World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde

Out of every Warcraft book this is the place to start. It takes before Warcraft 1, 2, 3, WoW, etc. This looks like it will help explain the history of the new WoW expansion War Lords of Draenor a bit. If you're looking for the proper order to read the Warcraft books I suggest the following: Rise of the Horde (book) - Covers approx. a 10 year period prior to WC I. The Last Guardian (book) - Touches on the closing days of the First War with bookends set prior to WC III. Tides of Darkness (book) - Covers WC II in continuity. Beyond the Dark Portal (book) - Covers WC II expansion in continuity. Day of the Dragon (book) - Wraps up some dangling threads from WC II with Deathwing and the Red Dragonflight. Lord of the Clans (book) - Covers a wide swath from just before WC II all the way to prior to WC III. Should be subtitled All You Wanted to Know About Thrall But Were Too Much of An Alliance Lover to Ask. ;) J/k. Of Blood and Honor (book) - Set just prior to WC III. Warcraft III Battle Chest (game) - Reign of Chaos covers the origin of the Scourge and the return of the Burning Legion. The Frozen Throne covers the exile of Illidun, the rise of the Forsaken and the crowning of a new Lich King. Founding of Durotar covers the most recent conflict between Horde and humans prior to WoW. Arthas: Rise of the Lich King (book) - Recaps material from Tides of Darkness all the way up until the end of Frozen Throne with bookends just before the WotLK cinematic. Ashbringer (comic) - Covers the fallout from Arthas dissolving the Order of the Silver Hand and the rise of Argent Dawn and Crimson Crusade. Cycle of Hatred (book) - Picks up after Founding of Durotar and begins to set the stage for WoW Vanilla. Well of Eternity (book) - Try and follow: characters from current Azeroth are sent back to the War of the Ancients 10,000 years before by the Bronze Dragonflight to make sure what was supposed to happen happens. Part of War of the Ancients Trilogy Demon Soul (book) - See above, part of War of the Ancients Trilogy. The Sundering (book) - See above, part of War of the Ancients Trilogy. Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy (Comic) - This is just before WoW vanilla since some Horde holdings (Tauren Mill) are still Alliance held. Sets up Kalygos and his motivations mostly. Warcraft Legends Vol. 1-5 (Comic) - These are all over the place, but primarily just before WoW Vanilla with some flashback stuff. The Dragons of Outland (Comic) - Trilogy set between Vanilla and TBC. Running a bit late, second volume should be out later this year. World of Warcraft Books 1-4 (comics) - Set between TBC and WotLK, covers a lot of plot spillover. Ever why the Missing Diplomat questchain ends so quickly in Thereamore? The answer is here. Death Knight (comic) - Set before and during WotLK. Sets up Thassarian. Mage (comic) - Set before WotLK. Sets up why Dalaran is a floating city over Northrend. Night of the Dragon (book) - Set before WotLK, deals with some stuff spilling out of TBC, especially dealing with Kalygos and the two new dragonflights in Outland. Stormrage (book) Set after WotLK. Sets up Malfurian Stormrage and Tyrande and the status of the Emerald Dream corruption. Shaman (comic) - Set between WotLK and Cata. The Shattering (book) - Covers all the details between WotLK and Cata that were going on while we were doing the pre-launch events. Wolfheart (book) - Details the Worgen and Gilneas' recruitment into the Alliance after the Cataclysm. Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects (book) - follows the former War Chief of the Horde as he struggles with the ongoing repercussions of the Cataclysm. Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War - The ashes of the Cataclysm have settled across Azeroth’s disparate kingdoms. As the broken world recovers from the disaster, the renowned sorceress Lady Jaina Proudmoore continues her long struggle to mend relations between the Horde and the Alliance. Dawn of the Aspects - The former Dragon Aspects are on the brink of going their separate ways to forge new destinies... Vol'Jin: Shadows of the Horde - Follows Vol'Jin as he travels to Pandaria, where the troll chieftain's loyalties are put to the ultimate test when a member of his own faction moves to assassinate him. . . . War Crimes - Centers around Garrosh Hellscream after the Siege of Orgrimmar. It provides a bridge between the events at the end of the Mists of Pandaria expansion and the upcoming Warlords of Draenor expansion. Hope this helped i tried my best to get it right but as always there may be some mistakes just try to look into it on wowwiki or wowpedia. Special Thanks to Kordd on the battle.net forums for creating the original part of the list.

So I've played the game off and on for, well, since it came out, but I've never really known anything about the lore. When the cut-scenes were released for the new expansion I was really impressed by them, and decided to check out the books, starting from the beginning. The story is essentially told by Thrall, and mostly through the eyes of Durotan. He explains how the Orcs were just individual tribes, coming together only in the shadow of Oshu'gun just twice a year. We see the budding friendship between Durotan and Orgrim, and how the Orcs were one with the land. Then we see how Ner'zhul was manipulated by Kil'jaeden, posing as the spirit of his dead wife Rulka and convincing them that the Draenai were a threat. This is the turning point and the birth of the Horde, with Gul'dan complicit in it. This is when elements turned on the Shaman, who Gul'dan then trained as Warlocks, as the Orcs became mindless murderers. I never really understood the story of the Draenai, and now that I do, I feel bad for them. Not only did their own people turn on them, but the Orcs nearly exterminated them. It's also interesting how Draenor was destroyed in the process, becoming the broken world of Outland, and how the Orcs ended up in Azeroth. It was a good book, and I'm looking forward to the next. I'm also very impressed with quality of the actual book.

The only bad thing so far about this series is that not all of them are on Kindle. I've been a Christie Golden fan since reading her Star Trek Voyager books, so I was pleasantly surprised to see she was/is writing for Blizzard. The back story of Durotan and Orgrim and the rise of the Horde was so well written. There were no boring parts of this book at all, it flowed nicely. I would have liked to see more put into certain timelines of the book that were only briefly mentioned, but I understand you can only fit so much into each storyline without bogging down the flow. Highly recommend for any WoW player but also anyone who like fantasy fiction. I think even if I didn't play WoW I would still find this to be a great read.

I would like to begin my review by stating that I have been playing World of Warcraft since The Burning Crusade expansion and I have always been in love with its universe. I always clung to any bit of lore I found in-game or learned from others, but it never quite satisfied me. Being an avid reader of varying levels of literature, I am honestly surprised that it took me so long to begin reading the books. At the beginning of August, I told myself I need to bite the bullet (after seeing the daunting, very long list of books I was behind on) and searched for a list of the proper order to read them in and was directed to Rise of the Horde by Christie Golden. I was very familiar with many of the plotlines of this book because my very first character was a Draenei Shaman and I absorbed as much in-game lore as I could about both the Draenei people and the Shaman. Outland itself has a lot of history in its quests and NPC dialogue to inform players as to what happened to the planet the expansion revolves around. Also, at the time of purchase, Warlords of Draenor had already been live for over nine months, so there was more about the Draenor I would be reading about. Upon reading it, I found that the story begins on Argus, long before most of the events of the book. I am very happy to have learned both exactly how Archimonde and Kil'jaeden became Sargeras' lieutenants and what exactly those Ata'mal crystals I'd been hearing about since TBC were. Also, it was great to see how the Naaru became such a part of Velen and the Draenei people. Then, we are flashed forward to the world of Draenor and we see many events unfold that bring us right up to The First War on Azeroth. There was so much information that I didn't even know I was ignorant to and I was constantly finding myself anxious to know what happens next. Four months later, I'm almost finished with the ninth book, The Well of Eternity. Out of all the authors I've read so far in this series, Christie Golden has become my favorite. I am anxiously awaiting an announcement that she will be writing for Legion.

If you've ever wondered how the World of Warcraft storyline gets started (excluding the Titans and Guardians saga) this is an absolutely wonderful title to begin from. Christie Golden's style of writing really shows someone who has a deep appreciation of a source material and treats it with the kind of respect one would wish most writers would. The fact that she's been tagged for several WoW novels really shows her dedication to the universe and coming from someone who's been playing the game for years now and never read one of the novels before this one, I look forward to each of her iterations from my beloved World of Warcraft universe.

