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Dragon Age Graphic Novels #1-3
Dragon Age, Volume 1
Helping set the stage for BioWare's hotly anticipated "Dragon Age: Inquisition," this deluxe oversized hardcover collects every Dark Horse Dragon Age comic to date--"The Silent Grove, Those Who Speak," and "Until We Sleep"-- an epic trilogy complete in one volume, written by "Dragon Age "lead writer David Gaider! This edition also features extensive annotations from the creators of the comics as well as a section of never-before-seen related material.
227 pages, Hardcover
First published November 17, 2014
About the author
David Gaider
35 books615 followersDavid Gaider lives in Edmonton, Alberta, and has worked for video game developer BioWare since 1999. He is the lead writer on the upcoming Dragon Age: Origins role-playing game and has previously worked on such titles as Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Neverwinter Nights.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 16, 2015
I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. Also posted on my blog, Rinn Reads.
Just like when I spot a Mass Effect book on Netgalley, I can’t help myself if I see anything related to Dragon Age either! This book is actually a collection of the three current graphic novels, with extra notes and annotation. I’m going to split my review and discuss each chapter separately – but firstly I have to say how much I LOVE the cover. It’s so wonderful seeing those familiar characters in a different style of media, particularly as when I imagine them in my head, all I can see is their pixelated selves. And not only that, but I would happily frame and display the full page art in between chapters on my wall, it’s so gorgeous.
THE SILENT GROVE
Firstly, THIS BOOK CONFIRMS KING ALISTAIR AS CANON. YES. GET OUT, ALORA. That’s the only way it should go. Narrated by King Alistair of Ferelden, a character who should be familiar to anyone who has played Dragon Age: Origins, the story follows our bumbling former Grey Warden as he investigates a rumour. Except he’s not so bumbling any more. He’s quite a different character from the one in the game, but I interpreted that as having to adapt once he became king – and losing his lover. He mentions something about how he shouldn’t ‘be here alone’, which was a nice little nod to all who chose the route of marrying Alistair, and then frustratingly found out in the epilogue that their character ‘disappeared’ months later… There is one event in particular that truly confirms how much Alistair has changed. He’s still a gentleman, shown by a moment where he gives Isabela his cloak to keep her warm, but he is now rough and rugged, and has lost his baby faced looks.
But Alistair is not the only character in The Silent Grove! He is accompanied by Varric Tethras, a party member from Dragon Age II, and Isabela, who makes an appearance in both games. The dynamic between the three was pretty great, particularly Varric and Isabela’s friendship. There was one scene where the two dismantle traps together that clearly shows how easily their friendship comes to them, despite appearances. There are also references to other Dragon Age characters, for example Alistair noting how he is unable to buy a Qunari off with cookies – a direct nod to Sten.
THOSE WHO SPEAK
Those Who Speak is the turn of Isabela, who narrates the events of this particular book, which immediately captures her character. She’s a tough lady with a hidden weakness, who doesn’t find it particularly easy to make friends. She’s comfortable with her sexuality, and also comfortable flaunting it. She even likes to tease, making regular digs at Alistair’s weight (I guess he did get beefier…), which shows she is at ease with him. However, she also has a dark side that she keeps hidden from sight.
This chapter involved a ball, which was a chance to show off some formal outfits – and truly wonderful they are too. Isabela’s in particular was a fantastic design, and I just cannot emphasise how much I absolutely LOVED the artwork of this entire book. It was consistently beautiful and detailed, even in action sequences and very brief shots.
It was actually particularly interesting to read about Isabela for me, as she’s never been a character I really connected with. I turned down her ‘offer’ in the first game, and actually killed her in the second after she betrayed me… so now I feel I know her a little better, and should perhaps give her another chance during my second playthrough of Dragon Age II.
UNTIL WE SLEEP
Unfortunately, my galley copy actually stopped halfway through this chapter. I did get in touch with Netgalley, who contacted the publisher for me, but they never heard anything back which is a shame. So the rest of my review is based on what I could read – I do plan on buying this book one day, so I’ll finish the story off some time! Until We Sleep was narrated by Varric Tethras, another one of my favourite characters. This story revealed a transgender character, and the situation was dealt with well – no-one batted an eyelid at Mae’s decision or lifestyle, and neither should we.
If you know Varric, you know Bianca, his beloved crossbow. This story reveals the origins of Bianca, a sad tale that I’d like to read more about – even if it makes me sob! It was nice to see the back story of someone who might be considered a less major character (although Varric will be making a reappearance in Dragon Age Inquisition, yay!). Unfortunately, it didn’t feel as well ‘held together’ as the other two, and I don’t think that had anything to do with the fact that I only read half of it. That doesn’t mean it was in anyway bad though!
OVERALL
This is a series that is not afraid of showing its protagonists doing bad things or making bad choices – and for that, they seem all the more real. In true Dragon Age style, it features characters that you can’t help but feel attached to, and this time we get to learn even more about them. It tips its hat to the series in every way, making frequent references back to various parts of the games (“No-one flirts as badly as Alistair!”). The extra annotation and notes in this edition add a lot of depth to the creation of the series, and I can truly say it is an absolute treat for Dragon Age fans – highly recommended. Now roll onDragon Age Inquisition!
Just like when I spot a Mass Effect book on Netgalley, I can’t help myself if I see anything related to Dragon Age either! This book is actually a collection of the three current graphic novels, with extra notes and annotation. I’m going to split my review and discuss each chapter separately – but firstly I have to say how much I LOVE the cover. It’s so wonderful seeing those familiar characters in a different style of media, particularly as when I imagine them in my head, all I can see is their pixelated selves. And not only that, but I would happily frame and display the full page art in between chapters on my wall, it’s so gorgeous.
THE SILENT GROVE
Firstly, THIS BOOK CONFIRMS KING ALISTAIR AS CANON. YES. GET OUT, ALORA. That’s the only way it should go. Narrated by King Alistair of Ferelden, a character who should be familiar to anyone who has played Dragon Age: Origins, the story follows our bumbling former Grey Warden as he investigates a rumour. Except he’s not so bumbling any more. He’s quite a different character from the one in the game, but I interpreted that as having to adapt once he became king – and losing his lover. He mentions something about how he shouldn’t ‘be here alone’, which was a nice little nod to all who chose the route of marrying Alistair, and then frustratingly found out in the epilogue that their character ‘disappeared’ months later… There is one event in particular that truly confirms how much Alistair has changed. He’s still a gentleman, shown by a moment where he gives Isabela his cloak to keep her warm, but he is now rough and rugged, and has lost his baby faced looks.
But Alistair is not the only character in The Silent Grove! He is accompanied by Varric Tethras, a party member from Dragon Age II, and Isabela, who makes an appearance in both games. The dynamic between the three was pretty great, particularly Varric and Isabela’s friendship. There was one scene where the two dismantle traps together that clearly shows how easily their friendship comes to them, despite appearances. There are also references to other Dragon Age characters, for example Alistair noting how he is unable to buy a Qunari off with cookies – a direct nod to Sten.
THOSE WHO SPEAK
Those Who Speak is the turn of Isabela, who narrates the events of this particular book, which immediately captures her character. She’s a tough lady with a hidden weakness, who doesn’t find it particularly easy to make friends. She’s comfortable with her sexuality, and also comfortable flaunting it. She even likes to tease, making regular digs at Alistair’s weight (I guess he did get beefier…), which shows she is at ease with him. However, she also has a dark side that she keeps hidden from sight.
This chapter involved a ball, which was a chance to show off some formal outfits – and truly wonderful they are too. Isabela’s in particular was a fantastic design, and I just cannot emphasise how much I absolutely LOVED the artwork of this entire book. It was consistently beautiful and detailed, even in action sequences and very brief shots.
It was actually particularly interesting to read about Isabela for me, as she’s never been a character I really connected with. I turned down her ‘offer’ in the first game, and actually killed her in the second after she betrayed me… so now I feel I know her a little better, and should perhaps give her another chance during my second playthrough of Dragon Age II.
