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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'll be honest, I'm actually not the biggest fan of Dragon Age, but I'm obsessed with a single character from it, so I feel obligated to read these.
I did get some mildly interesting lore, so it was worth reading, but I wasn't a big fan of the characters or the plot. Very generic.
I did get some mildly interesting lore, so it was worth reading, but I wasn't a big fan of the characters or the plot. Very generic.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
not great, not terrible, gets points bc i love cole more than anything
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
I really liked this book a lot.
Of course, I'm an avid Dragon Age gamer and love all that is Dragon Age. However, when comparing this book to the ones which came before it, this one was much more well-written I feel.
I loved the story and the characters a lot. You really start to feel for them after readiing for some time, especially Rhys is a very likeable character.
If you're a DA fan like me and would like more of a background to the games; reading David Gaider's books is a must.
I'm very excited to be playing with Cole in the upcoming Dragon Age: Inquisition game; can't wait!
Of course, I'm an avid Dragon Age gamer and love all that is Dragon Age. However, when comparing this book to the ones which came before it, this one was much more well-written I feel.
I loved the story and the characters a lot. You really start to feel for them after readiing for some time, especially Rhys is a very likeable character.
If you're a DA fan like me and would like more of a background to the games; reading David Gaider's books is a must.
I'm very excited to be playing with Cole in the upcoming Dragon Age: Inquisition game; can't wait!
"Look at me," he asked her.
She blinked in confusion, but complied.
"No, look at me."
And she did. The girl looked at Cole, looked into him. He was going to kill her, and she knew it. He went through life, unnoticed and quickly forgotten by all, but to her, at that moment, he was the most important thing in the world. She knew what he was, now. Cole was her deliverance, a way out of a world filled with terror. He saw weary relief in her eyes, mixed with the fear. In those eyes he was anchored, and he felt real.
"Thank you," he breathed, and plunged the dagger into her chest.
So I'll fully blame my enjoyment of this on the fact that Cole is one of my favourite characters from anything, of all time. Weekes's writing in the game has this perfect balance of naive sweetness, unpredictable danger, and utter creepiness. Gaider's Cole doesn't speak in riddles and can't read minds & emotions (and doesn't have his big ol' hat), but he's still the boy that you can't help but want to protect even if he seems one wrong move away from hissing at you and slashing something important.
But wow was he hard to not protect here. I love that Gaider didn't shy away from emotions the whole time - even if it nearly tumbled into melodrama at some points - and Cole was free to be young and weak and broken and damn, all the crying. So much honesty with how much the mage situation sucks between Cole & Pharamond. Made my heart hurt. I feel awful that Cole had to leave the book thinking he was hated by Rhys, but that hurt's patched a bit by how I know no matter how many times I play Inquisition I'll always make sure things are fixed and somewhat better for Cole.
It was nice to meet Wynne, too, as I haven't yet reached her in Origins. Spoilers, I know. The mage vs templar politics were a bit of the same old, same old, especially coming off of DA2, but I appreciated this angle on them and how chaotic things really get even without an Anders to drive everyone to extremes. And neat angle with the mages Cole killed and his little sister, this idea of Cole holding on to things too tightly until he breaks them.
Ironically, it's Rhys and Evangeline that are falling out of my memory. Maybe it's enough to say that had I read this before Inquisition, knowing a companion was coming from this book, I definitely wouldn't be tricked for a moment into thinking it was either of them.
Anyways, Cole is great, adore him forever, miss the hat.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Characters: 9/10
I found the characters in Dragon Age: Asunder memorable and multidimensional. Cole, in particular, was hauntingly enigmatic, embodying a fragile balance of innocence and danger. His journey was compelling, and I genuinely cared about his fate. Wynne’s return added emotional depth, reminding me of her complexities from the games, while Shale and Rhys enriched the narrative with their own distinct voices. The secondary characters all served meaningful roles in the story, contributing layers to the plot without feeling extraneous. Each personality was vivid enough that I could easily describe them to a friend, and I appreciated how their motives felt authentic and deeply tied to the overarching conflict.
Atmosphere/Setting: 8/10
The setting was immersive, with the tone striking a careful balance between the dark, oppressive tension of the Chantry and the mysterious, dangerous allure of the Fade. The descriptions brought each scene to life, whether it was the claustrophobic halls of the White Spire or the dreamlike unreality of the Fade. While I felt the atmosphere effectively amplified the story’s tension, some locations could have used more sensory detail to feel fully realized. Nonetheless, the mood enhanced the narrative, drawing me deeper into Thedas's morally ambiguous world.
Writing Style: 7/10
David Gaider's writing was accessible and well-suited to the tone of the Dragon Age universe. The prose struck a good balance between dialogue and narration, and I appreciated how the dialogue captured the unique voices of the characters. However, while the writing was clear and functional, it occasionally lacked a lyrical or distinctive flair that might have elevated it further. I wouldn’t describe it as groundbreaking, but it was certainly engaging enough to make me curious about Gaider’s other works.
Plot: 8/10
The plot was engaging, with an effective blend of action, mystery, and emotional stakes. The central conflict—exploring the mage-templar divide and Cole’s origin—was compelling and nuanced. The pacing was mostly strong, though a few moments in the middle felt slightly repetitive. The twists and reveals were satisfying and stayed true to the tone of the Dragon Age universe, leaving me eager to see how the events tied into the larger canon. The ending was both bittersweet and thought-provoking, offering closure while leaving room for speculation.
Intrigue: 9/10
I found myself eager to return to this book whenever I put it down. The mystery surrounding Cole, coupled with the tense political dynamics of the Chantry and Circle, kept me consistently engaged. Each chapter offered enough intrigue to hold my attention, and I genuinely wanted to see how the characters' stories would unfold. The stakes felt immediate, and I was thoroughly invested in both the personal and broader narrative arcs.
Logic/Relationships: 8/10
The characters' actions and decisions felt grounded in their established personalities and motives. The world-building was consistent with the lore of Dragon Age, and I appreciated how Gaider deepened the exploration of mage-templar relationships without overloading the narrative with exposition. The relationships between characters, particularly Rhys and Evangeline, felt genuine and complex, adding emotional weight to the story. There were no glaring plot holes, and the rules of the world felt logical and coherent within the established framework of Thedas.
Enjoyment: 9/10
I thoroughly enjoyed Dragon Age: Asunder. It captured the moral complexity and rich storytelling that I associate with the Dragon Age franchise, offering a standalone story that was still deeply tied to the larger lore. The blend of mystery, action, and character development kept my interest throughout, and I would recommend it to fans of the series or anyone looking for a thoughtful fantasy novel. The book left me satisfied yet curious about what came next for the characters and the world.