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timmytunter's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Among his companions are a dryad-sympathising human archer, a barber-surgeon with a sanguineous secret, a caravan of dwarves, a Nilfgaardian who denies his affiliation, and, of course, the ever-present bard Dandelion. Their dynamic is humorously highlighted in a memorable exchange:
‘What a company I ended up with,’ Geralt continued, shaking his head. ‘Brothers in arms! A team of heroes! What have I done to deserve it? A poetaster with a lute. A wild and lippy half-dryad, half-woman. A vampire, who’s about to notch up his fifth century.
And a bloody Nilfgaardian who insists he isn’t a Nilfgaardian.’
’And leading the party is the Witcher, who suffers from pangs of conscience, impotence and the inability to take decisions,’ Regis finished calmly.
The portions of the book detailing the group’s journey are particularly compelling, as we witness Geralt’s isolationist tendencies being challenged. He gradually comes to endure, if not embrace, his comrades. Special mentions must go to Milva and Regis, two characters who have greatly endeared themselves to me.
Aside from Geralt’s travels, significant insights are provided into the politics of the Lodge of Sorceresses and the movements of Ciri, still in the company of barbarous gang “The Rats.” The novel’s first half is a slow build, setting the scene for the action-packed second half. By the halfway mark, all relevant characters and locations have been introduced, and it’s just a matter of increasingly tempestuous events unfolding.
Sapkowski’s writing shines as we see significant growth in Geralt’s character. Regis’s observation about Geralt encapsulates this evolution:
‘For [Geralt]’ – Regis laughed – ‘the points of the compass have no great importance. It’s all the same to him which one he chooses, as long as he’s not idle. That is truly a witcher’s principium. The world is full of evil, so it’s sufficient to stride ahead, and destroy the Evil encountered on the way, in that way rendering a service to Good. The rest takes care of itself. To put it another way: being in motion is everything, the goal is nothing.’
This characterization, while perhaps true for witchers generally, becomes increasingly untrue for Geralt, whose paternal connection with Ciri (and perhaps his relationship with Yennefer) adds depth and purpose to his journey. Regis’s immediate recantation of his words underscores this transformation.
Overall, Baptism of Fire is a worthy addition to the Witcher series, with its rich character development and engaging narrative. Highly recommended.
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Homophobia, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
geekmom's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Abortion, and Murder
breamfish1138's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Biphobia, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
shiveryteacup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Abortion, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
mcmeiss's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Misogyny, Torture, Stalking, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Mental illness, Excrement, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic
izraehl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
readbyella_'s review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Blood, and War
Moderate: Body horror, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit and Abortion
linnybear's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, Blood, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
Minor: Vomit and Abortion
starsfall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
excepto's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Colonisation