New excerpts fromWorld of Warcraft’supcoming lorebook,Exploring Azeroth: Northrend, have been shared by Amazon on its UK page. The newWorld of Warcraftbook launches on November 15, alongside the second phase of theDragonflightPre-Patch.
Exploring Azeroth: NorthrendisWorld of Warcraft’sthird installmentin theExploring Azerothlorebook series. Written by Alex Acks,Exploring Azeroth: Northrendwill act as a tour of the frozen continent fromWrath of the Lich King, and will add commentary from Magni, Muradin, and Brann Bronzebeard.
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The new Amazon excerpts giveWorld of Warcraftfans a taste of what is to come in the new lorebook. It seems the primary narrator ofExploring Azeroth: Northrendis Muradin, with informal commentary added by his older and younger brother throughout. The excerpts themselves cover the Argent Tournament Grounds in Icecrown, the Howling Fjord, and Zul’Drak.
While the excerpts provide interesting commentary by the brothers Bronzebeard,Exploring Azeroth: Northrenddoesn’t seem to add many new detailsto the continent itself. The book chronologically takes place afterShadowlands, as it makes reference to there being no Lich King, but otherwise does not seem to change the status quo from how the areas appeared inWrath of the Lich King: the Vrykul are still in the Howling Fjord, Zul’Drak is still largely abandoned and swarming with aimless Undead Scourge, and the Argent Tournament Grounds are mostly the same as they were many in-game years ago.
On one hand, players aren’t too pleased with how safe it seemsWorld of Warcraftis playing it withExploring Azeroth: Northrend. Though the new art is absolutely stunning, the book mostly seems to be regurgitating information players already know without providing any new context. With atimeskip of several years confirmed betweenShadowlandsandDragonflight, many players are dismayed to seeWorld of Warcraftis not using those years to change the world state.
On the other hand, many players think that may be for the best.Exploring Azeroth: Kalimdor, the second book in the series, fell on someproblematic stereotypes fromWorld of Warcraft’searlier years. These excerpts at least seem to avoid any such problems–the one instance where Muradin dismisses troll religious practices as “shaman stuff” prompts scolding from his big brother. While most players agree they want substance from lorebooks, they want them to be respectful too.
World of Warcraftrecently announcedThe Dragonflight Codex: A Definitive Guide to the Dragons of Azeroth–a sister lorebook focusing on the Dragon Isles–for July 2023. IfExploring Azeroth: Northrendends up doing well,The Dragonflight Codexmay have the chance to soar to even greater heights.
World of Warcraftis available now on PC.Exploring Azeroth: Northrendreleases on November 15.
