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macreader's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
gabbylaw22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? No
5.0
beerd1's review against another edition
5.0
I have enjoyed this series so far, but this is the first book that’s really gripped me, very intrigued by the direction it’s heading
4th3b1rds's review against another edition
5.0
When it comes to voluminous fantasy epics there is one thing that makes or breaks it for me: payoff. Well this is it, the climax of a four book "act", and the payoff is downright intoxicating.
fraggerbot's review against another edition
4.0
★★★½
A mix of some good parts and boring parts, that doesn't fully pull you in, but doesn't feel bad either
It took me over three months to read this, but I fairly remember the plot while going through this. It feels like just an above average book. The ending felt abrupt and gave me the same impression as of its predecessor, that we are reading parts of one large book.
A mix of some good parts and boring parts, that doesn't fully pull you in, but doesn't feel bad either
It took me over three months to read this, but I fairly remember the plot while going through this. It feels like just an above average book. The ending felt abrupt and gave me the same impression as of its predecessor, that we are reading parts of one large book.
a_chickletz's review against another edition
3.0
It has been a while since I have read the previous Witcher book. Probably before the 1st season of the show came out. I remember that I enjoyed the story but I had issues with the translation and or the writing.
No surprise that I would have the same issues with the translation and writing. The story, the characters, everything is solid A in fantasy. However, the 'writing' and the 'translation' just comes across messy and that you have to re-word dialogue and plot to sentences that make sense and then enjoy the world that way.
The negative bit is that when Yennifer and Ciri split up you never seen Yennifer throughout the rest of the book. Where did she go? You don't know (and I am reading the next book and she has still not shown up).
The translation or the original prose is a bit of mess, but with that all going on it's fun. You can see this stuff happening on screen. You hate who you're supposed to hate and you hope for the best when it comes to the characters you love.
I am excited to see where this series goes and I am glad that Henry Cavill pushed for more of Geralt's intelligence and wisdom - he is quite intelligent and funny and I felt this book cerements that.
No surprise that I would have the same issues with the translation and writing. The story, the characters, everything is solid A in fantasy. However, the 'writing' and the 'translation' just comes across messy and that you have to re-word dialogue and plot to sentences that make sense and then enjoy the world that way.
Spoiler
Let me tell you, the coupe / downfall of the Council was by far an amazing bit of the story. For those who watch the series, expect a scene in which Yennifer, Geralt and Ciri head to the Council to have a gathering. There Geralt discovers the spy who is working with Philippa and that others are after Ciri. It is during this time several groups or factions raid the Council and turn them against one another and then slaughter them all. This results in the breaking of the Council and less than 10 sorcerers remaining alive in the end. Yennifer and Ciri get split up, Geralt gets heavily wounded. You find out that the coupe and those turning one another was all set up by Emhyr to get Ciri... but he fails in the end, and instead gets an imposter to take her place while he puts a bounty on Cehyr's head. I never liked the Council of witches / wizards, so fuck them and their awful dealings with girls. So fuck 'em.The negative bit is that when Yennifer and Ciri split up you never seen Yennifer throughout the rest of the book. Where did she go? You don't know (and I am reading the next book and she has still not shown up).
The translation or the original prose is a bit of mess, but with that all going on it's fun. You can see this stuff happening on screen. You hate who you're supposed to hate and you hope for the best when it comes to the characters you love.
I am excited to see where this series goes and I am glad that Henry Cavill pushed for more of Geralt's intelligence and wisdom - he is quite intelligent and funny and I felt this book cerements that.
bettun_639's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
tinysaturn's review against another edition
5.0
Byłyby trzy gwiazdki, bo masa polityki strasznie mnie rozkojarzyła, trudno było mi zrozumieć co się dzieje. Zakończenie jednak tak mnie urzekło i tak jestem ciekawa następnych tomów, że podniosło to moją ocenę. Czuję po prostu jakąś więź z tą serią.
galexandriaw's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5
Ugh, once again I went in hoping this would be the one that turned the series around for me and would get to the good stuff. You would think that would happen with the second (technically fourth if you wanna get nitty gritty about it) book in the series, right? You would be wrong!
Like most everyone who picked up this series, I was expecting badass Geralt and monsters and cool fantasy lore. Not the same conversation happening over and over again with different characters who have no true stake in the series as a whole. The pacing was the worst, as seems to be the case with Sapkowski's novels. Don't get me wrong, I love a good court politic arc, but I love it when it goes somewhere. And before the ending of the book, thank you.
Somehow, I found myself enjoying Ciri's scenes the best. Despite some icky stuff that happens that I tried to rush through reading, I felt like her character was the only one that had any sort of development in the grand scheme of things.
If I read the word contempt one more time I will lose it I think. I had to google the actual definition at some point, just to make sure we were all on the same page about what we were trying to convey here.
Unfortunately, me being me, I'll probably continue to read the rest of the series, since I have all the books physically. Maybe at some point Geralt will decide to remember who he is insteady of this mopey guy he's letting himself become. Someone needs to talk some sense into him, i.e. Dandelion.
Ugh, once again I went in hoping this would be the one that turned the series around for me and would get to the good stuff. You would think that would happen with the second (technically fourth if you wanna get nitty gritty about it) book in the series, right? You would be wrong!
Like most everyone who picked up this series, I was expecting badass Geralt and monsters and cool fantasy lore. Not the same conversation happening over and over again with different characters who have no true stake in the series as a whole. The pacing was the worst, as seems to be the case with Sapkowski's novels. Don't get me wrong, I love a good court politic arc, but I love it when it goes somewhere. And before the ending of the book, thank you.
Somehow, I found myself enjoying Ciri's scenes the best. Despite some icky stuff that happens that I tried to rush through reading, I felt like her character was the only one that had any sort of development in the grand scheme of things.
If I read the word contempt one more time I will lose it I think. I had to google the actual definition at some point, just to make sure we were all on the same page about what we were trying to convey here.
Unfortunately, me being me, I'll probably continue to read the rest of the series, since I have all the books physically. Maybe at some point Geralt will decide to remember who he is insteady of this mopey guy he's letting himself become. Someone needs to talk some sense into him, i.e. Dandelion.