I will preface this entire review with the fact that, I am no authority on the subject of World of Warcraft. Not even a novice, in fact. Surely, I’ve seen the South Park spoof, and understand what I’ve learned through this story (with some extrapolation and attention to detail), but this is my first real exposure of any sort to what is WoW. I was… moderately impressed. By no means high-literature, this is pretty interesting if you want a real quick paced story (Durotan before his rites to adulthood, through his rites, to his marriage, into Clans Chieftain and through 3 years of War against the draeni) that has some degree of nerdy depth to it (in kind, in kind!) then this is definitely your kind of story. From a critical perspective: the story is seems very rushed, for in the time which elapses, there might be other significant stories there. What we see, essentially, is the coming of age of two great Clan chieftains, and the manipulation of the Orcs by the Burning Legion, specifically Kil’Jaeden who is bent on the extermination of the eredar (here known as draeni). The Orcs, because of their gullibility and the faith they place upon their ancient ways are easily led astray and manipulated by Kil’Jaeden’s convincing banter and the ‘proofs’ he utilizes to win their arms – enhanced abilities, weapons and magics. While some of the Orc parties have moral qualms with what they are doing and how they are doing it – because this war is based essentially on ‘alike’ vs. ‘dissimilar’ – the fight rages on and we witness the genocide of a race along with the disastrous moral fall of the Orcs. A tragic scene where the Orcs, used as pawns, are pitted against the draeni in a grudge match that isn’t even their own. Ruining two nations, taking away their sacred rites, erasing a generation of Orc youths and nearly obliterating the draeni. A very tragic and heart-rending story if WoW were to have such a thing. The author is clearly an Orc apologist… and a decent crypto-historian! Each chapter opens with a brief excerpt or preface written by Thrall (he is apparently more recognizable as a member of the current WoW games; the son of Durotan & Draka) denoting brief snippets of this dark-age of Orc history from his perspective as both Shaman and War chief, leader of the Horde he details the Orc fall from their true nature as he is able to recount the story based upon details given him by Drek’Thar – the Frostwolf Shaman (Warlock) who supported his father. Each entry bears some ominous news, generally related to the ease with which the Orcs were deceived and the sorrow which Thrall experiences for his once mighty and proud people before their great deception at the hands of Kil’Jaeden and the man’ari. SPOILER’S: Opening to Saragras’ enticement of the eredar: Kil’Jaeden, Archimonde and Velen, he promises them and their people absolute rule, where thousands chant their names, a world conquered through war, bloodshed and the propagation of fear. Velen sees the destruction of the heart and soul of his people, a compassionate individual whom soon becomes an exile: a draeni, rather than a man’ari (a horrifically transformed eredar, more commonly known as ‘The Burning Legion’, 822). Velen also encounters the Naaru, and K’ure, a powerful being that resides in the mountain (Oshu’gun) the Orcs consider to be sacred. The story essentially revolves around the gradual drawing of the Orc clans into Saragras’ legions, with guile and deception the stage is set for a grand battle. We soon encounter the younglings: Durotan Garad & Orgrim Doomhammer, two orcs of different clans who form a bizarre and competitive friendship before the Om’riggor (rites of coming of age) festival. This is notably the first time a friendship had been borne of different clans (Frostwolf & Blackrock, respectively) and thus is a novelty to their clan’s leaders as well as to the draeni whom save Durotan and Orgrim from a large Ogre and show them their city while picking their brains about Orcishness, its people, history, habits, beliefs and customs. Having sent his most trusted spy, Talgath, on a reconnaissance mission, Kil’Jaeden learns where the draeni are hiding out and he sees that they’ve established a rudimentary harmony with the Orc clans than inhabit their shared world. He soon puts his master plan to manipulate the Orcs into full order. Initially appearing in dreams to the Clans shaman as ancestors (Shaman can converse with the deceased) the Shaman are informed that the draeni are plotting their destruction. The Orcs do not send a single ambassador – NOT ONE. Instead they immediately commence war-faring against the draeni, slaughtering their hunting parties and doing every single thing possible which works contrary to the way the Orcs were being painted up until this point. Generally they were depicted as honorable creatures, thrilling in the hunt but unwilling to take down defenseless prey or enemies. But, frightened as they were by the news from their faux ancestors, they waste little time engaging the fight. Ner’zhul, Shaman of the Shadowmoon clan, is visited by the visage of his deceased partner, Rulkan. Beguiled into believing the draeni dangerous he asks the Orcs to congregate and verifies the threat with the other Clan shaman. Progressing through many battles the orcs soon find that the shamanic powers of the earth they’d relied upon have been depleted! They’ve been abandoned by the ancients and they’ve expressed their disapproval by failing to appear to the shaman. Ner’zhul is soon usurped by his apprentice Gul’dan, a power-hungry orc who draws Blackhand (the Blackrock chieftain) into his ploy, after Ner’Zhul realizes that the orcs have been tricked because he took a pilgrimage to Oshu’gun and saw the ancestors turn away, abandoning the orcs. There is to be a pair of councils formed: the Horde, a governing body whose business is open (2124) and a secret committee, to do the dirty work behind the curtain. Because their earth-borne powers are gone (with the abandonment by the ancestors) the Orcs are now reliant upon the dark-magics propagated by the man’ari. These new magics come equipped with the assistance of daemon pets to further inflict harm upon the Orc’s victims. Drinking an elixir of Mannoroth’s (Kil’Jaeden’s lieutenant, something akin to a dragon) blood the Orc’s become little more than bloodthirsty savages. This aides them in the attack against the Temple of Korobor and laying it to waste. Expecting Velen killed and being hurried by Archimonde, Kil’Jaeden vanishes off to do Saragras’ bidding elsewhere. Meanwhile Medivh, purportedly Saragras’ master, begins presenting himself to Gul’dan. The goal is a portal to Azeroth. This achieved: the Horde is let loose upon the Warcraft World. A neat picture of the Orcs, from a crypto-historical perspective! Sorta fun. Orc Clans mentioned: Frostwolf, Blackrock, Warsong, Shadowmoon, Shattered Hand, Bleeding Hollow, Thunderlord, Dragonmaw, Laughing Skull, Bladewind, Red-Walker, Bonechewer (and some I missed). Quotes: ‘… the story of my father and those who believed in him (Durotan); and of those who betrayed him and indeed, all our people.’ (203) ‘There is no shame in fear… Only in letting fear prevent you from doing the right thing.’ (435) ‘It is said that the last of the Doomhammer line will use it to bring first salvation and then doom to the orc people.’ (573) ‘Teach him well Kashur, for one thing is certain: From his line will come salvation.’ (re: Durotan, 792) ‘Hate is powerful. Hate can be eternal. Hate can be manipulated. And hate can be created.’ (816) ‘All worlds, all beings, all races were horrifically equal in Sarageras’s eyes. They all needed to be obliterated in a ghastly festival of carnage and fire.’ (1439) ‘He loved his wife, his clan, his people. He hated what he was seeing: an entire generation rushing headlong to adulthood with only blind hate in their hearts.’ (1761) ‘The ancestors had never appeared to him (Ner’Zhul) at all. It had all been a trick concocted by Kil’Jaeden.’ (1942)

This was my first World of Warcraft and Christie Golden novel. I bought mainly because I came back to playing World of Warcraft after many years, and since I am a lore geek - I thought it would be nice to get some understanding of the story behind the world of the game. I didn't set my expectations high, and boy - was I surprised! This is the book you literally can't put away before you're done reading it. It takes the reader on a journey to an ancient world and a proud people that gets united against a common threat, despite the irrational reasons to see it as a "threat". I will not go into plot details, as I believe it is worth to discover them on your own, especially prior to the World of Warcraft movie that will hit cinemas in 2016. I can only say that it's absolutely worth reading for any fantasy fan, any geek, and it's a must read for World of Warcraft fan, who loves books and/or lore. There is one thing I need to mention about this book... something that hit me near the end of my reading, and something that might be a bit of a long shot, but that's how I see it. "Rise of the Horde" turned out to be a surprisingly insightful study of an entire nation's descent into madness, bloodlust and hatred. In a way it was almost a paralel of 1930's Germany - good, honest people, who get involved in a movement full of hatred, and decide to hunt down the common "enemy" - eventually becoming monsters. Absolutely worth reading! My next novel will be "Arthas", because I always wanted to learn more about this character, and I can't get enough of Christie Golden's writing style!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It gave me more insight into the beginnings of the Draenai and Orc civilizations and how they came to be on Azeroth. It gavew me more insight into some of the characters in World of Warcraft such as the Orc Warlords and some of the main Draenai figures. Before I read this book I had no idea who these characters were and how they fit into the Lore of Warcraft. The book was very well written. I especially liked reading about Durotan and Orgrim Doomhammer and how they were friends and both were against what their people were doing but felt forced to go along with them or be killed or exiled. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the Orcs before they came to Azeroth.

All around, this is a good book to read. I thought it was going to be like the movie, but it was a lot better simply because it showed a side of Duroton that wasn't shown in the movie. I also felt sorry for Velen and the Drenai after reading this book, where I use to hate them...the hard choices they are forced to make in order to survive. I would recommend that any World of Warcraft player who is into some lore.

amazing book. i wonder if non wow fans would like it as much though. i recommend this book for sure, and definitely worth reading the chronicle #1 before this.

Out of every Warcraft book this is the place to start. It takes before Warcraft 1, 2, 3, WoW, etc. This looks like it will help explain the history of the new WoW expansion War Lords of Draenor a bit. If you're looking for the proper order to read the Warcraft books I suggest the following: Rise of the Horde (book) - Covers approx. a 10 year period prior to WC I. The Last Guardian (book) - Touches on the closing days of the First War with bookends set prior to WC III. Tides of Darkness (book) - Covers WC II in continuity. Beyond the Dark Portal (book) - Covers WC II expansion in continuity. Day of the Dragon (book) - Wraps up some dangling threads from WC II with Deathwing and the Red Dragonflight. Lord of the Clans (book) - Covers a wide swath from just before WC II all the way to prior to WC III. Should be subtitled All You Wanted to Know About Thrall But Were Too Much of An Alliance Lover to Ask. ;) J/k. Of Blood and Honor (book) - Set just prior to WC III. Warcraft III Battle Chest (game) - Reign of Chaos covers the origin of the Scourge and the return of the Burning Legion. The Frozen Throne covers the exile of Illidun, the rise of the Forsaken and the crowning of a new Lich King. Founding of Durotar covers the most recent conflict between Horde and humans prior to WoW. Arthas: Rise of the Lich King (book) - Recaps material from Tides of Darkness all the way up until the end of Frozen Throne with bookends just before the WotLK cinematic. Ashbringer (comic) - Covers the fallout from Arthas dissolving the Order of the Silver Hand and the rise of Argent Dawn and Crimson Crusade. Cycle of Hatred (book) - Picks up after Founding of Durotar and begins to set the stage for WoW Vanilla. Well of Eternity (book) - Try and follow: characters from current Azeroth are sent back to the War of the Ancients 10,000 years before by the Bronze Dragonflight to make sure what was supposed to happen happens. Part of War of the Ancients Trilogy Demon Soul (book) - See above, part of War of the Ancients Trilogy. The Sundering (book) - See above, part of War of the Ancients Trilogy. Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy (Comic) - This is just before WoW vanilla since some Horde holdings (Tauren Mill) are still Alliance held. Sets up Kalygos and his motivations mostly. Warcraft Legends Vol. 1-5 (Comic) - These are all over the place, but primarily just before WoW Vanilla with some flashback stuff. The Dragons of Outland (Comic) - Trilogy set between Vanilla and TBC. Running a bit late, second volume should be out later this year. World of Warcraft Books 1-4 (comics) - Set between TBC and WotLK, covers a lot of plot spillover. Ever why the Missing Diplomat questchain ends so quickly in Thereamore? The answer is here. Death Knight (comic) - Set before and during WotLK. Sets up Thassarian. Mage (comic) - Set before WotLK. Sets up why Dalaran is a floating city over Northrend. Night of the Dragon (book) - Set before WotLK, deals with some stuff spilling out of TBC, especially dealing with Kalygos and the two new dragonflights in Outland. Stormrage (book) Set after WotLK. Sets up Malfurian Stormrage and Tyrande and the status of the Emerald Dream corruption. Shaman (comic) - Set between WotLK and Cata. The Shattering (book) - Covers all the details between WotLK and Cata that were going on while we were doing the pre-launch events. Wolfheart (book) - Details the Worgen and Gilneas' recruitment into the Alliance after the Cataclysm. Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects (book) - follows the former War Chief of the Horde as he struggles with the ongoing repercussions of the Cataclysm. Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War - The ashes of the Cataclysm have settled across Azeroth’s disparate kingdoms. As the broken world recovers from the disaster, the renowned sorceress Lady Jaina Proudmoore continues her long struggle to mend relations between the Horde and the Alliance. Dawn of the Aspects - The former Dragon Aspects are on the brink of going their separate ways to forge new destinies... Vol'Jin: Shadows of the Horde - Follows Vol'Jin as he travels to Pandaria, where the troll chieftain's loyalties are put to the ultimate test when a member of his own faction moves to assassinate him. . . . War Crimes - Centers around Garrosh Hellscream after the Siege of Orgrimmar. It provides a bridge between the events at the end of the Mists of Pandaria expansion and the upcoming Warlords of Draenor expansion. Hope this helped i tried my best to get it right but as always there may be some mistakes just try to look into it on wowwiki or wowpedia. Special Thanks to Kordd on the battle.net forums for creating the original part of the list.

So I've played the game off and on for, well, since it came out, but I've never really known anything about the lore. When the cut-scenes were released for the new expansion I was really impressed by them, and decided to check out the books, starting from the beginning. The story is essentially told by Thrall, and mostly through the eyes of Durotan. He explains how the Orcs were just individual tribes, coming together only in the shadow of Oshu'gun just twice a year. We see the budding friendship between Durotan and Orgrim, and how the Orcs were one with the land. Then we see how Ner'zhul was manipulated by Kil'jaeden, posing as the spirit of his dead wife Rulka and convincing them that the Draenai were a threat. This is the turning point and the birth of the Horde, with Gul'dan complicit in it. This is when elements turned on the Shaman, who Gul'dan then trained as Warlocks, as the Orcs became mindless murderers. I never really understood the story of the Draenai, and now that I do, I feel bad for them. Not only did their own people turn on them, but the Orcs nearly exterminated them. It's also interesting how Draenor was destroyed in the process, becoming the broken world of Outland, and how the Orcs ended up in Azeroth. It was a good book, and I'm looking forward to the next. I'm also very impressed with quality of the actual book.

The only bad thing so far about this series is that not all of them are on Kindle. I've been a Christie Golden fan since reading her Star Trek Voyager books, so I was pleasantly surprised to see she was/is writing for Blizzard. The back story of Durotan and Orgrim and the rise of the Horde was so well written. There were no boring parts of this book at all, it flowed nicely. I would have liked to see more put into certain timelines of the book that were only briefly mentioned, but I understand you can only fit so much into each storyline without bogging down the flow. Highly recommend for any WoW player but also anyone who like fantasy fiction. I think even if I didn't play WoW I would still find this to be a great read.

I would like to begin my review by stating that I have been playing World of Warcraft since The Burning Crusade expansion and I have always been in love with its universe. I always clung to any bit of lore I found in-game or learned from others, but it never quite satisfied me. Being an avid reader of varying levels of literature, I am honestly surprised that it took me so long to begin reading the books. At the beginning of August, I told myself I need to bite the bullet (after seeing the daunting, very long list of books I was behind on) and searched for a list of the proper order to read them in and was directed to Rise of the Horde by Christie Golden. I was very familiar with many of the plotlines of this book because my very first character was a Draenei Shaman and I absorbed as much in-game lore as I could about both the Draenei people and the Shaman. Outland itself has a lot of history in its quests and NPC dialogue to inform players as to what happened to the planet the expansion revolves around. Also, at the time of purchase, Warlords of Draenor had already been live for over nine months, so there was more about the Draenor I would be reading about. Upon reading it, I found that the story begins on Argus, long before most of the events of the book. I am very happy to have learned both exactly how Archimonde and Kil'jaeden became Sargeras' lieutenants and what exactly those Ata'mal crystals I'd been hearing about since TBC were. Also, it was great to see how the Naaru became such a part of Velen and the Draenei people. Then, we are flashed forward to the world of Draenor and we see many events unfold that bring us right up to The First War on Azeroth. There was so much information that I didn't even know I was ignorant to and I was constantly finding myself anxious to know what happens next. Four months later, I'm almost finished with the ninth book, The Well of Eternity. Out of all the authors I've read so far in this series, Christie Golden has become my favorite. I am anxiously awaiting an announcement that she will be writing for Legion.

If you've ever wondered how the World of Warcraft storyline gets started (excluding the Titans and Guardians saga) this is an absolutely wonderful title to begin from. Christie Golden's style of writing really shows someone who has a deep appreciation of a source material and treats it with the kind of respect one would wish most writers would. The fact that she's been tagged for several WoW novels really shows her dedication to the universe and coming from someone who's been playing the game for years now and never read one of the novels before this one, I look forward to each of her iterations from my beloved World of Warcraft universe.