UNTIL WE SLEEP
Unfortunately, my galley copy actually stopped halfway through this chapter. I did get in touch with Netgalley, who contacted the publisher for me, but they never heard anything back which is a shame. So the rest of my review is based on what I could read – I do plan on buying this book one day, so I’ll finish the story off some time! Until We Sleep was narrated by Varric Tethras, another one of my favourite characters. This story revealed a transgender character, and the situation was dealt with well – no-one batted an eyelid at Mae’s decision or lifestyle, and neither should we.
If you know Varric, you know Bianca, his beloved crossbow. This story reveals the origins of Bianca, a sad tale that I’d like to read more about – even if it makes me sob! It was nice to see the back story of someone who might be considered a less major character (although Varric will be making a reappearance in Dragon Age Inquisition, yay!). Unfortunately, it didn’t feel as well ‘held together’ as the other two, and I don’t think that had anything to do with the fact that I only read half of it. That doesn’t mean it was in anyway bad though!
OVERALL
This is a series that is not afraid of showing its protagonists doing bad things or making bad choices – and for that, they seem all the more real. In true Dragon Age style, it features characters that you can’t help but feel attached to, and this time we get to learn even more about them. It tips its hat to the series in every way, making frequent references back to various parts of the games (“No-one flirts as badly as Alistair!”). The extra annotation and notes in this edition add a lot of depth to the creation of the series, and I can truly say it is an absolute treat for Dragon Age fans – highly recommended. Now roll onDragon Age Inquisition!
February 28, 2017
This was my Christmas present to myself, courtesy of a gift card from my family. The story of this three comic book volume set was about a story that I had heard a little bit about in fanfiction stories online. This was a 3-volume deluxe set that covered a single storyline. I loved all the notes in the margin from the writer (who is in fact the lead writer David Gaider from the actual game series, who has apparently been writing all the books and comics), illustrator and colorist. I am very interested to read more of the books and comic series! 5 stars.
In "The Silent Grove", Alastair has been the King of Ferelden for about five years now, as the story is set after "Dragon Age: Origins" and about 4-5 yrs after start of "Dragon Age 2" in 9:38. He is on a quest to discover the truth about where his father King Maric has gone. Isabela and Varric are with him and they're all in rare form, esp Varric. The most interesting thing about the first book is the appearance of another Witch in the Wilds, who happens to be Morrigan's sister, and Alastair having dragon's blood and what that really means.
In "Those Who Speak," Alastair, Isabela and Varric travel to Tevinter to find the man (a magister named Aurelian Titus) responsible for holding Maric, and we are first introduced to Maevaris, a Tevinter magister (yes that friend of Dorian's!). Apparently she was married to Varric's cousin Thorald and she is their eyes and ears in the Emperium. I liked her feistiness and the fact that her character was transgendered. It's always bloody cultist in Tevinter, right? A dragon cult has his father this time and the three friends travel to Seheron to find him. While there, Alastair runs into Sten, one of his companions from DAO and now the Arishok of the Qunari. Isabela gets tortured by a Qunari Tamassran and nearly ends up joining the Qun.
In "Until We Sleep", Alastair finally meets the magister Aurelian Titus, who is responsible for kidnapping and using his father's blood. He has to rescue Maric from the Fade, and of course Varric and Isabela as well. Varric's dream was the most interesting because A. dwarves can't usually dream at all and B. it had the real Bianca in it and C. it made him look really hot and desirable - I mean more than normal because of his personality and wit. At least Alastair gets some closure on his father at the end.
In "The Silent Grove", Alastair has been the King of Ferelden for about five years now, as the story is set after "Dragon Age: Origins" and about 4-5 yrs after start of "Dragon Age 2" in 9:38. He is on a quest to discover the truth about where his father King Maric has gone. Isabela and Varric are with him and they're all in rare form, esp Varric. The most interesting thing about the first book is the appearance of another Witch in the Wilds, who happens to be Morrigan's sister, and Alastair having dragon's blood and what that really means.
In "Those Who Speak," Alastair, Isabela and Varric travel to Tevinter to find the man (a magister named Aurelian Titus) responsible for holding Maric, and we are first introduced to Maevaris, a Tevinter magister (yes that friend of Dorian's!). Apparently she was married to Varric's cousin Thorald and she is their eyes and ears in the Emperium. I liked her feistiness and the fact that her character was transgendered. It's always bloody cultist in Tevinter, right? A dragon cult has his father this time and the three friends travel to Seheron to find him. While there, Alastair runs into Sten, one of his companions from DAO and now the Arishok of the Qunari. Isabela gets tortured by a Qunari Tamassran and nearly ends up joining the Qun.
In "Until We Sleep", Alastair finally meets the magister Aurelian Titus, who is responsible for kidnapping and using his father's blood. He has to rescue Maric from the Fade, and of course Varric and Isabela as well. Varric's dream was the most interesting because A. dwarves can't usually dream at all and B. it had the real Bianca in it and C. it made him look really hot and desirable - I mean more than normal because of his personality and wit. At least Alastair gets some closure on his father at the end.
December 20, 2022
This is a collection of three story arcs: The Silent Grove, Those Who Speak, and Until We Sleep. The story is quite interesting. Alistair, now King of Ferelden, is searching for his missing father, King Maric. He teams up with two interesting characters: Isabella, a pirate captain, and Varric, a dwarf thief/engineer with a bad ass crossbow. David Gaider's writing harmonizes with Alexander Freed's script, and Chad Hardin's art is vivid, intense, and slick. There is so much information in each frame, it was often hard to turn the page. I do have a few complaints. The convention of the unexpected kill was used too much. Far too often a conversation seems to end abruptly with someone just stabbing someone. After so many repititions, this otherwise dramatic gesture loses some of its effectiveness. The character of Sten, from Dragon Age: Origins, makes a cameo, and he is rendered as wooden, not nuanced, or interesting, and this bothered me because he is way more compelling in the game. I also thought the villain, Titus, was two dimensional. He was just a frothing mad man and we never really understood why he wanted to restore the Tevinter Imperium. All in all, though, this was highly entertaining, a wonderful jaunt into Thedas.
May 19, 2017
That was amazing! I love Varric even more now than I did before! Alistair and Isabela are also incredibly interesting characters. I especially enjoyed the backstories we learned about Isabela and Varric and introducing Magister Maevaris as the widow to Varric's dead cousin. I really hope she's going to make it into the next Dragon Age game!
March 2, 2020
Hands down, the best art I’ve ever seen in a graphic novel. Everything was drawn and colored beautifully. Also, I just love getting to enjoy more stories with these wonderful characters in this fantastic world.
March 18, 2017
All the stars, all of them. I loved it. I'll try to write a review one of these days.
May 31, 2014
I don't read a lot of graphic novels, but Dragon Age is my favorite video game. As I wait for the release of the next game this fall, I'm happy to devour anything that has a connection to the game. And that's where these novels come in.
The DA Library Edition is a collection of three graphic novels. Each is told from the viewpoint of one of three characters: Alistair, Isabela, and Varric (who are probably me three favorite characters from the games), and all three are featured in each of the novels. The three join together early on and set out on a quest to find Alistair's father, King Maric. I loved the artwork, and I appreciated the inclusion of commentary written in the margins of some of the pages (perhaps around 20% of all the pages), which gives some insight into plot choices, coloring, design, etc.
Can we fast forward to October, please?
The DA Library Edition is a collection of three graphic novels. Each is told from the viewpoint of one of three characters: Alistair, Isabela, and Varric (who are probably me three favorite characters from the games), and all three are featured in each of the novels. The three join together early on and set out on a quest to find Alistair's father, King Maric. I loved the artwork, and I appreciated the inclusion of commentary written in the margins of some of the pages (perhaps around 20% of all the pages), which gives some insight into plot choices, coloring, design, etc.
Can we fast forward to October, please?
July 29, 2022
Also spoilers for DA:O.
This was a lot of fun. Varric and Isabela are two of my favourite DA characters and Alistair has a special place in my heart too. His fate was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made in games. And right off the bat, the official DA canon deviates rather dramatically from my own. I took the (heartbreaking and I think unpopular) route of letting Alistair sacrifice himself to kill the Archdemon. Without this entire review delving into my justifications, just know that significant thought went into this. So already I was starting this very separated from my personal view of Thedas. However, once I got settled it was a great ride. The three played off each other really well and I enjoyed the banter and loyalty. Varric's voice in particular was written well.
Mae was a totally unexpected but hugely welcome addition to the crew. I politely demand to see her in DA4, especially since we are in Tevinter after all. She was treated with respect and I appreciated that. The scene after she'd been taken captive and her clothes were all torn was very, very difficult to read, and the commentary surrounding that was interesting. She has fire and skill and courage and is a helpless flirt and I love her.
Reading about Isabella's origins was probably the hardest part of the book for me. I went through the 7 stages real fast, lingering on denial, anger, and grief. Finally, several days after reading I think I've got to acceptance. It's really changed how I think of her, which I don't think I was ready for at all. That hit really hard. Seeing her as Captain made me smile though.
Getting to actually see Bianca was a treat. I wished there, several times in that volume actually, that we had more space to linger and explore. 'Rushed' might be an exaggeration, but I felt like the writers were really feeling the page limit crunch and it showed. I say give them infinite pages, dammit.
The Qunari section was interesting, if only to see more about them. Fascinating, they are. I kind of wonder if they'll get their own game one day. Sten reappearing was unexpected, especially since you can basically miss him entirely as a character while playing DA:O. My Warden recruited him, but they never really got along super well. Too many differences in ideology. Also, female Qunari!
The art in general was very good. There were times when characters looked inconsistent to me, which was mildly distracting but not a big deal. There were some spreads that really had me lingering to admire the colours or an expression or the scenery.
That said, Alistair didn't look... right to me somehow. Needed fewer pixels probably. Maybe it's just been awhile since I've played DA:O and his face in my mind is different. And he didn't always talk like I expected either, but that's ruling Ferelden for you I guess. Really wears ya down.
The end came too quickly for me and I was a little disappointed. The climax happened and then it was done, boom. Pretty much one page to wrap it all up. So that wasn't my favourite.
I kind of expected to fly through this, like, pick it up and not be able to put it down again. That didn't happen. I wasn't bored or anything, I just wasn't gripped that way.
Overall, anything in the world of Thedas is good in my books. I love this Lore to bits and I love the characters even more. A few things there that I picked on, but overall a great addition to the DA canon.
This was a lot of fun. Varric and Isabela are two of my favourite DA characters and Alistair has a special place in my heart too. His fate was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made in games. And right off the bat, the official DA canon deviates rather dramatically from my own. I took the (heartbreaking and I think unpopular) route of letting Alistair sacrifice himself to kill the Archdemon. Without this entire review delving into my justifications, just know that significant thought went into this. So already I was starting this very separated from my personal view of Thedas. However, once I got settled it was a great ride. The three played off each other really well and I enjoyed the banter and loyalty. Varric's voice in particular was written well.
Mae was a totally unexpected but hugely welcome addition to the crew. I politely demand to see her in DA4, especially since we are in Tevinter after all. She was treated with respect and I appreciated that. The scene after she'd been taken captive and her clothes were all torn was very, very difficult to read, and the commentary surrounding that was interesting. She has fire and skill and courage and is a helpless flirt and I love her.
Reading about Isabella's origins was probably the hardest part of the book for me. I went through the 7 stages real fast, lingering on denial, anger, and grief. Finally, several days after reading I think I've got to acceptance. It's really changed how I think of her, which I don't think I was ready for at all. That hit really hard. Seeing her as Captain made me smile though.
Getting to actually see Bianca was a treat. I wished there, several times in that volume actually, that we had more space to linger and explore. 'Rushed' might be an exaggeration, but I felt like the writers were really feeling the page limit crunch and it showed. I say give them infinite pages, dammit.
The Qunari section was interesting, if only to see more about them. Fascinating, they are. I kind of wonder if they'll get their own game one day. Sten reappearing was unexpected, especially since you can basically miss him entirely as a character while playing DA:O. My Warden recruited him, but they never really got along super well. Too many differences in ideology. Also, female Qunari!
The art in general was very good. There were times when characters looked inconsistent to me, which was mildly distracting but not a big deal. There were some spreads that really had me lingering to admire the colours or an expression or the scenery.
That said, Alistair didn't look... right to me somehow. Needed fewer pixels probably. Maybe it's just been awhile since I've played DA:O and his face in my mind is different. And he didn't always talk like I expected either, but that's ruling Ferelden for you I guess. Really wears ya down.
The end came too quickly for me and I was a little disappointed. The climax happened and then it was done, boom. Pretty much one page to wrap it all up. So that wasn't my favourite.
I kind of expected to fly through this, like, pick it up and not be able to put it down again. That didn't happen. I wasn't bored or anything, I just wasn't gripped that way.
Overall, anything in the world of Thedas is good in my books. I love this Lore to bits and I love the characters even more. A few things there that I picked on, but overall a great addition to the DA canon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2019
Bought the book for 32 Euros, which apparently is quite the bargain. But aside from that, I loved this book! The art, the story, the characters. If you're a dragon age fan, you need this!
July 27, 2016
I received a copy of this book for free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first graphic novel. Yes, you are reading that correctly. When I saw Dragon Age on Netgalley, I couldn’t resist, despite not having background or familiarity with the format. I must say though, that this collection was a fantastic reading experience. And, because I went out of my norm, a whole new world of beautifully rendered storylines is now visible to me, beckoning me to read them (I just completed the first volume of Saga because I heard good things. Was not disappointed). Thanks, Dark Horse, for the enlightenment.
What was cool about this collection of already-released comics was the notes alongside the panels. I would liken it to turning on the director’s commentary when watching a movie, except it is less distracting. These tidbits were really interesting to a lover of the game who had also never read a comic before. I kept pausing in my reading to shout over at my husband about some of the notes. It was like the mystery surprise in your cereal — you buy the cereal for the sugary goodness, but the trinket at the bottom is a neat bonus that makes you pretty joyous in the moment.
I mentioned that there are three comics contained in this volume, each of which are told from the viewpoint of Alistair, Isabela and Varric. The three of them are off on a quest to find Alistair’s dad, King Maric, because Alistair’s still not secure in himself as being king. Collectively, I loved the story. I could not have imagined reading it in a spread-out fashion. My galley copy was missing the last section of “Until We Sleep,” and I was so into what I was absorbing that I purchased the last bit online so I could get immediate resolution. I needed to know. If that isn’t an indicator of quality, I don’t know what is.
The artwork on this was stunning as well. There were some panels that I just stared at for a few minutes, taking everything in. I don’t know if that’s what you always do when reading a comic, but I can see why people love them. The only minor issue I had was that Alistair looked nothing like Alistair to me! And that took me out of character for a moment — I had to force myself to think of the voice from the video games in order to really bring it back. Of course, that wasn’t hard to do, but still.
I wasn’t a big fan of Isabela in the games — she’s just kind of your stereotypical hot foreign chick that wears next-to-no clothing to fight. Yea, I didn’t mind bringing her with me in DA II, but honestly she needed a more compelling background. I was really surprised then to find that I enjoyed “Those Who Speak,” Isabela’s narrated story, the most. She was given much more characterization — enough so that I could forgive the ridiculous apparel.
All in all, I have no real qualms about this one. The dialogue was as sharp and funny as in the games, the characters felt true and this was a great expansion on an awesome world. Highly recommend for the game lovers out there!
Review also appears on my blog Lovely Literature
This was my first graphic novel. Yes, you are reading that correctly. When I saw Dragon Age on Netgalley, I couldn’t resist, despite not having background or familiarity with the format. I must say though, that this collection was a fantastic reading experience. And, because I went out of my norm, a whole new world of beautifully rendered storylines is now visible to me, beckoning me to read them (I just completed the first volume of Saga because I heard good things. Was not disappointed). Thanks, Dark Horse, for the enlightenment.
What was cool about this collection of already-released comics was the notes alongside the panels. I would liken it to turning on the director’s commentary when watching a movie, except it is less distracting. These tidbits were really interesting to a lover of the game who had also never read a comic before. I kept pausing in my reading to shout over at my husband about some of the notes. It was like the mystery surprise in your cereal — you buy the cereal for the sugary goodness, but the trinket at the bottom is a neat bonus that makes you pretty joyous in the moment.
