Astarion Is Getting His Own Prequel — Baldur’s Gate 3 to Receive a Novel Exploring the Vampire’s Mysterious Past

The world of Baldur's Gate 3 is expanding far beyond the game itself: a major new book project has been announced, putting the spotlight on one of the most beloved characters—Astarion.

Random House Worlds, in partnership with Wizards of the Coast, is launching a series of four official Baldur’s Gate 3 books, set for release between 2026 and 2027. The highlight of the lineup is a prequel novel dedicated to Astarion—the high-elf vampire spawn adored by fans for his charisma, sarcasm, and tragic backstory.

Titled Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion, the novel is written by fantasy author and New York Times bestseller T. Kingfisher. The story will focus on the years Astarion spent enslaved by vampire lord Cazador Szarr—a period only briefly touched upon through his memories in the game. The book promises to dive much deeper into this era, detailing the torture, psychological torment, and Astarion’s transformation into a member of a vampiric cult.

Before his turning, Astarion was a civil servant in the city of Baldur’s Gate, until a fatal encounter led to his “rescue” by Cazador, who made him a servant. His fate turned him into a being torn between fear, pain, and a desperate longing for freedom.

To ensure lore accuracy, Baldur’s Gate 3 senior writer Stephen Rooney is involved with the project so that the story stays true to the game’s canon. The audiobook version will be narrated by Neil Newbon, the actor who brought Astarion to life with his voice and performance in the original game.

Beyond the Astarion novel, the lineup includes some unique releases: “The Necromancy of Thay” styled as an in-universe notebook, an official artbook-coloring book, and even a cookbook inspired by the game’s camp cuisine. All projects are produced in collaboration with Wizards of the Coast and Random House Worlds.

The Astarion novel is expected to launch in September 2026 and marks the first step in a new wave of Baldur’s Gate 3 universe expansion, which is quickly shaping up to become a full-fledged multimedia franchise with books, audio projects, and potential adaptations.

Meanwhile, the Baldur’s Gate 3 developers are currently working on a new Divinity game. Details surfaced in December, and there’s also recent news about engine improvements.

What do you think about a standalone prequel focused on Astarion—are you excited to learn more about his past, or do you feel his character was already fully explored in the game?