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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Pros:
* provides depth into Cole's background
* fleshes out the world building of Orlais and the Chantry system
* cameos of familiar characters
* doesn't "up-the-ante" like other series tend to
Cons:
* rehashed character archetypes
* character behavior doesn't match their ages or experience
* character behavior frequently tests the limits of plausibility
* fight scenes involving magic are poorly written and repetitive
* character development happens off-page and isn't believable
All in all, I agree with another reviewer who said that Gaider should stick to writing for games and should avoid writing novels. In games, the characters can interact naturally in ways that sound stilted and juvenile in prose. The sarcastic tone that Dragon Age is known for doesn't translate well to writing. Also, in games, the time allotted for character development is much more limited and thus is subject to less scrutiny than in written works.
The plot is decent (if you can ignore the idiotic actions of what are supposed to be intelligent and experienced characters), but generally the Dragon Age books feel more like long codex entries than actual novels.
* provides depth into Cole's background
* fleshes out the world building of Orlais and the Chantry system
* cameos of familiar characters
* doesn't "up-the-ante" like other series tend to
Cons:
* rehashed character archetypes
* character behavior doesn't match their ages or experience
* character behavior frequently tests the limits of plausibility
* fight scenes involving magic are poorly written and repetitive
* character development happens off-page and isn't believable
All in all, I agree with another reviewer who said that Gaider should stick to writing for games and should avoid writing novels. In games, the characters can interact naturally in ways that sound stilted and juvenile in prose. The sarcastic tone that Dragon Age is known for doesn't translate well to writing. Also, in games, the time allotted for character development is much more limited and thus is subject to less scrutiny than in written works.
The plot is decent (if you can ignore the idiotic actions of what are supposed to be intelligent and experienced characters), but generally the Dragon Age books feel more like long codex entries than actual novels.
adventurous
dark
sad
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
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
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
If you enjoyed the other Dragon Age novels you will enjoy this one, it was a good bridge between Dragon Age 2 and Dragon Age Inquisition filled with some past favorite characters and some interesting new ones.
David Gaider is the lead writer for the fantasy game franchise, Dragon Age. Up until Asunder I had been unaware that there were any books published for the game series, but as I understand it, none of the other novels were as directly important to the main storyline as this one. Not only does it feature several characters from the first game, Dragon Age: Origins, it sets up the events of the latest installment in the franchise, Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Since Asunder was written by Gaider, the novel maintains an authentic "Dragon Age" feel to its writing. The setting, the characters, the plot--all feel like something you might encounter if you were playing the actual video games. But the game series has been lauded for its writing, and this strength carries over well in prose-form. In this tale, we hop between characters as a mystery and mission are laid out in parallel: Wynne, one of the companions from the first game, has gone to the White Spire in in the Orlesian city of Val Royeaux to retrieve her son, Rhys, for a mission to rescue a mage friend who was researching something of great importance elsewhere. Rhys, meanwhile, is wrongfully accused of murder. The actual perpetrator is a lonely, misguided young man named Cole, whom no one seems able to see or remember aside from Rhys. Evangeline, a templar under the orders of the strict Lord Seeker Lambert, accompanies Wynne and Rhys on their mission. What they discover has the potential to throw the balance of the world upside down.
The beginning was slow for me, and I remember skimming pages as I ground my teeth in frustration. Much time was spent introducing the large cast of characters and the various circumstances that both cast them together and complicate their relationships. It wasn't until halfway through the book that I started to feel more invested. It was quite an uphill battle to get to that point, taking nearly a year to hit over %50 completion. But once I made it over all the exposition and dramatic set up, Gaider started dropping bombs. They came one after the other, and while I found myself trying to wrap my head around the implications of one thing, he would sling another at my face at high speed. It was exhilarating, and just the kind of stuff I'd wished he'd opened with, but for a story of this complexity, I know Gaider was taking his time with things, and I'm glad I had the patience to let him work his magic. The thing about Asunder is that it's as much about the politics as it is the action. None of the stakes make any sense until you understand why, for instance, the Rite of Tranquility is such a disturbing practice, or why the Lord Seeker might seek to act directly in opposition to the will of his religion's leader (the Divine), or why a mage might still feel the need to support the Circle of Magi.
The stakes are high, the world an unforgiving place, and the plot twists delicious. I enjoyed this book, and I might even try and read the rest of the book series now.
If you're a die-hard fan of the Dragon Age franchise, you may as well read this. It's fairly interesting, and as I mentioned earlier, this book acts as the prequel to Dragon Age: Inquisition.
