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valliyarnl 's review for:
The Tower of Swallows
by Andrzej Sapkowski
4 stars
**Even though this is a spoiler-free review (if there are spoilers they are hidden), there are spoilers for the preceding books**
To start off I must say that [b:The Tower of the Swallow|18247597|The Tower of the Swallow (The Witcher, #4)|Andrzej Sapkowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457652195l/18247597._SY75_.jpg|66349] was a fantastic read. After a very long break, I have decided to take reading more seriously again; this was a great book to get me started back on the right foot. The fourth (technically sixth) book in the "Witcher" saga is usually branded the second-worst of the bunch, but I wholeheartedly disagree. The story follows four main narratives: Ciri's story, Geralt's story, sorceresses, and politics. I shall talk about each below:
Ciri's story was by far the most fascinating part of this book in my opinion. Where in [b:Baptism of Fire|18656031|Baptism of Fire (The Witcher #3)|Andrzej Sapkowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1443279182l/18656031._SY75_.jpg|1877750] Geralt is the most 'followed' character, in this book, it is Ciri. The book starts off with her being found by the hermit Vysogota of Corvo, who takes her in and nurses her back to health after a tragic sequence of events she begins to unravel to him as the book goes on. Although the first chapter is a slow burner, it introduces us to a new character who is very interesting and quite different than many that we have met in the series so far. Chapter 2 is when things start to go crazy. Leo Bonhart, a ruthless bounty-hunter, is introduced. Ciri recounts her encounters with the man and her time with the Rats gang. The entirety of Ciri's story is about ethics and morality and defining good and evil. Bonhart, Skellen, Neratin Ceka are all characters who fit into this story-line somehow and present the different faces and levels of evil. In my personal opinion, none of them are truly villains, rather anti-heroes (or something along those lines, the point is, they create an interesting discussion). I love also the way this story is told by intertwining Ciri's story with Tawny Owl's story that was set up back in [b:The Time of Contempt|14781491|The Time of Contempt (The Witcher, #2)|Andrzej Sapkowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1443278961l/14781491._SX50_.jpg|1877759]. This is a technique I didn't see recently in literature.
Unlike its predecessor, Tower of Swallows doesn't focus much on Geralt. Yes, his story still takes up a large part of the book, but it is clear that it is not the central story on which the reader should be focusing on. Though some may find this unnerving, I found it refreshing. The world of the Continent is vast and filled with many more interesting characters that Sapkowski decided to explore than just Geralt the Witcher. By cutting down Geralt's narrative, we got space for new characters like Kenna (Joanna Selborne), a psionic, who I really enjoyed reading about. But back to what actually happened. I felt that this segment of the book was sometimes very drawn out. Some events could have lasted way shorter than they ended up being, for example, the entire confrontation in Riedbrune when the company meets Angoulême. However, there were moments that made up for it, whether it was Dandelion's "Half a Century of Poetry", Regis's contemplations about the vulgarity of sexual organs, or Cahir and Geralt's slowly growing bromance. The last of which is one of the best aspects of the book in my opinion. Cahir is getting so much attention, and I am loving it. He is by far one of my favorite characters in the entire series Overall, Geralt's narrative was a mix of good and bad, but what it had bad, it made up for in the good.
The sorceresses' storyline shows a lot. Assire var Anahid is growing to be another favorite character of mine. I love how she is able to extract information from the courts and use it to her advantage. I like how we spent a bit of time with my no. 1 favorite character of the series, Yennefer, and our bro from the games, Crach an Craite. We got to see more of Skellige, hear of Hjalmar and Ciri's childhood romance it was the cutest thing ever. Now when playing the games I will have a much better insight into what went on in the past. On another end of the spectrum, there is Philippa Eilhart, always plotting something in the Lodge's interests, Triss Merigold scouting out information about Ciri/Geralt/Yen, and . The sorceresses played a key role in this book. Though it wasn't in the forefront, which I think the book would profit greatly from, it was easily one of the best parts to read about.
Lastly, there was the section about politics. Here I will talk about all things happening in Nilfgaard with Vattier de Rideaux and Dijkstra in Lan Exeter. I believe that this was the slowest and most boring part of the book. Though I do like learning about the politics of Kovir and Poviss and their relationship to Redania, I do not really need a 20+ page manifesto about the little specifics of everything imaginable. Though I did like this deep dive into history, it can be a little intimidating for some people to read... Not to mention boring. Same thing with Vattier de Rideaux. His section is just a bunch of dialogue about politics that will be probably hard to understand unless you have a map of the Continent nearby. In general, this was too drawn out, even though it didn't take up much of the book.