I will preface this entire review with the fact that, I am no authority on the subject of World of Warcraft. Not even a novice, in fact. Surely, I’ve seen the South Park spoof, and understand what I’ve learned through this story (with some extrapolation and attention to detail), but this is my first real exposure of any sort to what is WoW. I was… moderately impressed. By no means high-literature, this is pretty interesting if you want a real quick paced story (Durotan before his rites to adulthood, through his rites, to his marriage, into Clans Chieftain and through 3 years of War against the draeni) that has some degree of nerdy depth to it (in kind, in kind!) then this is definitely your kind of story. From a critical perspective: the story is seems very rushed, for in the time which elapses, there might be other significant stories there. What we see, essentially, is the coming of age of two great Clan chieftains, and the manipulation of the Orcs by the Burning Legion, specifically Kil’Jaeden who is bent on the extermination of the eredar (here known as draeni). The Orcs, because of their gullibility and the faith they place upon their ancient ways are easily led astray and manipulated by Kil’Jaeden’s convincing banter and the ‘proofs’ he utilizes to win their arms – enhanced abilities, weapons and magics. While some of the Orc parties have moral qualms with what they are doing and how they are doing it – because this war is based essentially on ‘alike’ vs. ‘dissimilar’ – the fight rages on and we witness the genocide of a race along with the disastrous moral fall of the Orcs. A tragic scene where the Orcs, used as pawns, are pitted against the draeni in a grudge match that isn’t even their own. Ruining two nations, taking away their sacred rites, erasing a generation of Orc youths and nearly obliterating the draeni. A very tragic and heart-rending story if WoW were to have such a thing. The author is clearly an Orc apologist… and a decent crypto-historian! Each chapter opens with a brief excerpt or preface written by Thrall (he is apparently more recognizable as a member of the current WoW games; the son of Durotan & Draka) denoting brief snippets of this dark-age of Orc history from his perspective as both Shaman and War chief, leader of the Horde he details the Orc fall from their true nature as he is able to recount the story based upon details given him by Drek’Thar – the Frostwolf Shaman (Warlock) who supported his father. Each entry bears some ominous news, generally related to the ease with which the Orcs were deceived and the sorrow which Thrall experiences for his once mighty and proud people before their great deception at the hands of Kil’Jaeden and the man’ari. SPOILER’S: Opening to Saragras’ enticement of the eredar: Kil’Jaeden, Archimonde and Velen, he promises them and their people absolute rule, where thousands chant their names, a world conquered through war, bloodshed and the propagation of fear. Velen sees the destruction of the heart and soul of his people, a compassionate individual whom soon becomes an exile: a draeni, rather than a man’ari (a horrifically transformed eredar, more commonly known as ‘The Burning Legion’, 822). Velen also encounters the Naaru, and K’ure, a powerful being that resides in the mountain (Oshu’gun) the Orcs consider to be sacred. The story essentially revolves around the gradual drawing of the Orc clans into Saragras’ legions, with guile and deception the stage is set for a grand battle. We soon encounter the younglings: Durotan Garad & Orgrim Doomhammer, two orcs of different clans who form a bizarre and competitive friendship before the Om’riggor (rites of coming of age) festival. This is notably the first time a friendship had been borne of different clans (Frostwolf & Blackrock, respectively) and thus is a novelty to their clan’s leaders as well as to the draeni whom save Durotan and Orgrim from a large Ogre and show them their city while picking their brains about Orcishness, its people, history, habits, beliefs and customs. Having sent his most trusted spy, Talgath, on a reconnaissance mission, Kil’Jaeden learns where the draeni are hiding out and he sees that they’ve established a rudimentary harmony with the Orc clans than inhabit their shared world. He soon puts his master plan to manipulate the Orcs into full order. Initially appearing in dreams to the Clans shaman as ancestors (Shaman can converse with the deceased) the Shaman are informed that the draeni are plotting their destruction. The Orcs do not send a single ambassador – NOT ONE. Instead they immediately commence war-faring against the draeni, slaughtering their hunting parties and doing every single thing possible which works contrary to the way the Orcs were being painted up until this point. Generally they were depicted as honorable creatures, thrilling in the hunt but unwilling to take down defenseless prey or enemies. But, frightened as they were by the news from their faux ancestors, they waste little time engaging the fight. Ner’zhul, Shaman of the Shadowmoon clan, is visited by the visage of his deceased partner, Rulkan. Beguiled into believing the draeni dangerous he asks the Orcs to congregate and verifies the threat with the other Clan shaman. Progressing through many battles the orcs soon find that the shamanic powers of the earth they’d relied upon have been depleted! They’ve been abandoned by the ancients and they’ve expressed their disapproval by failing to appear to the shaman. Ner’zhul is soon usurped by his apprentice Gul’dan, a power-hungry orc who draws Blackhand (the Blackrock chieftain) into his ploy, after Ner’Zhul realizes that the orcs have been tricked because he took a pilgrimage to Oshu’gun and saw the ancestors turn away, abandoning the orcs. There is to be a pair of councils formed: the Horde, a governing body whose business is open (2124) and a secret committee, to do the dirty work behind the curtain. Because their earth-borne powers are gone (with the abandonment by the ancestors) the Orcs are now reliant upon the dark-magics propagated by the man’ari. These new magics come equipped with the assistance of daemon pets to further inflict harm upon the Orc’s victims. Drinking an elixir of Mannoroth’s (Kil’Jaeden’s lieutenant, something akin to a dragon) blood the Orc’s become little more than bloodthirsty savages. This aides them in the attack against the Temple of Korobor and laying it to waste. Expecting Velen killed and being hurried by Archimonde, Kil’Jaeden vanishes off to do Saragras’ bidding elsewhere. Meanwhile Medivh, purportedly Saragras’ master, begins presenting himself to Gul’dan. The goal is a portal to Azeroth. This achieved: the Horde is let loose upon the Warcraft World. A neat picture of the Orcs, from a crypto-historical perspective! Sorta fun. Orc Clans mentioned: Frostwolf, Blackrock, Warsong, Shadowmoon, Shattered Hand, Bleeding Hollow, Thunderlord, Dragonmaw, Laughing Skull, Bladewind, Red-Walker, Bonechewer (and some I missed). Quotes: ‘… the story of my father and those who believed in him (Durotan); and of those who betrayed him and indeed, all our people.’ (203) ‘There is no shame in fear… Only in letting fear prevent you from doing the right thing.’ (435) ‘It is said that the last of the Doomhammer line will use it to bring first salvation and then doom to the orc people.’ (573) ‘Teach him well Kashur, for one thing is certain: From his line will come salvation.’ (re: Durotan, 792) ‘Hate is powerful. Hate can be eternal. Hate can be manipulated. And hate can be created.’ (816) ‘All worlds, all beings, all races were horrifically equal in Sarageras’s eyes. They all needed to be obliterated in a ghastly festival of carnage and fire.’ (1439) ‘He loved his wife, his clan, his people. He hated what he was seeing: an entire generation rushing headlong to adulthood with only blind hate in their hearts.’ (1761) ‘The ancestors had never appeared to him (Ner’Zhul) at all. It had all been a trick concocted by Kil’Jaeden.’ (1942)

This was my first World of Warcraft and Christie Golden novel. I bought mainly because I came back to playing World of Warcraft after many years, and since I am a lore geek - I thought it would be nice to get some understanding of the story behind the world of the game. I didn't set my expectations high, and boy - was I surprised! This is the book you literally can't put away before you're done reading it. It takes the reader on a journey to an ancient world and a proud people that gets united against a common threat, despite the irrational reasons to see it as a "threat". I will not go into plot details, as I believe it is worth to discover them on your own, especially prior to the World of Warcraft movie that will hit cinemas in 2016. I can only say that it's absolutely worth reading for any fantasy fan, any geek, and it's a must read for World of Warcraft fan, who loves books and/or lore. There is one thing I need to mention about this book... something that hit me near the end of my reading, and something that might be a bit of a long shot, but that's how I see it. "Rise of the Horde" turned out to be a surprisingly insightful study of an entire nation's descent into madness, bloodlust and hatred. In a way it was almost a paralel of 1930's Germany - good, honest people, who get involved in a movement full of hatred, and decide to hunt down the common "enemy" - eventually becoming monsters. Absolutely worth reading! My next novel will be "Arthas", because I always wanted to learn more about this character, and I can't get enough of Christie Golden's writing style!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It gave me more insight into the beginnings of the Draenai and Orc civilizations and how they came to be on Azeroth. It gavew me more insight into some of the characters in World of Warcraft such as the Orc Warlords and some of the main Draenai figures. Before I read this book I had no idea who these characters were and how they fit into the Lore of Warcraft. The book was very well written. I especially liked reading about Durotan and Orgrim Doomhammer and how they were friends and both were against what their people were doing but felt forced to go along with them or be killed or exiled. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the Orcs before they came to Azeroth.

All around, this is a good book to read. I thought it was going to be like the movie, but it was a lot better simply because it showed a side of Duroton that wasn't shown in the movie. I also felt sorry for Velen and the Drenai after reading this book, where I use to hate them...the hard choices they are forced to make in order to survive. I would recommend that any World of Warcraft player who is into some lore.

amazing book. i wonder if non wow fans would like it as much though. i recommend this book for sure, and definitely worth reading the chronicle #1 before this.

As with most warcraft books, if you've played the games you already know what's going to happen. Either way, I found myself on the edge every time I turned a page. Really makes you look at orcs in a different way.

As a long-time WoW player, I have been late in getting into the lore of the game. I chose to read Rise of the Horde in preparation for the newest game expansion, Warlords of Draenor, and I was not disappointed. The book captured the feeling of old Orc life prior to the influence of Kil'jaeden and the Burning Legion, and it described in great storying detail the coming together of the Horde, and how it was driven to invade Azeroth. I enjoyed the read very much. It was also the first e-book I have read (kindle app on iOS), and that was great fun. Off to read Christie Golden's latest work, War Crimes next.

This is the first WoW novel I have read and I must say it was a fine introduction to the literature side of The World of Warcraft. Even though I roughly knew what happened with the orcs I still learned a lot from this book and it kept me turning pages for much of it. I usually don't enjoy reading, I'm more of the t.v. and video game type person but this is different reading something like this. If you played WoW I suggest you read this.

i love to read these books, any fantasy readers should buy these

Actually a really good book. Hope they release more books from the series with this cover design " Blizzard Legends". This is what the Warcraft Movie SHOULD'VE COVERED.

My feelings were somewhat mixed on this book. What I liked about it was that the author really knew his WoW background. The story presented the history of the Horde and their conflict with the Draenei in a very concise and understandable way. It was an "easy read", and there was little to no confusion about what was happening. What I didn't care for was how particularly violent this book was. The author vividly presented the blood and guts of conflict. I'm sure that is what the author intended, but the unintentional consequence was not feeling sorry for the Orcs at all. If you are a hard core WoW fan, this book is a must read. Just be prepared for a "D-day" like story.

This book is wonderful. Not only is it full of cameos from lore characters of the older Warcraft games, but it shows you the depth and impact that went with the process of turning peaceful orcish clans into the blood thirsty Horde that Azerothian history knows so well. A must read for any Warcraft fan. Golden paints the pictures and emotions so vividly in this tale and certainly did her homework with including lore.

Incredible book, will definitely be buying more of Christie's work!

love it

This book gives the story of how the orcs changed from a relatively peaceful collection of tribes to a bloodthirsty horde. Christie tells the story from the Orc's PoV, mostly though Durotan eyes and Thrall's story telling. This was a very thorough telling and would be nice to see the same story through the eyes of the Draenei. If you want to learn more of the lore of the Horde and Draenei, then pick this up!

The book came quickly and was in excellent condition. The book is a very good place to start if you're wanting to learn more about the Warcraft story. Warning it's very dark but considering the topic, it had to be.

As literature, it isn't one of the best books I have ever read, but as a book based on a game (or RPG) - what usualy results in not very good histories, and I have read many - it's good. It's well written. In order to have how to compare my taste would be good to you to know that to me "Tides of darkness" was bad (too descriptive); "Cycle of hatred", tasteless (no emotion, no surprise); "They of the dragon" worse, it's boring; "Of blood and honor" is nice; "The last guardian" is very cool"; and I think that "Lord of the clans is good", but "Rise of the Horde" is a bit better. It's very cool to "see" guys like Gul'dan, Ner'Zhul, a young Doomhammer and Hellscream, as well as Kiljaeden and Archimond yet as "normal" people (hahaha). The way it's explained why a shamanistic and relatively peacefull race, became engaged in a war with his very tranquil neybohood, was a great idea (demons rules!) The rise of the horde (the fact, not the book) is terrifying. Durotan seems a very lucid german, before the second war, seeing the third reich rising and he can't do anything to stop it. Chirstie Golden makes you feel Durotan's pain. To finish: the book is worth it's price. Buy it! You will have some fun.

Golden illustrates well the monumental story that unfolded on Draenor. For those familiar to the Warcraft story and those not, I highly recommend this be the starting point when exploring the Warcraft novels.

Love this book. I just recently got into the WoW universe, and I didn't know much about the Draenor lore until I read Rise of the Horde. Along with giving a detailed history of the orcs prior to becoming contaminated with fel power, it also paints a historical view of the draenei and how they came to Azeroth originally. I thought this book was a great piece to add to any WoW lore collection.

Pretty good story.. It lined up with the world of Warcraft story line pretty much until they released the warlords of draenor trailer. But overall, a good story for people that enjoy the lore of world of Warcraft

A fantastic Warcraft-lore read. It gives insight into not only the history of the orcs and the origins of the Horde, but the Draenei as well (and their flight from Argus). Seeing Draenor/Outland prior to the events in the "World of Warcraft" was a treat as well. Oshu'gun, the Temple of Karabor (aka the Black Temple) are just a few places covered. With periodic narrations by Thrall and featuring characters like Velen, Durotan, Orgrim Doomhammer and Kil'Jaeden, it's chock full of Warcrafty goodness. The characterizations were largely solid, though one may find themselves questioning the validity of some decisions ("Why yes, I think we shall imbibe of this demon blood. Capital idea if I may say so!") made by the key players. Of course, with a continuity mostly in place prior to being written, the author had to work with and around what was already established as canon. Regardless of that hiccup, this book is a mandatory read for anyone interested in Warcraft lore, especially time periods preceeding the "World of Warcraft" game's setting.

Like all of the Warcraft books, this one will only impress true fans of the franchise and only then if they are interested in young-adult style writing.

My son loved it would definitely purchase from this person again

A great story of the major players involved in the formation of the Horde. Characters well built; their motivations and weaknesses believable. Only four stars because of the common complaint against Golden: the poor communication of scale. However, the story told is excellent despite that. I only subtract one star to fairly admit that it's not perfect :) I recommend this book for any Warcraft/WoW fan, and think it could stand on it's own for any reader of sword-and-sorcery fantasy.

We all think of the Orcs as mindless beast... well this book gives us insight into how the Shamanistic Orcs got to be the Horde. As a WoW player that has never liked the Horde, this book inspired me to roll an Orc Shaman. Also it tells where the Draenei came from... I loved it so much I sent my sister a copy!

Not much to like in this book. I really don't understand why this was set as an extended flashback. This added absolutely nothing to the already lacking story. I really wasn't invested in any of the characters and the lore was boring as well.

I started playing WoW during Cataclysm and really missed a lot of the lore and experiences that come from playing a game from the beginning. I am one of those geeks that likes to know where the Horde came from and why they are fighting against the Alliance etc. This is a great book that explains the lore in a very entertaining way.

I generally don't read much fiction, but picked this up on a recommendation and thoroughly loved reading every page of it. It was great to learn some of the lore behind many of the familiar names and places from the game but I think I would have enjoyed this book just as much even if I had never played it. The story has a solid plot and is well written with excellent character arcs. My only gripe is that Durotan because a bit predictable but other than that the author did an absolutely superb job.

Despite frequent retcons it's still a good telling of Warcraft history.

Being a Horde lover and a warlock, this book was GREAT! Its a running joke that warlocks are just emo mages, well now I know that Warlocks are really shamans that due to certain events stopped being able to communicate with the elements and so they were taught how to become warlocks. Essentially, we are evil Shamans. If you want to learn about how we became the horde and what lead to us coming to Azeroth, this book is a must read!

This book is wonderfully written and a must for understanding the lore that leads up to the current expansion for World of Warcraft "Warlords of Draenor".

Nice quality print/fast shipping, but unfortunately it came damaged on the bottom of the cover.

Definitly, by far, the first book you need to begin with to know about world of warcraft's lore. And the hability of the writter to keep your mind focused on it was amazing, read it 3 times, and I'm on my way to the 4th :D

As I finished the last chapter I thought, "Okay I'll go to bed and read more tomorrow." Of course, like I said, it was the last chapter. Sadly. I guess I will buy the next book when I wake up. :)

Bought this for a friend for his birthday-he loved it!

Perfect fantasy book for a short bid

Christie Golden is at the top of her game in this book. Definitely recommended for fans of The Horde!

Fantastic book a great story about the corruption of two major races in WoW and also the origin of two of the nastiest villans of the WoW universe. If you love WoW you will love this book. Well written never a dull moment

I have been a fan of Christie Golden for a long time but this book is a masterpiece. It was tough to read. I could only take it in small bites but it was worth it. I have, now, a new found respect for Go El and the orcs. Thanks Christie for a great read.

Excellent read, complicated yet simple...Kudos to C.G., brilliant delivery, clean scene descriptions, sustainable dialogue/relationships

Quite enjoyed the book but. Found it hard to relate to heroes I am more a human or elf man Howerver my 18 year old grandson is. A fanatic and has read all of them

I really enjoy Christie Golden's works and this one is no exception. From start to finish, it gives a good understanding of how the orcs came to be the ones we know from the Warcraft games. I only wish that it would have been longer and talked more about the big named orcs (and Draenai) that we've come to know and love/hate.

Would buy again.

This is a great book for understanding how were the orcs back in Draenor, where did the Draenei came from, and why and how did the orcs turned to worship demons. One can get to know so many renowed orcs, like Durotan and Draka, Orgrim, Drek'thar, Ner'zhul, Guldan, Blackhand and his sons, Grom... It's a must read book for those who play World of Warcraft, and not only for members of the Horde but for those from the Alliance who are no so full of hatred toward those now green-skinned beings.

Amazing how much lore Blizzard has created through the Warcraft series and World of Warcraft. An excellent read for any fan of the games. It adds so much more to what you may have experienced in either game series. Highly recommended. The story and writing is well done and captures the attention throughout. Enjoy!

Great story

I would recommend for anyone who is interested in starting the World of Warcraft Saga. This book also hits main points into the new expansion of World of Warcraft Draenor because that's where the story is located in the book. Overall I loved it.

This book is definitely worth reading. I loved it. It makes me enjoyed the game more because I can solve what understand why everything is the way it is. Definitely worth buying.

Whether your into WoW lore, or just into epic tales of heroism and magic, this is a great read,

Thank you!

Great book!

I love Warcraft lore. This book tied everything together that is Outland and is a great read for people excited about the upcoming warlords of dreanor

This is a good book to read for those lovers of Azeroth. It is indeed entertaining and provides some good insight into the lore of World of Warcraft.

If you wanna fill in some lore holes this is a fun read. Tells a lot of the back story and of the different groups before the Horde as we know it.

Looking to discover more about Warcraft's past, this book is a wonderful starting point. Christie Golden's writing is fantastic and allows you to follow the story as it switches between perspectives and characters easily. Highly recommended.

Extremely well written. Even though it is based on lore and could be dry, the author creates rich characters and complex emotional situations that really draws the reader in, while at the same time learning the lore.

Good book

To be honest, I half expected to be disappointed with this book, but on the contrary, it has been quite the read.

I'm a wow player and the stories only make it more fun

pretty good book

I am a huge fan of the game (World of Warcraft). The lore has always been very interesting to me! I'm not a big fan of reading, but I couldn't put this book down. I read it in 4 days in my spare Time (that's juggling school, homework, family time, friend time, and of course, WoW time!) I plan to read every wow book and encourage you to do the same!

Certainly no literary masterpiece, but it's not trying to be. It's a fun read and a great source of lore.

Great first read for WoW lore

Pretty enjoyable for a video game book. Made me appreciate WC3 even more.

Good read!

This is definitely the first book I recommend to read when starting the Warcraft series. Easy to read, large print in paperback version, and a great story. If you like Warcraft, you'll like this book.

Christie Golden is a brilliant author and the source material lends itself perfectly to her writing style. I may be a huge Blizzard fanboy, but even taking that out of the equation this is just an amazing, tragically beautiful story. I'm reading The Last Guardian next to continue the story chronologically.

I love this book because it mentions how the Horde came to be so bloodthirsty. Great book if you like lore!

This is a follow-up to Christie Golden's Lord of the Clans, also contained in Warcraft: Archive. This tale chronicles Thrall's recording of the rise of the first Horde on the world of Draenor, otherwise known as Outlands. I learned a lot about the dynamics of the Draenei and thigns related to WoW:TBC that I would have otherwise not know since I play Horde exclusively. A great read that I highly reccommend.

love it

I really enjoyed reading through all the lore and learning about some orc history. I read Stormrage before this and I enjoyed this book quite a bit more. If you think you want to learn about how the orcs came to being like they are then this is a great book to start out.

Much better than I thought it would be. As a hero, Durotan is flawed and that made him interesting. Reading the book made me excited to go play old content, especially raids. Can't wait to read additional Warcraft books to understand the lore of the game better!

I wish every player truly understood the "backstory" of the game -- it enriches the game experience so much. This is not necessarily a 'blockbuster' sort of book - more a quit, purposeful story that tells us ... why. If you play it, read it!

Thoroughly enjoyed learning the beginnings of the Horde through the narration from Thrall about his Father. If you like WoW, then you should read to understand the background of Warcraft.

Fantastic Read! For the Horde!

great book. Present for my husband he loves Warcraft lore.

This book is slow at forst but stick with it because it gets good. really explains how things happened and are the way they are as of horde and alliance. Thrall really shows what kind of person he is and i find its much respected.

Great read!!! I loved it!

Fantastic story; very deep and somber. I was recommended this book a little while ago and mye only regret is that I didn't pick a copy up sooner. I definitely urge any Warcraft fans to give this book a shot: you (hopefully) won't regret it.

This book gives you a lot of back ground should you have started playing WoW later than others, myself I started WotLK so I missed WoW and BC. I'm planning on reading all of the WoW books.

good book

gift

great reading, slow delivery.

Great story, well written.. gotta love WOW ! Looking forward to more Wow Books ! yayy for Wow.. Yay for the books too

good info to storyline

Provided some interesting insights into the burning crusade era. Although this is a quick read, it was well worth my time as a refresher before the upcoming WoD expansion release.

Absolutely amazing. Combines memories (WoW), scenarios, incredible character background history and thrilling sensation along the whole novel. I'd recommend it to former or actual WoW players who are actually interested in taking a first glance at the Horde history.

A great read as the first book in the WoW series. Blizzard doesn't have an actual timeline or order for the way the books are written. I looked up a read order at: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1430025-best-order-to-read-the-wow-books-in. I have 10 years experience playing WoW and I'm four books in. I truly agree with this suggest book order. You wont be disappointed with this one.

Awesome backstory. Read it in preparation for the new wow expansion and for the warcraft movie

I may sound biased but I love reading Christie Golden books and this is one of them. A good read for any real WoW fan

I grew up with playing Warcraft and I loved the stories in all the games and I wanted more, so I finally decided to start reading the books and I absolutely love this book, It's hard to put down, and it's a very easy read! If you like the Warcraft universe I recommend getting this book!

Loved the story. After playing the World of Warcraft games, it was nice to go back and learn the lore behind it all from the beginning.

Cool.

It's WoW

While the story is about a male orc, the emotional responses make it clear it was written by a woman. However, Ms. Golden does an admirable job of making characters the reader can relate to. It is also a great reference for those who are into the whole World of Warcraft scene. It gives a great history as to why the Horde is the way it is. It answered a great many questions I had about the Horde in general and the Orcs in particular.

Great book.

This was my first go at a wow book and it is Nice to get to know the history of the orcs better and it is really well written!

Really enjoying reading the lore of Warcraft. I've been playing for 10 years and this book is great for any wow fan. I can't wait to read the next one.

excellent back story into a world so many people have grown to love over the years. the story written in Durotan's point of view kept me on the edge of my seat.

Great book if your into WoW lore. Christie Golden has a true talent. Thank you

An easy read but a good one. Essential to the lore of warcraft and overall just an awesome story to read.

If you as I has been a fan of the Warcraft universe for a long time, then this read will not disappoint. It shows you how gentle and kind the Orcs once were and where they come from.

If your into WOW lore or just getting the game this is a good book to give you an understanding of the characters

Really explains what happened to the orcs and what made them so bloodthirsty, made me feel bad about the drawbridge though.

GO HORDE! Haha I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone even if you have not played any Warcraft.

A very interesting and well told story for fans of Warcraft. Would recommend to friends (and I have). Can't wait for the rest of the lore books to ship!

This was the first book I have read that pertains to the lore of WoW. It definitely did a good job at making me want to read the other books!

I loved how unique and adventurous the story. I would recommend this book to any one who loves a good fiction

Great book

A must for the Warcraft Lore fanatic. The author draws you in and leaves you on the edge of your seat through the world of Draenor.

This book was tough to read. Maybe it's because I mainly play alliance. This is the story of the Orc people and how they were hoodwinked into the genocide of the Draenei. It's told via Blizzards favorite Orc Thrall. Not a bad read if you want to get the back story on all the major Orcs we'll see in WoD

A wonderful history! It really brings a new light to a world that has so much to offer and I can't get enough.

If you enjoy the World of Warcraft mythology, this is a good read. I wish I'd read this before playing The Burning Crusade!

I loved this book. I hope it is part of a series. I wanted to learn some of the history.

Is amazing! If you want to be prepared for warlords of Deanor, read this book! I give this 5 stars!

My son added these to his Christmas list a little late in the game. But I took a chance and ordered anyway, and it arrived in plenty of time. Thank you.

Great read, kept me hooked. I recommend so much to anyone considering this. Get it! You will not regret it!

Super reading

very nice book. goes over how the orcs have risen and started with Durotan, Ogrim and Hellscream. Dranaei all killed

A must for fans of the game!

If you are into World Of Warcraft books this is a must. Even if you aren't it is still quite an interesting read.

the book is awesome & make you understand all the problems in the World of Warcraft & if not all the roots of it

I thought this book was done very well and I'm looking to read more of these great books in the future

Just an amazing quality boost.

Great read. Got it digitally. Loved it

One of the best WoW books I have ever read! IT IS A MUST READ!

This is probably the worst WoW book out of all the ones I've read. It had some interesting aspects to it but there was just too much that felt like filler. It may still be worth reading if you love WoW that much, and especially with the next expansion coming out having a lot to do with the characters present in this book.

i did not read. it was a gift.

good

You will never get a review out of me!!!!!

This book is very interesting. I would recomend this book because it is so cool.

Awesome.

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Bookworm Speaks! World of Warcraft Rise of the Horde by Christie Golden **** Acquired: Barnes and Noble Booksellers Series: World of Warcraft (Book 2) Paperback: 355 Pages Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment; First Edition edition (November 15, 2016) Language: English Subject: Genre Video Game Adaptation / Fantasy **** The Story: Though the young Warchief Thrall ended the demon curse that had plagued his people for generations, the orcs still wrestle with the sins of their bloody past. As the rampaging Horde, they waged a number of devastating wars against their perennial enemy — the Alliance. Yet the rage and bloodlust that drove the orcs to destroy everything in their path nearly consumed them as well. Long ago, on the idyllic world of Draenor, the noble orc clans lived in relative peace with their enigmatic neighbors, the draenei. But the nefarious agents of the Burning Legion had other plans for both of the unsuspecting races. The demon-lord Kil’jaeden set in motion a dark chain of events that would succeed not only in eradicating the draenei, but forging the orc clans into an single, unstoppable juggernaut of hatred and destruction. An original tale of magic, warfare, and heroism based on the best-selling, award-winning electronic game series from Blizzard. The Review: This was one of the first Warcraft novels Bookworm had ever read and its influence has never waned. One of the hallmarks of a good book is how well the reader can recall parts and passages long after the completion of the reading. This book has stuck in Bookworm’s memory for a very long time, a testament to the wordsmithing at work here. On a minor note: the cover of this book is probably the most iconic images of the Warcraft universe that Bookworm can think of. In a lot of ways, the overall storyline contains threads of the traditional hero’s journey, the foundation of almost all fantasy fiction. It follows the journey of an Orc named Durotan, who is the father of Thrall, a central character in Warcraft. The story describes him growing up and rising to leadership of his clan, the Frostwolves. Unlike most hero’s journey tales though, Durotar does not go on to become the savior of his people. Some may say that he failed in the expected hero’s challenge. That could be seen as one of the flaws with this novel. Durotan could be seen as a passive When one gets down to it though: Most if not all ‘Hero’s Journey’ tales are power fantasies in disguise. There nothing inherently wrong with that, they are fantasies after all. There are not realistic though, and oddly enough for a story that stars trolls and warlocks, is bit more realistic a path for a ‘hero”. The truth, there are a handful of people who get to shape the course of history and the most that the rest of us can do is just try to live our lives the best we can while we are swept up in the tides. That is exactly what Durotan does and why he is relatable as a protagonist. Perhaps it is a bit too relatable. Like many Warcraft books, the text carries multiple Point of View characters but Durotan is the only character that Bookworm can recall any significant passages from. Him and the narrator. He is the central character after all but perhaps the author should have stuck with him alone. Would have added a little less confusion. The world building is excellent. The way the Orcs are portrayed is very compelling. The truth is…Bookworm prefers the Orcs of Warcraft compared to the Orcs of Middle-Earth. The world of Draneor is easily visualized in the minds eye, a form of rugged paradise. The orc’s lived in harmony with their world in a primal but beautiful tribal culture. The way the Draenei are portrayed is not quite as well written or memorable as the orc arc. The best comparison Bookworm can think off, is the elves from Lord of the Rings. (Tolkien’s creation seems to come up frequently in this review!) That is not necessarily a good thing, as both are rather boring and lack depth. The reader only spends a limited amount of time with the Draenei so it is be expected, but their genocide has more gravitas on the side of Orcs rather than them. The fall of the Orcs is really a tragedy is every respect. They were a proud and noble culture but there was an innocence about them that made their manipulation so heartbreakingly believable. It adds context to the central conflict of Warcraft (Orcs & Humans) and creates a much more nuanced tale. Their being completely played by the Burning Legion can stretch believability a bit but the book does mention that during their time on Draenor, the tribes were essentially like children. What more needs to be said? One of the more uncomfortable truths that are uncovered is that more worldly readers can detect threads of human history among the history of the Orcs. One of the lines from this book that will probably never lose its relevance is: “Hate is powerful. Hate can be eternal. Hate can be manipulated. And hate can be created.” Time and again this words have been proven true, both in history as well as events currently unfolding. The tale Orc’s of Draener is mirrored by the Humans of Earth. Story can teach as much fact and reader’s must take heart the lessons they impart. The Final Verdict: World of Warcraft has been called by some as the Lord of the Rings of gaming, in that they are both fantasy universes with a vast and complex lore, filled to the brim with characters, settings, and conflicts. So much so, that confronting it can very intimidating. Where to begin! Thankfully, a book like this is around to guide the apprentice adventure to the world of Azeroth and beyond. The Rating Four Frostwolf Clan Crests out of Five

