Blood of Elves

I’ll review this book in lieu of writing reviews for each book in the series, since it’s one of my favorites. The Witcher series is fantastic, period. I’ve played the video games (well, at least the first one), and watched the show; and if you like either of those you need to read the book; since the characters and universe have so much more depth to them than you’d think, and only the books do them justice. Some spoilers, for the entire series: I’d never been a huge fan of Geralt or Yennefer before reading the books. I envisioned Geralt as the stoic womanizer fantasy stereotype, and Yennefer as another stereotype - promiscuous, selfish and borderline. I still think these characters start out that way, but the author develops them so well you can watch them evolve over the course of the series. The reader gradually witnesses Geralt revising his stance on neutrality, contemplate his ability to feel and emphasize, and find the balance between free will, chaos, and destiny. Likewise, Yennefer comes to terms with her inability to bear children and learns to look beyond her identity as a sorceress. Ciri ties them together, acting as an anchor between all three characters and growing with them. Ciri as a character is also very well-developed. Her story is harder to read, especially when you get to the Time of Contempt, since the traumatic things she goes through are a thousand times worse because she’s a teenager. Still reading the Tower of Swallows. Will update this review when I complete the series.

I read last wish and this after playing the video game. For those of you readers who are not also gamers, The witcher game was a well done and reasonably under rated RPG, in which you played as Geralt. For those of you who are Gamers coming to this book from the game, You're in for a good time. The book is well written, Which for a translation is a miracle. Generally such things come out as half assed, or under done, this did not. I found it hard to believe it WAS a translation. It speaks clearly and tells the story without any significant errors. There is a fair amount of obscure language, referencing either in universe topics (Such as names that stem from the language of the elves) or referencing medieval items (Such as types of sword, armor or architecture.) None of this should be a problem for an avid reader of this style of fiction. It shines in it's inclusiveness, Using terms and not explaining them, letting you learn as the characters learn. To some this may be an issue, but the feeling of being a part of this world surpasses the need to know in me. Honestly there is very little you don't learn by the end of the book. The end of the book is the only issue. It doesn't end. This being the first in a series of books and the others not having been translated as of yet. I am sure the readers here will know how that feels. I have grown to love these characters, and I am forced to wait for the next book. Delicious torture! However, the next book is being worked on as I speak, so we should not have to wait long! I don't want to tell you the details of the story. You can look that up elsewhere without issue. This is a review, and thus I would just like to say that I loved the book. I loved Last Wish, and I love Blood of Elves. The pacing is great, the universe is large, well thought out and steeped in lore. Characters are multifaceted and involved, at no point did I feel like I was reading another cookie cutter fantasy novel. This is a rich vein, and I hope people continue to buy it, so that it continues to be translated and I can continue to mine it!

The illustrations are really great. Good book on its own, not my first copy, but this one is definitely getting displayed.

Better than Netflix it is worth the time to read the books,and play the video games. The rpg is fun too.

Humans, elves, dwarves, and gnomes have lived and worked together for centuries; however, those centuries of peace are nearing an end as these races begin to fight amongst themselves. War is rapidly approaching and the Child Surprise is wanted by many for the power she houses within her to turn the tide of the impending battle. The Child Surprise, a young princess name Cirilla, has the power to change the world or destroy it. But she is not alone, for she was destined to meet the famous witcher Geralt of Rivia and Geralt was destined to protect her from the many who so desperately want her power. And thus officially begins the story of the witcher in Andrzej Sapkowski’s first book of his 'Witcher' series, 'Blood of Elves'. The story “A Question of Price” told by Geralt in The Last Wish had the Queen of Cintra, Calanthe, promising her granddaughter, the Child Surprise, to Geralt. The very end of The Last Wish left readers with Geralt leaving Nenneke and Melitele’s Temple in search of the Child Surprise, for he had been waiting for her to be born. After a siege on her home in Cintra, the Child Surprise, Princess Cirilla, is found by Geralt. Young, alone, and afraid, Geralt takes Ciri under his protection and destiny begins to work its magic. What a way to begin a fantasy series. With the plot being about a child of destiny and this child being destined to someone else and that someone else being said child’s protector, one would think the story is a typical, cliché, and predictable fantasy story. On the contrary, 'Blood of Elves' is incredibly unique and is in no way predictable. The first in the 'Witcher' series is, like its predecessor: well-written, action-packed, and humorous. With the premise stating that Geralt and Ciri were destined to be together, it is great to begin with the witcher and the princess. Their relationship is not that of lovers, but rather as a father and daughter and it works beautifully! Because of destiny, Geralt is thrust into the role of not only protector, but of father and it is one he never thought he would have. Same goes for Ciri: she was very young when she lost her parents and Geralt is not only her guardian, but a father she doesn’t remember having. One would think before reading that, due to Geralt’s personality in 'The Last Wish', he may find Ciri a nuisance; however, the scenes with them together are wonderful to read. They get along very well, joke around with each other, and Geralt has taught Ciri to defend herself, though he still keeps a sharp eye on her. This is a pleasant surprise for readers who assumed the aforementioned. There is a wonderful blend of serious action and witty comedy throughout the story. Sapkowski improved on writing his battle scenes, making it easier for the reader to imagine how Geralt and the others are fighting. Dandelion is still as humorous as ever and a new character is introduced that is just as funny: Triss Merigold. Triss is a sorceress like Yennefer and met Geralt through her as well. When she travels to find Geralt at Kaer Morhen, the home and training grounds of the witchers, she is able to meet Ciri there. Geralt and a handful of other witchers have been training the young princess on how to fight and defend herself; however, these men have forgotten a very important fact about Ciri that Triss was not shy to remind them about: that she is a teenage girl blossoming into womanhood. The exchange of dialog between Triss and the witchers during this explanation is clever and a crack up for readers to read. The only true downside about 'Blood of Elves' is the length of the chapters. There are only seven chapters, but each one spans roughly about 50 pages each. This makes it difficult to pick a stopping point, whether a reader wants to stop or not; however, there are gaps between the events that happen where readers can stop if they need to, which Sapkowski probably strategically placed knowing how long he would make each chapter. And, if readers ever forget while reading what the title of the book is, do not fear. Sapkowski refers to the title many times. The first time it is mentioned is in the first 20 pages, for of the different names given to Ciri (child of destiny, the Child Surprise), she is also called a child of Elder Blood, the blood of elves. Also within these first few pages, much is explained about destiny, Ciri, and how Geralt and Ciri were destined to be together, so anyone who has not read The Last Wish will be caught up on what is happening and those who have read it will be reminded. 'Blood of Elves' is a beautifully written book and a wonderful way to officially begin the 'Witcher' Series. Every turn of the page offers events and happenings that will make it difficult to put the book down, disregarding the long chapters and the difficulty in finding a stopping point. Readers will admire Geralt more as a hero than he was in The Last Wish and will fall in love with his father-daughter relationship with Ciri. It is a book that one can start with if one is curious about the series, but the series would be much more enjoyable and easier to follow if one has read the prequel first. Due to its well-written prose and the large world Sapkowski created, one will immediately want to pick up the sequel, 'The Time of Contempt', shortly after finishing.

Review of book: Blood of elves is certainly not the best one in the series (to me) but a great start to the saga. Sapkowski's writing style to is very easy to read and understand. There was little amount of fantasy elements in it. Only 1 or 2 major fighting events. But the world-building is great, the dialogues, humors and Geralt's sarcastic replies were great. The character interaction and development is a major merit of Blood of Elves, especially Ciri-Yennefer relationship. It has a great start and end but I'm lost in middle. The book cover can look good if I find a way to hide that netflix logo. Review of Deliver service: I received the book before the estimated date so I am happy for it. But the book was in a 'OK' condition.

Bra bok!

The Witcher series is excellent and I can’t wait to turn every page. The Netflix adaptation is very good but the books are better.

I really enjoyed reading the Witcher series, and Saga Book 1 felt like one of the classic sword and sorcery epic cycle. You get decent world building and a strong background about Geralt. It's a long cycle (5 books for the main series), so it has a slow start, but it's a page turner.

Drittes Buch der Reihe, Erster Roman darin (erster is "The Sword of Destiny" zz. existiert in Englisch nur die Fan-Übersetzung, die ist jedoch superb). Zweiter Roman warum? Weil Sword of Destiny eine Short Story Sammlung ist deren letze Kurzgeschichte den Haupthandlungsstrang der Reihe startet. Die Geschichten davor drehen sich ausschließlich und verschiedene Abenteuer Geralts und sind da uns die Charactere und ihr leben zu beschreiben. Die Romane dann haben eher einen fortschreitenden Handlungsstrang, der jeoch den Short Stories in den details sehr ähnlich und im Schreibstil absolut gleich ist (also keine Sorge, wenn ihr die Short Stories mochtet werdet ihr die Romane auch mögen). Sapkowski schafft mit dieser Buckreihe eine der faszinierensten Welten von der ich je lesen, in die ich je eintauchen durfte. Ein muss für "The Witcher" fans, ein muss für jeden fantasy-liebhaber und fan von Erwachsenen, grimmingen, pseudo-realistischen fantasy Welten und - last but not least - eine klare Empfehlung für jeden anderen, selbst wenn er order sie sonst nicht viel mit fantasy am Hut hat. Buch ist in English und sollte meiner Meinung auch in English (oder der originalsprache) gelesen werden. Die Fehlenden Teile in der Reihe (Sword of Desitny, Tower of Swallow und Lady of the Lake) wurden teilweise (sehr gut) von fans online übersetzt, also keine Angst vor Wissenslücken. Für jeden der die Reihenfolge wissen möchte: The Last Wish (Short Stories) The Sword of Destiny (Short Stories) (Letzte Short Story started Haupthandlungsstrang der Romane) Blood of Elves (Erster Roman) Time of Contempt (Roman) Baptism of Fire (Roman) Tower of Swallow (Roman) Lady of the Lake (Roman) Epische Fantasy Reihe, eine wunderbar erzählte Story in einer sehr realitätsnahen, harschen Welt mit sehr liebevoll und tiefgründig gestalteten Characteren.