A review by artemisgt
The Masked Empire by Patrick Weekes

4.0

I'm aware of the criticism and comparison to Asunder that this book receives. This book feels less like a Dragon Age book of the past and more of an evolution. For example, you see very little in regards to cameos from party members of the preceding games and/or novels. It aims to stand on it's own and tell you the other side of the turmoil in Orlais leading up to DA:I.

It is important to note that the characters in this book are much more compelling than the characters in Asunder. It's not even close. I began the novel feeling so confident where I stood in regards to the civil war but after I finished I was hard pressed to say who I would side with in the civil war. That is, in my opinion, successful writing in regards to the characters and the situations they are put in.

I would rate this book a solid 4 and despite giving Asunder a 3.5, I'm willing to drop that rating to 3 to more properly reflect my feelings on where this book stands among the two DA:I prequels.