World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde was written by New York Times Best Selling Author, Christie Golden. SUMMARY: This book is somewhat difficult to breakdown into a brief summary. I will do my best and not drop any spoilers. Sergeras, the Dark Titan and lord of the Burning Legion, has corupted the eredar, a race of powerful magic wielders. Sergeras promised power to the eredar leadership in exchange for their peoples bidding on the world of Argus. Two of the three eredar accept this offer. The one who believes this deal is wrong, is Velen. He and his most trusted, gather others who disagree with the deal between the leadership and Sergeras, to escape their world with the help of a devine Naaru. The eredar who escape the dreaded grip of Sergeras, and make their new home on Draenor. They are given the name, draenei, meaning, exiled ones. The draeni live among the orcs. The two races aren't necessarily allies, but they do get along. Over many many years the draeini (who live extremely long lives) have watched the orcs become more civilized with time. Two young orcs find themselves in trouble. However the draeni save them and take them to the draeni kingdom, where they meet Velen. The hostility the orcs were given, will have a lasting affect on their lives and for major events to come. Kil'Jaeden, one of the eredar leaders who accepted the deal from Sergeras, becomes obsessed with searching for the draenei. When he finds them on Draenor, he will use his dark power to seduce the orcs into doing his bidding. The shaman orc, Gul'dan, does as instructed and gathers the separate clans of orc, and unites them under one banner as... the horde. CHARACTERS: There are great number of characters, I will only mention three. Durotan: He and his Frostwolf clan don't like how events are playing out under the leadership of Gul'dan. The horde defies much of who they are as a people and their traditions. Durotan does his best to stay loyal to the legacy of the Frostwolf clan and slow to changes forced upon him. He's brave,defiant, and moral. Gul'dan: He's a shaman orc, he's the great betrayer, the first warlock of the horde. He forces the orcs to abandon the old ways. No longer shall the orcs dwell on the spirts, but a new dark magic. Gul'dan leads his people to betray all they once believed, the peaceful draeni have been twisted in the minds of orc, they are now viewed as the villain and have no place in the world of Draenor. Gul'dan will lead his horde to war, and when the war is over, through a magical portal... to Azeroth... for more blood. Velen: Former eredar, now a draeni. He is wise and caring for his people. He's always keeping an eye out for the traitorous Kil'Jaeden. He's always one step ahead of the Burning Legions quest for domination and annihilating the remainder of his people. His desire for peace and a place to call home is great. OVERALL THOUGHTS: This book was great! The lore for Warcraft is deep and expansive. The story is actually pretty tough to explain without giving much away, but I'd say I succeeded in remaining spoiler free. I loved the book. the characters felt real and their situation dire. Christie Golden is an excellent writer. This book is the best place to start reading in the Warcraft novel timeline, it's the formation of the horde and the beginning of the invasion of Azeroth. Do I recommend that you read World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde? Heck yes! RATING: I will give this book an A! It’s full of action and emotion, will leave you craving more of Warcraft lore!

When I first read this in high school, I loved it. Now I loved the game at the time, but I didn't like every novel. While I still enjoyed this (albeit not as much), I'm glad that Christie Golden wrote this. While I haven't read all of the Warcraft novels, she's the only author that hasn't bored me. I admire Durotan for standing up for his beliefs. Now he did falter, but he had to protect his clan. What made me like him even more is he forbid his whole clan from drinking Mannoroth's blood. That action caused them to become exiled, but that's better than being driven by bloodlust. Also, with how important survival is to orcs, I'd think they could adapt. I also admire Draka for never leaving even when Durotan began to suspect exile. Even though the novel said that she was a weak child, she was lucky. Depending on the clan, weak children are drowned. However, the Frostwolf clan doesn't condone this practice. I only want to mention Ner'zhul because, he regretted his actions. Sure he helped cause the elements to turn against them, but he thought he was speaking with Rulkan. Not only did he regret his actions, but he did fight back. He just couldn't take a correct course of action because, at that time Gul'dan was popular. If someone becomes popular and you disagree, it might not be wise to disagree with them in public. The only thing that made me upset (aside from Draenai children being slaughtered) was Kil'jaeden using an illusion to fool Ner'zhul. Maybe if it was an unrelated spirit, I wouldn't mind so much. However, he used the orc's former mate. Even if that didn't upset you, you might agree that that was a low blow.

World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde, by Christie Golden "Rise of the Horde" is what a Warcraft book should be. The book is enjoyable, the plot is pretty solid, and the characters are spot on. In the author biography, Golden states that she is a World of Warcraft player and it shows - there are little things thrown in that any Warcraft player will appreciate. Each chapter starts with a brief introduction from Thrall, the current chief of the new Horde. He is writing the history of the old Horde, the Horde that destroyed their own world and invaded Azeroth, the Horde that perpetuated genocide on the draenei and slaughtered the humans. The story of the orcs starts with a noble race, living peacefully on Draenor. The orcs have coexisted with the draenei for hundreds of years, ever since the draenei arrived on Draenor fleeing from their ancient enemies. While the orcs take pleasure in hunting animals and bloodlust, they are not killers and have a culture, family groups, a belief system. But all that changes when the Burning Legion turns a key orc to their side, and he leads the orcs on a terrifying descent into madness. Only one clan stands apart, the Frostwolves; their leader Durotan watches helplessly as the orcs are corrupted by demons. Golden depicts this tale with plenty of emotion; I felt for Durotan's situation. How many of us have watched someone do something we know is wrong, but we can't change their minds? Most of us have, I'm sure. "The Rise of the Horde" details just that, the rise of the horde that descended upon Azeroth, intent on taking the world for their own. The story is known, especially if one is a Warcraft player; but Golden fleshes out the story very nicely. How many Warcraft players have visited Durotar, or Orgrimmar? The figures these places are named after, Durotan and Orgrim, are key characters in this book. The additional background detail it provides will delight any Warcraft player; this is one of my favorite novels based on the universe - I've read all of them, and read them all multiple times. 5/5.

If you're looking for high brow literature, this obviously isn't it - but it isn't meant to be, and I think that is where the lower ratings are coming from. As far as Sci-Fi, and WOW lit in particular, it's great. Interesting story and good characters. Many of the characters have a high degree of depth, and the author does a good job of showing that there are shades of gray, not just black and white. It gave me a totally different perspective on the horde from the one I had had just from game experiences. Durotan in particular is a very sympathetic character, in my opinion. If you're interested in understanding the back story to the game, I highly recommend. It's also sort of fun to read about places that you have "been" in game. Definitely a wonderful addition to the game experience, particularly for someone (like me) that enjoys reading to begin with.

This book is for Warcraft fans and many die hards will enjoy the depth it goes into and the explanations it gives. Pure fantasy nuts may want to stay away and, it goes without saying, that if you do not care for the literary style of Golden you should move right along. While I thought Arthas was a far better read than this book, the subject is a rooted before the time of WoW and players should know that. Upon completion of the book players of the MMO will know a lot more about the burning crusade and its events than they previously did and may have a better appreciation for that expansion and what was occurring there. Players of Warcraft III will probably recognize Archimonde and other characters and if they don't, all the cinemas are easily found on YouTube nowadays. I would recommend picking this up if you have a few hours/days and you want to get some more lore in your head before Golden's new book about Cataclysm comes out. If you haven't read Arthas, pick that one up first, it's in paperback now and it's a quick and satisfying read.

A marvelous, lore-rich book that expertly fuses the Warcaft story old and new. The writing is direct without any frills and the story itself is very compelling. It details the rise of the Orcish Horde on their planet of Draenor. Set before the events of the Warcraft games but including what we know from World of Warcraft (such as the Draeni), we follow the peaceful, shamanistic, brown-skinned orcs as they abandon their traditional tribal societies and become a force of doom and chaos that slaughters everything in its path, including the land. The transformation of these peaceful people is a very tragic tale that really makes this book a memorable experience that will stick with you: indeed, of all the Warcraft books I've read so far, this is my favorite. The writing is succinct, poignant, and masterful. There are no frills, it's just the narrative and the natural power of the story. I'd not only recommend this book to Warcraft fans but also to fans of Lord of the Rings and Warhammer, just to see how the Orcs of the Warcraft universe have quite a different background and origin story to the orcs of other franchises.

I got this book a few weeks ago, mostly just for something to read while on Amtrak going home for break. Basically I just wanted to read something quick and easy, and most of these "Based off of..." books are quick reads, so i thought I pick this one up and to my pleasant surprise this was a DAMN good book. The author Christie Golden, whom wrote another Warcraft book I enjoyed, Lord of the Clans, writes this great and tragic story of how a Noble race fell from grace and became a force of destruction because of their own inability to think for themselves and to be led blindly. The book is filled with touching, and emotional scenes, mostly concerning the main character, whom most of the book talks about, Durotan, as he finds himself stuck between duty to his people and what he knows is right in his heart. SPOILER: One of the most particularly well written scenes in this book is when the horde overruns the Dranei city of Telmor, and Durotan see's the brutality of the new orcs and the wrongs they are doing but he knows in his heart he must obey orders or die because of Gul'dan's orders. He watches as Orcs kill Dranei men, women, and children, and Golden's writing really shows here the pain this character feels is heart as he watches this happen and when he has to do it himself. By far the best Warcraft book I have read, and probably one of my all time faves ever as well.

