and it's all in the same style which is nice. I don't think it's concept art of the game, and it's definitely not art directly from the game either so I was left a bit torn. Sadly, that art is not good enough to stand on its own - art book this is not.
In summary, even if you're a very big fan of the game, there might not be much here for you. Perhaps if the rumored sequel surfaces at some point this would make a nice reference and summary of what happened in the first game. But beyond that, I don't see why I would pick this up the second time. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
September 18, 2020
So many games have such rich lore that is sadly left to gather dust in the weeks and months following release. This is a not simply a haphazard collection of lore either, but one presented in such a wonderful and unique way that further strengthens and enhances 2018’s God of War.
December 10, 2022
No começo, fiquei extremamente empolgado com o livro, pois trazia informações interessantíssimas sobre o lore de God of War que não haviam sido abordadas no jogo, como, por exemplo, o fato de que nos meses próximos à morte da Faye, ela e o Kratos trocaram os papéis no que se refere aos afazeres diários: agora, era ela quem saía e ficava dias fora enquanto o Kratos permanecia em casa cuidando do Atreus. Achei bacana, inclusive, ver algumas informações que só seriam abordadas no segundo jogo da saga nórdica, como o fato de os Travelers terem sido convocados por Odin com o intuito de encontrar um caminho para Jotunheim. Entretanto, mais pro fim do livro, principalmente na parte do bestiário, achei que o livro acabou ficando muito maçante, já que todo o conteúdo presente nessa seção já tinha sido exaustivamente abordado no jogo. No geral, achei um bom livro mas que tinha o potencial pra ser melhor.
October 22, 2020
I bought my copy from Barnes & Noble for about 30-40 dollars, and it was worth every penny :)
This book is told from Atreus' point of view. It is a recount of his mother's lessons, the journey, Fimbulwinter, Norse lore (well, God of War's take), and a catalog of the enemies which can be helpful to anyone playing the game. It's really interesting reading his comments on the journey in hindsight while also reading on expanded lore. I really love how Atreus talks about seeing things from a different point of view, even familiar things.
As someone who writes as a hobby, I'm interested in learning how to write in first person now that I've read this book. I would like to know certain tips like "what type of words would this character use?" or "does first-person writing have to remain consistent in past/present tense or not?" So, to Rick Barba and the God of War Writing Team, thank you :)
This book is told from Atreus' point of view. It is a recount of his mother's lessons, the journey, Fimbulwinter, Norse lore (well, God of War's take), and a catalog of the enemies which can be helpful to anyone playing the game. It's really interesting reading his comments on the journey in hindsight while also reading on expanded lore. I really love how Atreus talks about seeing things from a different point of view, even familiar things.
As someone who writes as a hobby, I'm interested in learning how to write in first person now that I've read this book. I would like to know certain tips like "what type of words would this character use?" or "does first-person writing have to remain consistent in past/present tense or not?" So, to Rick Barba and the God of War Writing Team, thank you :)
September 24, 2020
3 1/2 stars. Some interesting chapters that hint towards the next game in the series, but the later half of the book becomes repetitive.
July 17, 2022
More of game companion than the lore book and bestiary i was hoping for
April 11, 2023
"God of War: Lore and Legends" is an absolutely phenomenal book that provides an in-depth look at the mythology and lore behind the God of War video game series. The book is divided into several chapters, each of which focuses on a different character, creature, or event from the games.
What makes this book truly special is the level of detail and care that went into creating it. The illustrations are stunning, and the writing is both engaging and informative. It's clear that the author, Rick Barba, is a true expert on mythology, and he does an excellent job of weaving together the various threads of the God of War universe.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how it shed light on some of the more obscure aspects of the games. For example, there's a chapter on the Valkyries that not only explains their role in Norse mythology but also provides a detailed walkthrough of how to defeat them in the game. It's this attention to detail that sets "God of War: Lore and Legends" apart from other video game companion books.
Overall, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Whether you're a fan of the God of War games or just have an interest in mythology, this book is a must-read. It's informative, entertaining, and beautifully designed. 5 stars without a doubt!
What makes this book truly special is the level of detail and care that went into creating it. The illustrations are stunning, and the writing is both engaging and informative. It's clear that the author, Rick Barba, is a true expert on mythology, and he does an excellent job of weaving together the various threads of the God of War universe.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was how it shed light on some of the more obscure aspects of the games. For example, there's a chapter on the Valkyries that not only explains their role in Norse mythology but also provides a detailed walkthrough of how to defeat them in the game. It's this attention to detail that sets "God of War: Lore and Legends" apart from other video game companion books.
Overall, I can't recommend this book highly enough. Whether you're a fan of the God of War games or just have an interest in mythology, this book is a must-read. It's informative, entertaining, and beautifully designed. 5 stars without a doubt!
September 5, 2024
As someone who is a big lore buff, this was quite an enjoyable read! I loved seeing the little notes Atreus would add onto the game onto here along with extra notes, it really brings out a change of perspective from him in the 2018 game to him in this lore book! Especially a big fan of the timeline, keeps some things in mind when it comes to the overall story.
Overall it was a great time, cannot wait for a potential lore book for Ragnarök (Please please please PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE-)
Overall it was a great time, cannot wait for a potential lore book for Ragnarök (Please please please PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE-)
July 17, 2021
A good book with an additional look into the GOW world. Unfortunately it does read a little more like a gameplay guide rather than an actual journal on all the creatures, but it still has all the details on the things you'll be fighting. I would reccomend this for anyone who is interested in learning more about the creatures and world of GOW.
October 22, 2020
If you love GOW, you’ll love this book.
February 7, 2022
Amazing book for fans of god of war!
November 25, 2022
atreus meu amor, saiba que te vejo como um filho
August 6, 2023
A great addition to the already impressive game!
February 3, 2024
absolutely adore the lore that’s in this, even if the bestiary was a bit boring (i’ve played too much so there was nothing new for me there 🤣)
June 4, 2024
Need one for Ragnarök
January 16, 2024
So the best parts of this book are the parts that have brand new lore/information--stuff like the pre-game journal entries or the Fimbulwinter sections (which have me stressed for the new game, NGL...Santa Monica, please, a release date). Once I got into the sections that cover lore and enemies that are covered in the game, my interest waned considerably. This is because I'm on my second playthrough of the game and have listened to a compilation of Mimir telling the lore stories more times than is probably healthy, so I recognized what was basically in-game dialogue written down.
The other lore does still make this a worthwhile purchase, though, as does the art.
The other lore does still make this a worthwhile purchase, though, as does the art.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews