Before the Storm

A Novel

By: Christie Golden

Narrated by: Josh Keaton

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An all-new, official prequel novel to The Battle for Azeroth, Blizzard Entertainment’s next expansion to the critically acclaimed World of Warcraft videogame.

Azeroth is dying.

The Horde and the Alliance defeated the demonic Burning Legion, but a dire catastrophe is unfolding deep below the surface of the world. There is a mortal wound in the heart of Azeroth, struck by the sword of the fallen titan Sargeras in a final act of cruelty.

For Anduin Wrynn, king of Stormwind, and Sylvanas Windrunner, warchief of the Horde and queen of the Forsaken, there is little time to rebuild what remains and even less to mourn what was lost. Azeroth’s devastating wound has revealed a mysterious material known as Azerite. In the right hands, this strange golden substance is capable of incredible feats of creation; in the wrong ones, it could bring forth unthinkable destruction.

As Alliance and Horde forces race to uncover the secrets of Azerite and heal the wounded world, Anduin enacts a desperate plan aimed at forging a lasting peace between the factions. Azerite jeopardizes the balance of power, and so Anduin must gain the trust of Sylvanas. But, as ever, the Dark Lady has her own machinations.

For peace to be possible, generations of bloodshed and hatred must be brought to an end. But there are truths that neither side is willing to accept and ambitions they are loath to relinquish. As Alliance and Horde alike grasp for the Azerite’s power, their simmering conflict threatens to reignite all-out war—a war that would spell doom for Azeroth.

Praise for Before the Storm

“This is easily the best book in the World of Warcraft series, and I don’t say that lightly. . . . It’s so much more than a tie-in novel. . . . It’s a beautiful book.”—Blizzard Watch

Critic reviews

“This is easily the best book in the World of Warcraft series, and I don’t say that lightly. . . . It’s so much more than a tie-in novel. . . . It’s a beautiful book.”—Blizzard Watch

A review in retrospect

I've decided to re-write this review because in retrospect the book ages a lot better and any issues with it are less with Christie Golden and more to do with WoW's development at the time. The book does a lot to build up the background of the forsaken and have them be something more than just shambling undead. It makes the events that transpire at Teldrassil much worse due to how they are now shackled to a leader that sees them as nothing more than toy soldiers in plate. A very good book looking back on the story of BFA, and a good setup for the prelude to that. There are still a few story issues, some plot lines that don't really go anywhere but these are again likely an issue of WoW and not the writer.

Woefully Disappointed

I've been a hardcore fan of World of Warcrack for well over a decade. I've read all of Golden's books. This is the first that I'm sincerely disappointed in. The book was simply too short. I felt that there could have been a much longer story there. While Christie Golden has been picked up as an official writer for the game, it seems her work in other areas have suffered.

I love the story I got; it just wasn't enough.

Exciting and gripping through out the whole story.

The coming of age of a young King. Tough lessons learned. love and excitement. Heart break and horror.

amazing book

loved the book the narrator is amazing. the narrator is actually anduwin the king of stormwiind. I was not disappointed in thos book . loved it as it was my first wow book

Sylvanas did nothing wrong

Josh Keaton was fantastic.
Anduin and Sylvanas are great characters(in that order).
Still Sylvanas isbestgirl.