I loved this story as well as the Author, however I am livid with Amazon at the moment. I purchased the Kindle Edition of this Title in 03/2012. I downloaded the content, read the book and was looking to reread it tonight only to find it has been removed from my actual Kindle Device with ZERO notification or refund!!! After a lengthy battle with customer service I was issued a full refund but the fact my legally purchased digital content was REMOVED without proper authorization, explanation, and any sort of pay-back makes me absolutely LIVID and shatters any trust I had towards buying ANYTHING digitally from Amazon which leads me to question the purpose of even owning a Kindle in the first place. Just thought if it ever re-appears in the "Kindle Edition" to BE WARY and PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR PURCHASED CONTENT!

Excellent story about the (current)Horde WarChief's father. Thrall's father, Durotan, is depicted as wise and honorable, which also is reflected in his son. Without giving too many spoliers away, the story tells the origin of the Burning Legion's first contact with the Horde and the blood-pact that is made with them. This first (original) Horde is made-up of multiple clans of Orcs and brought together under the guidance of Ner'zhul who later comes to regret his actions and is quickly replaced by Gul'dan. It is an interesting look at how the Horde first came about, their bloodlust, and a preview of their arrival to Azeroth. Fans of the original WarCraft: Orcs and Humans and of World of WarCraft alike will deffinately enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed this filler story to tell how the orcs became so brutal and aggressive. I've not only played all the games and read all those little story introductions Blizzard had with the games, I've read a lot of the novels. This is one of my favorites, but I can see where some can be confused by it. The writer did pretty well to stick to the original stories the old games only hinted at and still held to the storyline of the MMO. I felt the writer did very good, considering this was just filler space in the timeline.

This was the first WoW book I have ever read and I have to say that I was pretty happy with it. It wasn't the best book I have ever read but it was very entertaining and I always enjoy background stories for things that I am interested in. I am an avid WoW player and over the years I have played I have become more and more interested in the "why" and "how" of what I am doing... like "How did Lordaron fall?" or "What happened to Karazhan" - things of that nature. All-in-all this was a fun and enjoyable read.

This book is the first in my venture to read all of the book that comprise the paperback collection "Chronicles of War", and I must say, I am glad I decided to do so! I thoroughly enjoy all of the aspects of the World of Warcraft, from gameplay to lore, and this book definitely does the World justice. Save from the occasional typo, this book, I believe, is an excellently crafted representation of the events comprising the orcs turbulent history, and I would have to be mad or under the effects of a shadow priest's mind controlled not to continue.

Great book FOR THE HORDE

I must admit I had my apprehensions given that I was slightly disappointed with Lord of the Clans. It was a much anticipated telling of the cancelled Warcraft Adventures which would have fleshed out the beginnings of Thrall, only there seemed to be not enough meat and what was there was predictable, even cliched storytelling. Thanksfully this is not the case with Rise of the Horde. It is always a mark of a good writer who can make a story enthralling even when the audience very likely knows how it's going to do. You can't help but grieve, emphathise and feel dread for Durotan who has to slowly watch the Horde become perverted by "well intentioned" men as well as others like Ner'Zhul whom the Warcraft universe has not spent much time in portraying in a sympathetic light. Also a bonus is a thorough glimpse into the Dranei and their relationship with the Orcs prior to becoming the Horde and further insights into the Horde way of life beyond World of Warcraft's Horde side. All in all this is a very strong novel which I was pleasantly surprised and a gripping read from beginning to end. For anyone reading this who thinks since they already know the story, you might wish to pass on this I can assure you that would be a mistake. You *might* know the story, but it was never told like this. Makes me wish I'd resubscribe to WoW just for TBC to see what has happened to the Draenei!

Easily, one of the best books in the Wow franchise. It not only talks about Thrall's father but it shows the orcs slow descent into the savage race they are today. This book was heart breaking and suspenseful. It's a great book to read before playing the first WoW game. It was just plain amazing, buy this book Wow fans

Quick read, and was a great backstory on the Horde. I like Christine Golden's writing style and I look forward to reading more Warcraft books by her. I'm currently on The Last Guardian, and am reading the books in sequential order.

Another excellent book by Christie Golden

... from a WoW novel. It was stunning, really. Okay, maybe that isn't the right word. But if you're a diehard fan of the games like me, you'll find yourself very attached to the storylines, especially if you're an Orc and/or Draenei fan. Some of the scenes near the end of the novel had me very emotional as you watch a genocide, one of a race and another of an ancient culture. I suggest this to every single WoW player out there who wants to start reading the books.

Tells the tragic story we have all wanted to know for years and does its best to blend the Warcraft 1,2 and 3 storylines not so easy. This book is all the more tragic because ultimatly the reader knows the ending. I thought it was great because it showed what true friends Doomhammer and Doritan were. Everything I have come to expect froma Bilzard book.

This was a wonderful book, I really enjoyed the background it gives, it helps to flesh out the story a little better, and gives you more insight into the Orcs, and the Draenei. Well worth purchasing.

My favorite Warcraft related book I've read so far! If you are interested in Warcraft lore this is a must read.

This book is a must read if you're a WoW fan! I read the book and then went questing in the most recent expansion and was thrilled when I'd come across a character I'd read about.

Another excellent work of fantasy fiction from Christie Golden, who also wrote the Warcraft novel 'Lord of the Clans', about the origins of Thrall, Warchief of the Horde. An engrossing story, and one that, if you have any interest in the lore behind World of Warcraft when you play the game, is pretty essential to understand the place of a lot of locations in Outland, and the origins of the Orcs and Draenei.

Great book...shows how the Orcs were twisted into becoming the Horde we know of today. Great read! I highly recommend.

Excellent History of how the Horde came to be the Horde. A must for all Warcraft enthusiasts

If you read the book before this and enjoyed it even a little bit, you will love this book! Great read!

I am not surewhat book the other reviewers read but Rise of the horde is really bad. I started playing wow two weeks before tbc came out and I have read shattering [bad] and war of the ancients [really good] also. the main problem with the book is how simple minded the orcs are protrayed, how slow the story progresses, the anti climatic ending, and how lazy the author is in describing the world. If this was not a wow book noone would undrstand it. not a good read for anyone.

I am a big fan of the game; however, the book is very poorly written. The author is terrible. I would recommend reading trilogy of Warcraft novels War of the Ancients by Richard A. Knaak instead.

amazing book.. great mystery/ thriller

I could not put this book down! The author does such a fantastic job in descriptions, details, excitement, and adventure. You really get the feel for each character and can feel their emotions. EXCELLENT read, especially if you love the Warcraft lore!

Amazing book, the very beginning of the horde and the war between draeni and orcs. This book follows Durotan father of Thrall as he grows up on draenor amongst the frostwolf clan. Being next in line to become Cheiftan of the clan he has a lot to learn. Thrall tells the story of his father and his best friend Orgrim Doomhammer as they grew up and the darkness that followed from Kil'Jadens arrival on draenor to extinguish the draeni once and for all using the orcs as his pawns. 10/10 I would reccomend this to any warcraft or world of warcraft fan or lore nerd.

This was a great read and leaves you with a wealth of background knowledge on the horde and Draenei! You learn loads about: Durotan, Ogrim Doomhammer, Velen, Kil'jaeden, The Naaru, Ner'zhul, Guldan, Archimonde, Sargeras, Blackhand, Drek'Thar, Grom Hellscream, Blood Lust, Draenor -Hellfire Peninsula/Terrokar/Nagrand. The book tells you everything you need to know about the corruption of the Eredar and the escape of Velen and the Draenei, it also tells of the Orcs heritage and tradition and their unification and corruption leading to them waging war on the Draenia and the opening of the Dark Portal. I found the background to the Draenei's tale particulaty interesting! An excellent read! Make sure you follow it up with 'Lord of The Clans' also by Christie Golden, as the tale continues.

Great story

This book really does make you want more, it has been written with prowess, knowledge and love of the lore we most cherish. I must admit I was sceptical before I purchased but I have to say that this novel has to go down as one of my favourites. A real page turner that has gripped me from the off, well deserved five stars!

A must-read for anyone who plays World of Warcraft. The lore here is fascinating. I read this book in 2 days, didn’t want to put it down.

Incredible book, especially one to start with if you are new to the wow franchise. The story and writing quality of the book was top notch, however some of the editing was confusing and inconsistent which threw me out of my immersion in some places. Paragraphs in certain places are not clear, so when there is a change of scene or time, it is not indicated and spellings for characters also seems inconsistent, is it Orgrim, or Or-grim? Anyways, apart from that its perfect!

This was my first real foray into Warcraft lore after playing WC3 and the expansion, and WoW. It was awesome, and definitely provided great insight to the formation of the original and mighty Iron Horde, and how they first come to Azeroth. I'll say no more, so read it!

Well written and nice presented in the new printed version. 5/5 would recommend it!

One of the best books I have ever read in my life. Amazing detail and great for wow lovers if you're getting into the lore, defiantly recommend!

I love Warcraft (the game and the books) and I've grown dreaming and reading about it, so I really like this book. I'm not going to waist time with spoilers, but for those of you that like the horde, or that like to hear both sides of one story, go and get it, either you already know the Warcraft world or are just a fantasy reader, go and get it!