All in all, The Tower of Swallows was much better than I expected. It was a great read, that was for the most part very well-paced and allowed us to get a better insight/introduction to more minor characters that I really grew to love!
**Even though this is a spoiler-free review (if there are spoilers they are hidden), there are spoilers for the preceding books**
To start off I must say that [b:The Tower of the Swallow|18247597|The Tower of the Swallow (The Witcher, #4)|Andrzej Sapkowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457652195l/18247597._SY75_.jpg|66349] was a fantastic read. After a very long break, I have decided to take reading more seriously again; this was a great book to get me started back on the right foot. The fourth (technically sixth) book in the "Witcher" saga is usually branded the second-worst of the bunch, but I wholeheartedly disagree. The story follows four main narratives: Ciri's story, Geralt's story, sorceresses, and politics. I shall talk about each below:
"Evil is afraid of pain, mutilation, suffering and at the end of the day, death! The dog howls when it is badly wounded! Writhing on the ground and growls, watching the blood flow from its veins and arteries, seeing the bone that sticks out from a stump, watching its guts escape its open belly, feeling the cold as death is about to take them. Then and only then will evil begin to beg, 'Have mercy! I regret my sins! I'll be good, I swear! Just save me, do not let me waste away!'"
Ciri's story was by far the most fascinating part of this book in my opinion. Where in [b:Baptism of Fire|18656031|Baptism of Fire (The Witcher #3)|Andrzej Sapkowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1443279182l/18656031._SY75_.jpg|1877750] Geralt is the most 'followed' character, in this book, it is Ciri. The book starts off with her being found by the hermit Vysogota of Corvo, who takes her in and nurses her back to health after a tragic sequence of events she begins to unravel to him as the book goes on. Although the first chapter is a slow burner, it introduces us to a new character who is very interesting and quite different than many that we have met in the series so far. Chapter 2 is when things start to go crazy. Leo Bonhart, a ruthless bounty-hunter, is introduced. Ciri recounts her encounters with the man and her time with the Rats gang.
Spoiler
The moments with Hotspurn (a love interest, sort of) were especially interesting for me as, Ciri goes through trauma, but doesn't feel anything when he dies other than disappointment that they couldn't finish their sexual acts. Her struggle with her emotions was very interesting to read about and gave us a deeper look into who Ciri grew into.“... Geralt the Witcher was always a modest, prudent and composed man, with a soul as simple and uncomplicated as the shaft of a halberd.”
Unlike its predecessor, Tower of Swallows doesn't focus much on Geralt. Yes, his story still takes up a large part of the book, but it is clear that it is not the central story on which the reader should be focusing on. Though some may find this unnerving, I found it refreshing. The world of the Continent is vast and filled with many more interesting characters that Sapkowski decided to explore than just Geralt the Witcher. By cutting down Geralt's narrative, we got space for new characters like Kenna (Joanna Selborne), a psionic, who I really enjoyed reading about. But back to what actually happened.
Spoiler
WE FINALLY GOT TO MEET AVALLAC'H!!!!Spoiler
When he admitted to himself and Geralt that he thinks he loves Ciri, I just started crying. The fact that he wants to take her to Nilfgaard just because it would mean that he can SEE her made me sob. The fact that she would probably never return his affections and that he was okay with it because he cared about her so much, made me sob. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how we write a fantastic character.The sorceresses' storyline shows a lot. Assire var Anahid is growing to be another favorite character of mine. I love how she is able to extract information from the courts
Spoiler
(mainly via Cantarella and Vattier de Rideaux)Spoiler
Sheala influencing Koviri politicsLastly, there was the section about politics. Here I will talk about all things happening in Nilfgaard with Vattier de Rideaux and Dijkstra in Lan Exeter. I believe that this was the slowest and most boring part of the book. Though I do like learning about the politics of Kovir and Poviss and their relationship to Redania, I do not really need a 20+ page manifesto about the little specifics of everything imaginable. Though I did like this deep dive into history, it can be a little intimidating for some people to read... Not to mention boring. Same thing with Vattier de Rideaux. His section is just a bunch of dialogue about politics that will be probably hard to understand unless you have a map of the Continent nearby. In general, this was too drawn out, even though it didn't take up much of the book.
All in all, The Tower of Swallows was much better than I expected. It was a great read, that was for the most part very well-paced and allowed us to get a better insight/introduction to more minor characters that I really grew to love!