Christie Golden needs no introduction. She has written tons of books for major fantasy franchises. I reckon she is one of Blizzard’s favorites. I may not be agreeable to her writing style, especially her over reliance of the word ‘had’ (who am I to comment about English grammar anyway, though this habit of hers has been highlighted by other online reviewers as well). But every book of her so far managed to move me to tears. If you need someone to thoroughly develop a character and to strike the emotional core of the readers, Christie Golden is the one you shall look for.
Lord of the Clan, in summary, is a story of Thrall. It is the second book from the Warcraft: Archive series. The demonic power that corrupted the orcs seems to have receded, leaving the blood eyed orcs docile, incapable to return to their former glory. For most orcs, their way of life is lost. The warlocks’ abuse of demonic power has driven the shamanic spirit away. In this era, orcs who were previously addicted to the demonic power are now willingly imprisoned by the human. The war is lost. It is a dark day for the orcs.
Infant orc Thrall, son of Frostwolf Clan’s Chieftain, is left in the wild when his parents are brutally assassinated by their fellow Horde. During a hunting trip, Thrall is found by a human called Lord Blackmoore who is in command of the encampments where orcs are imprisoned. Instead of killing the orc baby, Blackmoore has decided to enslave Thrall and train him as a gladiator for his personal gain. He commands his people to teach Thrall how to read and to fight. He wants Thrall to learn the human language and master the war strategies. Life as a gladiator is never easy. However, Thrall is also blessed with a few friends. One of them is a human girl called Taretha, who treats Thrall as her little brother.
However comfortable life seems to be as a slave, Thrall’s true destiny is not to be a gladiator. He must join force with Grom Hellscream of the Warsong Clan. He must unit with the Warchief Orgrim Doomhammer. Together, the New Horde must rise.
Lord of the Clan is the first book that is written from the Horde’s perspective. While the Old Horde that fell under the demonic influence is traditionally viewed as villain and the Alliance is seen as hero, with the rise of the New Horde, the line is no longer black and white. Orcs can be honorable. Orcs can be merciful. And human can also be corrupted by political power too.
Thrall has become a center figure in recent lore development. Lord of the Clans has shed much insight onto Thrall’s childhood and adulthood. With Thrall’s unique background – born as an orc and taught by the human – it is no doubt he is where he is today. The question to all whom indulge in the World of Warcraft is: after Cataclysm and at the end of Mists of Pandaria, will Thrall return as Horde’s Warchief?