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  1. #1

    Shadows Rising Now Available for Pre-purchase

    Shadows Rising Now Available for Pre-purchase
    Shadows Rising, the official prequel novel to the upcoming Shadowlands expansion, is now available to pre-purchase on Amazon.


    Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
    An all-new official prequel novel to the upcoming Shadowlands expansion penned by New York Times bestselling author Madeleine Roux, Shadows Rising is the next epic tale in our novel series, due out July 14. Shadows Rising is available to pre-purchase on Amazon now.

    Read on for a summary of things to come followed by an excerpt straight from the heart of the upcoming expansion prequel novel.

    Book summary:

    “The Horde is nothing!” With those infamous words, Sylvanas Windrunner betrayed and abandoned the Horde she vowed to serve. The Dark Lady and her forces now work in the shadows as both the Horde and Alliance, including her own sister, Alleria, race to uncover her next move. Struggling to shoulder the crushing weight of leadership, King Anduin entrusts the void elf and High Exarch Turalyon to uncover Sylvanas’s whereabouts.

    The Horde now stands at a crossroads. The various factions form a council, leaving the mantle of warchief to rest. Thrall, Lor’themar Theron, Baine Bloodhoof, First Arcanist Thalyssra, and many other familiar faces rise to this new challenge. But the threats are numerous, and the distrust runs too deep.

    When the council is derailed by a failed assassination attempt on Talanji—the Zandalari queen and a key ally—Thrall and the rest of the Horde leaders are forced into action. They empower the young troll shaman Zekhan, still grieving the loss of Varok Saurfang, with a critical mission to aid Talanji and help uncover the rising threat against her.

    Meanwhile, Nathanos Blightcaller and Sira Moonwarden have been tasked by the Dark Lady with a terrifying gambit: to kill the troll loa of death himself, Bwonsamdi.

    As Zekhan and Talanji work to save Bwonsamdi, their journey will be a key turning point in bolstering the Horde against the coming darkness and finding themselves along the way. Failure to save their allies and the trickster god will surely doom them—but through success, they may rediscover what makes the Horde strong.

    Prose Pulled from the Heart

    Ready to discover how the events unfold? Sate your curiosity with a taste of this excerpt.

    SPOILERS: Shadows Rising Excerpt

    “How many?”

    The king of Stormwind listened to the final cathedral bells tolling. The afternoon’s last rays of sunlight speared the stained-glass windows above, casting mournful shadows across the high altar. It was a melancholy image, one that only widened the pit in Anduin’s stomach. He waited in the echo of the bells while the soft-spoken Bishop Arthur, clad all in cream, black and gold, unlocked the door leading to the crypts beneath the Cathedral of Light.

    “Six.” The answer came from Anduin’s close friend and trusted advisor, Genn Greymane, King of Gilneas. “Or rather, SI:7 discovered six. No one can say how many were washed away by the tides.”

    “More could be in hiding,” High Exarch Turalyon pointed out. He stood tall and broad, his Light-forged armor a polished and impressive silver and gold. Bearded, scarred, Turalyon looked every inch the tried and hardened warrior. The two men followed Anduin down the winding path that snaked into the catacombs. “Shaw sent at least a dozen to monitor the waters between the Zandalari coast and the Eastern Kingdoms.”

    “Let us go where there are no curious ears.” Anduin told them in a whisper.

    Though the cathedral had largely emptied out after the evening service, a few brothers and priests remained. Of course they looked; who would not be eager to see the king of Stormwind present, and accompanied by two such illustrious warriors? To the people of Stormwind, Turalyon in particular was practically myth. His noble likeness had been forever commemorated as a statue in the Valley of Heroes rising above the bridge leading into Stormwind. He had helped forge the Knights of the Silver Hand, companion to heroes of legend and song like Uther the Lightbringer and Tirion Fordring.

    All three stowed their conversation, making the long, sober descent into the crypts. Anduin hurried, though he dreaded what awaited him below. Still he went, for it was his duty to see what had befallen troops dispatched in his name.

    The air grew colder, the scent of mud and brick reminding him of rainy autumn days. The fetor of stale air and dust followed, then a light perfume of dried flowers and herbs—a weak defense against the unmistakable odor of fresh rot. Fresh death.

    At the very bottom of the crypts, where it was chill enough to bother even a man dressed all in furs, they found a row of bodies. Each was laid out and still in their sodden clothing, skin discolored, lips twisted in the agony of a mortal scream. Turalyon snatched a torch off the wall and charged ahead, sweeping the light over the corpses, his stoically handsome face pinched with concern.

    “Look at the precision,” he said, standing before one young dwarf, his reddish beard full of sand and bits of seaweed. “One shot directly to the heart.”

    Greymane joined the paladin at that body, carefully inspecting the arrow left sticking from the dwarf’s chest. “They are all like this. A single deadly shot. Mark the fletching on the arrows here and here: it has been shaved down.”

    “That was why Shaw ordered them brought here,” Turalyon continued, his eyes fixed on the deceased dwarf lying between them. Anduin had never seen the war-forged paladin look afraid, and it was not fear in the man’s eyes then. Not fear, but rage.

    “What am I not seeing?” Anduin asked, frowning.

    “Zandalari arrows,” Turalyon replied. “But these are not Zandalari tactics.”

    “I should think not! This is some mischief . . . some dark mischief I do not yet understand.” Greymane paced, lips curled as if a low worgen’s growl might emanate from his throat at any second. “There are few archers in the world that could make these shots, my king. The only sort I know are allied with the infernal Banshee Queen.”

    “Dark rangers?” Anduin murmured, eyes darting between the two men. “Can we be certain?”

    “Certain? No, but I’ve seen a damned mess of their arrows in my time and the style matches, and so does the accuracy,” Greymane huffed, pacing faster, every bit the caged and furious wolf.

    “What would the dark rangers be doing in Zandalar? The Zandalari are allies of the Horde, and that would not make them friend to Sylvanas or her rangers.” Anduin had nearly put his hand down on one of the soldiers’ boots. Distracted, he had forgotten they were in the presence of the dead. But now he looked closer and felt keenly the stab in his chest. By the Light, they were all so terribly young . . .

    He took small, cold comfort in the thought that at least the soldiers were home and protected in a sanctuary of the Light.

    “It could be a warning from Sylvanas. Perhaps she sent her rangers to punish the new queen. The Dark Lady was still warchief when they made their alliance, but our spies believe Queen Talanji has pulled her support and remains largely independent. We all know how well Sylvanas takes betrayal.” Turalyon said gravely.

    Anduin nodded, considering the paladin’s point of view, but Greymane had other ideas, tossing up his hands in frustration.

    “This is our opportunity, Anduin, don’t you see it? Where Sylvanas goes her dark rangers are sure to follow. She may be close at hand, and these murders her critical mistake. We should gather what forces we can spare and sail west. Whether she is in league with the Zandalari or moving against them matters not; we must not squander a chance to finish this.”

    He ended with a resounding note to his already galvanizing baritone, but Anduin didn’t move. Instead, he stared resolutely at Turalyon, who appeared unconvinced at best. The paladin shifted in his heavy golden plate armor, a crease of worry between his brows.

    “Now is the time to think, my king, not the time to react. There are still spies unaccounted for in the field, and we must not forget the armistice. Zandalar is a vast continent, certainly, but the eyes there are friendly to the Horde, not to the Banshee Queen.” He tucked a fist under his chin thoughtfully. “The Horde wants her dead as much as we do. The armistice you signed is meaningless if we cannot rely on the Horde to share intelligence of this nature.”

    “The armistice,” Greymane hissed, obviously unenthused. “We can rely on the Horde for nothing. How many times must we learn this lesson, Anduin? I know you know better.”

    Anduin did. He did not necessarily trust the Horde, but he did weigh their actions. Were they untrue to their words, they would have assassinated him and his Alliance generals outside the gates of Orgrimmar before or after the mak’gora.

    He waited a moment, hoping Greymane would calm down, but the man’s face had turned red with fury, his thick white whiskers bristling.

    “Genn . . . ” Anduin tore his eyes away from his advisor and friend, instead raking his gaze across the bodies laid before them. “Rash action has harmed us far more often than care and caution. I will not overcommit to what could be a diversion.”

    High Exarch Turalyon nodded his agreement.

    “We must ask ourselves: Why would Sylvanas go to Zandalar? What would she want there?”

    “What does it matter?” Greymane thundered. “You said it yourself, Turalyon. The Zandalari queen pledged herself to Sylvanas first. Perhaps that vow remains true. Perhaps she has turned her back on the Horde and even now shelters the traitor and her soldiers.” He gestured to the fallen spies. “Perhaps these brave few were killed for discovering the truth.”

    Anduin had a duty to the truth, whatever it might be. Both men provided opinions he valued, but he could not deny that Turalyon offered the more tempting take. Still. Still.

    “I am reminded, my noble friends,” Anduin began softly. “Of a day not so long ago, and not so far from here. A placid place in the Arathi Highlands. A gathering meant to be peaceful, a gathering meant to reunite families torn asunder by forces they could never have foreseen . . . ” He sighed, leaning forward, resting his knuckles on the edge of the stone slab. “Human and Forsaken families met in good faith, trying to find common ground and common love—and many did. For their trust, for their grace, they received only slaughter.” He lifted his gaze to Greymane, who had gone mercifully still, the flush in his face fading. “I give your recommendations equal weight. Turalyon, take Alleria Windrunner and investigate these deaths.”

    Standing tall again, Anduin pressed his hand over his heart, finding that Turalyon regarded him with a sure smile. He approved. “I name you High Commander of the Alliance forces. Your task—your only task—is to find Sylvanas Windrunner so we might bring her to proper justice. Hunt her day and night, use whatever means you must.”

    Turalyon bowed his head with practiced gentility, accepting the honor and the charge with a humble, “My heart and my sword to the cause.”

    Shadows Rising will be available in stores July 14 and is available to pre-purchase now. Missed any of our previous novels and watch to catch up on the story in preparation of Shadows Rising? Purchase them here.
    Last edited by Lumy; 2020-06-21 at 09:29 PM.

  2. #2
    Lol imagine prepurchasing a book that will probably get retconned when the expansion launches.

  3. #3
    The book itself is more than likely a retcon of existing lore.

  4. #4
    I found before the storm to be a good setup to where the game picked up from, i hope this'll be similar.

  5. #5
    and in other wow news......___________

  6. #6
    Standing tall again, Anduin pressed his hand over his heart, finding that Turalyon regarded him with a sure smile. He approved. “I name you High Commander of the Alliance forces. Your task—your only task—is to find Sylvanas Windrunner so we might bring her to proper justice. Hunt her day and night, use whatever means you must.”
    Ooohhh that gave me chills.
    Last edited by KrazyK923; 2020-03-04 at 05:31 AM.

  7. #7
    Turalyon, High Commander? Uh oh.

  8. #8
    The Unstoppable Force Lorgar Aurelian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by GreenJesus View Post
    Lol imagine prepurchasing a book that will probably get retconned when the expansion launches.
    Tides of war wasn’t retconned with mop.

    War crimes wasn’t retconned with wod.

    Illidan wasn’t retconned with legion.

    Before the storm wasn’t retconned with Bfa.

    Why do you think this one will break that track record?

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Daemos daemonium View Post
    Tides of war wasn’t retconned with mop.

    War crimes wasn’t retconned with wod.

    Illidan wasn’t retconned with legion.

    Before the storm wasn’t retconned with Bfa.

    Why do you think this one will break that track record?
    its called hating on anything wow related even when nothing is there because iz wat dem kewl kidz do deez dayz
    Last edited by deenman; 2020-03-04 at 05:40 AM.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by GreenJesus View Post
    Lol imagine prepurchasing a book that will probably get retconned when the expansion launches.
    I'm busy trying to imagine why anyone would be stupid enough to buy a book for "valid lore information" that will be readily available on wowpedia right after its release, rather than to read the story in the book.

  11. #11
    *It's Always Sunny in Philly Theme Plays*

    The Horde finds the True Horde Way Again!

  12. #12
    I guess I'm just disappointed that they aren't listening. One of the bigger complaints was how much of the lore and story was delivered OUTSIDE the game. And this keeps doing that.

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by SirCowdog View Post
    I guess I'm just disappointed that they aren't listening. One of the bigger complaints was how much of the lore and story was delivered OUTSIDE the game. And this keeps doing that.
    It's cheaper, it doesn't involve the player character so if they wanted all this lore in game it would have to played out through in game cutscenes which cost money.

    There's enough in game though to make sense of everything.

  14. #14
    The Lightbringer gutnbrg's Avatar
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    how do u kill the loa of death?

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by gutnbrg View Post
    how do u kill the loa of death?
    Loa are just some slightly stronger beings that take certain aspect, they are not literaly killing death.

  16. #16
    I admit I'm much more interested in Shadows Alive.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by SirCowdog View Post
    I guess I'm just disappointed that they aren't listening. One of the bigger complaints was how much of the lore and story was delivered OUTSIDE the game. And this keeps doing that.
    I'm in full agreement over how bad that is.

  17. #17
    Is it canon, characters lying to themselves in a mental conversation or Titans' PoV™?

  18. #18
    Pit Lord Magical Mudcrab's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Daemos daemonium View Post
    Tides of war wasn’t retconned with mop.

    War crimes wasn’t retconned with wod.

    Illidan wasn’t retconned with legion.

    Before the storm wasn’t retconned with Bfa.

    Why do you think this one will break that track record?
    It's almost like Blizzard has only gained the reputation of retconning the validity of the books relatively recently...
    Such as relegating Chronicle as a Titan PoV when it was marketed as being the codification of WoW's lore.
    Or such as making specific character motivations from Before the Storm are incongruent with the oh-so-brilliantly crafted narrative we have going into Shadowlands.
    Sylvanas didn't even win the popular vote, she was elected by an indirect election of representatives. #NotMyWarchief

  19. #19
    Calling it now Turalyon ends up dead.

    With the couple sentences mentioning how his akin to a rockstar that's Blizzard's half assed attempt at "honoring" of the character like they did with their half assed attempts of "fist bump" moments.

  20. #20
    Pit Lord Magical Mudcrab's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by matheney2k View Post
    Omg one post in and we already have a negative nancy declaring that Blizz is going to retcon this book's lore the moment its corresponding expansion launches. I just can't believe how cynical and pessimistic people like you can be...

    Everybody knows they will wait for the following expansion before they just retcon all of this book under the rug
    It's because putting stock in what Blizzard says and publishes is a bit naive at this point. The changes to Chronicle and Before the Storm through Blizzcon reveals makes the books - regardless as to what they may have been marketed as - subject to change the moment it is convenient.
    Sylvanas didn't even win the popular vote, she was elected by an indirect election of representatives. #NotMyWarchief

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