Astarion became the poster boy from BG3 almost immediately, so him getting his own novel years after the game’s release sounded too good to pass up. Take one of the game’s most popular companions, hand him to a fantasy author, literally recruit Neil Newbon for the audiobook, and let everyone enjoy several hundred pages. Instead, Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion has quickly turned into something that divided fans entirely.
The book doesn’t even hit shelves for a couple of days yet, but advance copies have been leaked online, meaning readers have already started picking it apart. The reaction isn’t universally negative, and some early reviewers genuinely love this version of Astarion. But one criticism keeps popping up: longtime BG3 players just don’t recognize the beloved, sassy vampire they spent hundreds of hours with.
Astarion Doesn't Feel Like Astarion
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The basic premise is pretty much what you’d expect. The 272-page prequel follows Astarion during his years under Cazador, when a competition between the vampire's spawn sends him searching for the blood of a dead god. Along the way, he gets entangled with an Aasimar paladin named Hahn den Suriel.
And that's all it took for some players to lose enthusiasm. Even ahead of its release, a recurring complaint is that Kingfisher's Astarion is noticeably softer, more traditionally sympathetic, and more romantically conventional than the little menace they know and love. One Goodreads reviewer said Astarion actually loses his voice as the novel progresses, and other readers have similarly argued that Kingfisher's humor replaces the sarcasm Astarion hides behind.
Don’t kid yourself if you’re only a casual fan—that distinction matters. Game Astarion isn't secretly sweet underneath it all. You really need to crack his shell before he even thinks about trusting you, and until you do, he approves of cruelty, encourages selfish behavior, lies without hesitation, and sees power as something to use against others lest they use it against him. Critical fans aren’t necessarily calling for more brutish behavior, but they're arguing that removing the ugliness takes away what made his growth so satisfying.
The Romance is a Sticking Point
Remember what paladin we mentioned? Well, he’s at the center of much of the disagreement, too. The official synopsis frames the handsome warrior as an unlikely ally whose relationship with Astarion becomes more and more personal. Kingfisher told Rascal in an interview that she deliberately gave Astarion somebody he could attempt to manipulate. She described adult time as part of Astarion's "arsenal" and explained that she wanted him to retain some control over himself despite the exploitation he suffers under Cazador.
On paper, that makes sense. In BG3, Astarion openly admits that seduction became a survival strategy, and his complicated relationship with it forms one of the strongest parts of his storyline. The issue for some is the book’s execution, though. Several reactions argue that den Suriel occupies so much space that the novel begins feeling more like a recognizable Kingfisher romance than a disturbing examination of Astarion's years as a spawn.
The tonal difference appears to be equally divisive. Some Goodreads ARC reviewers praise the humor, but others expected a way darker plot given who we’re reading about. Even relatively positive reactions have noted that the novel isn't as grim as expected.
Kingfisher Has a Different Reading
Interestingly, Kingfisher's recent comments suggest she’s well aware of the incoming tide. In that same Rascal interview, she described Astarion as self-centered, amoral, and "not a good individual," joking that he'd rescue orphans from a burning building only if he was paid per head. She also said a full redemption arc would've been inappropriate—this is all pre-game stuff.
She also explained that Wizards of the Coast gave her considerable freedom and that she consulted heavily on D&D lore while writing. She even listened to Astarion dialogue compilations to get his voice back into her head.
And that makes the disagreement much more interesting than a simple "author didn't understand character" pile-on. Her defenders have since argued that the novel captures Astarion well, and advance readers have praised exactly the same characterization others are criticizing. But we all know how the internet works: the pendulum swings, and so does the court of public opinion.
Who knows what people will think down the line. As of right now, more and more advanced reviews are coming in, and the Goodreads stars are ever-slowly dropping; as of the time of writing, it currently sits just under four stars. Tackling such a beloved, tormented character was never going to be easy, and it’s hard to say how well it’ll be received in a few days. Kingfisher's novel might win more people over once everyone can actually read it, but right now, Faerûn's favorite vampire has somehow managed to stir up even more drama.
