camoo3032'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
4.25
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, Rape, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Misogyny, War, Death, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Self harm, Sexual content, Vomit, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Confinement, Miscarriage, Animal death, Homophobia, Slavery, Death of parent, Kidnapping, and Suicidal thoughts
billyjepma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not all of the development lands, and Sapkowski would benefit from a slightly more ruthless editor. And, again, the way he writes his women characters is a big ol' mixed bag. Sometimes, it's really good, and I genuinely appreciate how complex his cast's morality and motivations are, men and women alike. He doesn't suffer from cliches in that way. What he does suffer from are many of the other problems that plague most fantasy penned by male writers. He relies far too heavily on the sexuality and violence the women are defined by or threatened with. These issues aren't as pronounced as in the last book, but they're still here, and I don't see them miraculously disappearing moving forward.
Still, I enjoyed this immensely, and my fascination and investment in the Witcher series are here to stay.
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Animal death, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, War, Xenophobia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Confinement, and Sexual assault
Minor: Genocide and Vomit
rachaelbunny's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Cursing, Xenophobia, Violence, Torture, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexism, Rape, Racism, Physical abuse, and Genocide