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How did Garrosh Hellscream become the new Warchief? What happen to Thrall? Was this explain somewhere other than a novel, such as quest with World of Warcraft?
This is follow up question to: Is there lore behind the difference between the brown and green orcs of Warcraft?
It's Bolvar Fordragon, Paladin of the Silver Hand, Commander of the Alliance's combined military forces in Northrend, former Regent of Stormwind, and fallen hero of the Wrathgate. He was thought dead at the Wrathgate, but had in fact survived and been captured by the Scourge, and tortured, with the eventual intention of being made into a Death Knight, much like Saurfang the Younger. However, unlike Saurfang, Bolvar resisted until Arthas's defeat.
After Arthas Menethil, mortal host of the Lich King, was slain, Tirion Fordring took up the Helm of Domination, the crown of the Lich King, preparing to don it himself. As he did so, Bolvar intervened, calling from his seat upon the Frozen Throne, his body warped by the red dragonflight's fire. As a last act of service to Azeroth, Bolvar asked that Tirion place the Helm of Domination on his head. As the self-appointed "Jailer of the Damned," Bolvar seeks to keep the Scourge under control. As Bolvar encased himself and the Frozen Throne once again in ice, he warned Tirion that no one could know what happened. Tirion would have to tell the world that the Lich King was dead, yet as his voice changed, he added that Bolvar Fordragon had died with him.
MMO-Champion has posted this excellent map of the zone flow from 1-85 post-shattering:
A more detailed breakdown can be found at WoWPedia
In short, Eastern Kingdoms goes Tirsifal → Silverpine → Hillsbrad → Arathi → Hinterlands → Western Plaguelands → Eastern Plaguelands → Badlands → Searing Gorge → Burning Steppes → Blasted Lands.
Kalimdor goes Mulgore/Durotar → Northern Barrens/Azshara → Ashenvale → Stonetalon Mountains → Desolace → Feralas → Thousand Needles → Tanaris → Un'Goro → Silithus.
Alternately, you can jump off the path after Hillsbrad/Ashenvale, head to Northern Stranglethorn, and continue from there into Southern Stranglethorn, South Barrens, Dustwallow Marsh, before rejoining the Kalimdor path at Thousand Needles.
After completing Thousand Needles or Western Plaguelands, you again have the opportunity to jump paths, and can follow quests through Felwood and Winterspring instead, though you may need to hop back to Silithius and/or Blasted Lands to get the last few levels you need before Outland if you go that route.
Best Answer
The short version: It's all explained in The Shattering, a novel released recently in the leadup to Cataclysms release. WoWinsider did those of us not inclined to read the Warcraft novels a favor by providing by-character synopses of the novel. Here's the rundown on Thralls story and why he abdicated, and Here's the meat on Garrosh's early days as Thralls chosen successor, and the somewhat rocky first few months as Warchief.
The Really Short Version: Thrall left Azeroth on a pilgrimage to Draenor when the Cataclysm was approaching to investigate stirrings among the elementals - Garrosh, as his second, was named 'Acting Warchief' in Thralls absence. In the aftermath of Deathwings return, Thrall has applied his efforts primarily to working with the Earthen Ring and the Council of Tirsifal to eliminate the threats of the Twilights Hammer, Deathwing, and hordes of extremely angry Elementals after the Cataclysm. Meanwhile, in the wake of the Razing of Ogrimmnar and the elemental invasion, Garrosh, already a war hero from the campaign in Northrend, has become even more popular with the Orcs of the Horde, as well as the Tauren, now led by Baine Bloodhoof, cementing his power.