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The Tower of Fools

(Hussite Trilogy #1)

Andrzej Sapkowski,

David French (Translator)

4.08 · Rating details · 7,685 ratings · 305 reviews

From the New York Times bestselling author of the legendary Witcher series--the books that inspired the Netflix show and the hit video games--comes the first in an epic new trilogy.

Reinmar of Bielawa, sometimes known as Reynevan, is a doctor, a magician and, according to some, a charlatan. And when a thoughtless indiscretion finds him caught in the crosshairs of powerful n ...more

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Paperback, 576 pages

Published October 27th 2020 by Orbit (first published 2002)

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May 11, 2020 Beata rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Hussite Trilogy is a perfect choice for readers who are not afraid of terrific history/fantasy combination. I have read it several times, in Polish, and will definitely get the edition in English :)

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Sep 29, 2020 James Tivendale rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: freecopy, fantasy, historical-fiction

I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Tower of Fools in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Andrzej Sapkowski and Gollancz. (Review posted on Goodreads 01/10/2020.)

In The Tower of Fools, we are introduced to the twenty-three-year-old nobleman Reinmar of Bielawa, also referred to as Reynevan, whilst he is having sex with another man's wife. Unfortunately, the cuckolded husband's brothers interrupt proceedings and pummel the young rapscallion. Our protagonist somehow manages to esca I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Tower of Fools in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Andrzej Sapkowski and Gollancz. (Review posted on Goodreads 01/10/2020.)

In The Tower of Fools, we are introduced to the twenty-three-year-old nobleman Reinmar of Bielawa, also referred to as Reynevan, whilst he is having sex with another man's wife. Unfortunately, the cuckolded husband's brothers interrupt proceedings and pummel the young rapscallion. Our protagonist somehow manages to escape, losing his many pursuers until finally, Wolfer of Stercza declares that Reinmar is a dead man.

"I'll catch you, kill you, destroy you. Exterminate you and your entire viperous family."

There are lots of characters introduced in the opening chapter and the general consensus is that they are all after Reynevan. Reinmar of Bielawa spends much of the novel running and hiding from many who would see him beaten, castrated, or executed. For all who seem to oppose him though, there seem to be many others who will aid him or give assistance, sometimes due of his high birth, that they are friends of a mutual acquaintance, or because he went to university in Prague with them.

Reynevan is an extremely interesting lead character. He's good-looking, charming, intelligent, a physician, is sort of an apprentice-level mage, is often foolish, makes rash decisions, and has a major weakness when it comes to the opposite sex. Reynevan has more in common with Dandelion than with Sapkowski's most famous protagonist, Geralt of Rivia.

"Reynevan... Misbegotten, albeit, but of Piast blood. A bishop's son. Kin of the Nostitz family. The nephew of the scholaster at Wroclaw Collegiate Church. A friend of rich men's sons at university. On top of that, if that weren't enough, a conscientious physician, almost a miracle worker, capable of winning the gratitude of the powerful."

Before I approached The Tower of Fools, one of my favourite elements of Sapkowski's writing was that he created great supporting characters, groups, brotherhoods and fellowships. An example would be the ensemble of Geralt, Dandelion, Regis, Milva, and Cahir in Baptism of Fire. This strength of the author's is present throughout The Tower of Fools too, with characters like Scharley, Samson Honey-Eater and Urban Horn being just as complex, colourful and interesting to read about as the novel's lead is.

Unlike the (mostly) straight-up epic fantasy nature of The Witcher saga, The Tower of Fools would be best described as historical fantasy. It is set in the 15th-century around the time of the Hussite Wars. This is an alternative universe version of historical events that features magic, religious sects, inquisitions, demons, and many monsters of the sort that Geralt would have crossed paths with. There are witches and mages, Wallcreepers, a werewolf who rapes unsuspecting male victims, amongst other creatures lurking in this reimagined Europe. I will admit that the period when this is set is a time of history that I know very little about but I am certain that some of the characters are based upon real-life counterparts. It would be interesting to research the era and see how the characters and the events fit in with those depicted in these novels.

The Tower of Fools was originally released as Narrenturm in Polish almost 20 years ago. This release is the first time that it has been translated into English. The translator is David French who worked with Sapkowski on six of The Witcher novels, and if you enjoyed his work on those novels then, like me, I imagine you will like this translation too. The Tower of Fools has a similar flow, feel, and lexical choices to those books and a couple of the issues that I found with them too. The Tower of Fools must mention the names of hundreds of Knights, members of the nobility and religious figures. It's extremely detailed and thorough, and all the information, although useful, can be overbearing for a typical reader who just wants to read a good fantasy tale. I honestly didn't care what twenty various Knights from different places had marked on their shields when it doesn't seem to have any impact on the story.

For me, The Tower of Fools came across as a slightly darker read than most of The Witcher Saga. The often naive yet good-intentioned (unless he's got his eyes on pretty women) Reynevan has some horrendous things happen to him in this novel, including events in the titular tower. Some parts read as particularly grim and it is heightened because these moments are due to religious motives and beliefs. The novel features many fights and skirmishes, lots of bloodshed, moments of torture, violence, and gruesome deaths. The Tower of Fools isn't without humour though. I smiled and chuckled frequently which was a nice juxtaposition to the darkness and gloom. The side characters have some extremely humourous exchanges with Reinmar, and our narrator also gives a cheeky, informal summary at what is to happen in the upcoming chapter.

The Tower of Fools is a great opening chapter of the Hussite Trilogy. It is a well-crafted mix of historical fiction and fantasy with engaging characters, a tight plot, and a unique setting. It is set in a reimagined Europe and features religion, heresy, war, magic, demons, and monsters. The ending is well-worked and fulfilling and sets up the sequel, Warriors of God, in fine fashion. I have had positive experiences with all of Sapkowki's books so far, except for Lady of the Lake, and for me, The Tower of Fools sits alongside Baptism of Fire and The Tower of the Swallow as some of the author's finest work. I'm intrigued to see what happens next with the Hussite Wars in this series and to find out the part that Reinmar of Bielawa and his companions may play. Recommended for fans of Sapkowski's The Witcher Saga, and those who enjoy a dark fantasy take on historical events.

*Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof copy of The Tower of Fools and could change in the final release. ...more

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Sep 07, 2018 Beata rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Not that much fantasy this time from Andrzej Sapkowski but quite a generous portion of solid historical background with regard the Hussite. Enjoyed reading Books 1, 2 and 3 immensely and even toured Silesia, Poland and the Czech Republic to visit most of the places mentioned in the books. A great lesson of history together with smashing storytelling by AS.

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Oct 13, 2020 Bradley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, history, 2020-shelf, worldbuilding-sf

Okay now. This is something huge. But I need to properly put this book (and the prospective trilogy) in context.

If you know the Witcher series you know he writes wonderful and complex characters, enjoys a vast and subtle world-building system, and sneaks you up to immense complications.

This NEW series is entirely historical, revolving around Europe and especially Poland during the 15th Century and it is RICH with history. (When I say it's rich, what I mean is that you can get a Masters in histo ...more

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Oct 18, 2018 Celise marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Update: Looks like the English translation release date has been moved to October 2020.

During my read of the The Witcher saga, I've had many people tell me (in sadness on my behalf, it seems) that I'll never be able to read Sapkowski's greatest work, The Hussite trilogy, being an English speaker and all. Looks like my wish has come true, and soon enough I'll be able to read it! 2020 isn't that far away.

So many people have told me this is better than his Witcher books. That, I can't wait to see. ...more

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Nov 08, 2020 Faith rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, overdrive, reviewed, netgalley, dnf

I made it to the 30% point of this book before abandoning it. At least up to there it was more of a picaresque historical fiction than it was a fantasy novel, and it was about a time and place that didn’t really interest me. I almost stopped at the first chapter, which was an extremely long, cringe-inducing sex scene. So painful. There was excellent narration of the audiobook by Peter Kenny, however. I am glad that I didn’t have to figure out how to pronounce those names. When I concluded that t ...more

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Nov 27, 2020 Scarlett Readz and Runz....Through Novel Time & Distance rated it liked it

The Tower of Fools is a historical fantasy that is set in Silesia around 1425 at the time of the Hussite Wars. It follows a main protagonist who, as in many other fantasy novels, is skirmishing through landscapes on the run and on a mission, hovering around Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany, never being able to stay out of trouble. This novel was first published in Polish in 2002 and has now been translated into English by David French, who also translated Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher serie ...more

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Oct 13, 2020 Mick Dubois rated it it was amazing

Shelves: action, historical, fantasy, politics, religion, europe

The book starts out with an extensive report and history on the politics and rulers of the Bohemia/Silesia/Chechz/Polish territories to bring us op-to-date to 1425.
Reynevan or Reinmar of Bielawa may be a brilliant young physician who secretly dabbles a bit in the forbidden arts; he is also a very foolish young man. When he gets caught making out with the married Adele of Strecza by her brothers-in-law he has no choice but fleeing the city. When the youngest brother is killed in a freak accident, The book starts out with an extensive report and history on the politics and rulers of the Bohemia/Silesia/Chechz/Polish territories to bring us op-to-date to 1425.
Reynevan or Reinmar of Bielawa may be a brilliant young physician who secretly dabbles a bit in the forbidden arts; he is also a very foolish young man. When he gets caught making out with the married Adele of Strecza by her brothers-in-law he has no choice but fleeing the city. When the youngest brother is killed in a freak accident, the family swears revenge and they organise a real manhunt with some infamous professional trackers.
Along his way, Reimar meets an awful lot of strange characters, some friendly and others not. I’m certain that we will encounter some of these people again, later in the book and series. ). During those travels, he also meets some benevolent supernatural beings that greet him with ‘there’s so few of us left’ and ‘Toledo’(one who studies alchemy as opposed to those with magic in their blood) what includes him in their ranks. He also meets 2 peculiar companions: Scharley a penitent with a dark past and some awesome fighting skills and Samson Honey-eater, a wise being from another realm/dimension that got accidentally trapped in the body of a gentile simple giant. Against every advice he’s given, Reimar insists that Adele has an undying love for him and he is bound to rescue her from her captors. This is after she accused him of sorcery to attract her to him. So, how stupid can you be?
Then there is the Catholic Church intent on raising another general crusade against the Hussite heretics in Bohemia. Political power was in the hands of the church with their knightly orders, monasteries, and bishops just as much as in the kings, dukes, and knights. But even when they want to achieve the same thing, their motives, and reasons still differ. And despite their hate of witchcraft and magic, some secret conspiracy relies on Wallcreepers (a shapeshifter that takes the form of a bird.

This is a textbook plot for fantasy books of course but there’s far more to this story. The series is written against the backdrop of the Hussite wars in Silesia and Bohemia. The Hussite was a Christian movement that followed the teachings of reformer Jan Hus, who preached against the wealth of the church and monasteries. They were one of the most important forerunners of the Protestant Reformation. This predominantly religious movement was also propelled by social issues.
It would have been a good idea to offer a map and a name register, especially as this English translation is aimed at people who are not familiar with the region, the geography, the history, or even the names. I had that problem until I decided to read it as any other fantasy book with its unusual geography and names as imaginary.
On the other hand, the historical context is really fascinating. I can’t stand the temptation to regularly google the names, places, or events that are mentioned and I’ve learned more about the period than I thought. It certainly wasn’t an easy time to live when you could be tried for heresy or witchcraft for just about any excuse. The power of the church was really everywhere, even kings ruled by their grace and needed a papal blessing. It reminds me a bit of the power that IS holds over its subjects and communist indoctrination during the cold war. It paints not a pretty picture of Christianity and I saw little to no love or forgiveness that is preached today. A lot of hypocrisy, I saw.
The fighting and wars at that time were very brutal and violent. Rape, pillage, and plunder were normal practices and even the main incitements to wage a war or crusade. No side is spared in this conflict, both sides are as cruel and disgusting (for modern opinions) as the other.
I must say that the author has really done a lot of research for this series. The devil is in details and there are just so many aspects and details in this long book that are all so well described that you can close your eyes and imagine the streets, woods, and buildings with the smell and sounds included.
As this book is translated from Polish, I must also congratulate the translator for his accuracy in his language that often gives you an idea and feeling for the time described. There is also a poem/song in ancient German (although most of the drinking songs are in Medieval Latin) and I was surprised how much of that I can still understand and some of it was even closer to Flemish than modern German. I’m no expert but that was my impression. There are a lot of Latin expressions and sentences in this novel as that was the international language spoken by the educated people all over Europe.
Years ago, I started to read ‘The Witcher’ by the same author but I couldn’t relate much to the story and didn’t finish it. This book, I loved and I even wonder if I should make another effort to read his other series.
This really is an exciting and interesting story and I can’t wait to read the next translation. With a chase through the city, the first chapters aren’t slow at all as so often happens when the characters are being introduced. We do meet such a large number of people that you can’t tell who will appear later on again or who might be important. So you have to keep your attention well fixed on the story. And then, I got drawn into the narrative and couldn’t read quick enough to find out more. The only drawback is that you don’t pick it up for a 5-minute read.
The author is very subtle in his criticism of mankind. In retrospect, it’s easy to make predictions but some are funny and Samson is great in this. He predicts transport that doesn’t need oxen without polluting the environment at the same time. He also talks about churches that will bear a half-moon crescent.
He draws heavily from Slavic folklore, but not exclusively as amongst others Greek myths and Arthurian lore also feature. We’re being treated on a witch’s Sabbath, magical furry creatures, an old wizard needing aphrodisiacs to satisfy his protective lady and much more. It’s almost magic how Sapkowski melts the actual history with fantastical elements and creates a universe of his own.
...more

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Nov 16, 2020 Sambora rated it really liked it · review of another edition

*A big thank you to Gollancz for the physical ARC in exchange for an honest and spoiler-free review.*

The Tower of Fools is the first book in a historical fantasy trilogy by the author of The Witcher novels, Andrzej Sapkowski. It is set in Europe in the 1420's - primarily Silesia, in Poland.

The story follows a young man called Reynevan as he is forced to flee his home after being caught sleeping with the wife of a Knight and angering a powerful family in the region, the Sterczas.
Reynevan is a doc ...more

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Nov 27, 2020 Lindsay rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020

This is definitely a Sapkowski work.

Readers of the Witcher saga will recognize the distinctive prose (and for English readers the translative work of David French so that’s comforting), subtle yet powerful world building, dialogue-driven storyline, and fully realized characters. Despite this being a historical fiction rather than high fantasy, the alternate 15th century Europe contains a multitude of monsters, magicians, and demons to introduce an additional layer of intrigue even for readers u This is definitely a Sapkowski work.

Readers of the Witcher saga will recognize the distinctive prose (and for English readers the translative work of David French so that’s comforting), subtle yet powerful world building, dialogue-driven storyline, and fully realized characters. Despite this being a historical fiction rather than high fantasy, the alternate 15th century Europe contains a multitude of monsters, magicians, and demons to introduce an additional layer of intrigue even for readers unfamiliar with or bored by the reformation of Christianity’s hierarchy during the crusades. To cap it off, in a vein similar to the Witcher, Sapkowski’s side characters often steal the spotlight through their quirky and endearing charms. All of that is well and good.

Here’s the rub, though. Don’t immediately believe that the new availability of a trilogy by this author will be an automatic favorite.

I think despite all of the strengths of this author’s writing it still takes a particular type of reader to fully engage with this story. Despite my initial intrigue and excitement during the opening chapters, I soon found myself struggling. What with you might ask?

Well, primarily the issue is the sheer density of the historical information. Kudos to the author for the authenticity, but an exceeding number of named places and historical characters that I was wholly unfamiliar with was decidedly dull. Add to that a nearly incalculable number of Latin phrases ranging anywhere from several words to several paragraphs...without any accompanying translations, footnotes, etc. That’s likely an artistic choice as most of the meaning of the Latin phrasing can be inferred from context, but it’s not always intuitive. I’m likely missing quite a bit from this omission. Top it all off with a main character who is exceedingly mediocre (at least to my impressions) and the final product was a disappointingly average read. My enjoyment throughout ranged from a 4/5 at the peaks and a 2.5-3/5 at its worst. Ergo, a middle-of-the-road reading experience.
...more

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Oct 28, 2020 Athena (OneReadingNurse) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Thank you so much to Orbit Books for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!

Oh Reynevan, part of me thinks that him and his entire lot needed a turn in the asylum. After bedding a knight’s wife and apparently falling madly in love (which she clearly didn’t return), Reynevan sets off on a series of misadventures when he should honestly be fleeing the country.

This is a very historically dense book, with many names and details that bogged the pace down quit Thank you so much to Orbit Books for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!

Oh Reynevan, part of me thinks that him and his entire lot needed a turn in the asylum. After bedding a knight’s wife and apparently falling madly in love (which she clearly didn’t return), Reynevan sets off on a series of misadventures when he should honestly be fleeing the country.

This is a very historically dense book, with many names and details that bogged the pace down quite a bit. That said, I don’t know a darn thing about the Hussite wars so I felt like I learned SO much, and it was interesting too to see why the wars started and how the church kind of just devolved into heretical “witch hunts” and went to the crusades. There is more history than fantasy but it felt so real that I had more than enough to keep my imagination going.

The atmosphere felt appropriate too, these religious groups hated each other. There is suspicion and people were encouraged to rat out their neighbors for clemency. Someone is killing merchants, the Knights are on their way out, and wallcreepers are turning into humans and making dark deals. I know a lot of people aren’t liking all the Latin left in the book but like the prayers weren’t spoken in English and do y’all really care what they say? Even the bits left in sentences make more or less sense if you know anything about word roots, and if not, I doubt much is being missed.

I did just love the characters too. Scharley had me literally CRYING I was laughing so hard during one totally fake exorcism scene. I didn’t realize that Sapkowski had a sense of humor but the banter and conversations and occasional one liners from side characters are amazing, and I think David French did a great job bringing the characters through the translation. Reynevan himself is a moron though, he got so much great advice and ended up ignoring all of it, captured, and imprisoned instead. Riding through the towns and hearing the different townspeople’s interpretations of happenings and politics was interesting too.

I think this series is really going to heat up in book two, with the wars starting and a lot of the setting and exposition out of the way. I will definitely be reading on when the next book comes out!

Thank you so much again to Orbit Books for the early copy! ...more

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Oct 24, 2020 Lou rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Tower of Fools is the first instalment in a brand new historical fantasy trilogy, which tells the story of Reinmar of Bielawa, also called Reynevan de Bielau. The action takes place in Silesia in 1425, at the time of the Hussite Wars. Twenty-three-year-old nobleman Reinmar of Bielawa, aka Reynevan, both a medicine and magic scholar, has made a huge mistake; one that'll impact his life for the foreseeable future. He has slept with a knights wife, Adèle of Stercza, but as soon as they are doing th Tower of Fools is the first instalment in a brand new historical fantasy trilogy, which tells the story of Reinmar of Bielawa, also called Reynevan de Bielau. The action takes place in Silesia in 1425, at the time of the Hussite Wars. Twenty-three-year-old nobleman Reinmar of Bielawa, aka Reynevan, both a medicine and magic scholar, has made a huge mistake; one that'll impact his life for the foreseeable future. He has slept with a knights wife, Adèle of Stercza, but as soon as they are doing the deed he realises he will forever have a target on his back, but you can't help who you're attracted to, right? To make matters worse the husband's brother catches them in the act and gives him a hiding. Although he inexplicably manages to escape the brother’s clutches through wit and wisdom, Wolfer of Stercza declares that Reinmar is a dead man walking. This thoughtless indiscretion finds him caught in the crosshairs of a powerful noble family, and he is forced to flee his home. But once he passes beyond the city walls, he finds that there are dangers ahead as well as behind. Pursued by dark forces both human and mystic, it'll take all his wits, his skill in healing, and his knowledge of magic to survive.

When those seeking vengeance realise that he is too crafty to catch, they decide to get to him through his brother; slaughtering him in cold blood for his brother's error. Reinmar warns them he has nothing to lose and will avenge his brother's murder in time. This is a compulsive, tense and action-packed read set against the backdrop of the religious wars of the Renaissance as Czech Hussite reformers battled Catholic Inquisitors across Central Europe. It's a chaotic time and Sapkowski depicts this exceptionally well; due to this there really is never a dull moment throughout. It's an original historical fantasy with the author's passion for the fifteenth century clear for all to see as he portrays historical events of the time accurately and authentically. Reynavan is a hero for the ages and is relatable as he errs just as the rest of us do and joining him on the first leg of his journey was an absolute pleasure. With a richly-imagined and intricate plot, alluring prose and well-defined characters, you simply cannot go wrong. This is historical fantasy at its finest comprised of magic, sex, death, lust, and mayhem. If you were a fan of The Witcher I'm pretty convinced you'll find lots to love within this book, too. Many thanks to Gollancz for an ARC. ...more

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Jun 13, 2018 Ondrew rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, historical, fantasy

After three or four re-reads I finally decided to write a review of this, in my humble opinion, historical/fantasy-lite masterpiece. The story takes place in Bohemia and Silesia in 1425, during the time of the Hussite Wars.

It follows a young medic/academic/herbalist/"magician" Reinmar von Bielau, also called Reynevan. Compared to Sapkowki's more famous main protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, Reinmar is his exact opposite. He's naive, virtous (or at least he tries to be), easily falls in love with every wench that "shows him her naked ankle" and awfully stubborn when it comes to advices from his older and more experienced companions (aren't all young people like this?). Long story short, he's a fool.

His reckless behaviour often gets him and his companions from a bad situation to one that's even worse, which ends with them saving his ass. This repeats itself several times over and over again ad nauseam. And yet, you easily fall in love with this fool. His companions are Szarlej, a man with past shrouded in mystery, the type of a guy that "gets things done," tasked to protect Reinmar on his perilous journey (an unenviable task). Reinmar's second travelling companion is Samson Miodek (Honey), a village idiot of a giant stature hiding more that meets the eye.

On their journey these three meet other equally interesting characters. Some are real historic figures (Zawisza Czarny, Johannes Gutenberg, et al.) and others are figments of the authors imagination. As in the Witcher, here too Sapkowski fills his world with dozens of seemingly pointless details, that are written with his humorous style (one of the few books that made me laugh out loud). Brilliant humor, "non-black-and-white" characters, purity and profanity, filth, and cruelty of the Middle Ages, with a pinch of fantasy. Witches' Sabbath, a perverse werewolf, an exorcism, a sect of religous fanatics/assassins, a little bit of a love tale and a torture process by the Inquistion and many more will suck you in from the very start, 'till the finish.

So if a historical fiction, with strong, lovable and diverse characters set in the medieval Central Europe is your cup of tea, then Narrenturm, the first book of the Hussite Trilogy is something your should not miss.

...more

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Dec 16, 2020 Pamela rated it liked it · review of another edition

Reynevan is caught with another man's wife. Vengeful brothers are hot on the trail and so the story of the trials of Reynevan begin. Our main character is an absolute fool that everyone tries to help along the way, which he repeatedly ignores following a fools course, thus The Tower of Fools is aptly named. Set somewhere between the Czech Republic and Poland, he finds himself caught up in the war of the Hussites and the Catholics, with neither side trusting his motives.
A lot of this story isn't ...more

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Aug 04, 2020 Liviu rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read_2020, mainstream, 2020_releases_read, genre-fantasy, top_25_2020_books

Excellent novel - has a picaresque feel as Reynevan stumbles from one misadventure to the next, getting into trouble by trying to do "the right thing" as he sees it... The magic is subtler to start with, though it becomes more explicit towards the end with a hallucinating ride through the air on a bench and witches/wizards night on a mountain; not able to resist the charms of attractive women may still be undoing of the main hero, but by the end of this book he discovers a purpose and joins the ...more

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May 20, 2018 Grima rated it liked it · review of another edition

I decided to give this saga a go, coming from the Witcher's, which I absolutely loved.

I enjoyed this first book, but I didn't love it. I'm giving it 3 stars because, overall, the storyline isn't as great as almost every single one outlined in each book of the Geralt of Rivia's saga. AND, because it has one of the most annoying and idiotic characters that I've came across as the protagonist. The main reason I write this review is to vent about that, honestly.

So, if you're not really into politic I decided to give this saga a go, coming from the Witcher's, which I absolutely loved.

I enjoyed this first book, but I didn't love it. I'm giving it 3 stars because, overall, the storyline isn't as great as almost every single one outlined in each book of the Geralt of Rivia's saga. AND, because it has one of the most annoying and idiotic characters that I've came across as the protagonist. The main reason I write this review is to vent about that, honestly.

So, if you're not really into political schemes and plots (and there's quite a lot of that in this book), the story will feel VERY slow at times, specially in these (very typical in Sapkowski's writing) situations in which two or more characters have a conversation about political agendas or events taking place elsewhere that you probably won't care about at all if you're in only for what concerns more directly to the main characters. However, the historical atmosphere is great, the introduction of magic is done in a very interesting manner, managing to let the story keep a historical feel instead of blunt fantasy. Writing and language are of insane quality, being quite remarkable the addition of other languages as latin, italian, or german to the mix. Battles and moral dilemas are set up very well mostly, and build up of comedic situations is simply great, there were times that I found myself laughing out loud in front of the book. Characters are also very well built and likeable, even the villains. EXCEPT for the main one, Reynevan or Reinmar of Bielau.

In him there's pretty much everything I hate and nothing useful or worthy of praise and admiration. Since the very beginning of the book (actually, minus bigger political plots, you could say that's basically what this first book is about) he is bringing one disaster after another upon himself and his friends because he never thinks before doing anything, he doesn't take responsibility for his actions (yet will promptly and harshly judge others for their own), and seems unable to understand the world he lives in doesn't work according to his stupidly naive and romanticized vision of it. This could be redeemable in some way if he learnt something after every time he screws up, but he doesn't. He keeps being the same foolish idiot, partly (and this is particularly frustrating) because he never experiences the full consequences of what his erratic behavior instigates, since he either gets lucky or someone (who for some reason gives a damn about him) pulls him out of the clusterfuck he gets in. During my reading, any time he was in the spotlight of the story I would roll my eyes and hope for the narrative focus to point elsewhere as soon as possible. Very few times a main character has gotten under my skin this much. Compared to Reynevan, secondary characters are great. Samson and Scharley are well built, very likeable, and extremely charismatic, since they don't take themselves seriously, on the contrary to Reynevan, which as a result ends up being humorless.

Overall, it's a book written on a different tone than the Witcher's saga but it's still enjoyable. Very enjoyable if you don't mind absolutely idiot, cringe-worthy main characters.

...more

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Nov 26, 2017 Edy || Hex rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, borrowed-from-library

I love when books become an adventure. It doesn't have to happen much in said book, but the way it is told, the way how characters act - it just flows for you. This book is much much more mature than The Witcher and I dare to say - better to read. And even if I quite disliked the main character for most of the book - for various reasons I will not list here - it was all just on point. What can I tell, I have such a soft heart for books which somehow touch historical events and lands I love. 5/5. ...more

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May 11, 2009 Moominboy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, history, polish, my-ebooks

A trilogy set in 15th century Schliessen (Polish Slask). Massive battles mix with small amounts of old folk magic and an elaborate conspiracy plotline. The author must have done an incredible amount of research to create such a realistic 15th century setting. Fascinating and a treat for history buffs. Hopefully it will appear in English soon.

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Jul 31, 2020 Kari Rhiannon (Moon Magister Reviews) rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Unfortunately, when you try to translate a 20 year old book, you also translate all the misogyny and homophobia...

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Nov 03, 2020 Lashaan Balasingam (Bookidote) rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2020

You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.

Mankind is capable of many vices. Throughout history, we have been subject to severe punishments, attempting to cleanse the population of these vile beings capable of corrupting good whenever they please. As various factions rose to power, the indoctrination of the populace was within their grasp and anything they willed could become a heresy. Just when the common folk became vulnerable, things couldn’t get any more chaotic as the Church finally got their hands deep in the jar of power. For one young man who lives and breathes in vices, both the human and magical kind, whether he wants to or not, life got a lot more complicated. Originally published in Polish in 2002, translator David French offers readers the chance to read the Hussite Trilogy in English by the best-selling author who brought the world the critically-acclaimed Witcher books.

What is The Tower of Fools about? The story follows Reinmar of Bielawa, also known as Reynevan to some, in his journey to escape from powerful men looking to rip his head off his shoulders. It all began when his uncontrollable desires lead him to bed a taken woman only for her brothers to discover this blasphemous act. Things get a bit more problematic when one of the brothers meets his death in a tragic manner and vengeance drives the rest of them on a wild hunt. Unfortunately for Reynevan, the young man’s aptitudes as a healer/magician also lead the Holy Inquisition to hunt him, whatever means necessary. Set during the Hussite Wars, in Silesia in 1425, the religious tensions thus rise while the young charlatan runs from menacing and mystical threats and sees him stumble his way to the Narrenturm where lies the Tower of Fools.

Writer Andrzej Sapkowski introduces readers to a story abundantly rich in history and light in fantasy. A relatively linear storytelling narrative sends the protagonist on a journey with countless peripeteia that will require him to showcase some significant cunningness to escape the grasps of a myriad of individuals looking to capture or kill him. Although the author does, unfortunately, drown the reader in historical context, confuse them with Latin words and expressions interspersed in the narrative, and name drops far too many characters for readers to ever truly immerse themselves in the story, it is safe to say that every chapter sends the reader down an episodic adventure where Reynevan grows his fellowship and encounters outlandish individuals, from past acquaintances to inhuman creatures, such as witches or werewolves. It is especially through the protagonist’s subtle wickedness and slyness that the story develops a somewhat amusing prose that captures the premise’s idiosyncrasy.

On top of the extensive historical overlay, this story also heavily incorporates religious, political, and philosophical undertones that are sometimes clumsily incorporated in the story. In spite of their relevance in starkly exposing a time period brimming with power struggles and conspiracy, they also hinder the reader’s ability to properly connect with the deeply flawed and fairly despicable protagonist while also stripping away any opportunity for an authentic sense of companionship among the group that is slowly formed throughout the story. It is also enjoyable to see how writer Andrzej Sapkowski incorporates the light-fantasy elements into this alternate historical world, however, it all remains poorly developed in the grand scheme of things as readers rarely get to embrace the magical elements during the various action scenes in the narrative plot structure. While this adventure is rough around its edges, it undoubtedly has great potential to deliver a stunning sequel and finale.

The Tower of Fools is a sweeping journey packed with strange encounters and peculiar resolutions, wrapped in an overloaded historical fantasy.

Thank you to Orbit Books for sending me a copy for review!

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/ ...more

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Nov 13, 2020 Night rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Thank you so much to Netgalley for a copy of this book.

The description and name of the author had me request The Tower of Fools quickly.

The main character, Reinman, is a doctor, magician, and maybe a charlatan. He gets caught sleeping with a married woman, so he must flee. Cue in everything I love - one big journey, meeting many fascinating characters, politics, history. Action, attacks, running away, meeting more characters. Jokes and good sarcasm. Oh, Reinman loves too easily, young and too ...more

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Oct 22, 2020 Charlie - A Reading Machine added it

This is a real non starter for me, I hit too many wtf’s very early on.

The prologue was all names and dates and historical facts and unpronounceable words and I ended up skipping most of it..

Then the air is described as ‘ozone-rich’. What does that even mean (apart from there being a lot of ozone in the air) and why am I supposed to care? What possible impact does that have on the story?

We then have a woman’s vagina described as an “orchard of pomegranates” and this interesting passage during the ...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Konstanze rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-german, fantasy, historical-fiction

I rarely read fantasy or history; my best friend calls me "picky". Consequently I wouldn't have picked up this book if I didn't have some sympathy towards the author thanks to his Witcher series. The book didn't disappoint, but then again the 15th century would make it hard on anyone to be depicted in a boring way.

Plotwise, the books very repetitive: They get themselves into a mess (most likely due to the monumental stupidity of Reynevan, the main character), they get rescued, they get themselve I rarely read fantasy or history; my best friend calls me "picky". Consequently I wouldn't have picked up this book if I didn't have some sympathy towards the author thanks to his Witcher series. The book didn't disappoint, but then again the 15th century would make it hard on anyone to be depicted in a boring way.

Plotwise, the books very repetitive: They get themselves into a mess (most likely due to the monumental stupidity of Reynevan, the main character), they get rescued, they get themselves into the next mess, they get rescued again. This very simple concept, however, gives the author the possibility to explore all the important aspects of the 15th century, creating a marvelous panopticum of a truly terrible, terribly interesting time. Admittedly, I've only superficial knowledge of the late Middle Ages (and would be geographically out of my comfort zone as well), but Sapkowsky seems to hit all the right buzzwords. I especially loved the focus on the Hussite movement, that got my inner history nerd indecently excited. I should probably admit that I also have a thing for meeting historical characters in novels - (view spoiler), oh my!

I wasn't really into the fantastical element, though. In fact, I was rather disappointed when I first realized that this wasn't 100% historical, a fact which is conveniently NOT mentioned anywhere. I kind of came around to it thanks to (view spoiler), because that made me laugh and what makes me laugh is alright in my book. Speaking of which, Sapkowsky's trademark bawdy sense of humor is very present in this book, possibly more so than in the witcher series. (Whose grimdark machismo I probably couldn't stand if it weren't for that humour.) It contrasts starkly with the Reynevan's Lancelot attitude, which would be unbearable if he didn't regularly get his ass kicked running after the next beautiful dame.

Speaking of which, I love about Sapkowsky (despite the machismo!) that his female characters aren't tropes, but always have their own agenda. In general I enjoyed all the minor characters and their gorgeous ugly faces immensely, even though the buttload of names got kinda confusing at times. (This book isn't for you if you can't stomach too many weird-sounding names, as the author heaps German, Polish or Bohemian character upon character and he isn't shy to throw around phrases in a couple of languages. There are translations at the back of the book, thankfully.) The book's a quick read nevertheless because of its breakneck pace. I laughed a lot at Reynevan's constant misfortunes and was genuinely scared for him at the same time ... a very becoming mix of schadenfreude, suspense and sympathy for the main character indeed.

tl;dr Author did his research. Magic aspects regrettable, but tolerable. Promising treatment of female characters, overall a very entertaining and colourful cast. Plot not exactly original, but very, very enjoyable. ...more

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Oct 12, 2020 Allen Walker rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I want to thank Orbit and Netgalley for the ARC but this just wasn't the book for me, despite being a lover of history.

DNF @ 33%

Reynevan continues to make terrible decisions re: pretty women and by a third of the way through the book, I didn't see where the story was headed.

There are a LOT of Polish and Czech names.of towns and people, some real and some fiction and, while I normally love historical backdrops, this 15th century religious war just was too far in the background and the pace just ...more

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Nov 10, 2010 Liviu rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-fantasy, read_2010, 2009_release_read, t_notable_books_2009

Very good alt-history of the Hussite times with magic. The atmosphere is done very well and the main characters are interesting. The ending is at a good point and I am definitely interested in the sequel. Hopefully there will be an English language edition too.

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Nov 18, 2020 Keith Currie rated it really liked it

A penitential cross

The author is well known for his Witcher series and many readers will be attracted to this novel for that reason. Be aware that this historical fantasy is very different. Ye gods, there is a tremendous amount going on here. It is the first of three volumes, known as the Hussite Trilogy, set in the Fifteenth century, and showcases the author’s profound knowledge of the wars of religion in that century. So, we are treated to the proto-reformation of the Hussite Bohemians against A penitential cross

The author is well known for his Witcher series and many readers will be attracted to this novel for that reason. Be aware that this historical fantasy is very different. Ye gods, there is a tremendous amount going on here. It is the first of three volumes, known as the Hussite Trilogy, set in the Fifteenth century, and showcases the author’s profound knowledge of the wars of religion in that century. So, we are treated to the proto-reformation of the Hussite Bohemians against the Papacy and the attempted crusades against the so-called heretics from the papal loyalists in Silesia and elsewhere. This is fascinating and detailed stuff, but is probably readily available in non-fiction accounts.

The author also offers the reader a full immersion into the social norms of the times, including more Latin than I have ever read in a work of modern fiction: church and theological Latin, scurrilous Latin poetry and song, arcane and magical Latin, scientific and scholarly Latin, even Latin jokes – barely a page in the novel lacks some Latin quotation and dialogue. I personally enjoyed this immensely, especially the jokes and the obscene songs, but I am not sure about other readers. Never fear, I think the novel can be enjoyed without any need for translation and indeed might be read more quickly thus!

In addition, he adds to the detailed historical account a considerable amount of magic and fantastical elements, as might be expected from this author. Imagine the demons, witches and lost souls from paintings, woodcuts and manuscripts of the time brought to life and involved in the action, some benign, some clearly evil, although understated in this first volume.

But what about the plot? The narrative is actually very simple, given the many complexities I have already outlined. A love-struck, capricious student of medicine cuckolds the wife of a knight whose family spend most of the remainder of the novel hunting him down in order to punish, castrate and kill him for his temerity. Along the way he attracts even more enemies so that at every turn he is hunted by a variety of enemies. As he stumbles frantically from one danger after another, from one disaster after another, he finds himself saved by fortuitous allies, all the time finding himself more and more deeply implicated in the contemporary wars of religion, heresy and magic.

I enjoyed this very much, its imaginative scope, the political, religious, literary and social immersion of the narrative, as well as the constant humour and headlong, picaresque plot. The hero in his wanderings through Silesia constantly finds himself at a series of crossroads. Each one has in its midst a penitential cross, ‘one of Silesia’s numerous mementoes of crimes past and belated contrition’. This recurrent image sums the story up, the appalling deeds done in the name of religion, by whatever side, creed or faith.
...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Kath ❅ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2021-reads, netgally, historical

Book provided via Netgalley for review.

I think this is a classic case of "it's not you, it's me." I do not think this book is bad at all, I just couldn't get into it. This was a lot more historical fiction than I was expecting and I do feel a little misled by the summary and title. The group ends up in the Tower of Fools in chapter 27. There are 29 chapters in this book. Most of the book is completely separate from that and it just didn't hook me. It had a really absurd tone that was really int ...more

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Oct 09, 2020 Andreas rated it liked it · review of another edition

Review scheduled at publication date 27.10.

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Oct 28, 2020 Vivienne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: occult, translation, fantasy, historical-fiction, adventure, picaresque, witchcraft, historic-fantasy, demons, four-and-a-half-stars

My thanks to Orion Publishing Group Gollancz for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Tower of Fools’ by Andrzej Sapkowski in exchange for an honest review. It is the first in his ‘Hussite Trilogy’ and was originally published in Poland in 2002.

After the success of his Witcher series, this earlier work is now being published in an English translation by David French, who previously translated the Witcher books.

It is listed as a historical fantasy though it isn’t high fantasy; rather it is historical f ...more

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Dec 20, 2020 ☆Lily☆ rated it really liked it

I was very intrigued when I found out that Andrzej Sapkowski has a new book series coming out. I read and liked some of the Witcher books and I really liked watching the Netflix Series.
The Tower of Fools also has a male main protagonist. But Reynevan is nothing like Gerald, the Witcher. In contrast to him he seems to be a little boy stumbling from one mistake to the next. Lucky for him he has some good friends who always rescue him and get him out of the trouble he gets himself in. Mostly he ge I was very intrigued when I found out that Andrzej Sapkowski has a new book series coming out. I read and liked some of the Witcher books and I really liked watching the Netflix Series.
The Tower of Fools also has a male main protagonist. But Reynevan is nothing like Gerald, the Witcher. In contrast to him he seems to be a little boy stumbling from one mistake to the next. Lucky for him he has some good friends who always rescue him and get him out of the trouble he gets himself in. Mostly he gets into trouble because he can neither control his libido nor his feelings. He is bound to be hurt or killed, but manages to survive everything.

The book blurb is kind of misleading as it indicates that he spends most of the book in the Narrenturm, which he does not. Throughout the book he is mostly on the run or getting into trouble. Reinmar of Bielawa is not the most clever person there is, despite having studied at the university of Prague, and sometimes he drives the reader up the wall with his nativity. But there is also a lot of good in him and he is a likable character.

The world the book is set in is our world and I suppose most historic facts used in it are true but I did not check them as I am no historian and to be honest do not really care if it is all 100% correct. Due to this some real historic characters appear like Gutenberg, who invented book printing, and also Walter von der Vogelweide (who made up one part of my university exam) are mentioned. Despite it being set in the „real“ world, there is much more to this world in the book than there really is. For example witchcraft really works and there are magical creatures in it too. This all gives the book a magical touch and makes it a fantasy book and not a historic novel. I really enjoyed the mix between reality and fantastic imagination.

Even though the 15th century Europe the book is set in, is a dark time and there is lots of violence and war, the book has a light tone and made me laugh out loud very often and the three main protagonists (Reinmar, Scharley and Samson) are very likable figures.

As I did not have much time to read I also bought the audio version of the book, read by Peter Kenny. It was a really good experience to listen to Peter Kenny reading this book. I especially liked the way he pronounces the word Narrenturm. He did an awesome job with the book and it is very blissful to listen to him. I wondered more than once how he manages to not stumble over the complicated foreign words.

I can definitely recommend reading the book, especially if you like historic fantasy novels and I will definitely read the following installments. ...more

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About Andrzej Sapkowski

Andrzej Sapkowski

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Andrzej Sapkowski, born June 21, 1948 in Łódź, is a Polish fantasy writer. Sapkowski studied economics, and before turning to writing, he had worked as a senior sales representative for a foreign trade company. His first short story, The Witcher (Wiedźmin), was published in Fantastyka, Poland's leading fantasy literary magazine, in 1986 and was enormously successful both with readers and critics. Andrzej Sapkowski, born June 21, 1948 in Łódź, is a Polish fantasy writer. Sapkowski studied economics, and before turning to writing, he had worked as a senior sales representative for a foreign trade company. His first short story, The Witcher (Wiedźmin), was published in Fantastyka, Poland's leading fantasy literary magazine, in 1986 and was enormously successful both with readers and critics. Sapkowski has created a cycle of tales based on the world of The Witcher, comprising three collections of short stories and five novels. This cycle and his many other works have made him one of the best-known fantasy authors in Poland in the 1990s.

The main character of The Witcher (alternative translation: The Hexer) is Geralt, a mutant assassin who has been trained since childhood to hunt down and destroy monsters. Geralt exists in an ambiguous moral universe, yet manages to maintain his own coherent code of ethics. At the same time cynical and noble, Geralt has been compared to Raymond Chandler's signature character Philip Marlowe. The world in which these adventures take place is heavily influenced by Slavic mythology.

Sapkowski has won five Zajdel Awards, including three for short stories "Mniejsze zło" (Lesser Evil) (1990), "Miecz przeznaczenia" (Sword of Destiny) (1992) and "W leju po bombie" (In a Bomb Crater) (1993), and two for the novels "Krew elfów" (Blood of Elves) (1994) and "Narrenturm" (2002). He also won the Spanish Ignotus Award, best anthology, for The Last Wish in 2003, and for "Muzykanci" (The Musicians), best foreign short story, same year.

In 1997, Sapkowski won the prestigious Polityka's Passport award, which is awarded annually to artists who have strong prospects for international success.

In 2001, a Television Series based on the Witcher cycle was released in Poland and internationally, entitled Wiedźmin (The Hexer). A film by the same title was compiled from excerpts of the television series but both have been critical and box office failures.

Sapkowski's books have been translated into Czech, Russian, Lithuanian, German, Spanish, French, Ukrainian, and Portuguese. An English translation of The Last Wish short story collection was published by Gollancz in 2007.

The Polish game publisher, CD Projekt, created a role-playing PC game based on this universe, called The Witcher, which was released in October 2007. There is also a mobile version of the game which has been created by Breakpoint Games and is being published by Hands-On Mobile in Western Europe,Latin America and Asia Pacific.

The English translation of Sapkowski's novel Blood of Elves won the David Gemmell Legends Award in 2009. ...more