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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
**Game Spoilers** ahead
Ok I liked this entry a lot!!! I see why it's generally recommended in the fandom.
Essentially, Asunder is a bridge between the events of DA2 and DA:I. DA2 ends with "terrorist"/"freedom fighter" Anders blowing up the Kirkwall Chantry and setting off a chain of events that ends up with the murder of the Divine at the Conclave (what turns out to be several of *many* Conclaves), taking us into DA:I. In-game codex entries give players some sense of the events at the White Spire and the murder of Lord Seeker Lambert being precipitating factors for that Conclave. If you recruit Cole and do his war table missions, you hear of Rhys and Evangeline. It is *Asunder* that ties these people and events together, lending them significant emotional weight that I didn't find to be as successfully conveyed in the game. Like, that ending đ
As with the other DA novels, I can't imagine this one being particularly interesting or intelligible to someone who isn't familiar with the series. But again: what motivation would someone have to pick it up aside from lorebuilding? And in that realm, it delivers.
Character-wise, I found Rhys and Evangeline to be compelling, with a realistic and believable connection. It was lovely to see Shale and Wynne again, as well as to revisit Lelianaâbut this time as Left Hand of the Divine. Justinia was a divisive but strong figure with a clear vision for reform. It's clear why she is one that Leliana would sacrifice so much to follow. Fiona makes a reappearance, although I'd love to know how she transformed from a Grey Warden to the Grand Enchanter. (And why she's so pathetic by the time we meet her in DAI! I'm still upset that players can't punish her specifically for selling her charges to *Tevinter*.)
I preferred the narrator for this book compared with The Calling, as well.
Verdict: Asunder is definitely worth reading for the fans who NEED more DA lore going into DAV. Hope you love it as much as I did!
Ok I liked this entry a lot!!! I see why it's generally recommended in the fandom.
Essentially, Asunder is a bridge between the events of DA2 and DA:I. DA2 ends with "terrorist"/"freedom fighter" Anders blowing up the Kirkwall Chantry and setting off a chain of events that ends up with the murder of the Divine at the Conclave (what turns out to be several of *many* Conclaves), taking us into DA:I. In-game codex entries give players some sense of the events at the White Spire and the murder of Lord Seeker Lambert being precipitating factors for that Conclave. If you recruit Cole and do his war table missions, you hear of Rhys and Evangeline. It is *Asunder* that ties these people and events together, lending them significant emotional weight that I didn't find to be as successfully conveyed in the game. Like, that ending đ
As with the other DA novels, I can't imagine this one being particularly interesting or intelligible to someone who isn't familiar with the series. But again: what motivation would someone have to pick it up aside from lorebuilding? And in that realm, it delivers.
Character-wise, I found Rhys and Evangeline to be compelling, with a realistic and believable connection. It was lovely to see Shale and Wynne again, as well as to revisit Lelianaâbut this time as Left Hand of the Divine. Justinia was a divisive but strong figure with a clear vision for reform. It's clear why she is one that Leliana would sacrifice so much to follow. Fiona makes a reappearance, although I'd love to know how she transformed from a Grey Warden to the Grand Enchanter. (And why she's so pathetic by the time we meet her in DAI! I'm still upset that players can't punish her specifically for selling her charges to *Tevinter*.)
I preferred the narrator for this book compared with The Calling, as well.
Verdict: Asunder is definitely worth reading for the fans who NEED more DA lore going into DAV. Hope you love it as much as I did!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Addiction
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Full review to follow
I am quite surprised at that rating - donât know how the author managed it but this worked for me. This added to the context and background for Cole which was good. There were some issues with the plot which felt forced and extra convenient. But this is par for the course for the author so it didnât bother me.
Plus it really helped that there were no weird sexy times in the book. Leaving Maric behind helped with the series
I am quite surprised at that rating - donât know how the author managed it but this worked for me. This added to the context and background for Cole which was good. There were some issues with the plot which felt forced and extra convenient. But this is par for the course for the author so it didnât bother me.
Plus it really helped that there were no weird sexy times in the book. Leaving Maric behind helped with the series
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While the first two books were amusing even for non-Dragon Age fans, this book is definitely less so. It is a bit slow-paced for the thirst 300 pages and not a lot happens.
It has a few different themes it tackles, most of which will only attract Dragon Age fans that are interested in knowing more about the lore of the game. And even then there isnât a lot of ânewâ lore to find here. Some old characters re-emerge, however, and it was great to see their stories continued.
First of all, the book discusses the Mage-Templar debate that every Dragon Age fan knows. It is something I find really impressively done in the games, because itâs such a difficult dilemma. Even the fandom is divided pretty evenly on how it should be solved and which party is in the right. In the book, however, it feels very black-and-white, with the templars as the absolute bad guys. It feels immoral to side with the templars in-game after reading this book, which is a shame.
Second of all, Cole is introduced. Cole is one of the companions in the third game, and a peculiar one at that. His story is interesting but I wouldâve liked it to be worked out a little better.
Third, the whole phenomenon of tranquility is explored, which was so exciting to me. Sadly, this part of the story started at page 200 and ended at page 250.
And lastly, it draws more of a picture of what happened after a certain mageâs firework show in Kirkwall, and the rebellion of the mages. This starts at page 300, making the last 100 pages the most interesting of the whole book.
After reading this book it does bum me out that Rhys and Evangeline never came to see Cole in DA:I. Very sad and out of character.
It has a few different themes it tackles, most of which will only attract Dragon Age fans that are interested in knowing more about the lore of the game. And even then there isnât a lot of ânewâ lore to find here. Some old characters re-emerge, however, and it was great to see their stories continued.
First of all, the book discusses the Mage-Templar debate that every Dragon Age fan knows. It is something I find really impressively done in the games, because itâs such a difficult dilemma. Even the fandom is divided pretty evenly on how it should be solved and which party is in the right. In the book, however, it feels very black-and-white, with the templars as the absolute bad guys. It feels immoral to side with the templars in-game after reading this book, which is a shame.
Second of all, Cole is introduced. Cole is one of the companions in the third game, and a peculiar one at that. His story is interesting but I wouldâve liked it to be worked out a little better.
Third, the whole phenomenon of tranquility is explored, which was so exciting to me. Sadly, this part of the story started at page 200 and ended at page 250.
And lastly, it draws more of a picture of what happened after a certain mageâs firework show in Kirkwall, and the rebellion of the mages. This starts at page 300, making the last 100 pages the most interesting of the whole book.
After reading this book it does bum me out that Rhys and Evangeline never came to see Cole in DA:I. Very sad and out of character.