I really enjoyed this entry in the WoW book series, which is odd because a big chunk of it is devoted to quoting previous books. The important parts are how characters are interacting with the weight of all the past novels in the series and how they react to learning about these different things. This is on a string of really great entries in the series. I love "Wolfheart", really enjoyed "Tides of War", and "Voljin: Shadows of the Horde".

The story is about the trial of Garrosh Hellscream after the "Mists of Pandaria" expansion, and a lot of the characters we care about, particularly among the leaders of Azeroth, are present as spectators/participants/witnesses. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and character relationships to think about. Whereas books like the previous three novels focused on a couple characters, this novel has around a dozen. It is also far more focused on the Alliance characters; Varian, Jaina, Tyrande, and Anduin play central roles in the story. Sylvanas and Baine play important roles, but after them, Vol'jin plays a relatively small part. Garrosh is obviously present, but seldom participates, and only briefly. Third parties like Vareesa, Kalec, Go'el, Wrathion, Chromie, and various Pandaren fill in the rest of the cast, with diminishing importance.

Spoilers below.

Two big highlights are the relationships between Jaina and Kalec and Anduin and Wrathion, respectively. I suppose they're meant to be foils, not only because each pair involves a dragon and a human, where both members have substantial political power (of course with WoW dragons the only ones we tend to know of are rather powerful political figures), with the former being pushed apart as the story progresses while the latter come closer together. And ultimately there's a bit of a twist there (I guess), which I like. I really loved seeing Jaina and Kalec's relationship develop in "Tides of War", and I loved seeing it return here (which makes sense, since Golden wrote both books). They really struggled with their emotions for each other and what they felt was just and right, and it's really enjoyable to read, and very heart-wrenching, and I felt was ended well. I look forward to future stories with them to see where this goes.

I also found the relationship between Anduin and Wrathion fascinating. I have a weakness for both characters - I love reading about them - so I'm a bit biased (as is true for Jaina and Kalec), but I really wonder where Golden plans to take them. True, Anduin doesn't seem to have many friends, given his position. He has his father, Jaina, his teacher (Velen), Baine, Magni (who's crystallized), possibly Moira Thaurissian... and that's about it. Wrathion is pretty much the only character I know of near his age who doesn't risk outright war talking to him. And perhaps it's simply that seeing Anduin with someone his age is a bit of a surprise. But it also fascinated me to see how much Wrathion cares for Anduin, particularly here. Again, I suspect their relationship is meant to be a foil to Jaina and Kalec's. Jaina and Kalec are in a romantic relationship. A growingly intimate one. If you look at how Anduin and Wrathion talk to each other, particularly how Wrathion talks and how, from Anduin's perspective, Anduin thinks of Wrathion... well. I know this book would make a lot of fanartists and fanfic writers happy. Given the events in Legion, Anduin's need to provide the next generation of Stormwind rulers is going to be even more important, and given Wrathion's existence as the only known sane Black dragonflight member, he's going to eventually need a mate as well, and this book... well. I enjoyed it a lot and I am VERY curious to see what the future holds, given the political situation.

Another highlighted scene was when Varian was called to testify. I also really like Varian, so again, a bit biased, but I really like how he was handled overall here and I really liked the scene where he gave testimony. What really made that scene great was how it ended, when Tyrande questioned him. I think Anduin's naivete was a bit over the top - I saw where this was going immediately and even before she spoke up, and I imagine it's not hard to guess - but it ultimately ended up well, and I think impressed that "Brooklyn" gif "Cool motive, still murder" because I imagine a lot of people have compared Varian and Garrosh, and Golden handles that comparison VERY well. I think there was a missed opportunity to ask about why Varian spared Garrosh. I know he spoke about it a bit, but I think they could have explored that a bit more. Tyrande focused on the more obvious aspect, which a lot of writers ignore when gushing over their favorite villains, and I think it's important that the point be emphasized. But I would have loved to see Varian talk about his reasoning. It would have made Tyrande happy.

