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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
(2.5 stars I’d say) Wow, I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to finish a book just so I could be done with it. I really did not enjoy this and it was a chore to get through. The writing was effective, and maybe some of the issues I have with this book occurred during translation but it was tough. In the decades post 2010s I didn’t think I’d be reading what felt like it could’ve been a Tolkien-esque descriptive book without any of the enjoyable characters or plot. There was almost too much world building (small gripe), I absolutely did not appreciate the protagonist’s plight at all and didn’t support any of his decisions or arc - and there was nowhere near enough magic?? I feel like over 549 pages, the plot actually didn’t progress any further than where the book started.
For how this book has been reviewed and sold I feel a little underwhelmed. I also really struggled to get into the characters because their names were so foreign to me (clearly Polish or closely inspired, which makes sense) so I couldn’t wrap my head around the multitude of different characters we were introduced to because I could barely remember them. I disliked this so much there’s no chance for me to even think about reading the second book in this trilogy.
For how this book has been reviewed and sold I feel a little underwhelmed. I also really struggled to get into the characters because their names were so foreign to me (clearly Polish or closely inspired, which makes sense) so I couldn’t wrap my head around the multitude of different characters we were introduced to because I could barely remember them. I disliked this so much there’s no chance for me to even think about reading the second book in this trilogy.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A really good story but so much dense history, latin passages with no translations, and lots of unique words so it was a good, albeit slow and challenging read.
I really like Sapkowski's use of european folklore in his world building, I loved how he presented medieval europe in this book and enjoyed the book's setting overall. The author is very knowledgeable about medieval europe (or he is at least very good at presenting as such - I cannot tell in every aspect whether it is actually accurate, but it felt all very coherent). The fantastical elements were also intriguing.
However. The protagonist. I just could not stand our dearest Reynevan and his continuous stream of the stupidest decisions possible in every single situation. I just got fed up and decided to put the book away for the sake of my sanity.
However. The protagonist. I just could not stand our dearest Reynevan and his continuous stream of the stupidest decisions possible in every single situation. I just got fed up and decided to put the book away for the sake of my sanity.
Finally got the other two books and of course had forgotten everything that happened so needed to reread this. Pope Martin the Rat just as delightful the second time around.
Na ASa można narzekać, złorzeczyć, dziwić się, nie lubić, mieć na niego alergię, ale gość tak wspaniale pasuje do pisma, że chciałoby się go czytać i czytać i czytać... Historia Reinmara z Bielawy jest tak cholernie ciekawa i osadzona w tak strasznym i tajemniczym punkcie na osi czasu, że już wiem, że to będzie jeden z moich topów. A mam dopiero za sobą pierwszy tom (choć jest cholernie długi)! Aktualne dysputy o wpływie tego przeklętego KK na rzeczywistość, która nas otacza, Czarownictwo, Inkwizycja, Okultyzm, Rycerskość, Braterstwo, Miłość i Pożoga. Wspaniałe to wszystko!
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
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:
Yes
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an historical fantasy set in central Europe circa 15th century where the magic and myth unfold against a backdrop of a Church struggling to suppress growing heresies. The majority of people and place names are transliterated from Polish, so they tend to have an over abundance of consonants that make it a little difficult for this native English speaker to read quickly. Hidden within this forest of letters are quite a few obscure [archaic] English words that I had never encountered before ... and which reading on the Kindle app made them fun little Easter Eggs that I could easily look them up. All of this reinforces the 'Twilight Zone' feeling that the world where all of this happens is in another time and place, vaguely familiar and at the same time weirdly different. The dialog was also held nuance and euphemisms to beat the band and the verbal sparring just as amusing as the rest. I don't think that I have had as much fun with the English language in quite sometime.
The MC is one Reinmar of Bielawa, a young physician caught in a rather indelicate position and force to flee for his life. Being a well educated man, he quickly comes to the attention of the wrong people (aka inquisition) as such are know to cavort with heretics and sorcerers (There are so few of them and they must stick together). Perhaps even he dabbles in the forbidden arts. As the cast of characters quickly expands, it becomes ever more difficult to figure out who the good guys are ... and Andrzej skillfully weaves in references to historical events that would make a punmeister blush (and had me laughing out loud) ... because Gutenberg's innovation would never be allowed to succeed and Luther is the name of 'cheeky cat' who likes to spread out on tables. Of course Reynevan is a young fool ... worthy of the Tower of Fools if not for his companions. It is precisely because of his brash naivete that gives the reader one misadventure after another, slowing introducing more of the hidden mystery of the world (where maybe there are not so few of them after all). Alas ... at the end we have not resolved much else out three main characters are still living and ready for part 2. I would have preferred some closure on something; but it was not to be.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheTowerOfFools #NetGalley
The MC is one Reinmar of Bielawa, a young physician caught in a rather indelicate position and force to flee for his life. Being a well educated man, he quickly comes to the attention of the wrong people (aka inquisition) as such are know to cavort with heretics and sorcerers (There are so few of them and they must stick together). Perhaps even he dabbles in the forbidden arts. As the cast of characters quickly expands, it becomes ever more difficult to figure out who the good guys are ... and Andrzej skillfully weaves in references to historical events that would make a punmeister blush (and had me laughing out loud) ... because Gutenberg's innovation would never be allowed to succeed and Luther is the name of 'cheeky cat' who likes to spread out on tables. Of course Reynevan is a young fool ... worthy of the Tower of Fools if not for his companions. It is precisely because of his brash naivete that gives the reader one misadventure after another, slowing introducing more of the hidden mystery of the world (where maybe there are not so few of them after all). Alas ... at the end we have not resolved much else out three main characters are still living and ready for part 2. I would have preferred some closure on something; but it was not to be.
I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#TheTowerOfFools #NetGalley
I was set to like this book. Even though I didn't finish the author's original great work - the Witcher series - I thought I would give this a try. While the first chapter did put me off, I tried to go through it but I don't think that I gelled with the story. Historical fiction is a hit or miss with me, even mixed with my love of the fantasy genre - and this was a clear miss for me. The reimagined Europe was a nice touch but not enough to hold me for the rest of the book. The idea with the werewolves was again, a nice touch, but not something that I would stick around for. Also, I don't think I was in the mood for a violent fantasy, which I will like depending on the writing style and the overall themes of the book - so I might try a re-read when book 2 is translated into English.