I mentioned that there are three comics contained in this volume, each of which are told from the viewpoint of Alistair, Isabela and Varric. The three of them are off on a quest to find Alistair’s dad, King Maric, because Alistair’s still not secure in himself as being king. Collectively, I loved the story. I could not have imagined reading it in a spread-out fashion. My galley copy was missing the last section of “Until We Sleep,” and I was so into what I was absorbing that I purchased the last bit online so I could get immediate resolution. I needed to know. If that isn’t an indicator of quality, I don’t know what is.
The artwork on this was stunning as well. There were some panels that I just stared at for a few minutes, taking everything in. I don’t know if that’s what you always do when reading a comic, but I can see why people love them. The only minor issue I had was that Alistair looked nothing like Alistair to me! And that took me out of character for a moment — I had to force myself to think of the voice from the video games in order to really bring it back. Of course, that wasn’t hard to do, but still.
I wasn’t a big fan of Isabela in the games — she’s just kind of your stereotypical hot foreign chick that wears next-to-no clothing to fight. Yea, I didn’t mind bringing her with me in DA II, but honestly she needed a more compelling background. I was really surprised then to find that I enjoyed “Those Who Speak,” Isabela’s narrated story, the most. She was given much more characterization — enough so that I could forgive the ridiculous apparel.
All in all, I have no real qualms about this one. The dialogue was as sharp and funny as in the games, the characters felt true and this was a great expansion on an awesome world. Highly recommend for the game lovers out there!
Review also appears on my blog Lovely Literature
August 25, 2014
This volume collects the first three Dark Horse Dragon Age comics: The Silent Grove, Those Who Speak, and Until We Sleep. Alistair is the King of Ferelden, yes he has secretly left his throne unattended to take care of private business. Accompanying him? Isabela, a Rivaini pirate captain, and Varric, a sarcastic crossbow-wielding dwarf. They don't really get into why Alistair would choose these two to accompany him (Alistair was one of the companions in Dragon Age: Origins, Isabela was an NPC in Dragon Age: Origins and a companion in Dragon Age 2, and Varric was a companion in Dragon Age 2), but it's understood that Varric and Isabela are thieves and therefore were paid for their protection.
I'm going to avoid spoilers, but in my opinion, the reason for Alistair's mission, while sad, seemed pretty far-fetched. However, the real strength of the stories is in learning more about the backgrounds of Varric and Isabela, and learning about what happened to the world after the Fifth Blight (a catastrophic event that happens due to ancient gods, magic, etc; it's hard to explain and you should really play Dragon Age: Origins if you want to know more). We also learn what has become of Sten (a Qunari swordsman who was a companion in Dragon Age: Origins), see a little more of Tevinter (a place referenced in the games, but never seen), and meet a delightful magister named Maevaris Tilani. She was truly a highlight for me: strong-willed and sassy without be overbearingly so. In addition, she is Bioware's first transgender character, and I thought the writers handled her character elegantly.
Of course, the REAL question is "do you need to have played the games to enjoy the comics?" Sort of. As noted, the stories are excellent on their own, but a lot of the events and incidents that take place within the comics reference characters and mythos from Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age: Origins - Awakenings, and Dragon Age 2 (as they should). Therefore, a reader unfamiliar with the games may find themselves at a bit of a loss at the beginning, since the three main characters seem incredibly disparate.
I LOVED this collection. As a Dragon Age gamer, anything that adds to the canon is already favorable to me. The art and the storylines were great and I loved that in the Library Edition, there were tons of notations from the writers and the illustrator. The collections also provide more information regarding plots in the forthcoming Dragon Age: Inquisition. If you love Dragon Age, you NEED to own this.
I'm going to avoid spoilers, but in my opinion, the reason for Alistair's mission, while sad, seemed pretty far-fetched. However, the real strength of the stories is in learning more about the backgrounds of Varric and Isabela, and learning about what happened to the world after the Fifth Blight (a catastrophic event that happens due to ancient gods, magic, etc; it's hard to explain and you should really play Dragon Age: Origins if you want to know more). We also learn what has become of Sten (a Qunari swordsman who was a companion in Dragon Age: Origins), see a little more of Tevinter (a place referenced in the games, but never seen), and meet a delightful magister named Maevaris Tilani. She was truly a highlight for me: strong-willed and sassy without be overbearingly so. In addition, she is Bioware's first transgender character, and I thought the writers handled her character elegantly.
Of course, the REAL question is "do you need to have played the games to enjoy the comics?" Sort of. As noted, the stories are excellent on their own, but a lot of the events and incidents that take place within the comics reference characters and mythos from Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age: Origins - Awakenings, and Dragon Age 2 (as they should). Therefore, a reader unfamiliar with the games may find themselves at a bit of a loss at the beginning, since the three main characters seem incredibly disparate.
I LOVED this collection. As a Dragon Age gamer, anything that adds to the canon is already favorable to me. The art and the storylines were great and I loved that in the Library Edition, there were tons of notations from the writers and the illustrator. The collections also provide more information regarding plots in the forthcoming Dragon Age: Inquisition. If you love Dragon Age, you NEED to own this.
March 6, 2015
Forming part of the chain that links "Dragon Age 2" and the tale of the Champion back to the new "Dragon Age: Inquisition," the graphic novel digest of the "The Silent Grove," "Those Who Speak," and "Until We Sleep" is a great addition to the Dragon Age universe's story. It helps that my favorite Dragon Age character, Varric Tethras, serves as a primary character in all three tales and the narrator of one of them. Throw in the pirate Isabela, Alistair from "Dragon Age: Origins" and a helping of other cameos and interesting new personalities and you have a great set of stories.
Standard drawback disclaimer: if you're not familiar with the Dragon Age universe in general most of this book will likely get lost in the shuffle. An amount of prior knowledge with the characters and setting is a must, so it can't really stand alone on its own merits in that regard.
Standard drawback disclaimer: if you're not familiar with the Dragon Age universe in general most of this book will likely get lost in the shuffle. An amount of prior knowledge with the characters and setting is a must, so it can't really stand alone on its own merits in that regard.
July 30, 2016
It was an enjoyable read and I liked it, although, there are some things I didn't like as well.
For one thing, it was too short and fast for me. I know it's a different medium to the games, but I guess the comic book-ishness didn't work for me. I like the characters though, and especially had fun reading Varric's POV. Some of the art was great (although like, really? Gotta make Yavana wear that?), but overall the best parts were seeing the locations and dialogues.
Please keep in mind though, that I've only played a few hours of Origins although I'm on my 2nd run of Inquisition. I'd still say that if you're a fan of the games to check this out.
For one thing, it was too short and fast for me. I know it's a different medium to the games, but I guess the comic book-ishness didn't work for me. I like the characters though, and especially had fun reading Varric's POV. Some of the art was great (although like, really? Gotta make Yavana wear that?), but overall the best parts were seeing the locations and dialogues.
Please keep in mind though, that I've only played a few hours of Origins although I'm on my 2nd run of Inquisition. I'd still say that if you're a fan of the games to check this out.
May 30, 2015
I had read the comics but seeing them in this collection, with the art so finely reproduced and everything annotated made it all the better.
August 6, 2015
Oh yeah I finished this. Loved it! Can't wait for more!
September 7, 2021
Review based on a reread (first read was 8 years ago):
Ok listen- if you are a Dragon Age fan, this full collection of the following comics (The Silent Grove, Those Who Speak, and Until We Speak) is a 100% must read. If you’re an Alistair, Isabelle, or Varric fan then this is quintessential in understanding their characters. And you get to meet Mae! (Can’t wait to see her in a video game someday- I have positive hopes for DA4 since she is with Dorian in Tevinter Nights). I thought she was great trans representation, especially for the time period the comics were originally released. This comic also is often referenced in the never ending debate of “Alistair vs. Cullen: What is the truth of lyrium to the Templars”
The art is beyond gorgeous and the extra behind the scene notes included in this edition give insight to what the creators intent were behind the pages.