Since Asunder was written by Gaider, the novel maintains an authentic "Dragon Age" feel to its writing. The setting, the characters, the plot--all feel like something you might encounter if you were playing the actual video games. But the game series has been lauded for its writing, and this strength carries over well in prose-form. In this tale, we hop between characters as a mystery and mission are laid out in parallel: Wynne, one of the companions from the first game, has gone to the White Spire in in the Orlesian city of Val Royeaux to retrieve her son, Rhys, for a mission to rescue a mage friend who was researching something of great importance elsewhere. Rhys, meanwhile, is wrongfully accused of murder. The actual perpetrator is a lonely, misguided young man named Cole, whom no one seems able to see or remember aside from Rhys. Evangeline, a templar under the orders of the strict Lord Seeker Lambert, accompanies Wynne and Rhys on their mission. What they discover has the potential to throw the balance of the world upside down.
The beginning was slow for me, and I remember skimming pages as I ground my teeth in frustration. Much time was spent introducing the large cast of characters and the various circumstances that both cast them together and complicate their relationships. It wasn't until halfway through the book that I started to feel more invested. It was quite an uphill battle to get to that point, taking nearly a year to hit over %50 completion. But once I made it over all the exposition and dramatic set up, Gaider started dropping bombs. They came one after the other, and while I found myself trying to wrap my head around the implications of one thing, he would sling another at my face at high speed. It was exhilarating, and just the kind of stuff I'd wished he'd opened with, but for a story of this complexity, I know Gaider was taking his time with things, and I'm glad I had the patience to let him work his magic. The thing about Asunder is that it's as much about the politics as it is the action. None of the stakes make any sense until you understand why, for instance, the Rite of Tranquility is such a disturbing practice, or why the Lord Seeker might seek to act directly in opposition to the will of his religion's leader (the Divine), or why a mage might still feel the need to support the Circle of Magi.
The stakes are high, the world an unforgiving place, and the plot twists delicious. I enjoyed this book, and I might even try and read the rest of the book series now.
If you're a die-hard fan of the Dragon Age franchise, you may as well read this. It's fairly interesting, and as I mentioned earlier, this book acts as the prequel to Dragon Age: Inquisition.
adventurous
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
This book is the prequel to the game, Dragon Age: Inquisition. You travel throughout this book with previous companions from Dragon Age: Origins—Wynne, a powerful mage of the Circle in Fereldan, and Shale, a stone golem. Perhaps more important is the origin story of Cole from DA: Inquisition, whom only a mage named Rhys can see and undertakes the difficult task of proving Cole innocent in a spree of murders. Together, Rhys and the others discover a mind blowing secret that could change the fate of every mage in Thedas. Taking place directly after the destruction of the chantry in Kirkwall as bloody tensions rise between the mages and Templars while some of the former are on the edge of rebellion and the latter struggle to maintain order, the book leaves the DA veteran wanting to play through DA: Inquisition again.
I was not very motivated to start this book, I think the cover put me off and the fact that it is not about King Maric anymore (like the two books before). But as a big Dragon Age Fan, I wanted to read all the extra lore and stories I could get from this universe, so I started to read Asunder eventually.
I needed some time to get into the book, but it's worth it. We get to experience how it is for a mage to live in a circle and their relationship with the Templars. Rhys is a great main character and I loved to read about his character development and his relationships with Cole, Wynne and Evangeline.
I like how the book depicts the struggle between the mages and the templars. My sympathy will always lean more towards the mages, but I definetely see the reason why the Templars are needed and act like they act (in some cases at least). It's not a matter of black and white or good and bad. I appreciate that the book decided to show that. Not all mages are great. Not all Templars are bad.
The book does a lot of worldbuilding and if you enjoy the Dragon Age games and reading, then I would say it's a mandatory read before playing Dragon Age Inquisition.
I needed some time to get into the book, but it's worth it. We get to experience how it is for a mage to live in a circle and their relationship with the Templars. Rhys is a great main character and I loved to read about his character development and his relationships with Cole, Wynne and Evangeline.
I like how the book depicts the struggle between the mages and the templars. My sympathy will always lean more towards the mages, but I definetely see the reason why the Templars are needed and act like they act (in some cases at least). It's not a matter of black and white or good and bad. I appreciate that the book decided to show that. Not all mages are great. Not all Templars are bad.
The book does a lot of worldbuilding and if you enjoy the Dragon Age games and reading, then I would say it's a mandatory read before playing Dragon Age Inquisition.
I believe you can read this book without having played to the games but you will miss some references. It was pretty good and linked DA 2 and Inquisition and gives more context to the explosion of the Chantry.
https://littlepandareads.wordpress.com/2019/12/14/november-and-october-wrap-up/
https://littlepandareads.wordpress.com/2019/12/14/november-and-october-wrap-up/