Baldur's Gate 3's Neil Newbon Returns As Astarion In Official Prequel
Topics: Baldur's Gate 3
Featured Image Credit: Random House Worlds
Topics: Baldur's Gate 3
Larian Studios may have moved on from Baldur’s Gate 3, but this beloved world continues to live on via other avenues.
HBO is working on a live-action TV sequel, with The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin taking leadership on that.
The series is still in very early development, but Mazin has already voiced that he’s keen for the game’s original cast to return in some way, many of whom have voiced their interest.
That’s far from all as a prequel is now on the way too.
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Neil Newbon, the performer behind Astarion, is set to return in a prequel novel from Random House Worlds which is set to be accompanied by a fully-voiced audiobook.
The simply titled Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion will be penned by the New York Times bestseller T. Kingfisher who is no stranger to the fantasy genre.
Due for publication on 29 September, the novel is set within the years that Astarion served under the vampire lord Cazador Szarr.
Neil Newbon will, as mentioned, narrate the audiobook and to ensure perfect continuity, Baldur’s Gate 3 writer Stephen Rooney consulted on the project.
“You’re too pretty to die,” the synopsis reads.
“Astarion Ancunin was supposed to be a magistrate, not a vampire spawn. He was supposed to serve the law, not the vicious vampire lord Cazador Szarr. And he was supposed to drink fine wine, not rat blood. Alas—the city of Baldur’s Gate cares little for what’s supposed to happen.
“Though he has been powerless to resist his master’s bidding, haunting the nighttime streets to fetch warm blood, Astarion has never surrendered his hope. One day, this nightmare must end. He just has to find out how.
“When the vampire lord announces a twisted competition for his favor, an opportunity presents itself in the form of a rare prize . . . and an unlikely alliance. The blood of a dead god is buried deep beneath Baldur’s Gate, and, to get it, Astarion will need the help of a handsome Aasimar paladin named Hahn den Suriel.
“There are just a few problems. Astarion is not supposed to trust his fellow spawn. He’s not supposed to go out into the city for his own ends rather than the vampire lord’s. And he’s certainly not supposed to strike a deal with a stranger whose golden eyes can snare even a blackened, undead heart.
“But the city of Baldur’s Gate cares little for what’s supposed to happen.”
Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion will hold a RRP of $30 and is available to order from a wide array of booksellers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Target, Walmart, and more.
It’s a 288 page novel according to its listing on Penguin Random House, so it shouldn’t take you too long to consume this exciting “dark fantasy adventure”.
It’s just one of several new Baldur’s Gate releases coming this year.
Baldur’s Gate 3: The Necromancy of Thay arrives on 21 July, a reproduction of the in-game item of the same name by Clarkson Potter, followed by Ten Speed Press’ The Official Baldur’s Gate 3 Colouring Book.
Ten Speed Press is due to follow-up with A Feast for a Tenday: The Official Baldur’s Gate Cookbook on 3 November, plus Random House Worlds reportedly has further plans for 2027.
Baldur’s Gate’s gaming future may be up in the air, but there’s plenty else for fans to look forward to.
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