I found "The Shattering" to be pretty entertaining, but I definitely felt as if the book was not a standalone offering. Unless you are a fan, and more importantly pretty knowledgeable of the Warcraft universe, this book would be both muddled and confusing to you. Some issues kept it from garnering a higher rating in my appraisal... the primary issue was the feeling of moving from scene to scene in a disconnected fashion, a push and pull that detracted from the smoothness of the piece. But the vignettes between the characters were all smooth and colorful, and true to the personalities you know and love. The book is a fine tale, problems aside, and comes recommended to fans of all stripes.