The story of Bianca and Varric always stuck with me- It’s short but so tragic, made more so by how much I love that dwarf. Honestly, Varric’s perspective in ”Until We Speak” is my favorite of the three. It covers how Varric sometimes exaggerates his stories (“Little lies to help us sleep at night”), but a lot of it is to cope (and sometimes conceal) the emotional toll the adventures take on him (and by extension everyone else).
I honestly enjoyed Alister’s perspective in The Silent Grove. This is an Alistair that cracks jokes and still is kind at heart, but has seen some serious, dark, terrible things. He’s not the same happy-go-lucky man we started Origins with- at this point we are in between DA2 and DAI. He tried his best to do what is best for his kingdom while grappling with trauma and the hand fate has dealt him. Seeing him in action made me very nostalgic as he is one of my favorite Dragon Age characters of all time. Long live King Alistair, who rules Fereldan benevolently with his Queen Cousland in my game’s canon.💕 I thought Varric’s comic tied up Alastair’s overarching story throughout the comic nicely.
However, there is one section in Isabella’s perspective in Those Who Speak that quite frankly disturbed me and turned me off on that character. I’m glad she saw the error her ways and tried to make amends for it in the actual DA2 game- but jeez. I think they should have left that out of her backstory. The behind the scenes notes stated that it horrified the creatives too- maybe they should taken it as a hint not to go there.
Ok listen- if you are a Dragon Age fan, this full collection of the following comics (The Silent Grove, Those Who Speak, and Until We Speak) is a 100% must read. If you’re an Alistair, Isabelle, or Varric fan then this is quintessential in understanding their characters. And you get to meet Mae! (Can’t wait to see her in a video game someday- I have positive hopes for DA4 since she is with Dorian in Tevinter Nights). I thought she was great trans representation, especially for the time period the comics were originally released. This comic also is often referenced in the never ending debate of “Alistair vs. Cullen: What is the truth of lyrium to the Templars”
The art is beyond gorgeous and the extra behind the scene notes included in this edition give insight to what the creators intent were behind the pages.
The story of Bianca and Varric always stuck with me- It’s short but so tragic, made more so by how much I love that dwarf. Honestly, Varric’s perspective in ”Until We Speak” is my favorite of the three. It covers how Varric sometimes exaggerates his stories (“Little lies to help us sleep at night”), but a lot of it is to cope (and sometimes conceal) the emotional toll the adventures take on him (and by extension everyone else).
I honestly enjoyed Alister’s perspective in The Silent Grove. This is an Alistair that cracks jokes and still is kind at heart, but has seen some serious, dark, terrible things. He’s not the same happy-go-lucky man we started Origins with- at this point we are in between DA2 and DAI. He tried his best to do what is best for his kingdom while grappling with trauma and the hand fate has dealt him. Seeing him in action made me very nostalgic as he is one of my favorite Dragon Age characters of all time. Long live King Alistair, who rules Fereldan benevolently with his Queen Cousland in my game’s canon.💕 I thought Varric’s comic tied up Alastair’s overarching story throughout the comic nicely.
However, there is one section in Isabella’s perspective in Those Who Speak that quite frankly disturbed me and turned me off on that character. I’m glad she saw the error her ways and tried to make amends for it in the actual DA2 game- but jeez. I think they should have left that out of her backstory. The behind the scenes notes stated that it horrified the creatives too- maybe they should taken it as a hint not to go there.
May 7, 2015
Review brought by Geekly Review
The Dragon Age: Library Edition collects every single Dark Horse Dragon Age comic published up until 12 June 2014, and contains three separate volumes which follow each other in a successive storyline: The Silent Grove, Those Who Speak, and Until We Sleep. It is a trilogy contained within a hardcover volume, but most importantly, written by the Dragon Age lead writer: David Gaider. As such, then, it is a natural thing to read as a fan of the series, and it expands on many points for the three characters on which it focuses – Alistair, Varric, and Isabela (though the story may not follow some same canon established in some players’ games). However, is this volume worth buying?
The Silent Grove
‘The Silent Grove’ is an interesting tale set two years following the events of Dragon Age II, and continues the writing of the Lead Writer David Gaider. The graphic novel contains a number of tie-ins to the previous games and extends the story of three of the previous companions of the player’s character: Alistair, Isabela, and Varric. It further follows the main canon of the game, and does a good job at expanding its universe and making use of little known characters mentioned in the main games of the series.
So, what does it focus on? This volume focuses on King Alistair, accompanied by rogues Isabela and Varric, on a long and dangerious quest deep inside the borders of Antiva. Together they must stage a prison break, face dragons, and a Witch of the Wilds, as well as uncover a secret which Alistair longs to find the answer to in order to find some inner peace.
Those Who Speak
‘Those Who Speak’ follows directly after ‘The Silent Grove’ leaves off, and continues with the quest on which the three main characters have embarked. The most noteworthy part of this volume is the way in which it reveals and expands the lore and past of the characters; laying bare that of Isabela, who must resolve to escape a dungeon or lose herself forever. All whilst King Alistair and Varric must face similar challenges if they want to succeed in their aims and continue the quest they started in ‘The Silent Grove’.
It is written, as is ‘The Silent Grove’, by David Gaider. Something which shows in the details specified of the three main characters and the way the additional information revealed about them threads with that of the main canon of the Dragon Age games. It fleshes them out, something which really adds to what otherwise would be a simple plot. Further, this one focuses and reveals more details of King Alistair’s father, and stands at a similar length than the previous volume. It takes place within Teviter and with Qunari, which gives it a very interesting edge and expands the world of this particular volume.
Until We Sleep
‘Until We Sleep’ is the final part of the trilogy contained in the Dragon Age Library Edition, and as such contains the end of the story ark and the plot which encompasses these three individual volumes. Following the style of the other two, with ‘The Silent Grove’ focusing on Alistair and ‘Those Who Speak’ on Isabela, this particular story focuses and follows Varric – fleshing him out and giving more details of his past, such as those concerning Bianca.
This volume ties in everything that happened on this journey to find King Maric, and the three heroes must face the blood mage Aurelian Titus and avoid being defeated by him. It introduces new characters and concepts, and ties them in with the already established world.
How good is this, then, all in all?
The quality of the hardback volume is undeniable. The paper used feels great when reading, and it also further contains comments by the lead writer of the game on the margin on many things concerning the characters themselves, and accounts on how this trilogy was put together. This is something which is amongst the best of this volume, and definitely will be of interest to any fan of the game wanting to get more out of this fantasy universe. These include the inspiration for certain characters and character designs amongst others. Further, the final pages of the volume also have sketches and character designs – all very interesting to see and read over once one has finished all three stories.
The story, though, failed to really impress me. It is good from an entertaining point of view. I wasn’t bored and didn’t feel compelled to stop reading, but I can’t personally say anything else about it. It seems rather cliché at many points, containing some strangely handled plot choices and storylines which stand out whilst reading. It feels simplistic and lacking depth plot-wise. However, this is something which stands out to me out of not being particularly enamoured with this game series, and a fan of the series will most likely not feel these things.
The backstories and character depth given to the three main protagonists is something which I did enjoy – particularly that relating to the Qunari and Isabela – and doesn’t disappoint.
Then, the art itself is good, though there are panels and pages which I prefer vastly to others and seem generally superior. However what I really liked in this area were the covers for each volume and the extra art included, which were in my opinion plain beautiful and illustrated really well the characters.
What can I then say about this volume? Though the rating I chose to give it may not give a good impression, this revers to my personal opinion of it after having read it. I am not particularly a fan of the series, and I’d much rather read a more realistic gritty fantasy novel. For the people who don’t feel particularly strongly about the game series I recommend a bit of caution when buying in this sense, particularly if they haven’t felt sure about the way the plot is handled within the games (perhaps then it is better to buy the individual volumes of ‘The Silent Grove’ and the rest included in this edition rather the complete version to test the waters).
However, for any fan of the series, this is definitely a must read that cannot be missed. The quest follows some very intimate parts of all three characters pasts, which are expanded really well together with the additions to the Dragon Age universe. If you’re a fan of the game, give this volume a try, as you won’t be disappointed by it in any way.
