Blood of Elves is the first of five books in The Witcher Saga by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Originally written in the mid to late nineties, all five books as of this year are finally released in English so it seemed like a good time to read them all back to back. This series was originally created as part of an entry to a short story competition for a magazine with many short stories published from that. There are two short story collections gathering them with additions I recommend reading first as they provide a lot of background information into the characters and Witcher world. (The first collection is
The Last Wish
and the second being
Sword of Destiny
)
The story focuses largely on two characters, Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher (enhanced mercenaries who fight monsters for money) and Princess Cirilla of Cintra, known as Ciri. She has the blood of elves flowing through her and has been destined to be Geralts ward. This blood gives her surprising powers the Witchers don't know how to deal with and have turned to outside help from sorceresses to train her all the while some people are searching for her with seemingly sinister intentions...
The story is excellent and had me pretty hooked from start to finish, the translation feels very well paced and well written with several moments especially with Dandilion the bard really made me laugh. The book isn't especially action heavy (which may disappoint those who have played the computer games based on the series) but takes a pretty in depth look into Ciri's training at the Witcher's Keep of Kaer Morhen as well as introducing the political state of the world as well as several characters from previous short stories like Yarpen and Yennifer.
My one complaint, if you could call it that, is that it still feels like several short stories tied together rather than a full novel, the book is practically in sections and the ending was pretty abrupt but the actual content is excellent and feels like it's building up for the next book which I shall be reading straight away,
Time of Contempt
.
Recommended.
+ Well written.
+ Good pacing.
+ Great characters.
- Ends pretty abrubtly.
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![Blood of Elves: Witcher 1 – Now a major Netflix show (The Witcher) by [Andrzej Sapkowski, Danusia Stok]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41jLjr77v2L._SY346_.jpg)
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First book I've read in fifteen years. Happy!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2020
I've not read a real book for fifteen years. Until now and I can't put it down now. Brilliant! Very pleased and relieved. Play the Witcher 3 game first and you will treasure this book.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 June 2020
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