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Warcraft Expanded Universe(Books, Comics and Mangas)*Updated with Illidan*
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Post by
Moltke
Illidan
So...after War Crimes and Tides of War, this thing was actually well written. The only problem? It's Boring with a capitol B which is sad because there are some good action scenes but the author had no sense of pacing, timing, impact or even an attempt to get someone to care about these characters. The book is split up into four main plots, and covers a portion of the Frozen Throne and the lead up to Illy's death on the Black Temple during BC. So here we go.
The book opens on Illidan in his prison and mumbling about 9 steps(sadly these are arc words). Tyrande then breaks him out and he acts like a school boy seeing his crush again for the first time in 10 thousand years; he stumbles and mumbles and all that. She tells him that the world needs him and he sneers because it's not her telling him that she needs him. They leave the Burrow and Illidan being Illidan, decides to smash his brother and Tyrande away from him.
The next event is him invading the Black Temple with Vashj and Kael...and the writer tries to make the scene exciting but it's not; the Illidan force marches in and takes down the Pit Lord without breaking a sweat. They lock him up and we get the first sight of B and C plot: Maiev and Akama. Akama who had followed Illy because he promised to free the Black Temple and purify it, goes back on his word(surprise surprise). Learning that Illy is going to use Mag's for some plot, the Broken is understandably upset. We then get a time skip to Maiev and her group wandering Hellfire being pursued by a pack of ravagers...who are apparently raptors as they attack in a pack and make a trap for the Elves(god I wish I was kidding). Maiev and her team trounces the bugs and we get another time skip to them watching the Illidari drag Mag to Hellfire Citadel, and the Warden captain considers attacking as it will give her a chance to kill Illidan...but her more level forces talk her down and they decide that what they need to is look for allies: In this case that's Akama who gives her a stone that will keep them in contact.
Back to Illidan who is forcing Orcs to become Fel Orcs through a process involving magic and alchemy, to make them bigger stronger tougher and stupider. He's pleased with this for some reason, and moves off to his next task. This is the start of the D plot; and we meet Vandel the Night Elf who is attempting to avenge his family who were killed by the Legion. In one of the biggest bait and switch moves ever, it seems like he is out to kill Illidan...except he's not; he's there to enlist in the Demon Hunters that Illy has been creating from Night and Blood Elves. Try not to think too hard how Night Elves are on Outland because the book doesn't.
We go to Vandel's 'training' which means he fights a demon on his own, kills it and is forced to eat his heart. After he eats the Heart, he has a vision of the true scope of the Legion; an endless wave of devastation and destruction. We then get hallucinations of Vandel's family being killed by demons when his town was overrun by the Legion and Illidan showed up to kill all of the demons but the one that slaughtered his family; that was done by Vandel which is shocking because apparently mortals aren't meant to kill a Felhunter(again, I don't get this). Illidan tells him that if he wants revenge, to find Illy again. As this vision goes through Vandel's head multiple times, he realizes that he is fighting the demonic essence inside of him; when he is triumphant, he grows stronger, when he gives up, the demon grows stronger. Anyways, the battle finally ends and Vandel has passed...and in the process, tore his own eyes out. And just like every other demon hunter, he starts to mutate and become more demonic. He decides that slicing off the demon scales that are growing on his body, and nearly dies till Akama heals him. After that, he starts training with his fellow demon hunters...again this should be exciting but it's not; they mention other demon hunters but you don't actually care about them.
Back to B plot; so apparently Maiev has been traveling Outland gaining allies among the Broken and Draenei. She meets some friends, like the Kurenai and A'dal...but it's still boring. A'dal tells her that It can't help because there are other threats that need to be dealt with. She attempts to ally with the Aldor but again: More important threats and because Maiev is racist, she wouldn't dream of talking to the Scryers.
C Plot time: Akama watches the demon hunters, is mocked by the Illidari Blood Elves and we hear that Kael has stopped reporting in after traveling to Netherstorm. No seriously, Vashj and Kael, the two major generals are barely in the book /sigh. Akama is still thinking about how Illy is not doing as he promised and starts plotting even more so. He ends up being found out by Illidan who then does something to him(which we know what happens the whole Shade thing).