Vereesa and Sylvanas' relationship was also quite heart-wrenching. I really want Alleria to come back (have for a while); she wasn't handled very well in some of the novels, and I'd love newer writers to get a chance to write her. I always like stories about the Windrunners but sometimes I struggle with Sylvanas. She always seems to backpedel in character development, and I wonder if today is Garrosh's end (with "Warlords of Draenor"), and someday soon, we'll say goodbye to Sylvanas as well. Since she's the only female Horde leader, that's a bit disappointing.

Anduin has some more growth. There's some good banter. Baine has a great run here, really struggling with an honest attorney's struggle: defending a defendant you perhaps, if asked, would not want to defend, because everyone in a criminal trial has a right to a defense. Those people are true heroes, no matter how much people despise them for the work they have to do. Someone has to do it, and if they did a poor job, what would the system be?

Overall, it's a very enjoyable read. ( )

It's been a while since I wolfed down a book in a single day but this one had me at go. Never liked the fact that Garrosh's trial was something OUTSIDE the game and that to know its details, we HAD to buy a book.

Good story for wow gamers and lore nerds alike. It's right fun being able to read and "hear" a character in their actual voice. Very enjoyable reading parts that I remember from questing. Still don't care for Jaina but this book put her in a slightly better light for me. And Baine? I knew he was a favorite of mine for a reason (and not just because of the whole Tauren thing). Garrosh is still a big fat jerk but I'd be remiss in saying I didn't enjoy his rants. Also, I am probably one of the only people who genuinely likes Anduin...

If you want to read what happens between War Crimes and the games storyline, I suggest you find the official short story. It's really good. Now, if only the goings-on in the WoD timeline could be put in book form, I'd be a happy gal! ( )

If you don't play the game, don't read the novel. Of course, if you haven't played World of Warcraft, you probably would not have heard of the novel anyway. Unless you are a Christie Golden fan. If you are her fan, you aren't going to like my review, so you just might want to stop.

Good:

First, the progression of the story was great. The structure was good and main character development was also good. Grammatically, it was smooth.

Secondly, the pace of the story was good. I was able to get through the novel in record time for me. It was a simple story despite the complexities of the trial.

Bad:

First, even though we are supposed to know who all the players are, we may not. Either reintroduce them like a real story-teller or have a list of the characters in this play and who they are in the world.

Secondly, the ending was a mess. My main complaint is that some kind of explanation was given to make whatever unusual thing work. Things also popped out of nowhere to get the story to where it had to be. Some kind of foreshadowing earlier in the book would have made it more credible. More talk among the plotters to steal away with Garrosh and why they wanted him back would have helped. I had no idea why they wanted him and where the heck they planned to go once they had him. An example of what did work is the Sylvanas-Vereesa failed subplot.

Thirdly, is that I did not care about these characters. The only connection I got was with Vereesa. I started having one with Baine, but then she left me hanging.

In conclusion, I read this and will read the next ones because Blizzard has made her the official writer for World of Warcraft. She has done a wonder plotting out the series. Unfortunately, the I feel game no longer allows the player to get the nuance and detail of what is going on without reading the novels. I enjoy the game more having read the book, but I wish that wasn't the case. ( )

Honestly not as good as I was wanting or expecting. The "trial" basically plays out like a history book. We re-live the events of previous books, events in the game and what not. Which seemed pretty cool at first until I realized that it feels like three quarters of the book is that.

The history lesson strangely ended just before the events in Mists of Pandaria as Garrosh's crimes against Pandaria are barely mentioned. And nobody was watching the skies or prepared for a bunch of people to fly in dropping bombs? The Celestials just hang out, not doing anything as a mass murderer escapes, people die all over the place and then decide to step in finally when Jaina is about to die?

I do give it three out of five stars though, because despite having too much of it, the historical flashbacks are interesting. Seeing Thrall / Go'el come to terms with what happened was worth it as well as the brief re-union of Sylvannas and Veressa Windrunner.

It wasn't a bad book and I would encourage reading it, especially before the Warlords of Draenor expansion is released, but I was expecting a bit better. ( )