All Dragon Age books and comics, ranked worst to best
With Dragon Age: The Veilguard simply across the nook, now is likely to be the time to revisit the world of Thedas and brush up on the traditional lore of the Chantry and the outdated gods that preceded it.
If there’s one factor BioWare all the time does within the superlative, it’s worldbuilding. The world of Dragon Age, whereas actually impressed by many fantasy works that got here earlier than it (together with Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time—particularly the latter) is sprawling with riveting tales, compelling characters, and a unbelievable historical past going 1000’s of years again.
Dragon Age has additionally branched out into different mediums through the years, comprising not solely three superb video games with dozens of hours of content material, but in addition a number of books, greater than ten comedian sequence, a number of tabletop video games, and not too long ago, an anime adaptation on Netflix.
However as we all know, the beating coronary heart of each nice fantasy universe is in its books. Even Dragon Age, initially conceived as a online game sequence and regardless of taking full benefit of RPG parts to world-build, can’t assist however fall beneath the identical enchantment. If you’d like lore and particulars, you’ll have to inevitably strategy the Dragon Age books and comics, and since most of them have been written by BioWare’s personal writers who additionally labored on the video games, they’re must-reads for ardent followers of Thedas.
Barring the two-volume World of Thedas, which is little greater than a companion encyclopedia with entries detailing totally different characters, factions, international locations, and occasions, right here is each Dragon Age e-book and comedian ranked worst to best.
All Dragon Age Books
There have been seven main books within the Dragon Age sequence, all of them canon. Some develop on the lore already established within the video games, and some give followers much-needed context on the internal workings of Thedas and what goes on behind the scenes on this politically-charged excessive fantasy world. Right here we’ve ranked them from worst to best based mostly on significance, the standard of the narrative, and the general neighborhood reception.
through Darkish Horse Books
Everyone knows that Varric is an completed and best-selling creator famend throughout Thedas, however have you ever ever questioned what it will be like to learn a e-book penned by him? Hard in Hightown expands on the character’s noir detective story discovered within the Dragon Age: Inquisition codex entries, and BioWare has additionally marketed the e-book as being written by Varric himself. The opposite contributing creator is Mary Kirby, who labored within the studio from 2006 to 2023 and is credited for her writing chops in all 4 Dragon Age video games, together with the upcoming Veilguard.
through Darkish Horse Books
The primary novel by David Gaider in addition to the primary Dragon Age e-book, The Stolen Throne takes place earlier than the occasions of Origins within the nation of Ferelden. We observe the story of the insurgent queen Moira, who has simply been assassinated by means of a plot orchestrated by the nobles in her courtroom. Her son Maric escapes unhurt, and now with Ferelden beneath occupation by the Orlesian Empire, Maric has to battle for the revival of his nation with the assistance of Loghain, whom followers will acknowledge as one of many major characters in Origins. Should you all the time discovered Loghain intriguing and have been determined to be taught extra about his previous and motives, then The Stolen Throne is a must-read, even when it’s not precisely the best Dragon Age e-book on the market.
through Tor Books
Happening eleven years after the occasions of The Stolen Throne, that is David Gaider’s second literary outing within the Dragon Age universe. The story mainly revolves across the Gray Wardens, who had been exiled from Ferelden for 200 years, earlier than King Maric revoked that ban and welcomed them again. The Gray Wardens come to the king’s courtroom with dire information, nevertheless, of one in all their rank escaping into the Deep Roads and aligning himself with the Darkspawn. The Gray Wardens ask the king to lead them by means of the Deep Roads, which he traversed years earlier than, to save the dominion from peril, little realizing the risks that lurk in these uncharted dwarven territories.
through Tor Books
The Mage-Templar Warfare is likely one of the defining conflicts in the whole Dragon Age chronology, and it’s explored in depth in Dragon Age: Asunder by David Gaider. That is arguably the creator’s best novel within the sequence, and his nuanced storytelling, whether or not or not it’s compelling character arcs or perhaps a deft hand at weaving political intrigue collectively, shines in Asunder. Aside from explaining intimately why the Seekers of Reality and the Circle of Magi broke off from the Chantry, the story additionally options Wynne, who is likely one of the fanbase’s favourite companions in Origins.
through Tor Books
Last Flight by Liane Merciel is arguably one of many best tales within the multi-media Dragon Age franchise. The narrative as soon as once more brings the Gray Wardens to the forefront. After the occasions of Origins, this historical group of warriors are as soon as once more being hailed as heroes throughout Thedas. The Darkspawn has been pushed underground and the specter of extinction has been snuffed out. Not all is properly within the continent, nevertheless. A younger elven mage named Valya, who has not too long ago been recruited into the group, is tasked with finding out historic data to achieve perception into earlier Blights, analysis that leads her to query what she is aware of concerning the so-called heroic Gray Wardens and be taught the reality concerning the destiny of griffons.
