Scan barcode
starsfall's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia
Okay wow this book was a lot. There were many plottwist that left me quite confused. I really loved how there were so mant different povs, so many characters. Although sometimes I was a bit lost with so many names and places.camoo3032's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Vomit, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Homophobia, Infertility, Slavery, Excrement, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Colonisation
halynahalkina's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
geordirr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
0.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Incest and Antisemitism
efsimpkin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
Wow. What a finale to the Witcher series. This took a long time for me to read, mostly because the start of the book is very, very slow. I can’t really remember the significance of Geralt’s arc in Toussaint necessarily or the start of Ciri’s travels post-Tower and at the end of the day it didn’t really end up mattering that much.
I do need to say though that as a Merlin fan I really enjoyed all the Camelot references, lol.
In the middle of the book is where the plot starts to pick up and Sapkowski’s writing shines once more. There’s a chapter that uses multiple POVs to describe a battle scene and it’s masterful. Throughout, we get thrown between times and places with only scraps of information to tell us where we are but it is perfectly executed. The use of a recurring motif (I won’t spoil what it is) hit me like a tonne of bricks when I worked out what it was doing. The use of sometimes very simple dialogue or clever word games is brilliant and even more brilliant when you consider that it survived translation, so well done to French as well for his work there.
This is by far the darkest and saddest book in the series, I feel, and I think that’s what makes it beautiful in its own way. I spent the whole book wondering how it would align with the characters I know from TW3, and I only got that answer right at the end, which was excellent. I had been lightly spoiled for the ending previously which is a shame but I still deeply enjoyed the book.
I’m going to wait a good long while, until I’m feeling nostalgic, to read Season of Storms.
I do need to say though that as a Merlin fan I really enjoyed all the Camelot references, lol.
In the middle of the book is where the plot starts to pick up and Sapkowski’s writing shines once more. There’s a chapter that uses multiple POVs to describe a battle scene and it’s masterful. Throughout, we get thrown between times and places with only scraps of information to tell us where we are but it is perfectly executed. The use of a recurring motif (I won’t spoil what it is) hit me like a tonne of bricks when I worked out what it was doing. The use of sometimes very simple dialogue or clever word games is brilliant and even more brilliant when you consider that it survived translation, so well done to French as well for his work there.
This is by far the darkest and saddest book in the series, I feel, and I think that’s what makes it beautiful in its own way. I spent the whole book wondering how it would align with the characters I know from TW3, and I only got that answer right at the end, which was excellent. I had been lightly spoiled for the ending previously which is a shame but I still deeply enjoyed the book.
I’m going to wait a good long while, until I’m feeling nostalgic, to read Season of Storms.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, and War
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Pregnancy
knkoch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
This was a fitting end to the main series and the linear part of Geralt and Ciri’s story. It’s by far the longest, but it felt well-organized and thematically clear. I felt less confused or out on a limb than I have throughout some of the other books.
The changing storyteller aspect (telling parts of the story from later points in time, looking back, and/or from a distant storyteller) was occasionally irritating, as it felt like a way to slow down the most compelling parts of the narrative. But overall, it finally felt more appropriate to have so many narratives to jump between, as the many characters were better established by this point. By the final half, this reminded me strongly of The Lord of the Rings trilogy in the way several disparate groups or characters are working in different parts of the world during an enormous war. A nice fellowship developed here, too.
I’ve still got Season of Storms left, and then I’ll be all through with Witcher books! For awhile, at least. But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them and will be sad to turn that final page.
The changing storyteller aspect (telling parts of the story from later points in time, looking back, and/or from a distant storyteller) was occasionally irritating, as it felt like a way to slow down the most compelling parts of the narrative. But overall, it finally felt more appropriate to have so many narratives to jump between, as the many characters were better established by this point. By the final half, this reminded me strongly of The Lord of the Rings trilogy in the way several disparate groups or characters are working in different parts of the world during an enormous war. A nice fellowship developed here, too.
I’ve still got Season of Storms left, and then I’ll be all through with Witcher books! For awhile, at least. But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them and will be sad to turn that final page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Sexual assault and Xenophobia
jessthanthree's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, and War
reiki's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and War
Moderate: Child death and Racism
fiveredhens's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
favorite quotes:
‘Very well,’ sighed Regis. ‘Let it be. I’ll have to steer clear of looking glasses and dogs, watch out for sorcerers and telepaths … and if in spite of that they unmask me, I’m counting on you.’
‘You can,’ Geralt responded gravely. ‘I won’t abandon you in need. Comrade.’
The vampire smiled, and because they were alone, showed his full set of fangs. ‘Comrade?’
‘It’s my anthropomorphism talking. On we go, let’s get out of these caverns, comrade. Because all we’ll find here is rheumatism.’
‘I must ride,’ she said at last. The woman smiled, jingling melodiously.
