I really enjoyed the story and lore that shaped the RPG Dragon Age: Origins. When perusing the Dragon Age Wiki one day, I saw that there were two novels written by the game’s writer. These novels served as prequels to the game, and I was excited to start reading them to partake of more adventures in Ferelden. The first book in the series, The Stolen Throne, proved to be an excellent edition to Dragon Age lore.
The Stolen Throne starts off depicting the adventures of Prince Maric, the heir to the Ferelden throne. Unfortunately, the Orlesian nation has conquered Ferelden, and the royal family has been running a rebellion against the usurper. After his mother (the Queen) is killed, Maric flees, and eventually meets up with Loghain (who is one of the antagonists of the Dragon Age: Origins game.) The book then follows their adventures over the next few years, as they work to get Maric back on the throne.
The book adds much to the Dragon Age lore. In Origins, one of the main plots is to take down Loghain after he seemingly murders King Cailin (Maric’s son.) I was very interested in learning more of Loghain’s background, as he proves to be an interesting villain in Origins. The Stolen Throne does a great job in building up Loghain’s character into what he is in Origins, a man who will do anything to save Ferelden. Other notable adventures include them traveling through the Deep Roads and encountering darkspawn and the Legion of the Dead, meeting up with Flemeth, and learning a lot about the background of the Circle of Magi and the church’s control over it. One of the biggest things missing from The Stolen Throne is the presence of Grey Wardens, but they make their appearances in the sequel, The Calling.
The Stolen Throne is definitely a must-read for any fan of Dragon Age: Origins. Not only do you learn more about key characters, but additional background information and lore is introduced to expand the story. And even if you did not play the game, it is still an awesome fantasy read. Since it is a prequel, many of the main events and characters of the game do not have a part in the book, so newcomers to Ferelden will not feel lost. I highly recommend the book for fans of Bioware’s RPG masterpiece, and for lovers of fantasy books as well.
