As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a massive fan of the World of Warcraft novels, comics and manga. Oh and I’ve just finished Christie Golden’s latest novel Thrall: Twilight of the Aspects. You can - and should - read Xerin’s review but bear in mind there will be spoilers in this editorial!

While, in some ways, it’s a smooth marketing move to make more money, Blizzard also seems to make a lot of controversial events happen in the books rather than within the game. To get the whole picture, you need to read the novels and the comics which isn’t actually as much of a chore it sounds.

For example Golden’s previous novel: The Shattering: A Prelude to the Cataclysm featured the notable murder of everyone’s favourite Tauren, Cairne Bloodhoof. Yes, we knew he was going to die but, like the crystallization of Magni Bronzebeard, it was almost impossible to grasp and - for players who never read the book - happened off-screen.

Golden has done something similar with her latest novel in which Alexstrasza’s beloved consort, Korialstrasz (aka Krasus of the Kirin Tor), sacrifices himself to destroy tainted dragon eggs, taking most of the Sanctums and destroying much of Wrymrest Temple in the process. As Warcraft VIP NPCs go, Krasus is one of the longest running. We’ve met him in the novels but he’s also played a major role in Wrath.

Time is spiralling down to the day Deathwing pays and not even its Aspect can avoid his own demise.

And now he’s gone. Wow. Actually, I fully expect that when Blizzard do patch the game again, Wrymrest Temple will be phased so that if you’ve done a specific quest - such as the Elemental Bonds one - that it will be a smoking pile of rubble.

Hints as to the future of WoW’s lore have always been found in other media: Kalec and Anveena, Med’an and, of course, Thrall. Golden’s latest book, when not all about the Dragon Aspects, focuses on Thrall. In fact, it’s so focused on him it may as well be written in first person rather than third and at the end Thrall continues on his road to destiny by becoming the new Earth-Warder, the first none-Dragon Aspect.

This, of course, means we’re creeping closer to the end, to the inevitable face-off against Deathwing. With Alexstrasza in mourning for her beloved mate, Kalecgos adjusting to his new powers and Nozdormu stepping closer to his death it really is the twilight of the Aspects. By becoming the Earth-Warder, Thrall is being raised onto a mighty pedestal and falling into his role as saviour of Azeroth, mightier than even us - its champions. Such characters might climb great heights but it always comes at a price, either through the impossible allure of the dark side or the requirement to sacrifice your own life for the sake of millions of others. The Hour of Twilight is coming and while we will be showing Deathwing whose boss, there’s no telling who will and won’t survive.