The Dragon Age: Library Edition collects every single Dark Horse Dragon Age comic published up until 12 June 2014, and contains three separate volumes which follow each other in a successive storyline: The Silent Grove, Those Who Speak, and Until We Sleep. It is a trilogy contained within a hardcover volume, but most importantly, written by the Dragon Age lead writer: David Gaider. As such, then, it is a natural thing to read as a fan of the series, and it expands on many points for the three characters on which it focuses – Alistair, Varric, and Isabela (though the story may not follow some same canon established in some players’ games). However, is this volume worth buying?
The Silent Grove
‘The Silent Grove’ is an interesting tale set two years following the events of Dragon Age II, and continues the writing of the Lead Writer David Gaider. The graphic novel contains a number of tie-ins to the previous games and extends the story of three of the previous companions of the player’s character: Alistair, Isabela, and Varric. It further follows the main canon of the game, and does a good job at expanding its universe and making use of little known characters mentioned in the main games of the series.
So, what does it focus on? This volume focuses on King Alistair, accompanied by rogues Isabela and Varric, on a long and dangerious quest deep inside the borders of Antiva. Together they must stage a prison break, face dragons, and a Witch of the Wilds, as well as uncover a secret which Alistair longs to find the answer to in order to find some inner peace.
Those Who Speak
‘Those Who Speak’ follows directly after ‘The Silent Grove’ leaves off, and continues with the quest on which the three main characters have embarked. The most noteworthy part of this volume is the way in which it reveals and expands the lore and past of the characters; laying bare that of Isabela, who must resolve to escape a dungeon or lose herself forever. All whilst King Alistair and Varric must face similar challenges if they want to succeed in their aims and continue the quest they started in ‘The Silent Grove’.
It is written, as is ‘The Silent Grove’, by David Gaider. Something which shows in the details specified of the three main characters and the way the additional information revealed about them threads with that of the main canon of the Dragon Age games. It fleshes them out, something which really adds to what otherwise would be a simple plot. Further, this one focuses and reveals more details of King Alistair’s father, and stands at a similar length than the previous volume. It takes place within Teviter and with Qunari, which gives it a very interesting edge and expands the world of this particular volume.
Until We Sleep
‘Until We Sleep’ is the final part of the trilogy contained in the Dragon Age Library Edition, and as such contains the end of the story ark and the plot which encompasses these three individual volumes. Following the style of the other two, with ‘The Silent Grove’ focusing on Alistair and ‘Those Who Speak’ on Isabela, this particular story focuses and follows Varric – fleshing him out and giving more details of his past, such as those concerning Bianca.
This volume ties in everything that happened on this journey to find King Maric, and the three heroes must face the blood mage Aurelian Titus and avoid being defeated by him. It introduces new characters and concepts, and ties them in with the already established world.
How good is this, then, all in all?
The quality of the hardback volume is undeniable. The paper used feels great when reading, and it also further contains comments by the lead writer of the game on the margin on many things concerning the characters themselves, and accounts on how this trilogy was put together. This is something which is amongst the best of this volume, and definitely will be of interest to any fan of the game wanting to get more out of this fantasy universe. These include the inspiration for certain characters and character designs amongst others. Further, the final pages of the volume also have sketches and character designs – all very interesting to see and read over once one has finished all three stories.
The story, though, failed to really impress me. It is good from an entertaining point of view. I wasn’t bored and didn’t feel compelled to stop reading, but I can’t personally say anything else about it. It seems rather cliché at many points, containing some strangely handled plot choices and storylines which stand out whilst reading. It feels simplistic and lacking depth plot-wise. However, this is something which stands out to me out of not being particularly enamoured with this game series, and a fan of the series will most likely not feel these things.
The backstories and character depth given to the three main protagonists is something which I did enjoy – particularly that relating to the Qunari and Isabela – and doesn’t disappoint.
Then, the art itself is good, though there are panels and pages which I prefer vastly to others and seem generally superior. However what I really liked in this area were the covers for each volume and the extra art included, which were in my opinion plain beautiful and illustrated really well the characters.
What can I then say about this volume? Though the rating I chose to give it may not give a good impression, this revers to my personal opinion of it after having read it. I am not particularly a fan of the series, and I’d much rather read a more realistic gritty fantasy novel. For the people who don’t feel particularly strongly about the game series I recommend a bit of caution when buying in this sense, particularly if they haven’t felt sure about the way the plot is handled within the games (perhaps then it is better to buy the individual volumes of ‘The Silent Grove’ and the rest included in this edition rather the complete version to test the waters).
However, for any fan of the series, this is definitely a must read that cannot be missed. The quest follows some very intimate parts of all three characters pasts, which are expanded really well together with the additions to the Dragon Age universe. If you’re a fan of the game, give this volume a try, as you won’t be disappointed by it in any way.
July 3, 2017
This was so interesting! I've only played Dragon Age: Inquisition but I do have a fair bit of background of the DA lore and characters that were involved in this so it made reading really smooth. I do suggest either reading (or, listening to) The Stolen Throne to get background on how King Maric came to the throne first. As for understanding about the wars and why some clans dont like one another, I suggest reading both volumes of 'Dragon Age: The World of Thedas'. Both are great history books if you're a Dragon Age geek.
The story for this book is simple enough: Alastiar needs closure with regards to his father who disappeared years ago, so he calls in some old friends to venture forth with him on this adventure. We see old witches, dragons, the Qunari (and Sten!), Varric's beautiful cousin, Mae, and even the Tevinter mages. I've only ever heard about the Vints from DAI and how the air in their parties and gatherings always ended in betrayal, scandal, and murder. You'll totally get that feel when you reach Tevinter. The Fade was also a nice touch, and that Varric was narrating to us that Dwarves don't dream was an interesting reminder.
Kind of wished this was longer! My library doesn't have many Dragon Age comics so I guess i'll have to hunt the rest down myself!
The story for this book is simple enough: Alastiar needs closure with regards to his father who disappeared years ago, so he calls in some old friends to venture forth with him on this adventure. We see old witches, dragons, the Qunari (and Sten!), Varric's beautiful cousin, Mae, and even the Tevinter mages. I've only ever heard about the Vints from DAI and how the air in their parties and gatherings always ended in betrayal, scandal, and murder. You'll totally get that feel when you reach Tevinter. The Fade was also a nice touch, and that Varric was narrating to us that Dwarves don't dream was an interesting reminder.
Kind of wished this was longer! My library doesn't have many Dragon Age comics so I guess i'll have to hunt the rest down myself!
August 26, 2019
It's 9:38 Dragon.
Accompanied by his friends Isabela and Varric Tethras, King Alistair Theirin of Fereldan is on a secret Mission to find out what happened to his father, King Maric. On their journey, they get involved with an Antivan Prince, a Witch of the Wild and couple of Tevinter Magisters...
I'm a huge fan of the Dragon Age Video games, but I'd never thought I'd actually own an edition of the comic books. I got it for my birthday and I couldn't be more happy!
I'm not a huge fan of the Alistair-as-king-storyline, but oh well, one can't have everything. I'm also not a fan of the pretty cliché, skimpy clothing some of the female characters wear.
But apart from, that I absolutely loved this comic books. Not only do we find out what happened to Alistair's father, but we also learn more about Isabela's past.
I can't wait for Magekiller!
Accompanied by his friends Isabela and Varric Tethras, King Alistair Theirin of Fereldan is on a secret Mission to find out what happened to his father, King Maric. On their journey, they get involved with an Antivan Prince, a Witch of the Wild and couple of Tevinter Magisters...
I'm a huge fan of the Dragon Age Video games, but I'd never thought I'd actually own an edition of the comic books. I got it for my birthday and I couldn't be more happy!
I'm not a huge fan of the Alistair-as-king-storyline, but oh well, one can't have everything. I'm also not a fan of the pretty cliché, skimpy clothing some of the female characters wear.
But apart from, that I absolutely loved this comic books. Not only do we find out what happened to Alistair's father, but we also learn more about Isabela's past.
I can't wait for Magekiller!
