Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred is officially getting a prequel novel called The Lost Horadrim. Starring Lorath Nahr and Askari leader Adreona on the isle of Skovos decades ago, this book is perfect for players hoping to dig a little deeper into the lore of the next Diablo 4 expansion pack.
Leading up to The Game Awards, Geoff Keighley’s mysterious statue led many fans to believe Diablo 4 was planning on revealing its second expansion pack. Though the idol ended up being related to Larian Studios’ Divinity, Diablo 4 revealed its next DLC as well. Titled Lord of Hatred, this exciting expansion will finally let players square off with Mephisto, the eldest Prime Evil and father of Lilith, once it releases on April 28, 2026.
Lord of Hatred Proves This Diablo Game Will Forever Reign as the King of the Franchise
With the new features coming in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred, it's clear that one entry in the series is a favorite and will forever influence the series.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred Prequel Novel – The Lost Horadrim
However, fans don’t have to wait until then in order to start exploring some of the lore of Lord of Hatred. On April 21, Diablo 4 will release The Lost Horadrim, an official prequel novel to Lord of Hatred that features several characters and locations central to the expansion’s story. Taking place nearly 50 years before the expansion, shortly after the events of Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls, the story stars a younger Lorath Nahr as he ventures forth alongside Tyrael and Donan in search of a group of Horadrim who went missing on the legendary isle of Skovos.
While there, the trio meets the Askari Amazons and their captain, Adreona. Though Skovos, known as the place where Inarius and Lilith created the Firstborn Nephalem in the Diablo series, seems to have evaded the devastation of the Reaping, the isle is not as peaceful as it seems. Lorath and Adreona, both of whom are featured on the cover, must fight the Drowned and other threats “lurking just beneath the surface" in order to save both of their people.
Both Lorath and Adreona play major roles in Lord of Hatred. Lorath, the Horadric sage who left on a quest of his own at the end of Diablo 4, was absent during Vessel of Hatred, but he is back as a prominent ally in Lord of Hatred. Meanwhile, Adreona was a prominent captain during the prequel novel, but has become queen of the Askari since then. The Lost Horadrim will explore the relationship that exists between these two characters, as players will see in Lord of Hatred – and if the hints from Gamespot’s interview with lead narrative designer Matt Burns and narrative designer Eleni Rivera are any indication, the two may have some sort of romantic entanglement during the book.
What’s in Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred's Prequel Novel, The Lost Horadrim?
- 272-page prequel novel releasing April 21, 2026
- Available in hardcover ($30), ebook ($15), or audiobook ($15-$22)
- Features Lorath Nahr, Donan, Tyrael, and Adreona, Queen of the Amazons on Skovos, the new region in Lord of Hatred
The Lost Horadrim is being written by Matthew J. Kirby, the award-winning author behind original novels including The Clockwork Three, Icefall, The Lost Kingdom, A Taste for Monsters, and Star Splitters. Kirby is no stranger to Sanctuary or Lorath Nahr himself, as he was also responsible for the Book of Prava and the Book of Lorath Diablo 4 lore codices. Outside Sanctuary, he has also done franchise work for Assassin’s Creed in the past, including the Last Descendants series and Geirmund’s Saga.
Penguin Random House, known for publishing many gaming novels and comics, is responsible for publishing The Lost Horadrim.
Interested readers can pre-order the hardcover or ebook versions of The Lost Horadrim on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and most other retail booksellers. Fans looking for the audiobook version of this novel can alternatively pre-purchase it from Apple Books, Audible, Spotify, or just about anywhere else audiobooks are sold.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred itself is also available for pre-purchase right now in three separate editions. In addition to gaining access to the expansion once it releases, players also instantly receive the Vessel of Hatred expansion, early access to the Paladin class that released with Season 11, tons of cosmetics for Diablo 4, and even some Housing decor items for World of Warcraft.
Diablo 4
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
WHERE TO PLAY
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action-RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot.
Embark on the epic campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through a gripping story in a beautifully dark world, or explore an expansive end game: battle iconic bosses for powerful loot, fight back the encroaching onslaught of Hell in Helltides, master the Forge to create your ultimate weapons and progress powerful characters, with cross-play and cross-progression on all available platforms.
Discover the critically acclaimed franchise that defined the Action RPG genre. As the battle between the High Heavens and Burning Hells rages on, hatred devours Sanctuary as evil spreads and a new wave of cultists and worshippers arise to embrace Lilith’s coming. Only a brave few dare to face this threat and bring light to the all-consuming darkness.
Expansive Open WorldForge your own path through the corrupted lands of Sanctuary, an ever-growing, fully explorable world teeming with challenges, quests, enemies, and loot. Join your fellow adventurers, rescue and retake besieged towns, delve into nightmarish dungeons and uncover lost secrets as you fight back evil. The many zones of Sanctuary are yours to explore, and with rotating areas of extreme peril like World Bosses and Helltide, danger lurks at every turn.
Immersive Character DevelopmentCreate and customize your character to face the encroaching darkness. Choose from one of five classes and build your hero with skills, abilities and cosmetics, creating a champion that is uniquely your own. Grow stronger as you progress through powerful Skill Trees and develop even more unique end game specializations with Paragon Boards.
Legendary Gear, Epic BattlesDiscover and experiment with a vast arsenal of powerful weapons, armor and more to fight back against the demons threatening Sanctuary. Explore unique combinations, create your own upgrades and collect a plethora of powerful tools to battle in immersive, action-packed combat against the deadliest of enemies.
Seasons & EventsThe tales of Sanctuary continue to unfold. Create Seasonal Characters and join in fresh adventures - master new mechanics and take on the latest threats in each new Season. Complete harrowing feats of the Season Journey and earn new Battle Pass rewards. Plus, sharpen your swords and get in the spirit of the seasons when Limited-Time Events sweep through Sanctuary.
End Game UndertakingsThere’s even more Diablo® IV to explore as you reach higher levels and more fearsome World Tiers. Face the greatest challenge yet as you take on the most powerful demons in The Pit, steel yourself against Uber Bosses to reap uber unique rewards, fight back overflowing armies of Hell as Helltides emerge across Sanctuary, battle larger-than-life World Bosses, and master the Forge to create the mightiest weapons fit for a hero.
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- All platforms
- Cross Save
- All platforms
- Prequel(s)
- Diablo 3
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- June 5, 2023
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- June 5, 2023
- PS5 Release Date
- June 5, 2023
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 158.25 GB
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Wiki
