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gracearmstrong22's review against another edition
3.0
A little slow. I surprisingly liked the relationship between Yennefer and Ciri. The intricacies of the political structure of the land was confusing and hard to keep up with.
todd_bissell's review against another edition
1.0
ZZZZZzzzzzz
This started off okay, with a young girl winding up training with The Witchers, with an underlying storyline that their training doesn't come without expectations of bigger (much bigger) things from her later on. But then she's shipped off to a boarding school for reasons unclear, and the thread of the narrative gets a bit unwound.
But then....... that's where things come to a screeching halt.
Far too much political intriguing by persons unknown, discussing people unknown and places unknowable. The author is throwing at the reader random names and titles and countries and places and things, without any context or gravitas or even a map to reference-- and no inkling if the funny word soup of people and places that the author is serving to the reader will actually come into play sometime down the road. Talking and intriguing and talking and planning and talking and discussing and talking and on and on and on. So much exposition that puts the brakes on any sort momentum. I'm told this extended overly talky passage is more entertaining in Polish, but since I'm a dumb American, it's just a painful snooze. It's like a video game cut-scene that just goes on and on that is utterly unskippable.
I made it through about 2/3rds of the book, and by then I was just skimming, looking for any sections to draw me back into what little action there is to be had here. Based on what some other folks have said, me hitting the eject button on this one at that point was probably a good call.
I loved the various short stories featuring Geralt the Witcher, but this full-length is too much of chore in my opinion.
This started off okay, with a young girl winding up training with The Witchers, with an underlying storyline that their training doesn't come without expectations of bigger (much bigger) things from her later on. But then she's shipped off to a boarding school for reasons unclear, and the thread of the narrative gets a bit unwound.
But then....... that's where things come to a screeching halt.
Far too much political intriguing by persons unknown, discussing people unknown and places unknowable. The author is throwing at the reader random names and titles and countries and places and things, without any context or gravitas or even a map to reference-- and no inkling if the funny word soup of people and places that the author is serving to the reader will actually come into play sometime down the road. Talking and intriguing and talking and planning and talking and discussing and talking and on and on and on. So much exposition that puts the brakes on any sort momentum. I'm told this extended overly talky passage is more entertaining in Polish, but since I'm a dumb American, it's just a painful snooze. It's like a video game cut-scene that just goes on and on that is utterly unskippable.
I made it through about 2/3rds of the book, and by then I was just skimming, looking for any sections to draw me back into what little action there is to be had here. Based on what some other folks have said, me hitting the eject button on this one at that point was probably a good call.
I loved the various short stories featuring Geralt the Witcher, but this full-length is too much of chore in my opinion.
crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
3.0
Bullet Review:
I took WAY too long to read this, but there were just enough parts that made me intrigued as made me bored - despite dreams of Henry Cavill as Geralt and Anya Chalotra as Yennefer.
This is definitely a book best enjoyed if 1) you have read the prequel short stories volumes (which I didn't do - my bad! I thought they were optional) or 2) you have knowledge from Netflix's Witcher series or the video games (I saw all the Netflix series and yes I enjoyed it and I have watched my sibling play Witcher 3). I won't lie; I did struggle a bit, only having knowledge from the Netflix series, so keep that in mind if you want to read this series. Again, I realize, "My bad"; but also, I've seen many a series where the first book dumps you in and then later prequel short stories are released - this is what I (wrongly) assumed happened here.
A lot of setup happens in this book; there are some great character moments to be sure, but this book is obviously set up for future events as not a lot really happens here. Not sure right now if I will read this whole series; I was pretty gung ho early on, but I suppose reading this over a year has dampened that enthusiasm. OH WELL. Maybe I'll change my mind and get reinvigorated after Netflix releases Season 2 (I know, I'm horrible, I liked the Netflix series more than the paper version, I'm a horrible reader and a fake book lover, so shoot me).
I took WAY too long to read this, but there were just enough parts that made me intrigued as made me bored - despite dreams of Henry Cavill as Geralt and Anya Chalotra as Yennefer.
This is definitely a book best enjoyed if 1) you have read the prequel short stories volumes (which I didn't do - my bad! I thought they were optional) or 2) you have knowledge from Netflix's Witcher series or the video games (I saw all the Netflix series and yes I enjoyed it and I have watched my sibling play Witcher 3). I won't lie; I did struggle a bit, only having knowledge from the Netflix series, so keep that in mind if you want to read this series. Again, I realize, "My bad"; but also, I've seen many a series where the first book dumps you in and then later prequel short stories are released - this is what I (wrongly) assumed happened here.
A lot of setup happens in this book; there are some great character moments to be sure, but this book is obviously set up for future events as not a lot really happens here. Not sure right now if I will read this whole series; I was pretty gung ho early on, but I suppose reading this over a year has dampened that enthusiasm. OH WELL. Maybe I'll change my mind and get reinvigorated after Netflix releases Season 2 (I know, I'm horrible, I liked the Netflix series more than the paper version, I'm a horrible reader and a fake book lover, so shoot me).
duckraisin's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
gwyndae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
timmytunter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
zivi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
hall2020's review against another edition
3.0
Ehhh...
A few years ago my son and husband told me I needed to read The Witcher because they were playing the video game and it was right up my ally.
I didn’t listen right away cause what do they know???
I started reading this book but then stopped when I realized there are two short story books I’m supposed to read first. So I moved over to them and although they were very good the commentary between the characters was extremely comical and mostly corny. It was fun but not what I expected out of the writing considering the story line and content. After reading those it took me a while to pick this first novel back up again because I prefer a more serious read. This mythical world is unlike any you have entered before. Pay attention because you can get lost easily. Some parts of the story just don’t flow very well and it takes a long time to reach any action. Not what I expected but it was okay.
A few years ago my son and husband told me I needed to read The Witcher because they were playing the video game and it was right up my ally.
I didn’t listen right away cause what do they know???
I started reading this book but then stopped when I realized there are two short story books I’m supposed to read first. So I moved over to them and although they were very good the commentary between the characters was extremely comical and mostly corny. It was fun but not what I expected out of the writing considering the story line and content. After reading those it took me a while to pick this first novel back up again because I prefer a more serious read. This mythical world is unlike any you have entered before. Pay attention because you can get lost easily. Some parts of the story just don’t flow very well and it takes a long time to reach any action. Not what I expected but it was okay.
zemthings's review against another edition
4.0
Dandelion: I am 30 or 40 years old and I do not need this
Also Dandelion: (scales a building) GERALT, WHAT NEWS I BRING-
Also Dandelion: (scales a building) GERALT, WHAT NEWS I BRING-