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Меч Предназначения

(The Witcher #0.75)

Andrzej Sapkowski,

Анджей Сапковский

4.34 · Rating details · 64,188 ratings · 3,320 reviews

Ведьмак - это мастер меча и мэтр волшебства, ведущий непрерывную войну с кровожадными монстрами, которые угрожают покою сказочной страны. "Ведьмак" - это мир на острие меча, ошеломляющее действие, незабываемые ситуации, великолепные боевые сцены.
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Лучшая фантастика, 384 pages

Published January 1st 2008 by АСТ (first published May 21st 1992)

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Oct 17, 2018 James Lafayette Tivendale rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Much like The Last Wish before, Sword of Destiny is a collection of short stories following a talented witcher called Geralt of Rivia. Although you can start the series with Blood of Elves which is where the full-length novels commence, I can't recommend enough that even though a handful of these short stories are hit-and-miss, that they will add considerable depth to the future narrative arcs.

The Last Wish featured mostly isolated stories with the Witcher tackling a certain monstrosity for a Much like The Last Wish before, Sword of Destiny is a collection of short stories following a talented witcher called Geralt of Rivia. Although you can start the series with Blood of Elves which is where the full-length novels commence, I can't recommend enough that even though a handful of these short stories are hit-and-miss, that they will add considerable depth to the future narrative arcs.

The Last Wish featured mostly isolated stories with the Witcher tackling a certain monstrosity for a set payment. He travels around the world to where his peculiar killing and magic techniques are needed to tackle a problem and individuals will hire him. In the first book, apart from a couple of brief interludes, there were no recurring characters. It was solely about a certain adventure at one end of the world and then another a thousand miles away. Sword of Destiny features a handful of main characters from the series who become more fleshed out as there presence recurs. Geralt's friend and lady loving bard Dandelion, his mysterious sorceress love interest Yennefer and a potential child of destiny called Ciri. If you've played The Witcher computer games I imagine you a familiar with these characters, the sort of missions set and the monsters the Witcher is assigned to eradicate, and how beautiful and vast this created world is.

I found the stories in The Last Wish more consistent but two or three of my favourites are from this entry. If you decide to read the short story collections first I'd truly recommend starting with The Last Wish and not Sword of Destiny. Two stories in The Witcher #1, one including Yennefer and one including a Queen and a Princess, add huge depth to the action and events that occur in this collection, especially with certain relationship complexities.

The Witcher tales are exciting and addictive to say that a story can be finished in about half an hour. Sapkowski doesn't dumb down the world and there are a plethora of complex characters and demons throughout these pages. My favourite story is The Bounds of Reason and it features about twenty-five different well-crafted characters who set off on a mission to kill a wounded dragon. I found this narrative exceptional, unpredictable, thrilling with a hell of a twist at the end. This sets Sword of Destiny up brilliantly.

I won't go into the details of the stories too much as it might approach spoiler territory. I will confirm that these tales feature many fantasy races as well as mermaids and underwater warriors, showdowns with sorcerers, a group trying to trace a doppleganger, and also meeting Ciri. It features monster hunting of course but not as much and as frequent as The Last Wish. Each The Last Wish story played like a level on the Witcher games. These are less standalone and cleverly building up for the full narrative which will start with Blood of Elves.

I adored The Bounds of Reason, A Little Sacrifice and Sword of Destiny. Eternal Flame and A Share of Ice were very average. The final story Something More I really struggled with initially. It follows two timelines as Geralt in a fevered state and I sometimes got confused where and when we were. If it was a full-length story I wouldn't have finished it but I did and I'm glad I fought through as the ending is highly satisfying with setting up what can possible happen in the next outings.

I decided to read all of the Witcher books before the TV series is released and I am glad that I have taken on this venture. I've read the first two books within four days and I can't wait to move on further. I often struggle with short stories but I can recommend these highly. The Bound of Reason is one of the top two finest short stories I've ever read alongside Sebastian De Castell - The Fox and the Bowman. ...more

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Jan 18, 2020 Miranda Reads marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Library: 6 months

Online library: 8 months

Local bookstore: what's witchy?

Non-local bookstore: sold out.

Amazon: random assorted paperbacks

Me (a hardcover addict): hmmm. F*ck.

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Jan 25, 2020 Teodora added it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, on-app, fantasy

*pretends to start this to see what Geralt is going to do next but actually reads it to make sure Roach is being well-treated and a good girl overall*

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Oct 02, 2016 Evgeny rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This is a second collection of short stories featuring Geralt of Rivia. If I understand correctly it was written before The Last Wish, but chronologically comes after that one. The stories of this anthology are longer and less funny although one of them can be considered to be entirely humorous.

As most of the people already know Geralt is a witcher. This means he hunts monsters for living. He is also considered to be a mutant by many as his training included undergoing some chemical (herbs) This is a second collection of short stories featuring Geralt of Rivia. If I understand correctly it was written before The Last Wish, but chronologically comes after that one. The stories of this anthology are longer and less funny although one of them can be considered to be entirely humorous.

As most of the people already know Geralt is a witcher. This means he hunts monsters for living. He is also considered to be a mutant by many as his training included undergoing some chemical (herbs) and magical treatment that left him not-quite-human. So what does the guy do in this anthology? He is being lovesick - he is madly in love with Yennefer, he does his damned to escape what he thinks is his destiny, he follows his Codex which does not allow him to kill intelligent monsters. Have you notice something is missing in this description?

Exactly, the monster hunter does everything, but hunting monsters. This makes even one of the characters wonder how the heck he made his living with his nonexistent work-related income; it feels kind of like this:
Lazy

Unsurprisingly Geralt is broke most of the time.

I would like to talk about the love part of the book. What is a cornerstone cliché of a romance novel? The one without which the whole genre would not exists at all? It is a standard situation when two people are deeply in love with each other, but both of them keep creating obstacles that prevent them from being together, knowing exactly what they are doing. I mean imagine two people meet each other, fall in love, get married right away within a couple of pages, and fall into a standard married routine. Who in the right mind would read such a boring book?

Geralt and Yennefer is exactly such couple. The troubles they go to NOT be with each other boggle the mind. As you might guess these situations feel a little old. They felt old during Shakespeare time actually.
Romeo and Juliette

At least in the Great Bard's tale it were families that kept the kids separated.

It was not a bad anthology despite my criticism, but it did resulted in a lower rating by half a star. I am also willing to cut some slack due to a fact that it was the first written installment of the series. The next book promptly goes to my to-read shelf. ...more

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Jan 21, 2018 ✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, dragons, poof-gone-harem, set-sail-for-disappointment, welcome-to-the-zoo, oh-the-drama, cool-kids-r-us, machalo-tbr-cleaning-challenge-2018, 2018

Uh-oh, I think my boyfriend Geralt is on strike. I mean, why else would the Most Deliciously Scrumptious Witcher Ever aka the Super Hot if Slightly Mutant Monster Slayer (MDSWEakatSHiSMMS) butcher such a ridiculously low amount of supernatural beasts in this volume? Well, I guess it is also possible that his ~~evil~~ boring twin took over while I was, um, otherwise engaged with some of my other harem, um, boarders and stuff. Or maybe he was abducted by aliens, submitted to vigorous brain ...more

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Apr 12, 2017 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: witcherverse

(Review of 2 books: “The Last Wish” and “The Sword of Destiny)

It’s been a while since I’ve indulged in some sword and sorcery, and I’m happy to have come upon a trailer of “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” on Youtube. It’s visually stunning and highly fascinating! I wanted to learn more about the game and, to cut this story short (I guess you know where this is going anyway), discovered Andrzej Sapkowski’s written wonders. I’m sure the games are awesome, but I’m quite glad that I can immerse myself in (Review of 2 books: “The Last Wish” and “The Sword of Destiny)

It’s been a while since I’ve indulged in some sword and sorcery, and I’m happy to have come upon a trailer of “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt” on Youtube. It’s visually stunning and highly fascinating! I wanted to learn more about the game and, to cut this story short (I guess you know where this is going anyway), discovered Andrzej Sapkowski’s written wonders. I’m sure the games are awesome, but I’m quite glad that I can immerse myself in "The Witcher" universe through my preferred medium.

“The Last Wish” and “The Sword of Destiny” are each a collection of short, inter-connected stories that read very much like a character study. A study of the witcher, Geralt of Rivia, and his tormented relationship with the concept of destiny. The stories are nonlinear, but the links are easy to follow, and not every story turns out the way you might think or expect.

It's really hard for me to convey the depth of these collection of stories. They have a range of tone -- humor, romance, adventure, intrigue -- that is amazing. The writing is contemporary and yet has a resonance that feels timeless. It reminds me of Tolkien, in that there is a depth to the world Sapkowski has created that makes you feel like it's been around for a very long time. The books rank right up there amidst the fantasy genre as most immersive and entertaining. Sapkowski has an interesting way of setting up a story according to traditional fantasy and fairy tale fashion, then allowing the darkest facets of our own world bleed through the pages. Complicated questions about morality, religion, diversity, progress, and love are incorporated into the stories and the characters.

I fell in love with Geralt and his story,and he never disappoints with his perspective or his choices. He is relatable in a way that he is not the hyper self-righteous paragon of justice like many fantasy protagonists. He's merely a tradesman, of an albeit interesting line of work, trying somewhat desperately to keep his head above water and do the right thing. There's something of us all in Geralt in that respect.

I find the stories well written, suspenseful and engaging. The characters are diverse, colorful and relatable. One of the treasures of Sapkowski's style is how much of the plot is revealed through character interactions. Conversations flow naturally yet give all the necessary exposition and world building. The characters are interesting, believable and three dimensional no matter how small their role. The stories are at times bleak and grim, and yet there is an odd sense of whimsy like you might find in a classic Grimm's fairy tale. They can be comical or tragic but never contrived.

