Reviews with content warning for Infertility - Sword of Destiny

Unlike The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny did not start off with a bang. I actually really hated the writing and the characters and the excessive misogyny was really rubbing me the wrong way. I actually think the show did a better job with the short story than the book did. Then the second short story also bothered the hell out of me. (I think it's also good to know that the translation probably played a factor in how I felt about things being said, how things were worded, etc.)

Anyways, I was ready to dnf this book but after those first two short stories it picked up and I began enjoying myself again. There was a lot more of Geralt and Dandelion adventuring together. I love their banter and their friendship and I also liked the monsters they were facing. I especially liked the story with Little Eye, she was the best. Of course, the Witcher universe is set in this ugly, disgusting and truly terrible world, but ultimately, as long as Geralt and Dandelion are around I will be happy.

Also, I am so ready to continue the series after how this book ended! It really pumped me up!

Content Warnings

puzzle_ad's review against another edition

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2.5

I liked this less than the first one. Here are some random notes that were taken while listening to it:

• It's the casual sexual assault sprinkled in there for funsies for me.
• The story about Geralt and Istredd's dick measuring contest is absolutely ridiculous and I am so happy they cut that shit out in the show.
• The mermaid singing was fucking awful to listen to in the audiobook specifically my god.
• I don't buy Yennefer and Geralts epic love story I'm sorry. This goes for the show too tbh.
• When does Ciri come in on all of this?
•

It seems we said not today to the god of death

So those were overall my thoughts. Much the same as for the previous book, though this one feels much more disjointed and seems to have more random stories, which were cut from the show, understandably so. I just hate how often women are assaulted in fantasy and this series specifically I'm sorry. Did those people really need to stip Yennefer and grope at her, I really don't think so. Also seeing everything from only Geralt's POV is really hindering any character development on anyone and it definitely makes it harder to buy his epic love story with Yennefer. I am writing this review after having read Blood of Elves as well, and it definitely is much better.

I will continue on though. I am somewhat interested in how this story will play out.

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tilo's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense 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

4.25

Spannende Fantasy mit kreativen Geschichten und einer glaubwürdigen sowie etablierten Welt - das war nach dem ersten Buch zu erwarten. Besonders die letzten Geschichten im Buch waren auf schöne Weise emotional und ich freue mich sehr auf den ersten Teil der Hauptreihe.
Abzug in der Bewertung gibt es für die erste Geschichte, die ich absolut nicht ausstehen konnte und mehrmals überlegt hatte zu überspringen, bis ich nach einer längeren Lesepause mich mühevoll durch den Rest durchgekämpft habe. Anders als im ersten Buch und in den Geschichten dieses Buches wurden die weiblichen Charaktere in der erste Geschichte (Serrikanerinnen) unglaublich sexistisch durch den Erzähler beschrieben und nicht nur durch die Charaktere. Am schlimmsten war jedoch die durch den Erzähler nahezu verheerlichte Vergewaltigung von

Yennefer

, die an keiner stelle auch nur annähernd problematisiert wurde. Eine leichte Aufwertung des Abzug gab es für die überraschend klare Positionierung von

Geralt und Calanthe

zu dem "heiligen und unanfechtbaren" Recht einer Frau, entscheiden zu können, ob sie ein Neugeborenes weggeben möchte, was aus feministischer Sicht sehr gut thematisiert wurde, denn hier wurde auf den Frust des Kindes eingegangen, ohne das Verständnis auszulassen, das man einer Frau in einer solchen Situation gegenüberbringen sollte.

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