Customer Reviews
What exactly is so special about these books? - By: wolf, 07 Jan 2009 
Having seen the hype surrounding the first book, The Last Wish, I bought that. It was entertaining, with more than a enough charm & wit to make it worthwhile. I didn't see that it contained anything particularly unusual or unique, however. The suggestions that Sapkowski's writing had an interestingly 'real' take on a traditional fantasy world (or the post D&D idea of one) hardly seemed borne out. This new book doesn't do much to remedy that impression.
There is a lot that seems conventional: a child born with magical powers & a great destiny, a variety of warriors & magic users, powerful leaders prepared to sacrifice the innocent to get their way, fantasy wars, grumpy dwarfs & odd monsters. The only added 'realism' is the picture of a fairly bigoted society. One would have to have a fairly narrow view of fantasy writing to find this new. The trick taking a fantasy world & treating it like a real society has been done before - take a look a Jack Yeovil's Beastsin Velvet from the 1980s.
Overall, the book was less engaging & amusing than the short stories of The Last Wish & the story finishes without particular climax or obvious finale. Perhaps things will pick upin future volumes - I doubt I'll be about to find out.
Not too sure.. - By: Oisin O. Ceallaigh, 09 Dec 2008 
In comparison to "The Last Wish" compilation this seem's to be a bit more of a mixed bag, which is odd given that it's a novel. That's not to say that it's a bad read. It's well worth a look, all the elements that made "The Last Wish" such a good read are still to be foundin places, but after the high expectations that "The Last Wish" set it's a bit of a let down.
The narrative is disjointed with characters & sub-plots jumpingin & out of the mix at will. More interestingly Geralt is absent for extended periods, which is not necessarily a bad thing but many of the characters that replace him (while still far better than the average fantasy template) don't stir much empathy. As I found myself reaching the last chapter I had to wonder "Is that it?"
Great! - By: Little oslik, 19 Nov 2008 
This is the second book after "The Last Wish" - & same great & captivating. Very easy reading with a lot of humour. It is like a fairy tale. If you like 'Shrek', 'Brothers Grimm' - definitely buy it, you won't be dissapointed!
not sure - By: rusty buckets, 10 Nov 2008 I loved *The Last Wish* & have waited for the next book to come out.
Well,here it is..and to be honest it just doesn't grab me the way Geralt's last outing did.
One reviewer reckons we've missed something by not having a 'bridging book'translated into English.
Sounds right enough, as there seems to be a great deal of history between Triss & Geralt,but it never really explains much of it,we just have to accept it.
I just cant seem to care much about where it's all going from here on.
I doubt I'll look forward to the next one with the same enthusiasm preceeding TLW,but will no doubt read it.
3 stars from 5 is fair enough,and that's only because Geralt of Rivia is such a great character,and I have hope it'll all come outin the end (albeitin retrospect when Ive had the chance to read them all eventually).
Why didn't Gollancz first publish the second book of short stories, but jumped straight to the novels??? - By: Tauriel, 19 Oct 2008 I love Sapkowski's books about the witcher Geralt, having read them allin Czech translation. I was very happy when I learned some years ago that they would finally get translated into English, & I was quite happy with the English translation of "The Last Wish".
But I'm very surprised & even a bit angry to see that the publisher jumped straight to the first novel of the pentalogy without first translating & publishing the SECOND BOOK OF SHORT STORIES ("The Sword Of Destiny"). There are three short storiesin that book which form a direct prologue to the pentalogy - why is Ciri Geralt's "Child of Surprise", the beginning of the war with Nilfgaard & the fall of Cintra. The short stories also give a lot of insight into the relationship between Geralt & Yennefer, which is something I think very important to know before starting on the novels.
I'm glad that Gollancz is publishing the novels about Geralt, but I REALLY HOPE that they will realise their mistake & publish the second book of short stories, so that the English-speaking readers won't miss out on important history of Geralt.
