Reviews tagging 'War'

Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski

28 reviews

steph7n's review against another edition

adventurous tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

There are two ways a book saga can be started. The safest and easiest way is to write it in such a way that readers would not notice that it is the beginning of the saga by providing its own conflicts and resolution within the book. If the author decided that they are going to stop there, the book can be good on their own. Another way is to plow through setting up the world and providing backstory while confidently knowing that potential fans wouldn’t judge the first book on its own but as part of the larger series.

As the official first book of the Witcher Saga, I suspect that Blood of Elves is written in the latter way. And that’s what make grading and reviewing it so tricky. On its own, the book is pretty flat. A lot of conflicts were left unresolved. Even the ending is kind of a cliffhanger.

But today in the year 2024, we know that it is part of an excellent fantasy saga. We know that the world that is being built in this book is going to be the grand theater of great stories to come. 

Judged on its own, I wouldn’t give more than 3 stars for the book. But I suspect that i will give the entire saga a 5 stars once i finish it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and War

xnattt's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Blood, and War

Moderate: Cursing and Violence

Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol

toastyghosty13's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny lighthearted 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

3.25

I love reading about Geralt and his adventures with friends. I did find this book to be not as good as the prequel books, but it was still highly enjoyable. I think this was because it went from short story format in the prequels where each chapter had its own fun adventure to one overarching plot that was filled with political intrigue and war. I still enjoyed this book a lot and am very excited to read the rest of the series, especially because I have an illustrated version of it. Highly recommend to anyone that likes fantasy and adventure. The dynamics between Geralt, Ciri, Yennefer and other characters are a joy to read and provide a lighthearted shit eating grin humor between darker themes of eradicating the elves.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War

Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Death of parent

petty_anthropology's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Colonisation, and War

sheiksleopardthong's review against another edition

adventurous slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Blood, and War

Moderate: Bullying, Genocide, and Death of parent

mcmeiss's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Toxic friendship

thewillowwood's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Overall I enjoyed this book, enough so that I will be reading the next instalment of the series. Some of the scenes were quite dull, but the more enjoyable ones made up for it. It also suffers a bit from the “men writing women” problem that made me a tad uncomfortable, but it didn’t completely ruin the experience. It’s a decent fantasy read, if you enjoy that then this book will likely be enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Death of parent, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

there are brief mentions of Geralt being mistaken as being in a sexual relationship with Ciri (who is 13), but it does not true nor is it endorsed

faith99's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: War

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Racism, Torture, and Fire/Fire injury

spookfish's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This book is 90% dialogue, with a rare line I quite liked.
For a books where its three main characters/POVs are women (you can't convince me Geralt is an MC here), it is incredibly sexist. It cannot help itself to reduce women down to appearances and sexual desires. It keeps its men in boxes too.

In terms of the actual story, well, there isn't much of one. Between the very long political conversations amongst background characters we don't need to care about, is a short plot for an opening novel of a series.

I'm not sure if I will bother with the rest, perhaps if I get bored and run out of anything else to read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation and War

Moderate: Sexism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

shiveryteacup's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Animal death, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury