Reviews with content warning for Death - Svalans torn

Reviews tagging 'Death'

Svalans torn by Andrzej Sapkowski

31 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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godelewa's review against another edition

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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

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obsidianchainsaw's review against another edition

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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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sheiksleopardthong's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

5.0

This is easily my favourite of the novels so far. It dances between POVs expertly, and plays with the timeline of each POV in a very fun way. It also brought back more of the fairytale feeling that was mildly present in Blood of Elves. Cahir and Regis are also some of my favourite side characters so I loved getting to know them so much.

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breamfish1138's review against another edition

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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.

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