Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

De Zwaluwentoren by Andrzej Sapkowski

17 reviews

timmytunter's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious 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

4.25

The Tower of Swallows, the fourth book in The Witcher saga by Andrzej Sapkowski, continues to weave the intricate threads of Ciri, Geralt, and Yennefer’s stories as their paths diverge and converge in a world teetering on the brink of chaos. Following my favourite entry in the series so far, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of Swallows may not quite reach the same heights but still stands as a worthy addition to the saga.

This installment is largely told from Ciri’s perspective, recounting her experiences to the old hermit Vysogota after a harrowing escape from her gang, The Rats, and a grisly encounter with the relentless bounty hunter Bonhart. Vysogota, with kindness and wisdom, offers Ciri shelter and care as she recovers from her wounds and unravels the events leading up to their meeting. The story also tracks the branching narratives of Geralt and Yennefer, maintaining the saga’s expansive scope and depth.

Sapkowski’s writing style shines, though it may not be to everyone’s taste. His narrative technique of jumping between storylines, time periods, geographical regions, and character recollections is both a challenge and a delight. As the series progresses, this complexity grows, mirroring the tangled web of Ciri’s own journey, which now includes

multiple trips through magical portals

by the book’s conclusion.

Overall, The Tower of Swallows is a compelling continuation of The Witcher saga, blending action, intrigue, and Sapkowski’s distinctive narrative flair. While it might not surpass Baptism of Fire, it remains a strong entry that propels the overarching story forward in satisfying, albeit sometimes dizzying, directions.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, and War

nikireadss's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

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

3.0

Po piątej części z serii Wiedźmina, która była moją ulubioną, czytanie tej było conajmniej zawodem. Seksizm w tej części był nie do wytrzymania. Początek książki zaczyna się bardzo powoli i jest w nim wiele postaci, które po prostu mnie w ogóle nie obchodzą i równie dobrze mogłoby ich nie być. Niestety później się to nie poprawia. Są momenty, kiedy myślisz, że zaczyna się akcja, ale zaraz po tym nadchodzi ponowna susza. Im bliżej końca tym gorzej. Do jakoś połowy jak jeszcze te narracje jakoś się ze sobą łączyły, było całkiem ciekawie. Zwłaszcza części, które opowiadał Jaskier. One nadawały tej książce jakiegoś koloru. Wydaje mi się jakby pomiędzy fabułą zostały na siłę wciśnięte tematy tylko żeby wytłumaczyć co i dlaczego się stało, ale to było tak suche, że już później nie chce się tego nawet rozumieć. Trochę brakuje mi w Wiedźminie jakiegoś spisu postaci, coś jak Bestiariusz w Dzikim Gonie. Już o mapie nie wspominając. Doceniam jak kompleksowy jest ten świat, ale czasem byłoby miło mieć jakiś punkt odniesienia. W ogóle w tej książce było odniesienie do psa pekińczyka i się zastanawiam skąd oni wiedzą jak taki pies wygląda. Największym bólem tej części wiedźmina był brak wiedźmina, a jak już go dostaliśmy to wydawał się bardzo bezradny i bezsilny. Może to moje złudne odczucie co do wiedźmina poprzez gry, ale spodziewałam się po nim trochę więcej niż kulawego wujka. Jestem bardzo rozczarowana tą częścią. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Violence

witten82's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

obsidianchainsaw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, and Kidnapping

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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Vomit and War

Minor: Infidelity and Abortion

green_amaryllis's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Miscarriage, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Confinement, Rape, Death of parent, Alcohol, and War

saltylane's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Despite how confusing the jumping around of the narration could be, I did quite enjoy the varying viewpoints used. It was interesting to be able to read all the different characters’ perspectives. There are a lot of cliffhangers and enough intrigue to make me want to keep reading all the way to the end of the story/series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol and War

Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment

camoo3032's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

One of the things I love about this series is the different perspectives that Sapkowski chooses to tell the story from. In this book there are several different perspectives which almost makes the book read as a collection of interwoven short stories. It's very clever and engaging but I did find it disorienting the first time.
It's also the most gruesome novel in the series

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Ableism, Drug use, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Kidnapping

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Transphobia, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Classism

tilo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

Auch dieses Buch der Hexerreihe führt fort, was die Vorgänger geschaffen haben. Die Komplexität der Charaktere und wie sich alle Plotstränge in der Welt zusammenfügen sind unsagbar beeindruckend. 
Vysogota habe ich als neu eingeführten Charakter sehr lieb gewonnen und habe die Szenen mit ihm sehr genossen.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide, Transphobia, and War

upthestairs's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Cursing, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury