The release of T. Kingfisher's prequel novel, "Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion," offers fans a deeper dive into the backstory of the popular vampire spawn. While the novel largely succeeds in capturing Astarion's voice and exploring his tortured past, it is notably impacted by editorial decisions from Wizards of the Coast that alter key elements of his history.
A Dark Past Explored
Kingfisher, known for her work on dark fantasy themes, was tasked with exploring Astarion's life under his cruel master, Cazador. The novel weaves between Astarion's early days as a working-class boy and his present existence as a vampire spawn. This narrative structure, with its abrupt transitions between past and present, creates a disorienting experience, though one that could be interpreted as reflecting Astarion's fractured psyche.
The novel grapples with Astarion's experiences of abuse, balancing the depiction of horrors with the small joys he finds. Kingfisher's prose handles sensitive topics with care, avoiding gratuitous detail while still conveying the severity of Astarion's suffering. Despite moments of humor and Astarion's characteristic wit, a pervasive melancholy underscores his narrative, portraying a character still trapped by his circumstances.
Publisher Interference and Character Retcons
A significant point of contention within the novel is the alteration of Astarion's history with the Gur, a group of monster hunters. In "Baldur's Gate 3," Astarion harbors a deep-seated racism towards the Gur, stemming from a past encounter where they killed him after a ruling he made as a magistrate. The novel, however, reframes this event, depicting the Gur as poachers caught for their crimes, with Astarion delivering a fair judgment.
Author T. Kingfisher confirmed on Bluesky that this change was mandated by Wizards of the Coast, who reportedly felt the Gur were "Romany-stereotype coded." This decision to alter Astarion's established racism has led to criticism, as it softens a complex aspect of his character that contributed to his in-game portrayal. This is not the first instance of Wizards of the Coast altering established lore in tie-in media; the company previously faced backlash for erasing a romantic relationship between characters in a "Magic: The Gathering" novel.
While Kingfisher successfully captures Astarion's voice and personality, making the novel an enjoyable read, the imposed changes raise concerns about Wizards of the Coast's approach to its intellectual property. The decision to smooth over Astarion's rougher edges suggests a reluctance to trust the audience's ability to engage with complex characters and potentially controversial elements. Given Wizards of the Coast's involvement in HBO's upcoming "Baldur's Gate 3" adaptation, this trend of sanitizing narratives may leave fans apprehensive about future adaptations.