God of War: The Official Novelization

J. M. Barlog

Aug 2018 · Blackstone Publishing · Narrated by Alastair Duncan

About this audiobook

The official novelization of the bestselling game

His vengeance against the gods of Olympus years behind him, Kratos now lives as a man in the realm of Norse gods and monsters. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive ... and teach his son to do the same. This startling reimagining of God of War deconstructs the core elements that defined the series—satisfying combat, breathtaking scale, and a powerful narrative—and fuses them anew.

Ratings and reviews

if you've played or seen the game then this is a lovely accompaniment, the narrative gives a clearer insight into Kratos and Atreus's thoughts and feelings which we can't infer from their actions in the game. it is so nice to relive the story in this form, the game is visually gorgeous and the prose does justice to the world and environments. Alastair Duncan's voice makes you feel like Mimir is telling you one of his stories, and his interpretations of the characters' voices is fun. if you haven't played the game this is still a great story with wonderful worldbuilding and characterisation, and an exciting adventure that anyone can enjoy. There is enough context that you don't need to have previous knowledge of the franchise to enjoy it. if you are not familiar with Norse mythology though some of the names may be a bit tricky to understand/visualise so I would recommend the ebook instead/to read along.

For those who've played the game: The Audiobook does an amazing job at retelling the story of the game while giving greater context and character motivations. The fact that the audiobook is written by J.M. Barlog (The game's director's father) and narrated by Mimir is absolutely amazing. For those who've NOT played the game: Regardless of your existing GoW knowledge, this is an amazing adventure that, while taking some liberties, does an amazing job of utilizing Norse Mythology. It's characters do a great job of letting you experience the world via many different viewpoints as Atreus has grown up in the world around him while Kratos is haunted by his previous life and new surroundings. TL;DR: If you enjoyed listening to Mimir in the game I highly recommend this. If you're looking for an intense and emotionally journey then look nowhere else.

This is the same story from God of War. The retelling of it is incredible. Stripping everything away other than the narrative and characters, really allows you to feel the emtion and weight of every action. The fact that you can completely remove the gameplay and visuals from this adventure, is a testament to how incredible the story is. The ebook is read by none other then Mimir(Alastair Duncan). The only reason this is not receiving 5 stars is the book omits a major detail: Kratos Shield.

About the author

J. M. Barlog grew up in Chicago before serving in Vietnam with the US Air Force. He has authored numerous novels across many genres. Windows to the Soul, his debut novel, won the Readers’ Choice Award for suspense at a “Love Is Murder” Mystery Conference. Barlog currently lives with his wife in Southern California, where he is busy writing sequels to his popular novels The Heart of the Lion, Minno, and A Connecticut Nightmare.

Cory Barlog is the creative director at Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Santa Monica Studio. He is a video game director and writer, known for his work on the God of War franchise.