Plot A and C: So we find out that Illidan saw the same vision that his demon hunters saw, and that Vision has been the driving force of him for 10 thousand years....well in theory; supposedly Sargeras showed that vision to prove the strength of the Legion but it back fired and made Illidan want to destroy the Legion utterly. To do, he plots to open a portal to the homeworld of the Dreadlords. Akama tells Maiev about this and she leads her merry band of Outland forces there...and they get completely destroyed by Illidan who uses the souls of everyone who dies to open the Portal. Maiev is captured and threatened. Anyways, back to the plot: The Demon Hunters and illidan invade the world and again, this should be exciting as heck! but it's still boring as the Demon Hunters face roll the Dreadlords and their army, killing and eating as they go. Illidan then goes to the grand library of the city and finds the Seal of Argus, which tells where the planet is. Touching it causes dozens of felguards to appear that Illy mows down like it is nothing. Anyway, Seal in hand, they escape the planet and Illy collapses the portal, supposedly destroying the planet of the Dreadlords in the backlash a la the original destruction of Draenor..which isn't confirmed.
So from here, Illy experiments with the Seal and manages to use it travel in spirit form to Argus, which is corrupted and dark and gloomy and fits all of the standard tired tropes of a conquered world. Illy travels the planet and learns exactly where it is, then almost get's caught by KJ...but then 'something' saves him and throws him back to his body.
Once back in Outland, the Legion starts setting traps for Illy as he is still gathering items for the next part of his plan; which means he's going to Argus to kill KJ cause Argus is a corrupt world which means that the Demons can die there. During one of those traps, Highlord Kruul shows up and almost kills all of the Demon Hunters until Illidan attacks and Kruul walks away. While this cat and mouse is going on, we find out that the Legion is invading Azeroth under the order of Kruul...and then Azeroth invades Outland. During the initial Azeroth assault, Illidan and the Hunters kill Kruul and his forces who tried to stop the invasion.
Illy shows how arrogant he is and invades Auchidoun, intending on using a Soul Syphon to eat all of the souls of the dead Draenei to power his next portal attempt...and he almost dies to the forces of the Auchenai but managers to walk away, though he is weakened. After that, it jumps to the last day of Illy's life; he has finished his last spell and returned to Argus, creating the spell matrix he needed and he meets the Elder Naaru. Okay, I have to stop and say: What the !@#$ was this about? I mean really, a being of Light that had power above A'dal, the strongest Naaru known and the Elder gives Illy the 'vision' of him as an avenging Angel of Light; I wish I was kidding I really do, but that is how he is described; covered in golden light, a serene look on his face and is told this is his destiny. Surprisingly, Illy is skeptical of this, but the Elder touches Illy and leaves. He goes back to Outland and starts summoning his Demon Hunters. We also find out that all of the forces of the Illidari except the Temple have fallen and Akama took off to free Maiev. Illy does have a slightly funny comment about the fact that a Naaru is attacking him at the Black Temple, and maybe the destiny thing was wrong.
This part made me sad: This could have been epic of the Black Temple invasion...and they rushed through it. We see Akama get his Shade back, but that is the only boss fight. Illy finishes his spell and opens a portal, calling all of the Demon Hunters including Vandel. Maiev goes ape %^&* and murders a mountain of demons during the attack and while in the courtyard with Supremus, she faces off against Vandel who just happened to be there. They fight, Vandel faints because she's stronger then expected. Anyways; the final fight with Illidan and Akama, Maiev and the adventures of Azeroth kill him just like in game. After the battle, Maiev considers attacking the adventures but walks off instead. Akama mutters about purifying the Temple...then walks off. And we go to Vandel, who isn't dead but is considering letting the Allied forces kill him because he can't sense any of his fellow Hunters around or his boss...till he hears a voice in his head, that is Illy telling him to prepare. So Vandel walks off too.
This book was alright...Illidan remained his actual character and didn't end up with some stupid redemption plot line; at least till Legion that is. Over all though; so much of it could have been cut out, and wasn't really needed. The premise is good, to learn about Illy taking over Outland, but honestly, with Kael and Vashj being bit players, Vandel being completely bland and unremarkable, and just the lack of actual excitement over all, it's meh to lead us into Legion, even if we know what happened to the Demon Hunters. I'll recommend the book over Tides of War and War Crimes, but if you want a good book, Last Guardian or Shadows of the Horde would be better.
I don't think I've ever disagreed more with a review than this.
Post by
Adamsm
And you are free to do so.
Post by
CallistaZM
I just finished it and really enjoyed it personally. Couldn't put it down.
Post by
Adamsm
And you are free to do so.
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