Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne

The Stolen Throne is a prequel to the Bioware RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, telling the story of King Maric and the future Teryn Loghain battling the Orlesians in order to free their homeland, Fereldan. I had already played DA:O twice through by the time I read the book, which only made it more heart breaking. In game, Teryn Loghain abandons King Cailan, Maric's son, causing his and Duncan's, the Grey Warden who recruits the player, deaths. But in the novel, he and Maric are the heroes. Loghain is the stern level headed warrior while Maric is the charming, naive prince trying to fill the shoes of his dead mother, the Rebel Queen. The book makes it clear that without Loghain Maric would never have been able to take the throne or become a just king. However, with just one choice, to leave the battlefield and abandon Cailan and the Wardens he begins a civil war in Ferelden. With one choice he goes from being the Hero of River Dane to villain.
This goes along perfectly with the game since it also presents the opportunity where certain choices can change everything else the character has worked for. The way the books is written almost feels like Maric, Loghain, Katriel, Rowan, and Severan are playable characters in game. We see how each of their choices are creating a path to where the game begins. Gaider dips into each of these character's minds. In the game there are "Companion Quests" where there are options to "harden" the character. With Alistair it's when his sister turns him away. There are conversation options where you can basically comfort him and keep him "soft" or tell him to get over it and confirm what his sister says and "harden" him. This is a lot like when Maric finds out about Katriel's betrayal and kills her in a blind rage. Instead of comforting Maric he reminds him of his duty and to "think of the days to come. How much justice [Maric] will need to hand out, when [he] sit[s] on the thone" (Gaider, 362). Loghain "hardened" Maric.
The Stolen Throne really adds to the experience of playing Dragon Age because we understand Loghain more. We find out that his mother was raped by an Orlesian Commander. His family lost their farm and became outlaws after his father murdered the commander. The Orlesians later kill his father, who forces Loghain to protect Maric. Loghain gives up Rowan, the woman he loves, for Maric and Ferelden. With all of these things in mind, it isnt hard to see why Loghain begins to go mad when the next generation of Fereldens and Orlesians are on friendlier terms. His fear losing his homeland to a past enemy makes him blind to present enemy. During my first playthrough of the game, I thought Loghain was just power hungry but with this books I can see the deeper levels leading up to his betrayal of Maric's son.