marinaxanna'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
2.5
Graphic: Violence, Body horror, Death, Gore, and Physical abuse
green_amaryllis's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexism, Blood, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Torture, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Rape, War, and Confinement
kirj's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Rape and Child abuse
Minor: Vomit
ritamunson's review
- 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
Graphic: Violence, Torture, and Gore
Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape
halynahalkina's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Violence
starsfall's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Violence, Child death, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Homophobia
saltylane's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Child death, Child abuse, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol and War
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Drug use, Grief, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Vomit
saneyossarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0
Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Rape
bobstick's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Death
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Kidnapping, and Animal death
knkoch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I’m not doing that, which impacts my memory of the details. This is a big world, with l o t s of place names and characters of no small significance. I’ve been forging on with the sense that some details are passing over my head, but trusting that I’m grasping enough of the general plot to get by. I wish there was a map of the region contained, like in the Lord of the Rings; I’m very lost as to the geography of this place, and which regions border each other.
Sapkowski does a lot of misdirection with the way they story is told. It’s quite brilliant, and underlines both the nature of storytelling (passed around like rumors and embroidered by the teller) and the historical context it resides in (as some parts of the plot are relayed years after their occurrence). It’s a nice way to avoid dwelling forever in one character’s head, and more creative than endless third-person. It’s nice to jump perspectives, even from Geralt, once in awhile!
None of the books in the main plot line (starting with Blood of Elves) has given me a strong stand-alone sense of identity as a book; they feel like continuations of each other as the plot unfolds. But this is just my first reading, so separating them could get easier with greater familiarity. The magic in this world doesn’t operate from a sense of logic or rules that we’re privy to as the reader; it often acts as a plot device we just have to trust. I liked that Ciri emerged as a strongly-defined character here, and her scenes in this book were the best. I’m deeply confused about Yennefer’s role, owing to memory deficiency and (intentional?) plot obscurity. But my heart belongs to Regis.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Gore