June 12, 2020
I was pretty disappointed with these comics, set in the beloved videogame world of Dragon Age. I enjoyed the games' writing for their mixture of humor amid grim topics. These comics focused on action, action, action, with dialogue that didn't really spark the same affection as the game.
April 27, 2019
Muchísimo mejor que la novela El trono usurpado. Si eres fan de Dragon Age, no te pierdas esta novela gráfica.
December 22, 2022
Man is surprised video game tie in comics are not good. More at 11.
March 18, 2017
Great in-between adventure.
November 19, 2017
My wife loves the Dragon Age video game. When I bought her this Dragon Age hardcover, she naturally hoped that I’d read it, thereby sharing a little of what she loved. Well, I like comics, so….why not?
DRAGON AGE: LIBRARY EDITION Volume One collects a trinity of Dragon Age mini-series: THE SILENT GROVE, THOSE WHO SPEAK and UNTIL WE SLEEP. The individual mini-series are really just three chapters of one story. I’ll begin my assessment by noting that this is a really gorgeous book. It’s a hard cover, nicely bound and annotated with comments by the creative team. The artwork is quite nice, and painted covers from the original mini-series are included. I don’t see a cover price, but apparently, Amazon originally listed it at $39.95. Currently, you can get it for $25.54 on Amazon Prime, and given the production quality, that's probably a bargain.
Now, about the story: In a Medieval-type sword and sorcery world, Alistair, King of the land of Ferelden, searches for his father. To aid him, he has hired two mercenaries: Isabela, a female pirate captain, and Varric, a sarcastic, crossbow-wielding dwarf. The three wander through their fictional world, encountering villains both mystical and mundane.
I’ll confess that I’ve never been a fan of the sword and sorcery genre. Sword and sorcery tales that I’ve read have typically been too preoccupied with their fictional worlds, complete with fictional geography, fictional languages, fictional history, fictional races, etc., etc. That kind of thing bores me to tears. I also don’t care for the overly serious, stereotypical and often two-dimensional characters that tend to populate such fare. On the surface, this Dragon Age comic seems to embody these traits: We have a fictional setting, and my brief description of the characters in the previous paragraph probably tells you all that you really need to know about them.
To my surprise, then, I enjoyed this book, and that’s because it largely avoided the problems that I noted. The Dragon Age world is obviously complex, and I know this, because my wife, who plays the video games, can talk about it in great depth. For the comic, though, the writers tell you what you need to know to enjoy the story and mercifully leave the rest alone. The cross-media continuity is probably a blessing here, as those wishing to know more about the fictional world can presumably explore it in greater depth within the video game. There’s something very modern about this approach, and I expect that we’ll see many more such “cross-media continuities” in the future.
As noted, you can guess what the three main characters are like by the basic descriptions: Alistair is “the heroic one,” Varric is the “sarcastic side kick who delivers one-liners” and Isabella is “the hot chick who kicks ass.” I wouldn’t say that any of the three ever really go beyond these stereotypes, but the writers do manage to give them a little depth, at least. They fare even better with some supporting characters – including one who is transgender and some members of a religious group. The latter, in fact, feature heavily in the second mini-series, which I consider the best of the three. While the antagonists, they are not strictly villains, and this is where the writers do a great job of exploring some grey areas, and thus making the fantasy world much more interesting.
As a whole, the story (split – as I noted – into three "chapters") is pretty well-constructed and builds nicely to a strong “high stakes” climax. While I’m still not a Dragon Age fan and will likely not seek further volumes, I had a pretty satisfying reading experience nonetheless. As a non-fan reading the volume on a whim, I ask for no more.
DRAGON AGE: LIBRARY EDITION Volume One collects a trinity of Dragon Age mini-series: THE SILENT GROVE, THOSE WHO SPEAK and UNTIL WE SLEEP. The individual mini-series are really just three chapters of one story. I’ll begin my assessment by noting that this is a really gorgeous book. It’s a hard cover, nicely bound and annotated with comments by the creative team. The artwork is quite nice, and painted covers from the original mini-series are included. I don’t see a cover price, but apparently, Amazon originally listed it at $39.95. Currently, you can get it for $25.54 on Amazon Prime, and given the production quality, that's probably a bargain.
Now, about the story: In a Medieval-type sword and sorcery world, Alistair, King of the land of Ferelden, searches for his father. To aid him, he has hired two mercenaries: Isabela, a female pirate captain, and Varric, a sarcastic, crossbow-wielding dwarf. The three wander through their fictional world, encountering villains both mystical and mundane.
I’ll confess that I’ve never been a fan of the sword and sorcery genre. Sword and sorcery tales that I’ve read have typically been too preoccupied with their fictional worlds, complete with fictional geography, fictional languages, fictional history, fictional races, etc., etc. That kind of thing bores me to tears. I also don’t care for the overly serious, stereotypical and often two-dimensional characters that tend to populate such fare. On the surface, this Dragon Age comic seems to embody these traits: We have a fictional setting, and my brief description of the characters in the previous paragraph probably tells you all that you really need to know about them.
To my surprise, then, I enjoyed this book, and that’s because it largely avoided the problems that I noted. The Dragon Age world is obviously complex, and I know this, because my wife, who plays the video games, can talk about it in great depth. For the comic, though, the writers tell you what you need to know to enjoy the story and mercifully leave the rest alone. The cross-media continuity is probably a blessing here, as those wishing to know more about the fictional world can presumably explore it in greater depth within the video game. There’s something very modern about this approach, and I expect that we’ll see many more such “cross-media continuities” in the future.
As noted, you can guess what the three main characters are like by the basic descriptions: Alistair is “the heroic one,” Varric is the “sarcastic side kick who delivers one-liners” and Isabella is “the hot chick who kicks ass.” I wouldn’t say that any of the three ever really go beyond these stereotypes, but the writers do manage to give them a little depth, at least. They fare even better with some supporting characters – including one who is transgender and some members of a religious group. The latter, in fact, feature heavily in the second mini-series, which I consider the best of the three. While the antagonists, they are not strictly villains, and this is where the writers do a great job of exploring some grey areas, and thus making the fantasy world much more interesting.
As a whole, the story (split – as I noted – into three "chapters") is pretty well-constructed and builds nicely to a strong “high stakes” climax. While I’m still not a Dragon Age fan and will likely not seek further volumes, I had a pretty satisfying reading experience nonetheless. As a non-fan reading the volume on a whim, I ask for no more.
November 22, 2018
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Dragon Age Library Edition collects the 3 comic issues that start the King Maric story arc. Beautifully illustrated and staying true to the DA Origins universe, there's a lot here to love. The cover gives a good idea of what you will get: A story centered around Alistair, now King, but also predominantly featuring Varric and Isabela. This really is for those into the Dragon Age game: non-game players will be lost without the history and lore of the DA universe.The story starts with Alistair on a quest with Isabela and Varric to track down clues about his father - the king who was believed to be captured and not killed. Through the three stories, Alistair will get closer to finding his father. And at the same time, we will learn a lot more about Varric and Isabela's pasts as well. New characters (a female Qunari, a swamp witch, a 'mae west' inspired mage) add dimension to the story.
This collected volume includes notes written on the side of the book about various topics, from how the panels were inked/colored to ideas about the plot and intentions when writing. At first, I felt they might be too annoying, taking me out of the story and distracting. But this is a book that's great to read through without peeking at the notes - and then go back in subsequent readings and check out the side panels. I could wish for a bit fewer back pats and congratulations to the other contributors in the notes - but it is what it is.
There is a lot of story within these three stories and a good several hours for just the first read. A lot of value for the money and the production values are superb.
This definitely whet my appetite for the next release of the game - one of my all time favorites. As much effort, story, and art went into the game, so too went into these three stories. I rate this four stars instead of five due to it not completing the arc in this volume and instead ending abruptly.
Reviewed from an ARC.
April 25, 2015
When I first got a hold of this library edition book, I thought it would be difficult to read due to its large size. Now I want everything to be presented in this format. The pages are extra sized which allows for the artwork to truly be appreciated, and the gutters around each page have lots of interesting annotations from the creative team that enhance your understanding of the story and the creative process.
