Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski (The Witcher #0.75) - Starting March 19th 2020

[Dannii]

The Witcher returns in this action-packed sequel to The Last Wish, in the series that inspired The Witcher video games.

Geralt is a witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent. He roams the country seeking assignments, but gradually comes to realise that while some of his quarry are unremittingly vile, vicious grotesques, others are the victims of sin, evil or simple naivety.

In this collection of short stories, following the adventures of the hit collection THE LAST WISH, join Geralt as he battles monsters, demons and prejudices alike...

[Ta || bookishbluehead]

I don't have a lot reading time at the moment. Work's crazy with the Virus-Situation, but I hope I can get back to the book later today.

21 % - (view spoiler)[The first Story was really good. I liked the story about the dragon. This is really an interestin world Geralt lives in. And yay for Yennefer! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Everything is pretty crazy here as well. I hope you're doing okay. I'm going to jump into this one either today or tomorrow.

[Dannii]

Finally starting this one, now!

[Dannii]

Bounds of Reason - (view spoiler)[More Yennefer, more Dandelion, and a golden, talking dragon - what is not to love?? (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

A Shard of Ice - (view spoiler)[Ugh, when Geralt calls Yennefer 'Yen' it makes me melt! This collection is, so far, more romanced based than the last collection and it is not uninteresting but nowhere near as engaging, for me. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Eternal Flame - (view spoiler)[This was the first story that really delivered what I was anticipating, based on the first anthology in this series. It was more focused on the actual dynamics of being a Witcher/beasts of this kingdom and less on romance. The dopplers were interesting and Dandelion was an early star of the show, again. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

A Little Sacrifice - (view spoiler)[I loved The Little Mermaids references in this one. The first chapter was hilarious. More so as I am listening to this one as I read along physically. Geralt's dry tone singing to the mermaid's was so funny!

Something that is becoming increasingly obvious is the sexist male gaze though. I didn't find this in the first collection, but throughout this there are multiple references to female body parts, even from his female characters' perspectives. Ugh!

Asides from that, this was my favourite inclusion here, so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

The Sword of Destiny - (view spoiler)[I always get excited for the stories in any collection that also share the central anthology title.

Ciri was a bit of a brat but I felt sorry for her a little with Geralt's unfeeling treatment. You could see him soon soften towards her though, despite his sometimes gruff manner.

He chose not to doom to her the fate of a witcher!! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Something More - (view spoiler)[A little underwhelmed by this concluding story. I enjoyed the return of Yennefer but have found the collection, as a whole, more focused on Geralt's feelings and relationships when I wanted to see more of his job as a Witcher.

Loved the return of Ciri at the end! (hide spoiler)]