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pvbobrien's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Sexism
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual content, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Minor: Infidelity, Murder, Sexual violence, Suicide, Domestic abuse, War, Blood, Child death, Genocide, Body horror, Hate crime, Child abuse, and Death of parent
mattiedancer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Writing: 4.25⭐️/5
Much of this novel is beautifully written. I think I saved maybe 10-20 quotes throughout the book and that was without looking too hard for gorgeous passages. I do, however, draw an issue with some of the more misogynistic passages. I understand this is a part of the worldbuilding and is often used to demonstrate the bleakness of the world in which the characters live. However, these passages are often used in lieu of more interesting worldbuilding. I don’t really see the point of passively mentioning how a maid is getting SA’d and Geralt is annoyed by it. It just felt kind of lazy, but a laziness that was pretending to be clever.
Characters: 4.5⭐️/5
As far as well-written, thought-out, and developed characters go, it doesn’t get a lot of complaints from me. I would argue that several of the female characters relied heavily on tropes/stereotypes, which was a bit tiring at times as a reader given the depth of other characters. That being said, all the main characters were extremely well-fleshed out, which I really enjoyed reading.
Plot: 4.5⭐️/5
The short story format fit the material well. I found most of the plots just stunningly engaging and honestly really enjoyable. It was intriguing the way Sapkowski played off fairy tales in an entirely dark way. I really enjoyed it. This is what made it so confusing when he seemed to go out of his way to include a misogynistic side plot.
Post-Reading Rating: 4.5⭐️/5
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Who Should Read This?
- Fans of Game of Thrones
- Fans of bleak fantasy worlds
- Fans of the Witcher show/game
CW: Sexual abuse, mentions of rape, sexual assault, murder, death
Final Rating: 4.75⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Drug use, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and War
elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child abuse, Infertility, and Misogyny
fiveredhens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
favorite quotes:
'I know,' the poet said at last. 'Now know everything.'
'You know fuck all, Dandelion.'
'Do you know what your problem is, Geralt? You think you're different. You flaunt your otherness, what you consider abnormal. You aggressively impose that abnormality on others, not understanding that for people who think clear-headedly you're the most normal man under the sun, and they all wish that everybody was so normal. What of it that you have quicker reflexes than most and vertical pupils in sunlight? That you can see in the dark like a cat? That you know a few spells? Big deal.'
'You witchers frighten people like a beekeeper frightens his bees with smoke and stench, with your stony faces, with all your talk and those rumours, which you probably spread about yourselves. And the bees run from the smoke, foolish things, instead of shoving their stings in the witcher's arse, which will swell up like any other. They say you can't feel like people can. That's lies. If one of you was properly stabbed, you'd feel it.'
'Have you finished?'
'Yes,' Cicada said, handing him back his sword. 'Know what interests me, Witcher?'
'Yes. Bees.'
'The annihilation, the killing, of any creatures that inhabit this world upsets that equilibrium. And a lack of equilibrium brings closer extinction; extinction and the end of the world as we know it.'
'A druidic theory,' Geralt pronounced. 'I know it. An old hierophant expounded it to me once, back in Rivia. Two days after our conversation he was torn apart by wererats.'
not too bad
'I know,' the poet said at last. 'Now know everything.'
'You know fuck all, Dandelion.'
'Do you know what your problem is, Geralt? You think you're different. You flaunt your otherness, what you consider abnormal. You aggressively impose that abnormality on others, not understanding that for people who think clear-headedly you're the most normal man under the sun, and they all wish that everybody was so normal. What of it that you have quicker reflexes than most and vertical pupils in sunlight? That you can see in the dark like a cat? That you know a few spells? Big deal.'
'You witchers frighten people like a beekeeper frightens his bees with smoke and stench, with your stony faces, with all your talk and those rumours, which you probably spread about yourselves. And the bees run from the smoke, foolish things, instead of shoving their stings in the witcher's arse, which will swell up like any other. They say you can't feel like people can. That's lies. If one of you was properly stabbed, you'd feel it.'
'Have you finished?'
'Yes,' Cicada said, handing him back his sword. 'Know what interests me, Witcher?'
'Yes. Bees.'
'The annihilation, the killing, of any creatures that inhabit this world upsets that equilibrium. And a lack of equilibrium brings closer extinction; extinction and the end of the world as we know it.'
'A druidic theory,' Geralt pronounced. 'I know it. An old hierophant expounded it to me once, back in Rivia. Two days after our conversation he was torn apart by wererats.'
not too bad
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexism
Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Fatphobia, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
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