Blood of Elves
Ratings550
Average rating3.9
As anticipated, this book was 5* for me. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator is fantastic; I couldn't put it down! I'll be continuing the series soon :)
3.5
its good fun although a lil dizzying at times. i really like the amount of dialogue and how its still super follawable without names
Ao contrário de outros livros de alta fantasia, Andrzej consegue nos deixar boquiabertos sem enfadar com um universo extremamente rico, seja por aspectos culturais, mágicos e políticos. E como toda fantasia, esta possui aspecto secundário, o alvo principal discutido durante toda obra é o ser humano. Suas relações conflituosas, atos heróicos, egoísmo e amor.
Corruptos, racistas (neste caso, contra seres fantásticos) e machistas. Estes temas extensivamente debatidos durante a obra. E mesmo que a apresentação seja sempre pelos personagens, o narrador utiliza de comentários e atitudes de Geralt para descrever o que pensa a respeito. Engana-se que acha se trata de um livro sexista. Longe disso, aliás o personagem está pronta pra esmurrar personagens que possuam alguma ação ou ideia favorável a atrocidades sociais.
Super recomendo.
Ik heb betere fantasy boeken gelezen. Het voegt absoluut wel wat toe als je bekend met de de games of de series. Maar toch kwam ik er niet echt in. Het zijn korte verhalen, waarvan sommige niet al te boeiend waren. Gelukkig zijn de boeken niet heel dik anders had ik het niet voltooit denk ik.
no, i hadn't expected to enjoy this as much as i did and yes, i will be continuing with the series
i played the games a little, and watched the tv show in full, so the books are sort of the last leg that i've gotten to in the witcher universe, but by far is it my most favorite. i think it makes up for what the show lacks in terms of dialogue, story, and world-building, and makes up for what the games lack in an even balance of story and action (well, for my taste — i don't like too much action/battle scenes).
i also like the plot of the books much better than the tv show. the major differences between the two made the book more enjoyable, especially with regards to ciri (who i find a bit insufferable in the tv show). i get that the writing style might not suit some tastes, but having the imagery of the witcher tv show it wasn't hard to give settings to places when a majority of the chapter was dialogue.
overall, i quite enjoyed this and i hope i can get my hands on the next book soon!
This was an easy read for me. The story was enjoyable, even without reading the prior stories, however I have played the Witcher games which did help my understanding.
The Blood of Elves mainly centres around the POV of Ciri, the child surprise, who is very likeable. Geralt is great, as expected. The other characters were good, I enjoyed Triss and Yennifer. Dandelion was a stand-out, lovable and cheeky.
The world-building was somewhat lacking. I would have liked to hear more about the other races within the world, albeit I understand there may be more of this in the other books.
Overall, 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4 as I did really enjoy it and I would recommend this to friends who enjoy fantasy.
If not evident already, I have been reading these in chronological order rather than order of release. Yes, I really charged through these like Geralt to a morally grey option, because I was racing against the clock to finish as many as I could before the new Netflix season. And yes, I'm logging these in hindsight as I'm trying to use GoodReads more often in hopes of getting back on the proverbial reading horse.
This is the entry that really sets in motion the primary narrative of Geralt, Ciri, and company, focusing heavily on the latter from the downfall of Cintra, her constant struggle to escape, and her eventual training. Those expecting more of Geralt will be a little let down, as Blood of Elves gives more precedence to his protégé and daughter figure, Ciri. I'd say this entry spends far more time with Ciri and Yennifer, as well as putting some more emphasis on the sorcery of the world. Mainstay characters like Triss Merigold (a fave), Nenneke, Eskel, Vesimir, and goes to familiar gamer territory like Oxenfurt and Kaer Morhen. It also has one of the cooler moments of written battle, involving the face-scarred shadowy stalker, Riance. I'd argue the Netflix series borrows the most from this entry, which I do feel rather hit or miss about on their handling of the timeline and constant jumping around.
I recall this book ending on a moody ominous note, with a terrific book title name-drop and setup for Time of Contempt.
J'ai lu ce livre après avoir lu les livres 0.5 et 0.7.
Les personnages sont le gros point fort de ce premier tome. Les relations entre Ciri, Geralt et Yennefer sont passionnantes et donnent envie de les côtoyer toujours plus.
L'histoire est très intéressante bien qu'elle présente quelques longueurs et contiennent parfois trop de personnages et de lieux.
Ce premier tome est une belle introduction à l'univers étendu, j'ai passé un bon moment !
Couldn't bring myself to score it 3,5 or above because of the annoying and unnecessary sexualization of Ciri.
This is for an English language audiobook version. Surprised that I liked it, I had tried to read a physical version of some book in the series and it went nowhere very fast - but this worked well. Rich world with interesting characters and narrator was good. Not a mind blowing listen but different enough from other Medieval Fantasy to be an engaging and enjoyable. Solid, I will try others in the series at some point.
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Blood of Elves
The Witcher, Geralt, has taken in a young girl named Ciri. She is the last of her royal line. Her family lay slain by the Nilfgaardians in the battle for Centra. He takes her to Kaer Morhen, the home of the witchers, to protect her and train her in their ways. But she is the first female to be trained by the witchers, and she is more than just a normal girl. Rumors start to spread that she is alive and political powers begin their search for Ciri. Geralt does all he can to protect the girl and prevent her from falling into the wrong hands. There is a power deep within Ciri, one that can be used for good, or evil.
Geralt is one of those characters that took a while for me to connect with. Having read The Last Wish, I knew a bit about Geralt's personality, and I was a bit on the edge whether or not I liked this series. However, this book won me over. Not only does he have a fierce dedication to protecting Ciri, but Geralt lives by his own code. He doesn't kill if he doesn't have to. I also love how sarcastic he is to people who try to prove they are smarter than him. He waits for them to prove themselves wrong and isn't afraid to embellish the fact afterward.
