Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Kohtalon miekka

I enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first one, I don't think. I like that a lot of these stories focused a lot more on the characters than anything else, though! It definitely helped me to connect with them more than I did in the first book, particularly Geralt. In the first book, I had some trouble connecting with him and really loving him the way everyone else seems to, but this book definitely got me closer to it, even if I'm still not all the way there. I think my favorite stories were A Little Sacrifice and The Sword of Destiny. I really enjoyed both of those. I don't really have much else to say about this book that I didn't already say in my review of the first one, though.

Content Warnings

calmcozycorner's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious reflective 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

3.0

So, the objectification and sexualization of women was profound in this installment. Not that this wasn’t also present in The Last Wish, but it was glaring in this book, especially the longer the story went on.

For example, at one point we follow two grown ass men as they fight over which of them our FMC should be with. Apparently, this isn’t a decision she can make herself. C’mon.. 😒. Also, the absurd and almost comical obsession with every female character’s breasts — nipples, especially. At one point we’re introduced to a mermaid — a really interesting and unique character — and instead of discussing literally anything else about her, we get clobbered over the head by how her “charms” look every time she exits the water.

I’m giving this 3 stars for the world and its creatures. The characters and the quests are also fun and interesting and I really liked the audiobook narrator. I do have a lot of love for Geralt, Dandelion, and all the shenanigans they get up to, especially as I was first introduced to this world through the game. However, the author could have moved the story forward in ways that didn’t include ceaseless sexism and constantly objectifying the female characters.

Not sure how I feel about continuing. If I do, I’ll be taking a very long break before then.

Content Warnings

joyciereads's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

Content Warnings

crowcrow's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark sad

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

(Originally posted on Goodreads.)

I'd give it a 4.5 but I had enough fun that I'm willing to rate it higher.

Edit: The more I think about this book the angrier I get. Yennefer and Geralt are a dumbass couple and their romance was so rushed, you cannot convince me that they're good together. Just fucking marry Jaskier already, the guy would sacrifice a leg for you.

That aside, book's fun. I like Ciri and her hot grandma.

Content Warnings

literatureleaf's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

Age: 14+

Reading time: 15 days

Difficulty level: 2.5/5

Rating: 2/5

Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski is simultaneously the first and second novel in The Witcher series. Published a year prior to The Last Wish, it serves as both the first book in a famous saga, and the continuation of the beloved character of Geralt of Rivia. Each chapter is its own separate, contained story, containing small glimmers of a larger tale that, as the reader falls more and more in love with Geralt and his companions with each turn of the page, simply begs to be told.

In classic Sapkowski fashion, Sword of Destiny proves to be an entertaining loose continuation to The Last Wish. Told in the same short story format, there is no major overarching plot, but rather bite-sized glimpses into the daily happenings of Geralt of Rivia that delight and charm the reader.

A fun read through and through, Sword of Destiny not only serves to entertain, but to promote deeper thinking and discourse. Told through the unique and inventive lens of reimagined fairy tales, themes of good and evil, the natural order of the world and who has a right to disrupt it, corruption, political order, and the circle of life can be found hiding amongst the gritty and glamorous monsters and fantasy worlds of the stories.

Sword of Destiny may be considered the second novel in The Witcher series, but it is Sapkowski’s first book, and throughout the reading process, it becomes evident that he had not quite found his footing as an author yet. The writing is clunky and at times limited, particularly in the first half of the book, and the flow of the stories feels choppy and forced.

Many of the same flaws that can be found in The Last Wish are even more pervasive in Sword of Destiny. Stilted, emotionless dialogue continues to be an issue, and repetition, both in conversation between characters and as a general literary device, is overused and contributes to the stale feeling that permeates the pages of the novel.

Sadly, the characterizations have a more cookie-cutter feel that is not as present in his other works. At times the characters, particularly Geralt and Yennefer, act in ways that are contrary to how they have been set up by Sapkowski to behave, and they seem to waffle back and forth between extremes when it comes to their decision making.

For instance, often a character will state whether they will or will not do something or explain how they are feeling about a certain action, then act in a completely contrarian way to what they have just said, with no further explanation for why they have made the decision. This leads to a jarring reading experience that results in feeling a central disconnect from the main characters.

Despite its flaws, Sword of Destiny is considered by many fantasy fans to be a must-read in the genre. Featuring beloved characters and plotlines that have been adapted for video games and television, the antics and adventures of the Witcher shine in the novels in a way that is unique to written media. Enmeshing adventure and fantasy with a grander understanding of the inner workings of humanity and love, Sword of Destiny captures what many fantasy readers love in a novel.

Content Warnings

marissab's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Content Warnings

More...