Overall, these are highly satisfying reads and I would highly recommend this to anyone who has a penchant for tough and gritty heroes who slay monsters and protect even the dumbest jerks from themselves with wisdom, dry wit, swordplay and a grounded sense of realism. Now I'm doubly excited to move on to the main series! ...more

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Jan 20, 2014 Fredrik rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I read this book in swedish (called Ödets Svärd - Sword of Destiny) and let me just say;

WOW. Sapkowski, you f-ing rule.

It doesn't seem like the Swedish publishers will publish any more Sapkowskibooks, and all I can say is; Your Loss, man.

Luckily, the Witcher Saga is available in English!

Everything about this book is awesome, from the characters to the world, to the humor and the fighting scenes. Geralt is a true badass, although he tries not to act like one. And his, kind of tragic, love story ...more

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Jul 30, 2018 Em Lost In Books rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-star, translations, 2018, 1990-99

Collection of stories. Some were good, others not so good.

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Jan 06, 2020 NAT.orious reads ☽ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-clubbing, tt-january-2020

4 STARS, destined for great things

This book is for you if… high fantasy with room for humour and modernised language suits your tastes. Be prepared for a lot of angsty romance and badass fighting scenes.

Preface.
Can we please, collectively, complain to Netflix for taking off The Witcher soundtrack of Spotify? I literally need to listen to Toss a coin to your witcher until I shout it from my grave.

Overall.
Different from The Last Wish in its style of adventures but still very enjoyable, ...more

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Dec 20, 2019 Sara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, audio, adult

The Bounds of Reason - DRAGONS and a shocking twist
A Shard of Ice - Yennefer and Geralt angst (with hints of a certain infamous stuffed unicorn )
Eternal Flame - An intro to Dudu and Dopplers.
A Little Sacrifice - Mermaids, love and sea monsters
The Sword of Destiny - A lost princess, Dryads and the bonds of destiny
Something More - The fall of a kingdom, and a law of surprise

I really enjoyed this short story collection, more so than the first The Last Wish. I think it helped that I had a ...more

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Feb 02, 2017 Markus rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, the-white-wolf, 2017

This second short story collection is unfortunately the weakest part of the Witcher universe that I have read. It is not on the level of The Last Wish, the stories feel mashed together without the same sense of purpose as in the other book, and they are less exciting, less symbolic and less epic.

However, I love experiencing the world of the Witcher and following Geralt of Rivia and Yennefer of Vengerberg on their adventures (even though Yennefer is dreadfully annoying in this book compared to ...more

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May 19, 2018 TS Chan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5/5 stars.

The compelling characterisation of Geralt and the imaginative world of Slavic lore and fairy-tale retellings continue in Sword of Destiny, the second collection of prequel short stories.

Sword of Destiny was published after the first three full-length novels of The Witcher series. As a new reader to the series, however, I was able to read the books in chronological order which is quite essential as this instalment served as the bridge between The Last Wish and Blood of Elves.

I found ...more

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Jan 02, 2020 Bradley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2020-shelf

Okay, so I've arrived very late to the Witcher party. I feel like I really ought to be embarrassed or something, too, but I've decided just to roll with it.

I... might have become a fanboy.

I mean, shoot, I've got Cavill in my head as the penultimate Geralt. Yennifer is someone I think I'll always love. I've got that whole season stuck in my head, and reading these two collections preceding the first official novel has made something very clear to me.

The first season IS these to books.

Maybe not ...more

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Aug 18, 2019 Will.J.R. Gwynne rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, fantasy

So Sword of Destiny is the second book in The Witcher Saga, but dates before The Last Wish. Many of the same characters are encountered as are many new monsters, one being a doppler.

Some stories were great, such as the one that seems to be a bit inspired by the little mermaid. It was surprisingly emotional and showed a completely different side to Geralt of Rivia that I have longed to see.

The story of a mimic who can change into anyone and adopt their mannerisms was hilarious, and rightly caused ...more

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Jan 02, 2020 Deborah Obida rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, adult

Chaos is aggression, Order is protection against it.

Still awesome! I was so scared this won't live up to the first book/novellas but I was wrong, I so do not agree with most folks on this, this book is as good as The Last Wish, some characters like Dandelion and Yennefer that was introduced in that novella made more appearances here. Not to mention Ciri the child of promise, I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

Just like the first book this book is written jn Geralt's narrative, ...more

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Nov 17, 2015 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, magic, action-adventure, audiobook, review-copy, short-stories

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/12/17/a...

Sword of Destiny is a collection of short stories featuring Geralt of Rivia, and it is actually the second book in The Witcher sequence. But because the English editions of the series’ first three full-length novels were released before this one (not to mention I was also pretty adamant about waiting for the audiobook, which wasn’t released until December 2015), I had to read it out of order.

Now that I’ve completed the 4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/12/17/a...

Sword of Destiny is a collection of short stories featuring Geralt of Rivia, and it is actually the second book in The Witcher sequence. But because the English editions of the series’ first three full-length novels were released before this one (not to mention I was also pretty adamant about waiting for the audiobook, which wasn’t released until December 2015), I had to read it out of order.

Now that I’ve completed the book though, so much is finally falling into place! Sword of Destiny bridges the events between the end of The Last Wish (the first short story collection) and Blood of Elves (the first novel of the series), making it a must-read for fans of The Witcher. Even if you’re not a “short story person”, picking it up is absolutely essential if you want to get the full picture.

The book opens with “The Bounds of Reason”, a story about a good old-fashioned dragon hunt. Well, things begin innocently enough, anyway. Geralt and his friend Dandelion get together with a group of adventurers to investigate rumors of a rare gold dragon. They eventually come across the creature, only to be met with some pretty big surprises! Geralt is true to form, stepping up and proving himself to be someone you want to root for. Yennefer, one of the series’ major characters, also makes an appearance. This was a great story to start the collection, with lots of action and a healthy dose of humor. I also enjoyed the classic quest narrative…with a twist.

The second story is “A Shard of Ice”, which I admit I didn’t enjoy quite as much. It’s not a typical short story, with not much of a plot, instead centering its focus on the romantic relationship between Geralt and Yennefer. Still, I liked how it revealed more about both characters, how they are both flawed people with plenty of cracks and vulnerabilities in their defenses. How can two people be so right and yet so wrong for each other at the same time?

The collection continues with “Eternal Flame”. In my opinion, this is another rather ho-hum tale, though it certainly had its moments. Geralt and Dendelion are up to their shenanigans again, heading back into the city to visit a friend, only to discover that he has been replaced by a mischievous doppelganger. It was a fun story, but ultimately I didn’t find it very memorable, and overall it didn’t add to the narrative in any meaningful way.

Next up is “A Little Sacrifice”, and I have to say, this story is where the audiobook excels. There’s a good reason why I choose audio format for this series, and that’s because narrator Peter Kenny is awesome—but more on that later. In this story, we get a twisted little take on The Little Mermaid. A duke and a mermaid fall in love and Geralt is hired as a translator to negotiate the terms of their relationship. The results are as hilarious as you would expect, and funnier still, the mermaid “language” involves singing the words. Peter Kenny rises to the occasion, delivering the lines the way they were meant to be spoken—in sing-song. Major points to him for that, because I have a feeling very few other narrators would have made the effort. This story made me laugh a lot, but it isn’t all humor either; Geralt reacts unexpectedly to another woman’s affections, realizing how his relationship with Yennefer has changed and affected him.

Finally, we come to the most crucial story, “The Sword of Destiny.” Geralt is tasked to meet with the Dryads, and while traveling through their forest, major events come to pass which will forever change his life. This is perhaps the most important story to read in this collection, as it is the one that introduces Ciri, the lost princess of Cintra. She plays a huge role in the rest of the series, and Geralt’s first meeting with her is not to be missed. As watershed moments go, it was a pretty good one.

There’s one more story left, and that’s “Something More”, aptly named because it is like an addendum to the previous story, reaching back to link Geralt’s past with his present and future. It also references more of the fairy tales and myths that make this world so fascinating. Geralt sustains a grievous injury after one of his harrowing battles, and he drifts in and out of consciousness during his long recovery, flashing back to memories and regrets from the past. This last story is a very powerful and touching one, a perfect end this collection. It ties things up neatly, and the final scene is enough to bring any Witcher fan to tears.

All in all, Sword of Destiny is a fine collection of tales, though as most collections go, it is not without its ups and downs. Nevertheless, it is an essential part of The Witcher series, especially the last few stories. Now that it is out, I highly recommend reading the books in order. This one in particular covers a lot of the events before Blood of Elves. The audiobook release schedule has also now caught up to the print release schedule, which is great news because I can’t imagine experiencing these books any other way. For me, Peter Kenny has become the voice of this series, and I look forward to hearing him narrate the next novel The Swallow’s Tower. ...more

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Oct 21, 2019 Edward rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews

Check out my review for Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski on Grimdark Magazine here: Grimdark Magazine

Sword of Destiny is a slavic fantasy book that contains the brilliance captured by the video game series, as well as the repertoire of characters that Andrej Sapkowski has at his disposal. This second collection of short stories in the world of the Witcher is a book that those who enjoyed the first collection, will love, as it brings more of the same.

’What a hideous smile I have, Geralt Check out my review for Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski on Grimdark Magazine here: Grimdark Magazine

Sword of Destiny is a slavic fantasy book that contains the brilliance captured by the video game series, as well as the repertoire of characters that Andrej Sapkowski has at his disposal. This second collection of short stories in the world of the Witcher is a book that those who enjoyed the first collection, will love, as it brings more of the same.

’What a hideous smile I have, Geralt thought, reaching for his sword. What a hideous face I have, and how hideously I squint. So, is that what I look like? Damn’

Geralt is such a great character, we have now had two whole books to get to know him as a Witcher, and understand his motives and background. Sword of Destiny does a good job of building upon the foundations of his character, lain by The Last Wish. Although still a short story collection, the development of Geralt is satisfying and evident much more in this volume. These chapters are linked, through characters that appear in multiple short stories, and Geralt’s engagement with them creates a fun experience.

Geralt’s cool-rating went up and up with each conversation, his witty and intelligent self shining in this collection. However, what frustrated me was his bumbling and pretty strange character when in the company of Yennefer, though maybe I’m still too used to the Geralt from the Witcher 3.

‘Don’t teach me how to trade you prat’

The stories in Sword of Destiny contained some fantastic examples of fantasy done at it’s highest, with dragons, dwarves, shape-shifters and doppelgängers, ferocious monsters and high-magic. The variety ensures that you will love at least one of the stories and enjoy most of them. I loved how different each story was, with their own morals and messages they portrayed. This is one of Sapkowski’s many strengths, where he carves a small book into a unique experience that challenges your ideas. The realisation that this is a fantasy book is pushed to the back of your mind, where it can also be perceived as a social commentary regarding issues that are still relevant today.

Also there’s swords. Lots of different swords. It’s pretty awesome, and the action is well-done, however rare. The dialogue was a big step-up in this second chapter, and the exchanges between characters was enjoyable and fun. Dandelion comes into his own in this, showing the many layers of his character (more layers than Shrek!). I also enjoyed the introduction of Ciri, a character so central to the Witcher 3. Although it was equally amusing and shocking to listen to the narrater’s thick Scottish portrayal of her.

’Has anyone ever told you that you are gorgeous?’

4/5 - A similar but satisfying continuation of the Witcher series. A step-up from The Last Wish that delivers emotionally and physically punching stories. The variety keeps you on your toes, and the development is good. Geralt is still a very cool guy, and I look forward to beginning the full novels of these soon. ...more

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Jul 03, 2017 Mili rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-the-book

It started out way too boring, its not that the characters are not interesting but it lacked a plot. Im not a short story person perse. After the mermaid chapter it got more intense and interesting. Thats when it picked up my interest (Brokilon, cool amazonian chicks and Ciri ) and I went through it quickly. Really cool ending, got me a wee it emotional xD

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Jan 19, 2020 Laura ☾ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I LOVE THIS WORLD

full review to come

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Jan 14, 2016 Althea Ann rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Bounds of Reason
Rumor has quickly spread of a dragon on the loose, and an assorted group of warriors, wizards and scoundrels have assembled. Many are clearly there to slay the dragon and gain reward and treasure - but Geralt the witcher is also there, and he says he doesn't kill dragons. As the story unfolds, we discovers that others' motivations are also more varied than we might've guessed.

A Shard of Ice
In a dingy midden heap of a town, Geralt must compete with a powerful wizard for the The Bounds of Reason
Rumor has quickly spread of a dragon on the loose, and an assorted group of warriors, wizards and scoundrels have assembled. Many are clearly there to slay the dragon and gain reward and treasure - but Geralt the witcher is also there, and he says he doesn't kill dragons. As the story unfolds, we discovers that others' motivations are also more varied than we might've guessed.

A Shard of Ice
In a dingy midden heap of a town, Geralt must compete with a powerful wizard for the affections of the beautiful sorceress Yennefer. The angstiness here is worthy of the Elric saga.

Eternal Flame
Geralt and his minstrel friend Dandelion run into each other in the city of Novigrad (thirty thousand inhabitants!) Here they meet the halfling merchant Dainty Biebervelt - which, is soon becomes clear, is having an issue. He's being impersonated by a rare being known as a doppel or mimic - who is interfering with his business in a most disturbing manner. The story becomes a delightful farce, with a most satisfying resolution.

A Little Sacrifice
An arrogant duke has requested the Witcher's services as translator - he wants to speak with the mermaid he's in love with. The initial conversation doesn't go so well.. but while Geralt is still there, a boat of pearl divers vanishes - and a second request (or order) is issued: discover what monster might have slaughtered the divers so that commerce can resume.

The Sword of Destiny
While on a dangerous mission as envoy to the Lady of the forest of Brokilon, Geralt stumbles across a badly-wounded acquaintance. The besieged dryads of Brokilon make a policy of slaughtering anyone who infringes on their ever-shrinking territory. But the wounded man was desperate to fulfill his mission: to deliver a runaway princess to her intended betrothed. Can Geralt intercede on their behalf and save their lives?

Something More
Here, Geralt is badly wounded in his efforts to save a merchant from an attack by monsters. Delirious and hallucinating, he thinks of the past and the various destinies and truths that he has tried to avoid. But destiny has a way of catching up with everyone...
...more

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May 31, 2016 Mari rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016, 2017, fantasy, finished-series

[March 18, 2017] Marking for reread and also *fanfare* upping my rating to a full 4 stars. Do I think it's a 4 star book? I don't know. I just know that this world and these characters keep growing on me more and more. I've read these stories before (obvs) but that doesn't make them a bit more interesting, entertaining or edge-of-your-seat worthy. Part of my grading comes from rereadability. I hold stories that you can visit again and again in high esteem, and this is certainly a collection that [March 18, 2017] Marking for reread and also *fanfare* upping my rating to a full 4 stars. Do I think it's a 4 star book? I don't know. I just know that this world and these characters keep growing on me more and more. I've read these stories before (obvs) but that doesn't make them a bit more interesting, entertaining or edge-of-your-seat worthy. Part of my grading comes from rereadability. I hold stories that you can visit again and again in high esteem, and this is certainly a collection that falls there.

My review below is great. Read it because I still mostly feel all those things for sure.

[June 5, 2016] I talk about reading this book in this reading wrap-up!

3.5 stars

This has been such an entertaining and interesting reading experience. I will say that I'm loving the stories in terms of action, adventure and Geralt. I LOVE GERALT SO MUCH. I love his non-emotional emo. I love his cold brooding. I love his code of ethics, his solitary figure that is constantly surrounded by the strangest friends, his ability, his capability, etc. I could go on.

I also know, however, that I'm so enchanted with this character and setting BECAUSE I played the video games first. I'm not sure how I would receive all of this if I didn't have that other experience first. I start on page 1 with investment already and I just want to be clear that this was never going to be anything resembling an objective reading experience for me. I'm okay with that, because I'm enjoying myself a ton, but clearly I've also been wondering what I would've thought had things been reversed.

The two things that give me pause here are the writing style and the treatment of women within the story. The writing style isn't bad, by any means. I'm also reading a Sarah J Maas book at the moment, so I'll repeat: I'm not talking about SJM levels bad. There are moments where it is just beautiful it what it says about people, humanity, destiny, war, etc. But those moment are far between. Usually the writing style is rather plain and formulaic. It fits the fantasy style and the character of Geralt well, but it isn't my preferred style. I like things a little more fluffy and descriptive, etc.

The whole thing with women is difficult. We've met a few really powerful, take charge, no nonsense women. The author has even made some really interesting, pro-choice commentary within his story in a way that makes it clear that he's here for women's rights. There is nothing that I could point to and say concretely, "this is SO problematic." It's more of a... ~*feeling*~. Women are constantly sexualized, but in that really plain straight forward manner, so that I'm constantly going back and thinking, "is he being descriptive or gross right now?" If a woman enters the scene, her breast size is going to be described. Bank on it. I often wonder if Geralt is going to make out with all of the women he comes across because of that air with which the author treats his women. It's not happening so much or so overtly that I won't continue reading, especially because I find Yen and Triss and especially Ciri incredible characters.

THAT LAST STORY IN THIS COLLECTION WITH CIRI. Tears.

Finally, ship update: I ONLY ship Geralt and Yen because it's what Geralt wants. I'm back here like, bro. I advise against it but if that's what you want... Yen is difficult to root for. I get all of her reasons for doing things but I get them in my head, not in my heart.

I love that this series starts off with two collections of short stories. (Or at last, that's how I read them. There are a gazillion suggested reading orders out there. I'm going in publication order because.) Every story is like a little piece of the puzzle. It feels like I'm getting tid-bits and easter eggs and I'm liking it.

Onward! ...more

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Feb 17, 2018 Prongs rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Humans and Elves and Dwarves and Trolls. Oh, and Women.

That's what parts of this book felt like. Like women are a different, lesser race. I think the way women are depicted in this book is problematic. To have a medieval world behaving in a medieval way about women is something, to have clever and heroic protagonists going along with it is something else entirely. I really don't have anything against a hero who has lots of sex with lots of women. As a guy, I get why this is appealing to a Humans and Elves and Dwarves and Trolls. Oh, and Women.

That's what parts of this book felt like. Like women are a different, lesser race. I think the way women are depicted in this book is problematic. To have a medieval world behaving in a medieval way about women is something, to have clever and heroic protagonists going along with it is something else entirely. I really don't have anything against a hero who has lots of sex with lots of women. As a guy, I get why this is appealing to a Fantasy author. But I need strong characters. I need some non-sexualized girls. This had too many bits about women being annoying in the background for me to feel confortable reading it. Too many bits about women speaking their mind and somehow coming out less likable for it. So much effort in that direction that it feels like the author himself thinks that women are second-rate people, only tolerable inside a bedroom or a kitchen. With race equality as a recurring theme throughout the book, this is really clumsy.

And this was published in the 90's. It's always disappointing when this mentality shows up in an old fantasy book, but at least it's kind of predictable. It's like finding racism in a 19th century travel-adventure novel. But today... This should not be left unnoticed.

Am I supposed to like Dandelion at this point ? Apparently, the author thinks being a dick is a lovable trait because he keeps coming up and I can't believe this guy was meant as a long lasting character. This is not a good Rogue, this is a living embodiment of everything I hate about Fantasy.

And I am supposed to like Yennefer at all ? After research, I've read how Sapkowski brags about her not being a fantasy stereotype, which only confirms that he is only capable of writing either stupid-giggling-just-for-fantasy-sex-girls or cold condescending bitches (still up for sex mind you). Yennefer is the least likable female character I have ever found in Fantasy, and it is not because of unintentional sexism from my part. I don't understand in what world this character was meant as lovable. I genuinely thought that all the textual evidence was meant to foreshadow tragedy and how Geralt could only suffer with someone like this. It is now obvious that it was meant to be also part of the novels, and now I have too much info to really care about her or their relationship.

Now about the storytelling itself, I have mixed feelings.
I don't know about Polish, I read the English translation because the French one is crap (real real crap) and with now 3 different translations tested, I am pretty confident that the source material is far from great literature. The best I could get from this book was the Audible version. Peter Kenny did an amazing job with it, but even with David French's translation (which is the best I encountered so far), some bits were truly painful. It had some good chapters in the beginning, but this flirting with long-term plot got boring real fast. The long thoughts and dialogs during The Brokilon part were particularly clumsy, and The Beltane chapter with Yennefer might be one of the worst things I have ever read inside a success Fantasy novel, so bad you would think Terry Goodkind wrote it.

Worst thing is, I really really loved Ciri, and I think she is everything this series needed. We'll see about that. It's a shame her chapters were so weak.

I rated The Last Wish 3 stars because there's only so much plot you can expect from a short stories book, but now it is getting closer and closer to a novel, I really have doubts about Sapkowski's ability to keep these characters interesting. ...more

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Feb 09, 2016 Mark Halse rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The more stories I read about Geralt of Rivia the more I love him. The best thing about these stories is that the characters are so very real despite living in a fairy tale world.

I liked this set of short stories a little better. In THE LAST WISH the only thing holding the stories together was that they all starred Geralt. In this book the stories were connected by more and seemed to lead to something.

The thing I love most about Geralt is how honest he is as a character. Sometimes he's a ...more

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Jul 23, 2017 Claudia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I keep wondering why I disliked this book so much the first time I tried to read it that I abandoned it… I have no idea, however I’m so glad I gave this series another shot, because this time I simply loved it.

The first one I liked a lot but this one ripped my heart apart as much as it made me laugh.

The change of focus from killing monsters to introspection and interaction with others gave the stories an unexpected depth, which really touched me.

We finally get to meet Ciri and what a delight ...more

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Jan 17, 2016 Patremagne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, audiobook

"It's like they said! Geralt! it's like they said! Am I your destiny? Say it! Am I your destiny?"

"You're much more than that, Ciri. Much more."

Fuck. Too many feels in these past two audiobooks.

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Dec 26, 2019 Gavin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I was not a big fan of The Last Wish so was not going to bother continuing with this series. I found The Last Wish to be an average fantasy book that was damaged badly by having a lot of problematic issues. I'll not bore you guys with the details again as I mentioned all those problems in my review for the first book. Netflix's The Witcher TV adaptation of the story was pretty good though so that inspired me to give this second collection of short stories a go!

I have to say I probably enjoyed ...more

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Nov 06, 2017 daisy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

y'all I actually wrote a review instead of sticking RTC in the little text box and then forgetting about it - it's a miracle!!

I'm gonna be completely honest - I didn't really love most of the stories in this one. Those featuring Ciri were by far my favourites, the last one in the little collection was my fave of the lot, but the rest were kind of just? okay? Which is a shame because I do quite like Geralt and find the magic and monsters and all of that jazz enjoyable + interesting.

Something y'all I actually wrote a review instead of sticking RTC in the little text box and then forgetting about it - it's a miracle!!

I'm gonna be completely honest - I didn't really love most of the stories in this one. Those featuring Ciri were by far my favourites, the last one in the little collection was my fave of the lot, but the rest were kind of just? okay? Which is a shame because I do quite like Geralt and find the magic and monsters and all of that jazz enjoyable + interesting.

Something that definitely bogged down my enjoyment - and was coincidentally the only major issue I had with the previous book - was the gross sexist/rapey throwaway lines and world-building.

SPOILERS BELOW
- Yennefer is overpowered, bound, has her blouse ripped open, her breasts groped, and is then basically told she's going to be passed around by a group of dwarves to 'enjoy' after they've completed their hunt.
- There's a line about one of the victims of a dragon being the town halfwit, the son of a 'retarded woman and a squadron of invading soldiers who passed through' that was just odd.
- Geralt witnesses a crying twelve year old girl being groped by an innkeeper and is just 'annoyed' by it - after which neither of them are mentioned again. It was? pointless?
- A teenage squire helps Ciri, a young child, away and Geralt's inner monologue suggests that he did so because he'd 'heard knightly tales about virgins being promised to their heroes' or something.
- There's a mermaid called Sh'eenaz, who I quite liked, but every time she appeared in a scene, there'd be a line about how 'lovely her charms' were. Charms AKA her boobs. How lovely and perfectly shaped and firm her boobs were. Every single scene. Boobs are great, I get it, but you don't need to mention it every single time she blinks.
- Women are constantly described via the size of their breasts, how plump/shapely they are, how fair of face they might or might not be, how virginal they are or aren't, etc. etc.
- Also I get that Yennefer being barren is upsetting for her, and something she desperately wishes to reverse, that's understandable, but the way she talks about her infertility is just... strange to me. Like she's not worth anything else as a person or a woman because she can't conceive.

It all felt super unnecessary and gross and I've said it before and it's probably just my personal preference, but I don't have any patience for it anymore tbh.

In saying all of that - I'm definitely gonna continue with the series because a) I do genuinely enjoy the general setting and main cast, b) I think the rest of the books are actually novels, not collections of short stories, which I think I might enjoy a little more, and c) I already own them all, so... might as well! ~~I'm also hoping to get through the books before I dive into The Witcher 3, so fingers crossed that happens.~~ ...more

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Jan 03, 2020 Trish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is the second short story collection in the Witcher universe. And what a universe it has become!

We are still following Geralt of Rivia, the white-haired Witcher with the wolf amulet. He is still travelling around the different realms of this world, encountering all kinds of (mostly shitty) people and fabled creatures. Sometimes he has to fight and kill them. Though it is once again clear that in this grim and dark world, the horned and hooved beings usually aren't the problem.
Here, finally, This is the second short story collection in the Witcher universe. And what a universe it has become!

We are still following Geralt of Rivia, the white-haired Witcher with the wolf amulet. He is still travelling around the different realms of this world, encountering all kinds of (mostly shitty) people and fabled creatures. Sometimes he has to fight and kill them. Though it is once again clear that in this grim and dark world, the horned and hooved beings usually aren't the problem.
Here, finally, Geralt meets the queen of Cintra and strikes the fateful bargain, the Law of Surprise, that ultimately connects him to Ciri. He even meets her in the dryads' forest but sends her away again as he doesn't realize who she is (yes, the story about the forest and its nymphs was different from the corresponding episode on the show). I really liked getting a much more intimate look at the enchanted forest with all its inhabitants though I preferred Ciri's reason for being there from the show rather than these stories.
My favourite story must be that of the mermaid and I'll rage if they don't include it in season 2, I swear.
My least favourite story as it didn't add to any character's development and didn't do anything for me story-wise either, was that of the doppler (we see one of those on the show, too).

All in all, the author continues to pick up typical fairy tales and mythological settings as well as creatures and molds them into something new. Nothing fancy or shiny, but very realistic and serious. There is a lot of darkness in this world, monstrousness created mostly by us humans, but there are also beautiful places and kind people here. The world the author brought to life was once again rich and the interpersonal relationships developed in these stories were wonderfully realized and moving.

What surprised me pleasantly was that the author managed to portray the starcrossed-lovers trope so well. Usually I hate it and it annoys the living shit out of me, but Yennefer and Geralt? *sighs dreamily* Yep, those two WORK! Not least because as "old" as these stories are, the author managed to write a fantastic female main character who is not only the male protagonist's equal but often even surpasses him and his abilities in a credible way! I honestly hope that we'll get her full background story like we did on the show. There were a few details I actually liked better on the show once again, but how rich and deep their relationship and characters were, that was very gratifying for me as a reader.

Can't wait to also get more on Geralt and Ciri now! They are more than each other's destiny after all. ;)

Last but not least, a word on the books vs the show. I've mentioned a few things already and mostly did so because I came to this world via the show (after having heard about the award-winning games but never having played them myself yet) and thought others might want to know how what holds up compared to the respective other. What I love is how books and show complete each other. I've seen something very similar with the first season of American Gods and it worked in this world's favour as well. There are numerous details (such as the betrothal feast at Cintra) that were better on the show, but there are other things that were more detailed and therefore better in the books, too. So yeah, a healthy equilibrium.

Anyway, now I know why so many compare this author to GRRM or even Tolkien - it's not an exaggeration at all. I'll definitely continue with the books and hope that the novels can hold up to the short stories. ...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Dusty rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, fantasy

What a pleasant surprise. I've heard good things about the Witcher books, of which the Witcher video games are based on, and I wasn't disappointed. This collection of short stories is not available in an official English translation so I had to read the fan translations. I didn't know what to expect in terms of the quality of the translation, but it was actually very well done. They were in Word doc format and I combined them and created a single Mobi file for the Kindle which turned out quite ...more

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May 22, 2018 Marianna Neal rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: short-stories-and-novellas, fantasy

Two books down, five more to go! OK, six, if you're counting Season of Storms, but I'll deal with that story collection last.

Either way, I'm really enjoying my re-read so far. Compared to The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny focuses much more on personal relationships and character development rather then the monster slaying. If you needed more reasons to love Geralt—you'll find them here. You will also get a lot more of the complicated Geralt/Yennefer dynamic, which is something I'm always down for. ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Buchreihen Challe...: Kleine LR: The Witcher - Das Schwert der Vorsehung	26	19	Feb 07, 2020 02:31AM
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Sword of Destiny [Jan 20, 2020]	37	76	Jan 30, 2020 07:46AM
Fantasy Book Club...: The Witcher #2: Sword of Destiny, Tales of the Witcher—Finished Reading (Spoilers!)	6	27	Aug 24, 2019 10:43AM
Fantasy Book Club...: The Witcher #2: Sword of Destiny, Tales of the Witcher—Roll Call & First Impressions (NO Spoilers)	3	18	Aug 11, 2019 06:02PM
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Sword of Destiny [July 23, 2018]	37	63	Aug 02, 2018 03:22AM
Fantasy and Manga...: Sword of Destiny Discussion - Spoilers Allowed	4	18	May 18, 2018 03:39PM

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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