Interested in reading some of the Warcraft publications, but unsure where to start? Here's the answer! Your very own novel guide.
Warcraft imprint
These books were published using the WARCRAFT trademark.
Original Series
- Day of the Dragon by Richard A. Knaak
- Lord of the Clans by Christie Golden
- The Last Guardian by Jeff Grubb
- Of Blood and Honor by Chris Metzen (unnumbered, not technically a novel)
Despite being clearly numbered, The Last Guardian is set years before either Day of the Dragon or Lord of the Clans. These novels can be read in any order, as all contain spoilers for the events of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness.
War of the Ancients
All by Richard A. Knaak
Though acting as a prequel to the events of all Warcraft games and novels, this trilogy involves characters from Day of the Dragon traveling through time, and thus has spoilers for that novel and Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos. Though reading Day of the Dragon and Reign of Chaos are helpful for understanding events and characters, they are not required.
WoW imprint
The following novels were published under the WORLD OF WARCRAFT trademark (this is the publication order):
- Cycle of Hatred by Keith R. A. DeCandido
- Rise of the Horde by Christie Golden
- Tides of Darkness by Aaron Rosenberg
- Beyond the Dark Portal by Aaron Rosenberg & Christie Golden
- Night of the Dragon by Richard A. Knaak
- Arthas: Rise of the Lich King by Christie Golden
- Stormrage by Richard A. Knaak
- The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm by Christie Golden
- Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects by Christie Golden
- Wolfheart by Richard A. Knaak
- Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War by Christie Golden
- Dawn of the Aspects by Richard A. Knaak
- Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde by Michael Stackpole
- War Crimes by Christie Golden
In spite of the trademark and the slogan "based on the best-selling video game", most of these books are not set during the events of World of Warcraft. Cycle of Hatred is set in between Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne and WoW; Rise of the Horde, though told through a series of flashbacks just prior to World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, is set almost a century earlier; Tides of Darkness and Beyond the Dark Portal relate the events of the Second War. Night of the Dragon is set prior to the events of World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King and reveals the current state of the black dragonflight, and Stormrage is set after the defeat of the Lich King but shortly before those of Cataclysm. The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm also takes place between Wrath and Cataclysm. Rise of the Lich King deals with the events of the Third War. Twilight of the Aspects takes place during the events of Cataclysm. Dawn of the Aspects shows the creation of the dragon Aspects before mortal history.
Other Media
Manga
- Legends Vol.1-5
- Death Knight
- Sunwell Trilogy
- Shadow Wing Vol. 1: The Dragons of Outland, and Vol. 2: Nexus Point
- Mage
- Shaman
Comics
- Ashbringer
- World of Warcraft: The Comic Vol.1 and Vol.2 (Issues 1-14)
- World of Warcraft: The Comic Vol.3 and Vol.4 (Issues 15-25)
- Pearl of Pandaria
- World of Warcraft: The Comic Special Issue 1: Beginnings and Ends
- Curse of the Worgen
- Warcraft Saga
- Dark Riders
- Bloodsworn
- Gul'dan and the Stranger
- Blackhand
Short Stories
Leader Short Stories:
- Lord of His Pack
- The Judgment
- Heart of War
- In the Shadow of the Sun
- Edge of Night
- Fire and Iron
- Cut Short
- Seeds of Faith
- As Our Fathers Before Us
- Trade Secrets of a Trade Prince
- Prophet's Lesson
- Blood of Our Fathers
Destination: Pandaria:
- Li Li's Travel Journal
- Quest for Pandaria (novella)
- Faction Stories:
Others:
- War of the Shifting Sands
- Unbroken
- Road to Damnation
- Charge of the Aspects
- Blood of the Highborne (novella)
Video-series
Cinematics and trailers
- The Thunder King Trailer
Full chronological order
Prehistory
-147,000 [citation needed]
- Dawn of the Aspects (past)
-24,974
- Rise of the Horde (Argus-past)
-13,000 (Approx.)
