Customer Reviews

World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde: Rise of the Horde No. 4

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

... 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.

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.