http://www.guildwars2.com/en/world/ghos ... calon/faq/
Name change and more!

Ugh, they moved the release date forward, but at least we're actually being given information now. The lack of information is kind of stunning. But I still can't believe they don't have an exact release date, this book had been finished being written a while ago, they need to give us a damned date.

Previous books I've read that were based on games have tended to be rather poor. Far too often, the authors got hung-up on trying to explain the game mechanics in the story, instead of focusing on other aspects like the rich history, back story, character growth and so forth. Hopefully, the author(s) they've chosen will avoid that pitfall.

I'll be curious to see how they will handle death and resurrection within the story. For example, why can players, heroes and henchmen and even certain monsters be rez'ed, but most notable NPCs can't be?

Yeah, arbitrary game mechanics can be difficult to work around when just trying to write a story.

Book was released two days ago.
My pre-order is dispatched.
Can't wait (though i have just started to get into the good part of the silmarillion and i don't want to have to switch what book im reading or something )

Me and donna got it the other day but I wanted to wait til donna was here to start reading it together (pre-ordered two copies and they came on the day of release, lucky for us )

Just finished reading 4 chapters, so without spoiling anything, I really like Killeen so far, she's awesome. Not a big fan of the way Clagg is so far. He just seems nasty. Book also has pretty nice descriptions of everything I thought

Got my copy, I look forward to reading it.

It doesn't release here for another couple weeks yet, but surprisingly it only costs half as much as I expected, so I might actually get it. Our library doesn't understand comics or video game novels very well..

Also while looking for the book I found a GW 2011 calendar, which is a bit weird..that sort of merch doesn't usually make it over to NZ. In preparation for GW2 perhaps?

I would try amazon, I got my copy from amazon.co.uk for 4 pounds something. with free delivery.
Though I have no idea what abroad shipping amazon charge, they're usually really great for both books and delivery.
If i remember correctly they have many different sites for different countries, so you might be able to order from somewhere closer than say America.

I got it Wednesday (7/28) in the mail. Pre-ordered it back in January from borders.com. I had a gift card. XD
I read the first chapter online when it was released on the official GW2 website, but read the next chapter some. Saving it for a big plane ride in a few hours. (I'm leaving for vacation for 2 weeks, so see you all later!)

I just read the first four chapters and I'm enjoying it greatly, though I may be biased since the Silmarilion, the book I was reading before hand started off with like 50 pages of lore and uses a lot of old English. (which I do like, but older literature doesn't tend to flow as nicely as modern literature, it would seem and you end up missing the ease of reading)

I read this reaaaally fast. It was nothing extremely literary, pretty simple throughout, but nice story and wonderful lore-gasms and tidbits and shout outs to GW1 details. I'm gonna go see if there is a discussion thread on gw2guru.

just finished chapter 19.
The writing is nothing overly complicated or elegant, as has been said before, but it does the simple writing very well. You still feel immersed and gripped by the story, and so many things make you want to laugh, for me I found most things the norn did or say to be funny and so true to their character.

The one thing the book has managed to give me above all else is an understanding and great fondness of the Sylvari.

I agree! The Sylvari have always received comments of being elven clones and what not.. but the emphasis on their young age is original and quite interesting, will be fun to interact with that.

If I were to call them anything to summarize what they are, it would be walking plant-people, flower people, or yeah, something along those lines. The point is that's a definition that had remained non existant until explained in the book, their not of flesh and blood, they're of leaves, flowers and im not sure what you would call what makes up the majority of their 'flesh' ...I'm no botanist. Anyway, all of that is something I can't say I've come across in mythology before hand.