Ratings124
Average rating4
Besides the books of short stories, I really haven't enjoyed the Witcher novels. I kept trudging on because of my love for the game and the show. I'm glad I did. This one was far superior to any of the previous.
I will preface this review with a warning. Sapkowski's treatment of women is extremely bad in his books and this one isn't an exception. There is humiliation, mutilation, rape, harassment, assault, etc. It's awful and disgusting. One could argue that it's because this is set in the Middle Ages, but this book gets graphic at points.
Ironically, this book follows Ciri more than Geralt, showcasing how much of a badass she is. We continue where the last book left off. The story telling devices Sapkowski uses are interesting and dynamic. The pacing only felt sluggish when there was heavy exposition, but most of those points were necessary. This book didn't hold back any punches. It really made me love Ciri even more than I already did. It also made my affection for Yennefer stronger. Interestingly, I felt mostly frustrated with Geralt in this book. His chapters didn't captivate me as much.
I'm very excited to read the next book! I couldn't say that with any of the previous books, so that's definitely an improvement!