WoW: Tides of War
Sep. 10th, 2012 06:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jadedmusingsI finished Tides of War today. It was slightly better than Twilight of the Aspects, but only marginally so.
The unconventional-yet-totally-conventional relationship felt unnatural, which as I'm given to understand is par for the course in Warcraft books. It's like there's two people Blizzard thinks should be a couple, and so they become a couple. There was no tension, and honestly, not any real reason I felt was given for Jaina to develop feelings for Kalecgos and vice versa. They met and...that was enough, it seemed.
Oh sure, they spent long hours together trying to find the Focusing Iris, but they weren't alone in the endeavor.The red-shirt Kinndy was there, so was Tervosh and Pained. They weren't ever alone for more than a few moments at a time, and it was always with the threat of the missing Iris or war looming overhead.
You knew who was going to die. I mean, really, all the loving detail paid to Kinndy and how sweet and special and how much like Jaina she was, I figured out pretty quickly she was going to die some tragically heroic death that spurred Jaina to action.
Speaking of Jaina, nice how she was threatening freaking genocide. Yes, she was angry and hurt, but she's been there before. She saw Arthas destroy Stratholme and saw what became of Kael'thas. Even in the midst of grief andemo kid hair arcane magic overdose, I'm having a hard time picturing Jaina Proudmoore sinking to the point of killing innocent children, especially since it would have put her on the same level as Garrosh. Her no longer being friends with Thrall and recognizing peace with the Horde is impossible with Garrosh at the helm, that was at least believable and understandable (and a belief even my Horde characters will fully back). That we had to go all the way to wishing to eradicate every member of the Horde and their progeny to a more reasonable stance seemed unnatural for her, especially considering she had to be corralled by two notable male NPCs. If we really had to go that route, I would have had her look at Orgrimmar itself, to see the children playing, or see Horde children elsewhere and for her to realize how stupid and hateful she was being, that they can't control their parents' actions anymore than she could control her father or Arthas.
Vol'jin should have had more scenes, and while I agree and understand that he can't be as open about his disagreement with Garrosh as Baine given how close the Echo Isles are to Orgrimmar and how vulnerable they'd be to attack when compared to Thunder Bluff, I'm wondering why I didn't see a bit more fire from him. I mean, have you seen the troll opening in Cataclysm? It's the entire reason I'm such a fangirl for Vol'jin. He's the one who wants to kill Garrosh and has already said so to his face, but it seems we've forgotten that detail and Garrosh is more suspicious of Baine than Vol'jin. (As much as I love Baine, I still want Vol'jin to be warchief, but that's neither here nor there.)
On the issue of Sylvanas and Lor'themar, I would have liked to see them have more time in the book, at least enough to react to Garrosh's killing of two of their top people for daring to (supposedly) gainsay Garrosh after the bombing in Theramore. I suspect this will come into play in Mists, especially given how both Quel'Thalas and Lordaeron are in a very, very vulnerable position in the Eastern Kingdoms. Of course, I can't imagine there is going to be a lot of love spared for the sin'dorei when it's learned it was one of their own (a Sunreaver no less) who helped Garrosh bomb Theramore. I predict there's going to be a few blood elves in Dalaran who will feel a sudden need to take a vacation. However, I am glad at least Aethas Sunreaver remains with the Kirin Tor and that even Jaina appears to realize he wholly condemns Thalen Songweaver's actions, who, according to Wowpedia will be in Silvermoon now.So we can all go /spit at him.
And now the Kor'kron Guard will be going around arresting anyone who doesn't appear to be doing their patriotic duties in supporting the Horde. This will make for interesting role-play.
I'll have more thoughts as they come. And as for the writing, eh, I'll rant about that later.
The unconventional-yet-totally-conventional relationship felt unnatural, which as I'm given to understand is par for the course in Warcraft books. It's like there's two people Blizzard thinks should be a couple, and so they become a couple. There was no tension, and honestly, not any real reason I felt was given for Jaina to develop feelings for Kalecgos and vice versa. They met and...that was enough, it seemed.
Oh sure, they spent long hours together trying to find the Focusing Iris, but they weren't alone in the endeavor.
You knew who was going to die. I mean, really, all the loving detail paid to Kinndy and how sweet and special and how much like Jaina she was, I figured out pretty quickly she was going to die some tragically heroic death that spurred Jaina to action.
Speaking of Jaina, nice how she was threatening freaking genocide. Yes, she was angry and hurt, but she's been there before. She saw Arthas destroy Stratholme and saw what became of Kael'thas. Even in the midst of grief and
Vol'jin should have had more scenes, and while I agree and understand that he can't be as open about his disagreement with Garrosh as Baine given how close the Echo Isles are to Orgrimmar and how vulnerable they'd be to attack when compared to Thunder Bluff, I'm wondering why I didn't see a bit more fire from him. I mean, have you seen the troll opening in Cataclysm? It's the entire reason I'm such a fangirl for Vol'jin. He's the one who wants to kill Garrosh and has already said so to his face, but it seems we've forgotten that detail and Garrosh is more suspicious of Baine than Vol'jin. (As much as I love Baine, I still want Vol'jin to be warchief, but that's neither here nor there.)
On the issue of Sylvanas and Lor'themar, I would have liked to see them have more time in the book, at least enough to react to Garrosh's killing of two of their top people for daring to (supposedly) gainsay Garrosh after the bombing in Theramore. I suspect this will come into play in Mists, especially given how both Quel'Thalas and Lordaeron are in a very, very vulnerable position in the Eastern Kingdoms. Of course, I can't imagine there is going to be a lot of love spared for the sin'dorei when it's learned it was one of their own (a Sunreaver no less) who helped Garrosh bomb Theramore. I predict there's going to be a few blood elves in Dalaran who will feel a sudden need to take a vacation. However, I am glad at least Aethas Sunreaver remains with the Kirin Tor and that even Jaina appears to realize he wholly condemns Thalen Songweaver's actions, who, according to Wowpedia will be in Silvermoon now.
And now the Kor'kron Guard will be going around arresting anyone who doesn't appear to be doing their patriotic duties in supporting the Horde. This will make for interesting role-play.
I'll have more thoughts as they come. And as for the writing, eh, I'll rant about that later.
