Blizzard's Diablo series has been one of the most popular ARPGs since its first release in early 1997. Taking place in the world of Sanctuary, a separate, secret world created to help its founders escape the Eternal Conflict between Heaven and Hell, it's a gory, quasi-biblical, violent lore. While most of the lore takes place in the four mainline games, many books help to flesh out and further explain the canon.

If you're looking for the best way to jump into the Diablo lore, the novels are an excellent place to start. Here are our picks for the best books in the Diablo series in 2024.

Updated May 26, 2024 by Kenny Kimberly: Diablo's been in the spotlight lately with an absolutely stellar season release, Loot Reborn. I've pulled myself away from grinding Living Steel long enough to come back and clean up this piece for us all since we all could use a nice new read. Enjoy the additions!

Long before the Darkening of Tristram, Sanctuary was plunged into a long and bloody conflict called the Sin War. The Sin War trilogy focuses on the events around the Sin War, with the first book, Birt🍌hright, focusing on Uldyssian.

Uldyssian is a farmer turned fugitive after being blamed for the death of a pair of traveling missionaries. Forced to flee his home to get away from the false accusations, Uldyssian attempts to clear his name only to find horrific powers blossoming inside of him. Vying to retain his humanity as his newfound power threatens to tear him apart,🍬 Uldyssian sparks the start of a franchise that helps to flesh out the dangers of magic in the world oꦐf Sanctuary.

In Blizzard's library, there are a few authors that always stand out. Christie Golden is undoubtedly one of the most beloved names, though recent events after the Microsoft acquisition seem to have led to her departure from the team. A name just as titanic is Richard A. Knaak, author of countless iconic stories in the Blizzard canon.

His work on Moon of the Spider is a can't-miss for any fan of Blizzard lore or Knaak's writing. We're going to keep this completely spoiler-free, as there are some twists in this story that absolutely have to be read without spoilers. Just maybe skip this story if you're arachnaphobic, is all.

For fans of Diablo 3, this is an unmissable tale. The story takes place before the events of the third game, following Deckard Cain in his efforts to both keep the Horadric Order alive and to continue to follows his duties as a Horadrim. During his research, he discovers an exciting and hopeful bit of informati♈on that could turn the tides in the Eternal Conflict.

We won't go any further than that to avoid any spoilers. We wouldn't recommend this as the first Diablo novel you read due to how interwoven its lore is with the rest of the franchise, but if you have a grasp of the universe, this is an unmissable tale.

Released in 2001, Legacy of Blood follows the story of a soldier of fortune named Norrec Vizharan. Desperate to make his fortune, Vizharan finds the armor of Bartuc, a mythical Warlord of Blood. Though he's elated to have found the artifact, Vizharan soon finds himself being chased by a group of demons that desire the armor to take its power.

Making matters worse is the vicious bloodlust that the armor has awakening in him. Desperate to cure the curse, Vizharan has to 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:work against the demons attempting to take him and the armor as well as the overwhelming, uncontrollable bloodlust that the Warlord of Blood's legacy is forcing him into. This novel is a standalone novel that needs no other reading nor information from the game to comprehend, making it great for dark fantasy lovers of all kinds.

Novels are great, but sometimes, it's better to have a collection of short stories instead of needing to finish several hundred pages of a lore-rich book. The Tales from the Horadric Library fits this ideally, taking the form of an anthology of short stories that all take place at various points in the Diablo universe.

The anthology takes its name from the scholarly order of Sanctuary's defenders, the Brotherhood of the Horadrim. These stories are varied, with something to fit nearly any taste. They're generally not vital to the lore, meaning that few crucial canon events are discussed in this collection. Still, they're great for worldbuilding and are riveting stories in their own right.

The Diablo series is rich with soldiers of fortune, and The Black Road shares the story of one of the most tormented. The Black Road follows Darrick Lang, returning home after a long journey away. Finding his home corrupted by an unknown force, Darrick fights against the power that's consuming his home to try and save it.

As a standalone novel, you can enjoy this story with no previous knowledge of the game or any other books. Despite this, it isn't completely detached from the lore of the games. The Black Road takes place around the events of Diablo 1 and the Darkening of Tristram, the harrowing event that sets off the series of games. While this event isn't occurring in the book, Diablo's presence is alluded to or referenced a few times.

Are you a Barbarian main looking for a story that highlights your ancestors and the glory of Mount Arreat? Maybe you prefer graphic novels over several hundred page novels for their swifter, ♊more vivid reading? Whatever the case may be, Legends of the Barbarian -🦩 Bul-Kathos is the perfect Diablo novel.

Taking place long before the events of the Sin War, this story focuses instead on t🔯he age of the Nephalem, the first offspring of Angels and Demons and progenitors of Humanity. The graphic novel focuses on the Nephalem Bul-Kathos, a father of two and the future legendary hero of myth that would create the Barbarian civilization.

When you think of a lore book, you likely don't think of a cookbook. But Blizzard's 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:line of cookbooks has extended to Diablo, making it the latest gaming series to join the trend. One interesting thing for this cookbook is that, unlike many other games, there isn't any sort of focus or mechanic on food in any of the Diablo games.

Regardless, this is a great resource for learning about the cultures of the game. The dishes help to highlight the real-world influences of the universe, such as the Scottish and European influences on the cuisine of Scosglen. It's a wonderful way to bring the world closer to life while also helping you decide on your next dinner.

For adventure fans, Richard A. Knaak's The Kingdom of Shadow is a great starting point. This standalone novel requires no outside reading or information from the game, making it a great starting point for new fans or people who are looking to learn more about that world.

The Kingdom of Shadow follows a mercenary captain's journey to the dead city of Ureh, a location long thought to be the home of a gate to the High Heavens. Joining him is Quov Tsin, a leader of a hired band of mercenaries and a dedicated Vizjerei sorcerer.

FAQ

Are The Diablo Novels Canon?

The Diablo novels are generally considered canon, yes. However, most of them are not directly tied with the games. Most are 𓃲prequel☂s and explain lore events, such as the Sin War or the age of the Nephalem.

Where Can I find Diablo Novels?

We recommend using Amazon to find most of them, as some of these books were published decades ago and aren't regularly carried by brick-and-mortar shops. For newer releases, you can often find them in your standard local bookstore.

Will I Be Lost In Diablo's Story If I Don't Read The Novels?

No! In fact, most of the lore in the nove♍ls is for worldbuilding and is far from critical for understanding the games. The games do a good job of explaining any of the critical events or characters like the Archangels, the Prime Evils, the Sin War, the Nephalem, and more. Diablo II and III in particular are great sources for learning these events, while Diablo 4 focuses heavily on Lilith, Inarius, and the Creation of Sanctuary.