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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.
Genre: Fantasy, Pages: 280, Publisher: Gollancz, Published: March 2012 (1986), Source: For review
My thoughts:
I liked this one cos it was different from fantasy that I usually read. it was all about Geralt's different adventures. So there were a bunch of loosely attached stories and it worked well.
So what to we have then? Geralt, a witcher who hunts vampires, dragons and every evil thing there is. He does his job and that's it. In between stories we see him at a temple where he talks to a priestess as they are friends. On two trips he also has a troubadour with him, but other than that it's a very lonely job.
What's great about these "hunting trips" (yes I just watched Supernatural), is that the author takes in a few fairytales here and there. He makes this into a believable world and the fairytales are nothing like you know from before. There is a beauty and the beast one, there is a mentioning about a glass slipper, Rapunzel and a story about Snow White in a way. And trust me, Snow White is what you think she is. The stories fits well in the world and it's like the truly do belong there cos he takes them and makes them his. Like they are those kind of things that happens in every world, in every age. Because of this there is a fairytale quality over it all. And I do like how he uses a wide variety of monsters and since he is Polish, a of Eastern European ones. Monsters I have not come across often or ever, which is good since most just go with the safe ones.
A famous game seems to be based on this, but since I am not really a gamer I can't say much about that, but, I would like to try it.
Conclusion:
I enjoyed the tales and monsters that he met. It was a refreshing take on fantasy and traditional fairytales. A mix that worked well.
Cover:
It does look like him
I love fantasy, I will have to check this out. And if he looks like the cover even better!
ReplyDeleteLol, I do go for covers too ;)
DeleteThis book looks like a good one to be adapted into a TV series...
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! And monsters are in, and I'd rather watch it in a fantasy setting
DeleteThis sounds good, is that Geralt on the cover? He instantly reminded me of Legolas from LOTR :)
ReplyDeleteYup that is him :)
DeleteHe does have light hair and I first thought I saw a pointy ear, lol
This sounds great, and i love "hunting trip" tales!
ReplyDeleteThen you'd sure like this one :)
DeleteAh fantasy and assasins. My kind of book! And I like the cover too :)
ReplyDeleteI do have a big soft spot for assassins and thieves :D
DeleteI wonder what game is based on this...I guess I will have to do some searching.
ReplyDeleteIt's at the back of the book and...oh, well maybe you have found it now
Deletecool cover!! makes me want to read it
ReplyDeleteI do like it
DeleteNot a fan of fantasy usually but I always enjoy your reviews. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! :) It seems I am reading more and more fantasy, I do love the genre the most ;)
DeleteSounds like something completely different and a nice break for you! :)
ReplyDeleteI know I always say that I am not an anthology fan, but then this is not that. It's a bunch of stories in his life
DeleteI do like fairy tales so this does intrigue me - it doesn't look like a long book either which makes a nice change in fantasy! :)
ReplyDeleteNope, it's short! :D The better, and since the stories are in different chapters then even easier
DeleteI love the magical world of Sapkowski - apparently the only Polish writer who can manage fantasy Anglo-Saxon style. He borrows a lot from Celtic and German mythologies. One thing bothers me, though - the biggest baddie of the series, the one who dared to imprison Ciri and make her fight for money. Oh I can't believe it, you read Sapkowski...I am in a shock.
ReplyDeleteEh..Ciri? I guess that person was not in this book. Oh and you are Polish, for a moment I forgot! Silly me :D Yes yes I read Sapkowski :) Glory to me hihi. Well he was translated to of course I would read him.
DeleteYes, Ciri is from the next installments and how lovely you was able to forget my nationality!
DeleteYes how could I forget my fav Polish person in the world! :)
Deleteis this a book series/spin off or stand alone
ReplyDeletelooks cool
great review blodeuedd
It seems it's sort of a prequel to a series so it can be read like this :)
DeleteSounds like my cup of tea,so I will definitely have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteYes do take a look :=)
DeleteI have never come accross this book before, but it does sound good. Glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteWell neither had I a month ago ;)
DeleteOooooo I love when well-known fairy tales are mixed in to a new story and made into something entirely different! Sounds like a really fun read:)
ReplyDeleteThe one with Snow White was cool, only met her briefly but heard things and not good things ;)
DeleteWow, sounds like a pretty good book. I love when shows/books/etc use uncommon monsters. It makes it fresh! If I were a gamer I would be able to tell you, but it does sound familar.
ReplyDeleteI should have bf ask his buddy who does play. Cos I, well nope
DeleteOh, this is a new one to me. And I like the sounds of it. :) And well, if you like it... on the WANT List it goes. :D Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHihi, I love my fantasy and I want more fantasy now. I am on a roll
DeleteSounds like a good one. I like the idea of a bunch of connected stories. Throw in a fairy tale or two and it definitely grabs my attention.
ReplyDeleteWhat was good is that it did not feel like an anthology or something like that. Cos it was 1 story with lots of little stories
DeleteI just finished a book based on a fairytale and have to say that I absolutely loved it! Yet, it didn't have monsters like this one so I'm not sure about that part being right for me or not.
ReplyDeleteThe monsters are all the same in the end, they are just from a different part
DeleteInteresting! I like the "hunting" aspect and all of the mini missions. Yes it does sound like a video game. Thanks for the review :)
ReplyDeleteIt'a always fun with new monsters and it was never too dark either so that was good
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