- Death From Above
Ancient history (10,000 years ago and less)
- War of the Ancients 1: The Well of Eternity
- War of the Ancients 2: The Demon Soul
- War of the Ancients 3: The Sundering
- Curse of the Worgen (past)
-2,600
- The First Guardian (Legends Vol. 5)
-1000
-823
- Cycle of Hatred (past begins)
- The Last Guardian (past begins)
-230
- Shaman (prologue)
-100
- A Warrior Made (Legends Vol. 4 and 5)
- Rise of the Horde (past - Draenor)
- Unbroken (begins)
- Family Values (Legends Vol. 2)
0
- Lord of the Clans (beginning)
First War (Warcraft: Orcs and Humans)
- Blood of the Highborne (chapter 1)
6 Second War (Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness)
- Tides of Darkness
- Genn Greymane: Lord of His Pack (past)
- Arthas: Rise of the Lich King (begins)
- Ashbringer (beginning of #1)
- Beyond the Dark Portal (prologue)
8 Invasion of Draenor (Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal)
- Beyond the Dark Portal (main story & ending)
- Unbroken (ends years after the destruction of Draenor)
10
17
- Mage (past)
18
- Lord of the Clans (main story & ending)
- Road to Damnation
19
20 Third War (Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos)
- Vol'jin: The Judgment
- Arthas: Rise of the Lich King (part 2 and 3)
- Death Knight (chapters 1-3)
- Blood of the Highborne (chapters 2 and 3)
- Ashbringer (middle of #1)
- A Cleansing Fire (begins, Legends Vol. 5)
22 Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
- Arthas: Rise of the Lich King (end of part 3)
23
- Ashbringer (ending of #1, plus #2-#4)
- Sunwell Trilogy
- War of the Ancients (present (starts and ends))
24
- A Cleansing Fire (ends, Legends Vol. 5)
- Cycle of Hatred
25 World of Warcraft
- The War Effort
- The Thrill of the Hunt (Legends Vol. 3)
- Bloodsail Buccaneer (Legends Vol. 4)
- How to Win Friends (Legends Vol. 1)
- Miles to Go (Legends Vol. 2)
- An Honest Trade (Legends Vol. 1)
- Warrior: Divided (Legends Vol. 2)
- Warrior: United (Legends Vol. 5)
26
- Blood of the Highborne (chapter 4)
- Shadow Wing Vol. 1: The Dragons of Outland, and Vol. 2: Nexus Point
The Burning Crusade
- Rise of the Horde (present and ends)
- Garrosh Hellscream: Heart of War (past)
- The Journey (Legends Vol. 1)
- Crusader's Blood (Legends Vol. 3) (in conflict, because of the appearance of Renee Lauer)
- I Got What Yule Need (Legends Vol. 3)
- Blood Runs Thicker (Legends Vol. 4)
- World of Warcraft: The Comic (begins)
27
- Night of the Dragon
- Arthas: Rise of the Lich King (interludes and epilogue)
- World of Warcraft: The Comic (ends)
- Mage (present)
- Lor'themar Theron: In the Shadow of the Sun
- Fallen - Fear - Fiend - [Fate] (Legends Vol. 1, 2, 3 and 4)
Wrath of the Lich King
- Death Knight (ends)
- Li Li's Travel Journal (1-4)
- Pearl of Pandaria
- Glory
- Garrosh: Heart of War (present)
- World of Warcraft: The Comic Special Issue 1: Beginnings and Ends
- Stormrage (along Nightmares from Legends Vol. 5)
- Shaman
- The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm
28
- Gelbin Mekkatorque: Cut Short
- Dark Riders
- Curse of the Worgen (present)
- Sylvanas Windrunner: Edge of Night
- Tyrande & Malfurion: Seeds of Faith
- The Council of Three Hammers: Fire and Iron
Cataclysm
- Bloodsworn
- Gallywix: Trade Secrets of a Trade Prince (ends here, unknown start)
- Baine Bloodhoof: As Our Fathers Before Us
- Genn Greymane: Lord of His Pack (present)
- Wolfheart (after the shattering but before the new Ashenvale questline)
- Velen: Prophet's Lesson
- Varian Wrynn: Blood of Our Fathers
- Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects
- Charge of the Aspects
30
Mists of Pandaria
- Li Li's Travel Journal (5-11)
- The Trial of the Red Blossoms
- The Strength of Steel (begins)
- Bleeding Sun
- Dawn of the Aspects (present)
- Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde
- The Blank Scroll
- The Strength of Steel (ends)
- The Jade Hunters (after the events of Escalation; otherwise not specified)
- Over Water
- The Untamed Valley
- War Crimes
- Hellscream
31
Warlords of Draenor
Notes
A detailed list with plots can be found here: http://wow.joystiq.com/2011/08/04/wow-insiders-chronological-guide-to-warcraft-novels-manga-com/