How does it happen, thought Ciri, what can it be ascribed to, that in all worlds, places and times, in all languages and dialects that one word always sounds comprehensible? And always similar?
'Yes. I must ride to my mamma. My mamma is waiting for me.’
‘Good, Ciri. But more calmly. Without euphoria. And close to me.’
‘I’ll always be close to you.’
‘Don’t cut from the shoulder if you can from the elbow. Take heed.’
‘I am.’
The flash of a blade. Screams, blood. Death.
‘Good, Ciri.’
‘I want to see the sky.’
‘I love you very much.’
‘I love you too.’
‘Take heed. It’s getting slippery.’
Geralt glanced at Ciri. And almost howled with fury, seeing streaks shining white as silver in her ashen hair. He controlled himself. It wasn’t the time for anger.
‘Be careful,’ he said softly. ‘Stay close to me.’
‘I’m always going to be close to you.’
‘It’ll be hot down there.’
‘I know. But we’re together.’
‘We’re together.’
The executioner went closer, kneeled down before the condemned man in keeping with the ancient custom, and lowered his hooded head. ‘Forgive me, good fellow,’ he requested gravely.
‘Me?’ asked Dandelion in astonishment. ‘Forgive you?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Not a chance.’
‘Eh?’
‘I’ll never forgive you. Why should I? Have you heard him, the prankster! He’s about to cut my head off, and I’m supposed to forgive him? Are you mocking me or what? At a time like this?’
‘How can you, sir?’ asked the executioner, saddened. ‘For there’s a law … And a custom … The condemned man must forgive the executioner in advance. Good sir! Expunge my guilt, absolve my sin …’
‘No.’
‘No?’
‘No!’
‘I won’t behead him,’ the executioner declared gloomily, getting up from his knees. ‘He must forgive me, otherwise there’s nothing doing.’
‘Lord Viscount.’ The funereal clerk caught Dandelion by the elbow. ‘Don’t make things difficult. People have gathered, they’re waiting … Forgive him. He’s asking politely, isn’t he?’
‘I won’t forgive him, and that’s that!’
‘Very well,’ sighed Regis. ‘Let it be. I’ll have to steer clear of looking glasses and dogs, watch out for sorcerers and telepaths … and if in spite of that they unmask me, I’m counting on you.’
‘You can,’ Geralt responded gravely. ‘I won’t abandon you in need. Comrade.’
The vampire smiled, and because they were alone, showed his full set of fangs. ‘Comrade?’
‘It’s my anthropomorphism talking. On we go, let’s get out of these caverns, comrade. Because all we’ll find here is rheumatism.’
‘I must ride,’ she said at last. The woman smiled, jingling melodiously.
How does it happen, thought Ciri, what can it be ascribed to, that in all worlds, places and times, in all languages and dialects that one word always sounds comprehensible? And always similar?
'Yes. I must ride to my mamma. My mamma is waiting for me.’
‘Good, Ciri. But more calmly. Without euphoria. And close to me.’
‘I’ll always be close to you.’
‘Don’t cut from the shoulder if you can from the elbow. Take heed.’
‘I am.’
The flash of a blade. Screams, blood. Death.
‘Good, Ciri.’
‘I want to see the sky.’
‘I love you very much.’
‘I love you too.’
‘Take heed. It’s getting slippery.’
Geralt glanced at Ciri. And almost howled with fury, seeing streaks shining white as silver in her ashen hair. He controlled himself. It wasn’t the time for anger.
‘Be careful,’ he said softly. ‘Stay close to me.’
‘I’m always going to be close to you.’
‘It’ll be hot down there.’
‘I know. But we’re together.’
‘We’re together.’
The executioner went closer, kneeled down before the condemned man in keeping with the ancient custom, and lowered his hooded head. ‘Forgive me, good fellow,’ he requested gravely.
‘Me?’ asked Dandelion in astonishment. ‘Forgive you?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Not a chance.’
‘Eh?’
‘I’ll never forgive you. Why should I? Have you heard him, the prankster! He’s about to cut my head off, and I’m supposed to forgive him? Are you mocking me or what? At a time like this?’
‘How can you, sir?’ asked the executioner, saddened. ‘For there’s a law … And a custom … The condemned man must forgive the executioner in advance. Good sir! Expunge my guilt, absolve my sin …’
‘No.’
‘No?’
‘No!’
‘I won’t behead him,’ the executioner declared gloomily, getting up from his knees. ‘He must forgive me, otherwise there’s nothing doing.’
‘Lord Viscount.’ The funereal clerk caught Dandelion by the elbow. ‘Don’t make things difficult. People have gathered, they’re waiting … Forgive him. He’s asking politely, isn’t he?’
‘I won’t forgive him, and that’s that!’
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, and War
Minor: Cursing, Infertility, Torture, Xenophobia, Excrement, and Alcohol
luciawolfie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
The way women are portrayed in this book make me very uncomfortable. Also the ending makes no sense...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Murder