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A review by jasmindeanda
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
1.0
A disappointing follow up to an amazing first book…
Sword of Destiny was an aggravating read and the first book I have ever quit. The second book in The Witcher series will make you question if the characters are truly the same ones.
A surprisingly controversial read…
When I finished the The Last Wish, I could not wait to get my hands on the second book so I could continue following Geralt’s journey and learn more about Yennefer. Yet within the follow up’s first chapter, I found myself struggling not to skim through the pages. The more I read, the worse the writing directed at the women became.
For those familiar with the Netflix show, the first chapter begins with the quest for the dragon, but things are different than the Netflix episode. Yennefer, angry with Geralt for his wish and desperate to reverse her infertility betrays Geralt by using paralysis magic on him, but is then attacked by the band of dwarves. This was when the first shock came when the band of dwarves ties Yennefer up and tear her shirt open to expose her, threatening her with rape. The scene is followed by Dandelion described to stare at her bare chest. When Yennefer tells him to stop, the line is what follows:
“Not on your life,’ Dandelion said, without taking his eyes off the bedraggled sorceress. ‘I’m here because of her. They may slit our throats, but at least I’ll die happy.”
-Excerpt From: Andrzej Sapkowski. “Sword of Destiny (The Witcher).” Apple Books.
Although I managed to read the dragon quest story, it was the next chapter that truly irked me. Geralt and Yennefer in the next story are living together, but not happily as he seems to be annoyed with Yennefer in every page and Yennefer’s only role seems to be dressing herself with makeup and fragrances. But it was Geralt’s time at the inn which destroyed my will to finish the story; specifically this paragraph:
“He was annoyed by the cold, congealed scrambled egg he was served for breakfast by the innkeeper, who tore himself away for a moment from groping a girl in the kitchen. He was annoyed that the girl was no more than twelve years old. And had tears in her eyes.”
Excerpt From: Andrzej Sapkowski. “Sword of Destiny (The Witcher).” Apple Books.
The line itself felt unescessary and the content was appalling, but what truly bothered me was Geralt’s simple annoyance and lack of interference. Although the witcher claims to never interfere, the first book seemed to prove he did nothing but interfere. Yet the author felt it necessary to write this moment where Geralt witnesses a 12-year-old girl being groped and does nothing.
The First Story I’ve Ever Quit…
Perhaps there is a chance the story drastically improved in the remaining 75% of the book, but I could not get myself to pick up the book again after that and eventually gave up on trying. The magic which intrigued me in that first book seemed to be lacking and Yennefer who was a mystery for most of the first book felt vain and one-dimensional. I felt if I had finished the book only to be disappointed, it would taint my love for the first book and possible the remaining of the series.
Improvements Ahead…
When I first picked up The Witcher series, I began reading book three before realizing there were two written before. I read 20% of the story before realizing my mistake and beginning book one instead, and what I had read of book three, I deeply enjoyed. Although I hope to never feel this way about his remaining books, I am at least taking comfort knowing book three will restore the magic of the first book.
Sword of Destiny was an aggravating read and the first book I have ever quit. The second book in The Witcher series will make you question if the characters are truly the same ones.
A surprisingly controversial read…
When I finished the The Last Wish, I could not wait to get my hands on the second book so I could continue following Geralt’s journey and learn more about Yennefer. Yet within the follow up’s first chapter, I found myself struggling not to skim through the pages. The more I read, the worse the writing directed at the women became.
For those familiar with the Netflix show, the first chapter begins with the quest for the dragon, but things are different than the Netflix episode. Yennefer, angry with Geralt for his wish and desperate to reverse her infertility betrays Geralt by using paralysis magic on him, but is then attacked by the band of dwarves. This was when the first shock came when the band of dwarves ties Yennefer up and tear her shirt open to expose her, threatening her with rape. The scene is followed by Dandelion described to stare at her bare chest. When Yennefer tells him to stop, the line is what follows:
“Not on your life,’ Dandelion said, without taking his eyes off the bedraggled sorceress. ‘I’m here because of her. They may slit our throats, but at least I’ll die happy.”
-Excerpt From: Andrzej Sapkowski. “Sword of Destiny (The Witcher).” Apple Books.
Although I managed to read the dragon quest story, it was the next chapter that truly irked me. Geralt and Yennefer in the next story are living together, but not happily as he seems to be annoyed with Yennefer in every page and Yennefer’s only role seems to be dressing herself with makeup and fragrances. But it was Geralt’s time at the inn which destroyed my will to finish the story; specifically this paragraph:
“He was annoyed by the cold, congealed scrambled egg he was served for breakfast by the innkeeper, who tore himself away for a moment from groping a girl in the kitchen. He was annoyed that the girl was no more than twelve years old. And had tears in her eyes.”
Excerpt From: Andrzej Sapkowski. “Sword of Destiny (The Witcher).” Apple Books.
The line itself felt unescessary and the content was appalling, but what truly bothered me was Geralt’s simple annoyance and lack of interference. Although the witcher claims to never interfere, the first book seemed to prove he did nothing but interfere. Yet the author felt it necessary to write this moment where Geralt witnesses a 12-year-old girl being groped and does nothing.
The First Story I’ve Ever Quit…
Perhaps there is a chance the story drastically improved in the remaining 75% of the book, but I could not get myself to pick up the book again after that and eventually gave up on trying. The magic which intrigued me in that first book seemed to be lacking and Yennefer who was a mystery for most of the first book felt vain and one-dimensional. I felt if I had finished the book only to be disappointed, it would taint my love for the first book and possible the remaining of the series.
Improvements Ahead…
When I first picked up The Witcher series, I began reading book three before realizing there were two written before. I read 20% of the story before realizing my mistake and beginning book one instead, and what I had read of book three, I deeply enjoyed. Although I hope to never feel this way about his remaining books, I am at least taking comfort knowing book three will restore the magic of the first book.