10 Most Interesting Skyrim Books Worth Reading
Ancient Scrolls is known for its commitment to world-building and its now iconic fifth installment, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, is no exception to this trend. With more lore and historical documentation than any of its predecessors, Skyrim perfectly creates an engaging and integrated experience through an unlikely medium for video games: its library of books.
With over 330 texts found across the lands of Skyrim and its DLCs, players can immerse themselves for countless hours as they scour the frozen landscape for these items, providing a unique role-playing experience for Dragonborn interested in exploring the art and history of Tamriel for their breaks after exploring the land of the Nordics.
ten The Real Barenziah Details One of Morrowind’s Iconic Characters
Whereas The real Barenziah may take some creative liberties, it gives a fun interior to a character that hasn’t been seen in the game since Morrowind in 2002. As a member of Dunmer royalty who would eventually become Queen of Morrowind, Barenziah was a political figure key throughout the second, third and fourth epochs.
Long time fans of Skyrim are likely familiar with the laborious quest for the “Stones of Barenziah”, and while this series of books does not make that task any easier, it does provide a pleasant background for its relevance to Tamrielic history.
9 The 2920 series tells the story of the last era of the first year
The first era in the old scrolls the universe ended with the assassination of Emperor Reman Cyrodiil II, in the year 2920 – the 2920 book series (also found in Oversight and Morrowwind) is a piece of in-universe historical fiction that explores the events that unfold across Tamriel during these tumultuous twelve months.
With famous characters from Morrowind, Highrock, Cyrodil and everywhere in between featured in each of the 12 2920 books, one for each month, players would benefit from either refreshing their Tamrielic history or finding a guided reading before picking up this text.
8 Immortal blood weaves a classic vampire tale
Dragonborn looking for a good old fashioned vampire story need look no further than immortal blood. Although this book is also in Oversight and The Elder Scrolls Onlineit is attached to a specific quest in Skyrim which ultimately leads the player to his subject: the master vampire, Movarth Piquine.
Movarth Piquine was a trainer in the Fighters Guild before contracting vampirism, but by the time the player encounters him, he has been a vampire for several centuries. Fortunately, immortal bloodwritten by an unknown author, details this transition and preserves its former identity.
seven The Great War provides important context to Skyrim’s political climate
A lot of Skyrim highlights the growing tensions between the Aldmeri Dominion and the Empire, The Great War is a great way for players to develop an understanding of the events following the Oblivion Crisis. Written by the commander of the 10th Legion of Hammerfell, this text takes a historical approach to recounting the events of the Aldmeri-Empiric conflict.
With an introduction and conclusion that effectively anchor the reader in the political events surrounding the event, The Great War is an enlightening piece for new and long-time fans alike.
6 The Gates of Oblivion is a surreal journey through madness
Oblivion’s plane played such a big part in old scrolls tradition that the fourth installment of the video game franchise was named after the kingdom, so it follows that books like The Gates of Oblivion would give some insight into what’s going on in Mehrunes Dagon’s house.
The Gates of Oblivion is technically written by Seif-ij Hidja, but rather than focusing on him, it instead focuses on the research done by his teacher, Morian Zenas. Morian actually wrote a separate, larger article on Oblivion (appropriately titled On oblivion) on his own, but Hidja’s book notes his journey on the plane from his student’s perspective.
5 Nerevar at Red Mountain Analyzes a Pivotal Moment in Tamriel
Nerevar to Red Mountainone of the books added in the dragonborn DLC, recalls the third installment of the franchise, Morrowwindvia a scholarly portrayal of the Battle of Red Mountain in the First Era, a battle that resulted in the establishment of the region’s political system and Morrowwind‘s key figures, the Tribunal.
Since Nerevar to Red Mountain was part of the Apocrypha, a library of texts hidden by the Tribunal, it is one of the SkyrimTel Mithryn’s rarest books, a copy of which was found in an innocuous place: one of Tel Mithryn’s bookshelves.
4 Night Of Tears Brings The Five Hundred Companions To Life
Skyrim repeatedly mentions Ysgramor and the five hundred companions, but night of tears is perhaps the only source in the game that properly puts these Norse ancestors in the limelight by contextualizing their reason for revenge through the mountainous landscape.
Interestingly, this book is in the Ritual Chamber under Fellglow Keep. It’s unclear why a text detailing the origin of the Nords of Skyrim would be in the possession of the recalcitrant wizards at Winterhold College, but regardless, night of tears worth the effort it takes to get it.
3 Report: The Ionith Disaster Is A Reflection On The Empire’s Greatest Failure
Report: Disaster at Ionith details Uriel Septim V, Emperor of Tamriel during the Third Age, and his misinformed invasion of the mysterious lands of Akavir. The lore experts of Nirn may be familiar with Akavir, the mysterious continent to the east of Tamriel, but unfortunately this information was not available to Uriel Septim prior to his invasion.
As the title of this book suggests, the first Imperial invasion of Akavir would prove to be a costly mistake. This text details how the four legions (between 16 and 24,000 troops in total) sent to Akavir, along with the Emperor, were decimated by one of the continent’s four races, the Tsaeci, within months.
2 Songs Of The Return series tells the story of Nordic Skyrim
As mentioned earlier, Ysgramor and the Five Hundred Companions are the main catalyst that developed Norse culture in Skyrim, and much of their importance derives from the events chronicled in the various entries in the Skyrim. songs of return series
The books, written by an unknown Nord (or, more likely, multiple Nords), follow these legendary figures as they founded cities like Whiterun and Winterhold, expanding their reach to the farthest reaches of the winterscape. Unfortunately for Skyrim fans, this series appears to have already included at least 56 different volumes, the majority of which have been lost over the millennia.
1 Aetherium Wars provide rare insight into Dwemer culture
Without doubt the most enigmatic aspect of the whole old scrolls franchise, the Dwemers have left fans wondering fervently about the nature of their demise for decades; while The Aetherium Wars doesn’t provide any specific answers, it does provide some rare details about Dwemer life prior to the events of Red Mountain.
Aetherium was a precious commodity in Tamriel during the First Era – so precious, in fact, that it led to a series of conflicts between four Dwemer city-states known as the “Aetherium Wars”. Reading this book initiates a series of fun quests that reward the Dragonborn with powerful items, so players would be wise to check it out next time they launch the game.
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