Blizzard has revealed a new official Diablo novel, The Lost Horadrim, and this one is clearly meant for players who care about the story behind Diablo 4. The Lord of Hatred prequel novel launches on April 21, just ahead of the upcoming expansion, and gives us much more information about events that happened between Diablo III and Diablo IV.
This is not some random side story. It focuses on characters and places we already know, so it will mostly appeal to players who enjoy digging into Diablo lore.
What The Book Is About
The novel follows Lorath, Donan, and Tyrael during a rough period after Malthael‘s Reaping. The Horadrim are barely holding together, humanity is exposed, and evil is spreading fast. Hoping to recover lost knowledge and allies, the group travels to the Skovos Isles, where a Horadrim expedition vanished years earlier.
Skovos appears untouched at first, but that illusion does not last long. Lorath teams up with Adreona, an Amazon captain, as they deal with rising threats, broken alliances, and dangers lurking beneath the surface. If you read The Book of Lorath, you might recognize this expedition, as it was mentioned there but never fully explored.
Official Book Description
The Horadrim must journey to the Skovos Isles to discover the fate of a long-lost expedition in this official prequel novel to Diablo: Lord of Hatred.
In a world culled by Malthael’s Reaping, the Horadric order—humanity’s only hope—struggles to gain a foothold. Within the dimming lands of Sanctuary, evils rise from all corners, and though the Horadrim are used to facing down the darkest spawn of the Burning Hells, they are far less prepared for the depravity arising within their fellow men. But as Lorath, Donan, and Tyrael seek justice and a path forward, the Horadrim’s numbers have dwindled, leaving humanity vulnerable.
Hoping to strengthen the order, Tyrael and the two mages set sail to Skovos, where Sho-Ren and four other Horadrim were sent years ago to establish diplomatic relations with the Askari . . . and were never heard from again. Though the risk is great, the chance of reclaiming kin—as well as the Horadric vault hidden deep within the heart of the isles—remains too great an opportunity to pass up.
At first glance, Skovos appears to have escaped the devastation so many others faced in the wake of the Reaping. But as the Horadrim attempt to ally with the Askari and their rulers, it becomes clear that all is not right on their shores. To gain the trust of the Amazon warriors, Lorath seeks the aid of their captain, Adreona. The Askari leader does not trust the mysterious mainlander, though—not while her soldiers are under constant threat of the Drowned and can ill afford distractions.
To save both their peoples, Lorath and Adreona must learn to battle together against not only the perils before them . . . but also those lurking just beneath the surface.
Where To Get It
The novel will be available on release day in physical and digital formats, including hardcover and ebook. There will also be an audiobook version, available on Audible at launch. That makes it an easy pick for players who prefer listening while grinding dungeons or clearing seasonal content in Diablo 4.
More details will likely surface closer to release, but for lore fans, this already feels like a must-have. Especially now that we are heading toward the next big expansion and will make our way to the Skovos Isles ourselves.
For more lore updates and expansion coverage, head back to our main Diablo 4 news hub.
