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adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
loved this. enjoyed it more than the first collection of short stories, but there’s clearly bias there because this book finally introduced ciri & yennefer was much more prevalent in these stories than in the other ones. also….mermaids!
there’s more weird fantasy misogyny in this one though. I just sigh and ignore it at this point, you really can’t escape it in this genre at all
there’s more weird fantasy misogyny in this one though. I just sigh and ignore it at this point, you really can’t escape it in this genre at all
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Murder, War
Minor: Rape, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy
adventurous
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War
Moderate: Violence
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Violence, War
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
I thoroughly enjoyed this! The audiobook version has a great reader/voice actor, too! A great addition to the Witcher series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Cursing, Alcohol, War
Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Unlike The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny did not start off with a bang. I actually really hated the writing and the characters and the excessive misogyny was really rubbing me the wrong way. I actually think the show did a better job with the short story than the book did. Then the second short story also bothered the hell out of me. (I think it's also good to know that the translation probably played a factor in how I felt about things being said, how things were worded, etc.)
Anyways, I was ready to dnf this book but after those first two short stories it picked up and I began enjoying myself again. There was a lot more of Geralt and Dandelion adventuring together. I love their banter and their friendship and I also liked the monsters they were facing. I especially liked the story with Little Eye, she was the best. Of course, the Witcher universe is set in this ugly, disgusting and truly terrible world, but ultimately, as long as Geralt and Dandelion are around I will be happy.
Also, I am so ready to continue the series after how this book ended! It really pumped me up!
Anyways, I was ready to dnf this book but after those first two short stories it picked up and I began enjoying myself again. There was a lot more of Geralt and Dandelion adventuring together. I love their banter and their friendship and I also liked the monsters they were facing. I especially liked the story with Little Eye, she was the best. Of course, the Witcher universe is set in this ugly, disgusting and truly terrible world, but ultimately, as long as Geralt and Dandelion are around I will be happy.
Also, I am so ready to continue the series after how this book ended! It really pumped me up!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Violence
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
Spannende Fantasy mit kreativen Geschichten und einer glaubwürdigen sowie etablierten Welt - das war nach dem ersten Buch zu erwarten. Besonders die letzten Geschichten im Buch waren auf schöne Weise emotional und ich freue mich sehr auf den ersten Teil der Hauptreihe.
Abzug in der Bewertung gibt es für die erste Geschichte, die ich absolut nicht ausstehen konnte und mehrmals überlegt hatte zu überspringen, bis ich nach einer längeren Lesepause mich mühevoll durch den Rest durchgekämpft habe. Anders als im ersten Buch und in den Geschichten dieses Buches wurden die weiblichen Charaktere in der erste Geschichte (Serrikanerinnen) unglaublich sexistisch durch den Erzähler beschrieben und nicht nur durch die Charaktere. Am schlimmsten war jedoch die durch den Erzähler nahezu verheerlichte Vergewaltigung von Yennefer , die an keiner stelle auch nur annähernd problematisiert wurde. Eine leichte Aufwertung des Abzug gab es für die überraschend klare Positionierung von Geralt und Calanthe zu dem "heiligen und unanfechtbaren" Recht einer Frau, entscheiden zu können, ob sie ein Neugeborenes weggeben möchte, was aus feministischer Sicht sehr gut thematisiert wurde, denn hier wurde auf den Frust des Kindes eingegangen, ohne das Verständnis auszulassen, das man einer Frau in einer solchen Situation gegenüberbringen sollte.
Abzug in der Bewertung gibt es für die erste Geschichte, die ich absolut nicht ausstehen konnte und mehrmals überlegt hatte zu überspringen, bis ich nach einer längeren Lesepause mich mühevoll durch den Rest durchgekämpft habe. Anders als im ersten Buch und in den Geschichten dieses Buches wurden die weiblichen Charaktere in der erste Geschichte (Serrikanerinnen) unglaublich sexistisch durch den Erzähler beschrieben und nicht nur durch die Charaktere. Am schlimmsten war jedoch die durch den Erzähler nahezu verheerlichte Vergewaltigung von
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Infertility, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Murder, Sexual harassment, War
Moderate: Body horror, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Suicide
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Infertility, Misogyny