Tag Archives: League of Legends

5 Great Worlds of IP Fiction

If you’re a regular reader of Track of Words you’ll know how much I enjoy IP (or tie-in) fiction – stories which expand and develop fantasy and science fiction worlds that already exist in board games, video games, films and other media. I’ve tended to read a lot of Warhammer fiction from Black Library, and I know a lot of ToW readers are BL fans too, but there are all manner of fantastic IPs out there as well, bringing their worlds to life with great fiction. Over the course of the last year or two I’ve been dipping my toe into a few other IPs and really enjoying the results, so in this article I’m going to pick out a few recommendations for anyone who’s keen to try exploring a new world or two.

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Garen: First Shield – Anthony Reynolds

The first ever League of Legends novella from Riot Games, Anthony Reynolds’ Garen: First Shield is an action-packed tale of duty and determination that offers a glimpse into the life of the elite soldiery of Demacia. Still wracked with guilt for his inability to prevent the assassination of the Demacian King, Garen Crownguard leads a small force of the Dauntless Vanguard on a peace-time mission to a neighbouring, allied nation. Recent communications from Demacia’s ambassador to the Nockmirch have proven suspicious, and the mission is simply to check that all is still well, but when the Vanguard’s arrival reveals a plot that threatens the security of Demacia, Garen and his warriors find themselves vastly outnumbered by a ferocious enemy out for their blood.

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AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Anthony Reynolds Talks Garen: First Shield

Welcome to this Track of Words Author Interview, where today I’m talking to Anthony Reynolds about his new book Garen: First Shield, the first ever League of Legends novella from Riot Games. Whether you’re an existing fan of this exciting IP and you’re looking for more detail on the world and its characters, or you’re a fan of fantasy in general and you’re wondering what League of Legends is all about (and where to start getting to grips with it), this novella is well worth checking out – and I asked Anthony to give us the lowdown on everything from the basics of League of Legends fiction to the specifics of the new book. Garen: First Shield is available to buy right now, so check out the interview and then go grab yourself a copy!

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Legends of Bilgewater: Tall Tales of the Deep Sea – Anthony Reynolds

A multi-part League of Legends audio drama, Legends of Bilgewater: Tall Tales of the Deep Sea consists of a series of interlinked stories by Anthony Reynolds that are equal parts superstitious sailor tales and moral stories. In a busy dockside bar in Bilgewater, old seadog Lars spins stories of meeting legendary figures like Nautilus and Tahm Kench in exchange for keeping him in his cups. Though he keeps his audience entertained with fantastical stories of his youthful exploits, there’s a darkness running through his tales – these legends of the sea rarely end well, after all.

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QUICK REVIEW: Confessions of a Broken Blade – Ariel Lawrence

A three-act League of Legends short story set in Ionia after the conclusion of the Noxian invasion, Ariel Lawrence’s Confessions of a Broken Blade features Riven and Yasuo, a pair of characters haunted by events in their pasts. The main focus is on Riven, who when we meet her is hurting, repressing memories, trying to live a quiet life. Before long, however, she’s confronted with the consequences of actions she can no longer remember, and the fragile peace she had managed to find is shattered. The emotions of those around her are running hot as her past catches up with her.

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League of Legends Progress – April 2018

It’s been a little over a month since I published my post entitled Something New (for me) – League of Legends, in which I set out to start exploring the fiction that exists around Riot Games’ MEGA popular online game. Have a read of that post if you want to catch up on what I talked about, but essentially the plan was to start reading and reviewing short stories that are available to read for free on the League of Legends Universe website. A month (ish) later, I thought it might be interesting to take stock of what the experience has been like so far.

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QUICK REVIEW: Where Icathia Once Stood – Graham McNeill

Conquered long ago by the Shuriman Sun Empress, the Kingdom of Icathia has for a thousand years desired its freedom from Shurima. In his short story Where Icathia Once Stood, Graham McNeill tells the story of Icathia’s long-awaited uprising, the brutal response from Shurima’s vast armies, and the lengths the Icathians were prepared to go to for freedom and survival. Told through the eyes of Axamuk, a young artisan-turned-soldier, it’s a nonlinear narrative that both details the events and repercussion of the uprising, and illustrates one man’s very personal response to what takes place and what it ends up meaning.

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QUICK REVIEW: Of Rats and Cats and Neon Mice – Ariel Lawrence

In Ariel Lawrence’s League of Legends short story Of Rats and Cats and Neon mice, down in the depths of Piltover enforcer Vi is having a tough first day on her new job. Tasked with investigating the killing of a back-alley doctor, despite her new partner’s disapproval Vi heads straight to the scene of the crime, keen to get her gauntlets dirty. Who and what she finds there draws her into an unexpected alliance and a trip down amongst the dirt and the desperate masses to the Heap, for a confrontation with a deadly foe.

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QUICK REVIEW: The Principles of Strength – Anthony Reynolds

In League of Legends’ world of Runeterra, the Noxian empire is built on three aspects of strength – vision, might and guile. In his short story The Principles of Strength Anthony Reynolds explores this concept through the relationship between Noxus and one of its vassal states. Alyssa and Oram val-Lokan, scions of the Delverhold, have been sent to meet with Noxus’ ruling Council of Three to negotiate new terms for their alliance. To succeed, they must convince two or more of the Trifarix, but while Oram adopts a blunt, belligerent approach to negotiations, Alyssa sees things rather differently.

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Something New (for me) – League of Legends

When I started Track of Words I wrote reviews of pretty much everything I read, and blogged about all sort of reading-related topics. Over time I’ve increasingly streamlined what I talk about on Track of Words, and these days there’s no question that I focus predominantly upon Black Library – that’s no surprise, seeing as I’ve been reading Warhammer fiction for well over twenty years! That being said, I’m keen to keep at least a little bit of variety on Track of Words, for my own enjoyment if nothing else. Enter something new (for me) – League of Legends.

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