I randomly ready this at a library like 8 years ago. I was playing the original and 2nd warcraft games at the time. This is a good read for all fantasy and Warcraft fans. IMO thrall is the most important character in the warcraft story.

This book about Thrall's roots and coming of power is great for historians of the world of Warcraft, as it really helps set the tone and mood of the world prior to the begining of Warcraft III. As a book however, Lord of the Clans is not all that stellar. While it does have exciting action and cool characters (both good and evil), the book lacks real depth and is overly simplified. Nearly all the humans portrayed here are weak and spiteful, while all the orcs seem to be noble and caring.. Are these the same orcs we saw in the first book? Also, the orc shaman is revealed to be extremely powerful because the elements seem to find their causes worthy, while the humans don't appear to have any real mages except for servant healers to keep gladiators fighting.

While I thought the book was fun and entertaining, I actually thought it could have gone to a little more effort to capture the feel of Warcraft the game. I'll still read more Warcraft books and I do recommend this one to any Warcraft fan.

This is the first book I have read by Christie Golden and it was awesome! The story flowed perfectly, no boring parts. The story really gives you the background on Thrall and how he grew up and became the Warchief of the Horde. If you have played Warcraft III, then you will be very familar with Thrall and how he frees the orcs at the beginning. If you haven't played Warcraft III, this book is a lead in to the Warcraft III game which was outstanding!. You won't be disappointed if you are a Warcraft/Blizzard fan.

Whether you liked Warcraft the game or not, this is a good book. Written about the future lord of the Hoard who starts out as a slave to a cruel/power-hungry human, you almost watch him grow up before your eyes from a lowly peon to the 8'10 x 5 foot brute you see there on the cover.

I have played Warcraft since 1993 so I had to read this. If I had recognized the author's name I may not have bought it though since I hated her book "Vampire of the Mist" (1st book in the Ravenloft series). However I'm glad I read this since it provided depth and background that was sorely lacking in regards to the orcs. Instead of stupid savage brutes bent on destruction, Warcraft3 portrayed them as noble and civilized, but there wasn't too much story there (it was only a game though so I'm not complaining).

Thrall's character is completely revealed and I actually cared about him. The antagonist was well done also as I wanted Thrall to kill him, but the author didn't make him a cheesy villian type; rather he was just an abusive SOB alcoholic. It's too bad these types can't get the sword more often in real life because the author made his character so realistic that I believe she has had experience with these people.

Overall the plot was interesting, although it mainly just introduced a portion of the Warcraft world (just like the other two Warcraft books). The character development was excellent. The action was great too; it was exciting without the unbelievable heroics of a Jean Rabe character (yuck).

My only criticism is that the book weighs in at a palty 278 pages, which I blasted through in about 2.5 days (it's very easy reading). This to me was not worth the seven bones plus tax that I coughed up for it. Better to borrow it.