TST is actually a prequel to Dragon Age Origins and shows how the Fereldans kicked the orlesians out.
And yea, making antigonists have a reason for their actions make the character(s) all the more interesting! I love books that make me question whether the antigonist actually had a valid point/reason for what they're doing!
Oh, no way, that's pretty sick, I love Dragon Age, I haven't read any of the novels of the series, but, thinking about it, they are the perfect series to have an expanded universe of content.
Yeah, it's like Star Wars where you can argue that the empire is kind of the good guy for maintaining order, I know in the EU they really do some nasty stuff, but, in the films, they're just trying to maintain order and peace. Sure they blew up a planet, but, they thought they were harboring political schemers and spies haha
The books are really worth the read. The Stolen Throne goes over how Maric and Loghain overthrow the orelesians. And The Calling follows Duncan, a group of grey Wardens, and Maric as they search for why the Grey Wardens are hearing the calling (IIRC). The Architech also makes an appearance in it!