through Tor Books
Trick Weekes wrote for the three Mass Impact video games in addition to Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and the forthcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The Masked Empire is a tie-in novelization for Dragon Age: Inquisition launched in April 2014, and it offers with the Orlesian Civil Warfare. The occasions of the novel paint a starkly totally different image of Orlesian politics for followers, and lots of you may find yourself regretting the choices you made throughout Inquisition, or replaying the sport as a way to change it. Among the characters in The Masked Empire embody Briala, Celene Empress of Orlais, Felassan, Gaspard de Chalons, and our personal bard-turned-spymaster Leliana.
through Tor Books
Tevinter Nights is an anthology sequence written by 9 totally different BioWare workers writers, and some followers already contemplate it to be a tie-in to Dragon Age: The Veilguard. You’ll discover many acquainted faces in the middle of studying this novel, which consists of fifteen quick tales largely set within the Tevinter Imperium, in addition to different areas like Nevarra, Rivain, the Anderfels, Orlais, and the Free Marches. The novel additionally goes into occasions such because the Qunari invasion and Solas’ defection from the Inquisition. Should you don’t need to trouble with the remainder of the Dragon Age books earlier than The Veilguard, Tevinter Nights can thrust you again into the political and historic panorama of Thedas earlier than the fourth major entry comes alongside.
All Dragon Age Comics
Dragon Age has maintained a gentle and outstanding line of comedian strips because the launch of Origins in 2009. Some may even argue that as a result of Dragon Age is a online game, comics are an much more congruent medium for enlargement. There are shut to a dozen comedian e-book sequence in Thedas, and we’ve ranked all of them on this record. Listed here are which publications you need to prioritize earlier than October 31.
through Darkish Horse
This three-issue comedian sequence focuses on Varric and provides followers extra perception into his previous life. It’s written by David Gaider and illustrated by Chad Hardin, that includes superb art work and a grim story that chooses BioWare’s personal canon, which means that in Until We Sleep’s timeline, Alistair is the king of Ferelden.
through IDW Publishing
There’s one thing irresistibly charming concerning the first correct Dragon Age cartoon, which got here out month-to-month in 2010 in six points. The story expands on the lore already established in Origins, and offers with the internal workings of each the templar and mage orders in Thedas. The artwork fashion may be very distinctive, completely becoming that darkish aesthetic the franchise had going for itself again within the outdated days, even when there are additionally lore inconsistencies abound, one thing that eagle-eyed followers will little question decide up on with ease.
through Darkish Horse
Launched in 5 points from December 2015 to April 2016, Magekiller tells the story of Marius, the titular mage killer, and his handler Tessa Forsythia. It’s set through the occasions of Inquisition and facilities across the rise of the Venatori cult. The artwork fashion is fairly neat, however for pacing points in addition to a shallow storyline, Magekiller typically finds itself very low within the record of fan-favorite Dragon Age tales.
through Darkish Horse
Following the occasions of The Silent Grove, King Alistair continues to journey throughout Thedas to be taught what occurred to his father. On this journey, he’s assisted by everybody’s favourite pirate Isabela, and second-favorite novelist Varric Tethras. The journey is wrought with hazard, however nothing that the trio can’t deal with, particularly while you notice that they’ve been by means of worse than a band of cultists hindering their means.
through Darkish Horse
That is truly a compilation of three Dragon Age comedian sequence launched in a single quantity. It contains Deception, Blue Wraith, and Darkish Fortress, all involving the Tevinter Imperium to one diploma or one other. In Deception, we observe a failed actress turned con artist who targets the inheritor of a rich household in Tevinter. The second and third sequence are extra carefully linked, with the previous coping with a Qunari plot towards Tevinter and that includes Fenris, and the latter starring her as the principle character as she’s joined by a band of Inquisition brokers to assault a seemingly impregnable fortress. All nice quick tales within the sprawling Dragon Age universe.
through Darkish Horse
The primary Dragon Age comedian sequence to be printed by Darkish Horse, and arguably one of many best even now, The Silent Grove depicts the Alistair, Varric, Isabela trio in one other era-defining journey. The get together travels to Antiva Metropolis, and there they try to stage a jail break, getting swept up in a story that finally ends up unveiling one of many darkest secrets and techniques within the historical past of Thedas. The Silent Grove was initially printed in 2012 in six points.
through Darkish Horse
What’s a Dragon Age story with out the universe’s meta storyteller round to shake issues up? Knight Errant is the story of an elven thief named Vaea, who arrives in Kirkwall simply in time to witness the appointment of its newest viscount, Varric Tethras. The art work in Knight Errant may be very enthralling, and you’ll end up drawn to have a look at the pages even in case you’re not a fan of the story itself. Nonetheless, there have been theories locally circles about Knight Errant presumably tying into The Veilguard, so the title is price choosing up for that motive alone.
through Darkish Horse
The Missing immediately ties into The Veilguard and options Varric Tethras and Lace Harding (who’s going to be a companion within the upcoming recreation) as they descend into the Deep Roads in pursuit of Solas. We already know Solas and his shenanigans are going to play an enormous half in The Veilguard, and The Lacking not solely serves as a narrative that bridges the hole between this fourth entry and Inquisition, but in addition an ideal primer to get you into the temper for some Dragon Age in November.
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