Before the Storm

by Catboiler

A full novelisation of the prequel game Before the Storm. As with my other works, I won't stick slavishly to the script and the game, but expand on the characters, conversations and events that we know and love. I won't be introducing any new characters, although I will be speculating on things that could have happened off-camera i.e. chapters from the POV of other characters.

1. Intro

MAJOR SPOILERS

A couple of things before you start reading.

First, if you haven't yet played the game and are intending to play it, please don't read this. There are major spoilers for the events of the game, and I don't want to spoil your first playthrough. This is meant to be read as an addendum to the game, not in place of it. While I find it odd asking you not to read this, the game is such a good narrative that it needs to be experienced. Once you've played it, or if you're not intending to play it, then by all means read away.

Also, if you haven't yet played Life is Strange, be aware that they may be plot spoilers for that game in this story, too.

This will be the third of my works in this fandom, and in fact the third fanfic that I've written. I started my first, the full novelisation of the fantastic Life is Strange video game in February 2016, and began work on an off-canon sequel in June 2016. I didn't realise then that these two stories would take me all the way to August 2017, coming out at around 200k words each! However, the enjoyment I had writing them, and reading the wonderful reviews and constructive criticisms from you, my readers. That feels so odd saying that.

Anyway, I have had numerous requests to novelise Before the Storm, so here it is. I hope you enjoy it and, as before, I'll keep my author's notes for the end. Do note, however, that both my previous stories included flashbacks for Chloe and Rachel, some of which don't now fit with Before the Storm. I have decided, for the moment, at least, not to change them to fit with canon just yet. This may be something I will do in the future, so please take my apologies for that.

This is essentially a canon novelisation of the events of Life is Strange: Before the Storm. However, as before, I'm not sticking slavishly to the script. Conversations may be changed or fleshed out, the story may switch to a different character's point of view (something that I really enjoyed doing in my previous works). However, no new characters will be introduced, the events as told by the game will not be changed, and any new POV chapters will fit in, as far as possible, with the game.

Please do comment and review if there's anything you particularly enjoy, or feel free to criticise if you think I've got something horribly wrong. Any errors will be reviewed and the story amended if necessary.

Enjoy.

Catboiler. 11th July 2018.