Andrzej Sapkowski has created a unique hero in the witcher series. Geralt certainly doesn't view himself as the hero type and he is a man of few words. He lets his actions speak for themselves and is fierce in his protection of Ciri. His nickname of white wolf shines brightly as he does what he can to defend her. And when he becomes angry, you'll know because that isn't something he hides.
The world-building done in Blood of Elves is subtle but effective. Andrzej Sapkowski doesn't bog the reader down with unnecessary details. He gives just enough so readers can form their own connections to keep the plot steadily moving forward. He also cuts off the story abruptly and left me needing to know what happens next! I can officially say I am a fan of this series, and I cannot wait to see what happens with all the characters.
A very well written story for a fantasy book, a qualification I unfortunately must add. I read almost exclusively fantasy books, and in regards to prose quality, there are 2 types: good prose, bad story and good story, bad prose. This one is fulfills the checklist of what I consider to be a minimum for a descent reading.
The story shows signs of tactical thinking, the plot is well planned out. The geopolitical discussions regarding kings and wars are meaningful, short and to the point. So are the fight scenes, the world building and the apprenticeship scenes. The “school apprentice” is a trope that can make me quit a book imediately, but it is well executed here. Ciri's learning period as a witcher and latter as a sorceress has a good amount of character focus rather then on the day to day activities which I find dreadful.
The plot itself is nothing exceptional, but the the characters take the front seat by being well fleshed out and with distinct personalities.
Geralt is the most boring one because he is so simple, but he does have a Conan like quality of the brute that talks little, understands nothing but kicks ass when needed. For him life is about duty, and his mission is to kill monsters for a living.
He is not a knight in shining armor, but a magically and genetically mutated monster slayer mercenary on drugs. He uses his brutal training, forced physical mutations and magical elixirs to overcome his foes. He has no emotions, and has no use for concepts such as morality. Or at least that's what everybody thinks. And so does he, most of the time.
He does have a code of honor though, and that is good enough for him. Or used to be enough. Where once he was a lone, uncaring monster killing machine, now he has friends he cares about. And the things their friends care slowly starts to sip in to him, making him care about those things too. Or almost care, it is not clear yet what he believes in. Wars come and go, people will always kill each other. It is not his business to interfere.
Dandilion plays perfectly his role of the unlikely friend. He is the opposite of Geralt, he talks a lot, is wise in knowledge but has no fighting skills. Life for him is about pleasure, and his mission is to exercise his skills as a bard and poet to create beauty in the world, and in turn, to indulge in everything beautiful the world has to offer.
In spite of his demeanor of a care free bon vivant, his loyalty to Geralt is unyielding.
Triss Merigold is a powerful sorceress and Geralt's former lover. She is strong willed and just might be the only person in the world capable of bossing around the witchers of Kaer Morhen. She is loving and caring towards others. She dislikes the witchers indifference to the rest of the world, as she herself is willing to give her life for the sake of others, and even to disobey her superiors in the council of magic.
Ciri is the focus of the story, and the most colorful character in the book. Her personality shines throughout the story. She is the one that came to challenge Geralt's life long belief that he lives somewhat apart from this world, unmoving to the pain of others unless it involves a monster and a payment. Destiny has put them together, no matter how much he tried to deny his fate. And Ciri is his fate.
He takes her along to the witchers training grounds fortress and she begins her first apprenticeship as one of their own. He does not put her through the more harsh challenges and forced mutations a witcher has to endure though. The only reason given for this is that they are uncertain of how the girl's innate and mysterious powers will interact with their usual magical herbs and trials routine.
That's where Triss Merigold comes in. She has proven to be their friend in the past, and someone they can trust with Ciri's secret. Maybe she can figure it out just what her strange power is.
After Triss arrives, even if the witchers did plan to make Ciri into a fully fledged witcher, Triss would not allowed it, as it is very cruel to submit any child to the sort of procedures that makes a witcher. That and the fact that they never used their mutagens on a girl before.
Triss's beauty, imposing presence and protectiveness makes Ciri to immediately become attached to her.
Yennefer comes in a little late to the party. She is Geralt's current love affair, although they aren't on speaking terms for quite some time. At the suggestion of Triss, she is entrusted to care for Ciri's instruction in the ways of magic, to keep her safe and to find out just what kind of power she has. She and Triss are very good friends, having fought and nearly dying together
Triss is hoping that Yennefer's greater knowledge of the magical arts can help to figure it out the source of Ciri's mysterious predictions and nightmares. She is stern in her teachings, acts like a cold hearted and bossy bitch. Ciri didn't liked her at first. But in time, their master apprentice master relationship evolves into a beautiful friendship, the lengths of which are still to be developed in the book series.
Yennefer and Geralts are basically Ciri's adoptive parents, an informal arrangement brought by need that suits all three of them very nicely.
This book was such a treat, especially after coming off the last one. I so much appreciated the growth and character development as relationships between characters became even more intertwined. I honestly didn't even mind the Yennifer parts. I also enjoyed the fact that Dandelion is kind of getting his own side quests (as much as other characters). This book is first and foremost part of the ‘Witcher' series and ya know ya girl LOVES her some Gerault (hi Henry Cavill) BUT I AM ENJOYING SOME OTHER CHARACTER SHENNANIGANS! Short review but since this is one of a series y'all already know how I felt overall about it. 4/5 ⭐️ book in a 4.5/5 ⭐️ series (yes it ranked up .5 star bc of this book!)
Great read. Focus on princess Ciri with a touch of enviromentalism and social justices concerning the evles
Overall good really liked it. I published a review on my youtube channel so check it out drews book reviews