This volume collects the three Dragon Age comics so far, and they form a trilogy that shows King Alistair's quest to find his missing father. The story travels across all of Thedas, including some areas we've never seen in-game like Antiva and the Tevinter Imperium. There are lots of references to the games and other supplementary material to the series, and it still manages to have some twists and turns along the way too.
The writers (including David Gaider, head writer for the games) manage to capture the voices of the characters perfectly, and these stories take the characters to new and exciting places along their story arcs, especially Alistair and Isabela.
Chad Hardin draws all three mini-series, and his artwork evokes the style of the games and the character's faces to a t. Colourist Mike Atiyeh also helps capture the atmosphere of the videogames, as well as giving the new settings a life of their own.
Whilst non-Dragon Age fans are unlikely to enjoy this much since it relies heavily on previous experience with the games, I expect that they wouldn't be looking to buy or read this series anyway. Those who are familiar will find a thoroughly enjoyable, well presented look at some of their favourite characters in a sidestory that is important, and pretty damn awesome too.
This volume collects the three Dragon Age comics so far, and they form a trilogy that shows King Alistair's quest to find his missing father. The story travels across all of Thedas, including some areas we've never seen in-game like Antiva and the Tevinter Imperium. There are lots of references to the games and other supplementary material to the series, and it still manages to have some twists and turns along the way too.
The writers (including David Gaider, head writer for the games) manage to capture the voices of the characters perfectly, and these stories take the characters to new and exciting places along their story arcs, especially Alistair and Isabela.
Chad Hardin draws all three mini-series, and his artwork evokes the style of the games and the character's faces to a t. Colourist Mike Atiyeh also helps capture the atmosphere of the videogames, as well as giving the new settings a life of their own.
Whilst non-Dragon Age fans are unlikely to enjoy this much since it relies heavily on previous experience with the games, I expect that they wouldn't be looking to buy or read this series anyway. Those who are familiar will find a thoroughly enjoyable, well presented look at some of their favourite characters in a sidestory that is important, and pretty damn awesome too.
July 12, 2014
'Dragon Age Library Edition' collects three sets of stories in the King Maric storyline. The main characters are a young king named Alistair, a cynical dwarf named Varric and a resourceful, beautiful pirate named Isabela. The art is quite good and this edition features artist commentary in the margins of some of the pages.
Alistair is in search of his father and he enlists Varric and Isabela to help him. They go in search of a swamp witch who controls dragons to find answers. This leads them to the Qunari, where Isabela is captured and attempted to be converted. The final showdown for this book is a big fight with Titus, where we learn the fate of Alistair's father, enter an odd dreamscape, and learn a bit more about some of the characters.
It's all based on a series of video games which are artistically beautiful. The comic is also. The commentary at times was a bit too congratulatory, but the comments about style choices or how a character were portrayed were interesting insights. My best advice is to read them after you've read either the whole thing as a graphic novel, or just the page, since some of the notes do include spoilers for the current page.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
Alistair is in search of his father and he enlists Varric and Isabela to help him. They go in search of a swamp witch who controls dragons to find answers. This leads them to the Qunari, where Isabela is captured and attempted to be converted. The final showdown for this book is a big fight with Titus, where we learn the fate of Alistair's father, enter an odd dreamscape, and learn a bit more about some of the characters.
It's all based on a series of video games which are artistically beautiful. The comic is also. The commentary at times was a bit too congratulatory, but the comments about style choices or how a character were portrayed were interesting insights. My best advice is to read them after you've read either the whole thing as a graphic novel, or just the page, since some of the notes do include spoilers for the current page.
I was given a review copy of this graphic novel by Diamond Book Distributors and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
June 21, 2015
The art is beautiful. The story is gripping. And it adds even more history and character to Varric and Isabela.
The notes from the artists and writers were really cool. It was nice to get their insight and what they were thinking and hoping to get across when they wrote it.
This is totally worth the read if you're a fan of Dragon Age.
Alistair's character was a little disappointing.
I understand were David Gaider was coming from (reading the notes and all) but I still couldn't stop that little stab of disappointment. My Warden was a noble, so she romanced, made him king, had him do the dark ritual, and married him without "hardening" him. I didn't get to see or experience his personality change before this. He was still goofy and sweet all the way to the end. Even in DA:I he was still funny (as shown in the letter of apology he sent to the War Table).
This Alistair felt...different. Not out of character, exactly. But maybe since I didn't "harden" him in my game and my Warden married him, my perception of him is slightly different. Or maybe it's just hard to wrap my head around someone like Alistair "maturing". He couldn't do anything serious without adding an awkward joke or dumb comment to lighten the mood in the game.
Doesn't affect the story though. Again, totally worth the read!
The notes from the artists and writers were really cool. It was nice to get their insight and what they were thinking and hoping to get across when they wrote it.
This is totally worth the read if you're a fan of Dragon Age.
Alistair's character was a little disappointing.
I understand were David Gaider was coming from (reading the notes and all) but I still couldn't stop that little stab of disappointment. My Warden was a noble, so she romanced, made him king, had him do the dark ritual, and married him without "hardening" him. I didn't get to see or experience his personality change before this. He was still goofy and sweet all the way to the end. Even in DA:I he was still funny (as shown in the letter of apology he sent to the War Table).
This Alistair felt...different. Not out of character, exactly. But maybe since I didn't "harden" him in my game and my Warden married him, my perception of him is slightly different. Or maybe it's just hard to wrap my head around someone like Alistair "maturing". He couldn't do anything serious without adding an awkward joke or dumb comment to lighten the mood in the game.
Doesn't affect the story though. Again, totally worth the read!
December 29, 2021
An excellent collection, I recommend this series highly if you're a fan of the Dragon Age universe (less so if you're looking to get into the series in the first place, but then, this comic is the gateway that got my roommate to want to play the game, so who knows). Not only does the comic itself clear up some mysteries that have been hanging in the background since the beginning of Origins, it also has gorgeous, colorful art. The writing is full of character-- no wonder, David Gaider had a direct role in the writing-- and so is the art, with expressive faces and a wonderful handle on rendering action that feels both naturalistic to a static illustrative medium while still holding true to the interactive world of video game physics.
As for this edition in particular, it has something nothing else has: commentary. I'm a giant sucker for DVD commentary, so I absolutely adored getting to hear the behind-the-scenes tidbits the artists and writers were willing to leak. All of it revealed how much thought and care went into the making of this volume, which really made me appreciate it even more. I can't speak highly enough of this comic. I didn't expect tie-in material to be high quality, and yet my expectations have been exceeded in every way.
As for this edition in particular, it has something nothing else has: commentary. I'm a giant sucker for DVD commentary, so I absolutely adored getting to hear the behind-the-scenes tidbits the artists and writers were willing to leak. All of it revealed how much thought and care went into the making of this volume, which really made me appreciate it even more. I can't speak highly enough of this comic. I didn't expect tie-in material to be high quality, and yet my expectations have been exceeded in every way.
August 22, 2014
This is another one of Bioware's Library Editions, so it isn't unlike the Mass Effect Library Edition. It's hardcover, oversized, contains multiple volumes, and has commentary from the artists and writers.
The three volumes contained in this book take place after Dragon Age II and star Varric, Alistair, and Isabella. Alistair is on a mission to find his previously thought dead father, Maric. The adventure pits the three heroes against some rather nasty adversaries, including the Crows, the Qunari, and a rather wicked Tevinter Magister.
The art is great, done by Chad Hardin, and his commentary on some of the pieces help you notice things you might not have otherwise.
Very excited for Dragon Age Inquisition, so I'm curious how and if this story will tie into that.
The three volumes contained in this book take place after Dragon Age II and star Varric, Alistair, and Isabella. Alistair is on a mission to find his previously thought dead father, Maric. The adventure pits the three heroes against some rather nasty adversaries, including the Crows, the Qunari, and a rather wicked Tevinter Magister.
The art is great, done by Chad Hardin, and his commentary on some of the pieces help you notice things you might not have otherwise.
Very excited for Dragon Age Inquisition, so I'm curious how and if this story will tie into that.
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