Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Tower of Swallows by Andrzej Sapkowski

8 reviews

excepto's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Mam wrażenie że Sapkowskiemu, piszącemu książkę w której nic się nie dzieje, a czyny prawie wszystkich bohaterów nie mają wpływu na ostateczną sytuację, udaje się dalej opowiedzieć historię o wielu rzeczach.
Czuję, że im bardziej czytam tym bardziej wiem czemu mi nie leży adaptacja serialowa, wiedźmin to w małym stopniu historia o zabijaczu potworów, bardziej o politycznych intrygach, na szczeblu głów państw, jak i drobnych rzezimieszków. Najgorszymi potworami stałe są ludzie, którzy nie powstrzymują się przed niczym.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

mischastink's review

Go to review page

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

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

grrr8_catsby's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

As I've mentioned in previous reviews, the Witcher series has been an interesting blend of writing styles and has had individual thematic focuses throughout the series as a whole. The first two books, The Last Wish and Sword Of Destiny, were collections of short stories, serving to introduce us the the adventures of monster-hunting witcher Geralt. The third book in the series (and first book in the saga) Blood Of Elves served as a character study for previously secondary characters such as Ciri and Yennefer, while the fourth book in the series (and second book in the saga) The Time Of Contempt was a plot driven affair, showing us the response of the world to the march of the invading Nilfgaardian army. The fifth book in the series (and third book in the saga) Baptism Of Fire is again a plot driven narrative, this time focusing on the adventures of Geralt in his attempt to track down and rescue Ciri.

The Tower Of Swallows, while perhaps the best written book in the Witcher saga to this point, is also the most disjointed. Told in a series of disconnected flashbacks, The Tower Of Swallows does more to confound faithful readers of the series than to serve as a faithful adaption of the penultimate tale. Throughout the narrative, author Sapkowski urges multiple messages of "running out of time" and "no time to spare", but no sense of urgency is truly felt by the reader. In fact, new characters and plot threads are introduced halfway through the book with only slight teases as to how they connect with the overarching story. With one main saga entry remaining after The Tower Of Swallows, lingering plot points feel more swept to the side than satisfactorily concluded. 

It is almost certain that at this point "The Witcher" refers to Ciri, as Geralt is barely afforded a short passage in this book. This is not a bad thing; the character has unfortunately undergone stark character assassination over the last few books, changing from the once rough, tough, badass, morally gray witcher to a cranky, pouting, conservative-valued hiker-with-a-sword. Geralt-containing passages are best told through Dandelion, Regis, and Milva, who shine together as an ensemble.

I did not enjoy the plot to The Tower Of Swallows; truthfully, the only thing saving it from a lower grade is the quality of the writing itself.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

pensandpicks's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

camoo3032's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

upthestairs's review against another edition

Go to review page

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


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

superwhalen's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Like every entry in the Witcher saga this book is full of both grim medieval adventures and lighter moments with Sapkowski's great characters. The books overall have a tendency to drag between major plot points but this one, mostly focused on Ciri, benefited from a better pace and plot construction.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

chronographia's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

You’re going to want a map. Seriously, a map; there’s a lot of traveling from here to there and back again. Put a marker in the book and go google the map.

I find it interesting that the author starts using different cadencing and storytelling frameworks to set the various storylines apart. This is useful up to a point, but you are also likely to want a flowchart of characters and events. It’s repeatedly emphasized that this is all running to a particular schedule, with significant dates to mark the pace. Even though the storylines are broadly independent in their flow, still their actions (and inactions) have effects that ripple throughout. It can be tricky to see how they all sync up together, but the author indicates that this is important, so maybe take some notes.

PS: Cahir is unexpectedly growing on me.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...