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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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Violence
adrreads'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book might be my favorite in the series so far, with its focus on ciri and her development without geralt’s guidance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
godelewa's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny and War
Minor: Torture and Police brutality
geekmom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.25
This was a very similar book to the previous one in the series -- once again, we have Geralt riding around randomly pursuing Ciri without any real clue where she is -- but we have more Ciri POV, and a somewhat convoluted storytelling device involving multiple POVs, jumping back and forth between past and present. However, the whole thing worked well for me, and it was an engaging read. I liked Vysogota and am sorry he will apparently not be present for the final book in the series...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual violence
akkalabuns'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Rape
breamfish1138's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Such a confusion of plotlines that it's basically fantasy Pulp Fiction but if you can get past that it's an extremely well written dark fantasy (read the first books first, though, or you'll be confused). Also, Leo Bonhart is one of the most compelling evil bastards in literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Miscarriage and Injury/Injury detail
comradehaasboy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
yellowbinge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content, Vomit, and Abortion
shiveryteacup's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, War, and Injury/Injury detail