shopaholic_man's Full Review: Richard Knaak - Day of the Dragon
I have always loved science fiction and fantasy novels. I have also loved video games since they came out. World of Warcraft has managed to be the most popular online role playing game and I think that it does so, because it truly allows you to immerse yourself into the fantasy setting. It is not a game that has you hack and slash with a paper thin story to hang your actions onto but a vibrant virtual reality world.
Richard Knaak's Day of the Dragon is one of the first novels set in the Warcraft universe and it gives some history to the World of Azeroth that eleven million people call their home away from home. Now that Blizzard Entertainment is preparing the latest expansion to World of Warcraft; Catacalysm, it is a good time to read up on everyone's most feared dragon Deathwing. As most Warcraft fans know, Deathwing is slated to make a dramatic comeback in Catacalysm reshaping the very world of Azeroth.
The Story
Richard Knaak's novel takes us far back into the history of Azeroth and introduces us to an Alliance Wizard, Rhonin, who is on a secret mission into Grim Batol the edge of Horde territory, to free the dragon Alexstrassa. Rhonin was sent by the great wizard Krasus, who may not be who everyone thinks. Rhonins mission may have ends that Krasus hasn't revealed to anyone. Accompanying Rhonin is a stalwart sexy night elf Ranger, Veeresa Windrunner. However, attacks almost immediately threaten to stop Rhonin's journey. But for the Gryphon riding dwarfs led by Falstad, Rhonin and Vereesa are almost killed.
Meanwhile inside a series of caves in Grim Batol, Nekros Skullcrusher, an orc who would be warlord, but for a leg injury, stands guard over the dragon Alexstrassa. The orcs depend on young dragons to keep the Aliance at Bay, and Nekros has a strange talisman, The Demon Soul, that holds power over the Alexstrassa. But does he really know just how powerful the Demon Soul is?
In the meantime the great dragon Deathwing has plans of his own. Alliance and Horde alike think that Deathwing was killed and gone forever eons ago, but he is not. In fact, he has returned in human form as the very popular human, Lord Preston and he is about to be crowned as King of Alterac! Will the Wizards in Korin Tir discover Deathwings secret before its too late? Even if they do, will anyone be able to stop Deathwing?
Find out about Warcrafts most powerful dark dragon, Deathwing and his plans in Day of the Dragon.
The Writing
This is only the second World of Warcraft novel that I have read, the first was Rise of the Horde by Christie Golden. Out of the two authors, I have to say I enjoyed Golden's writing better, it just flowed better. The story of Deathwing was interesting, but sometimes Knaak tends to get dragged down in details that just slowed the story down. Pacing just seemed to move slowly in the Day of the Dragon. The characters are somewhat developed, but not as richly as I would have hoped. I realize that this is a book based on a video game, but what I love about World of Warcraft is that it rises above most video games with a terrific back story and a rich lore behind it. Despite being a game, it creates the illusion of being a real world. Knaack does an okay job with this concept, but not an excellent job. If you are not a WoW player, I am not sure that this novel would stand on its own as a good fantasy novel.
Other Info
Richard Knaak is a well known fantasy author, and he has written six books in the World of Warcraft series, six for the Diablo series and the popular DragonLance Series. The novel Day of the Dragon is available separately or as part of Warcraft Archive, a large paperback volume containing four novels set in the realms of Azeroth.
Summary
The novel was a fun read, but having read a lot of fantasy novels including the greatest ones ever written by a certain J.R.R. Tolkien, I really only found this one to be average. Even as a fan and player of World of Warcraft, the book really didn't immerse me as well as other books in the fantasy genre such as J.K. Rowling's immensely popular Harry Potter books, or even Edgar Rice Burroughs pulp fantasies about Mars and Pellucidar. It wasn't bad, but I can only give it three stars for average. If you do get it, get it as part of the Warcraft Archive like I did. I only would recommend it for WoW fans and not fans of fantasy writing in general.
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