Another prequel for the movie “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”, this novel, “The Druid’s Call” by E.K. Johnston, follows the origin for Doric, the tiefling druid that becomes one of the main characters in the movie.
Adopted by the elves of Neverwinter Wood, Doric struggles to find his place in a community that has sheltered her, but who is still wary of her origins, since tieflings are a controversial race that descends from demons and fiends from other planes. Shielded by close friends, she discovers her powers during a reconnaissance mission on forest pillagers. When she tries to calm a bear, the elves notice that she would be a perfect match for druid training.
All while in flashbacks we learn of her heartbreaking story, she is sent to a Druid enclave for training. There she will make more friends and start to control her new powers. Unfortunately, the human log cutters are deforesting the elf home at a faster rate, and she is recalled for help.
Written in a fast and entertaining pace, this is a great novel. We also encounter, albeit briefly, another of the movie characters, but feels somehow shoehorned. I’m not sure if more of this will appear in the movie, but the conflict with the human despoilers is not resolved and the novel appears cut short.
It’s a good prequel overall, especially if you’re interested in the movie and you are not completely familiar with the D&D setting. Also, this is the first instance of a “post-credits scene” I’ve read in a book.
Korpilandia 