The best possible fantasy author is writing a dark, tragic prequel novel for our beloved Baldur's Gate 3 boy Astarion

You say "Astarion backstory" and I'll show you a very long list of fanfics, but for anyone who's already exhausted that catalog: today's a big day. There's going to be an official prequel novel for your sad, sexy Baldur's Gate 3 boyfriend this September. Oh and yes, Neil Newbon's recording the audiobook version, obviously.

As reported by Polygon, Wizards of the Coast and Random House Worlds have announced a partnership to publish four projects "centered around [Baldur's Gate 3's] immersive lore and unforgettable characters" this year beginning with Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion—though the other three are a cookbook, coloring book, and journal—and plans for more collaboration to be revealed "for 2027 and beyond."

"This prequel novel, published by Random House Worlds, takes place prior to the events of the 2023 game, and follows the fan-favorite High Elf during his years of servitude under the vampire lord Cazador Szarr," Polygon reports. "Baldur's Gate 3 senior writer Stephen Rooney consulted on the project in order to ensure consistency with the game's lore and world-building."

My first thought on hearing that a massively popular cultural phenomenon RPG is getting a prequel tie-in novel might have been "oh no, we've reached the WotC cash grab part of the popularity cycle." I was immediately reassured, though, because this thing is being written by T. Kingfisher. She's the wildly prolific and deservedly popular author of horror series What Moves The Dead, twisted fairytales like Thornhedge, and romances like the Paladin series.

If I had asked a bunch of BG3-loving fantasy readers (a nigh circle-shaped Venn diagram) who would be their fancast to write about their beloved vampire, I can say with full confidence that Kingfisher would have topped the list, Family Feud style. Not just because she publishes with eye-watering frequency, but because she's tackled themes like abuse, trauma, and autonomy in her work, all of which are relevant to Astarion's story.

Exploitation of the runaway popularity of Wizards IP though it may be, our guy's in about as good of hands as I could have asked for. Also, she's been romancing Astarion basically since launch.

As for whether or not you need to have played BG3 before reading Astarion's story, well, I think you should play it anyway if you haven't. You've got till September which is plenty of time for that Honour Mode run. In Kingfisher's opinion:

"The problem here is that if you play BG3, this book is 'wow, it’s the tragic backstory!' If you don’t play it, the book is 'wtf, why did Kingfisher write a book about this vampire being tormented that has such a downer ending?!?'"

Here's what else Random House and Wizards announced for this year:

• (July 21) Baldur’s Gate 3: The Necromancy of Thay - A blank notebook recreation of the in-game item
• (Summer) The Official Baldur's Gate 3 Coloring Book - 40 black & white illustrations by Jaki King
• (November 3) A Feast for a Tenday: The Official Baldur’s Gate Cookbook - 65 recipes by Andrew Wheeler