'Baptism of Fire' in 'The Witcher' series by Andrzej Sapkowski follows Geralt's journey to find and save Ciri after recovering from injuries, accompanied by a diverse group including Milva, Zoltan, Regis, and Cahir. Meanwhile, Ciri explores her freedom by being a bandit, and a group of sorceresses work towards locating her. The plot is described as having multiple character perspectives, political intrigue, and a focus on character development rather than moving the main storyline forward.

Characters:

The characters, led by an emotionally evolving Geralt, include new companions who enhance the story's depth, ultimately forming a dynamic team.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is detailed and immersive, with a focus on character dialogue and philosophical themes, enhancing the overall experience despite slower pacing.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves Geralt's quest to find Ciri, accompanied by new companions, and shifts focus to a simpler quest narrative, with less political intrigue and slower progression.

Setting:

The setting reflects a war-torn world filled with political intrigue and atmospheric locations that shape the characters' experiences.

Pacing:

Pacing is uneven, with slow beginnings building up to more engaging and action-oriented segments later in the story.

The slopes of the ravine were overgrown with a dense, tangled mass of brambles and barberry; a perfect place for nesting and feeding. Not surprisingly, it was teeming with birds. Greenfinches trilled ...

Notes:

Baptism of Fire is the third book in The Witcher Saga.

The book was published in 1996 and has aged well, retaining its freshness.

The story focuses more on quest narrative rather than political intrigue seen in earlier books.

Geralt is recovering from serious injuries at the beginning of the book.

New characters like Milva, Zoltan, and Cahir join Geralt on his journey.

Regis, a vampire, proves to be an invaluable ally thanks to his medical knowledge.

Ciri, a key character in earlier books, takes a backseat in this installment, leaving readers wanting more of her story.

The book features philosophical dialogues about war, morality, and the impact on humanity.

Audiobook narration by Peter Kenny is praised for bringing characters to life effectively.

The plot feels slow and characterized as more of an intermission in the overarching story.

Geralt's character development explores his struggles with identity and morality during his recovery period.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes of war, violence, and political intrigue that could be intense for some readers.

From The Publisher:

NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES

A deadly coup within the Wizard's Guild leaves the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, gravely injured, and his ward Ciri missing in the third novel of Andrzej Sapkowski's New York Times bestselling series that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games.

The Wizards Guild has been shattered by a coup and, in the uproar, Geralt was seriously injured.

The Witcher is supposed to be a guardian of the innocent, a protector of those in need, a defender against powerful and dangerous monsters that prey on men in dark times. But now that dark times have fallen upon the world, Geralt is helpless until he has recovered from his injuries.

While war rages across all of the lands, the future of magic is under threat and those sorcerers who survive are determined to protect it. It's an impossible situation in which to find one girl-Ciri, the heiress to the throne of Cintra-until a rumor places her in the Niflgaard court, preparing to marry the Emperor.

Injured or not, Geralt has a rescue mission on his hands.

Look out for The Tower of Fools, book one of Andrzej Sapkowski's Hussite Trilogy, available now!

Witcher collections

The Last Wish

Sword of Destiny

Witcher novels

Blood of Elves

The Time of Contempt

Baptism of Fire

The Tower of Swallows

Lady of the Lake

Season of Storms

Hussite Trilogy

The Tower of Fools

The Malady and Other Stories: An Andrzej Sapkowski Sampler (e-only)

Translated from original Polish by David French

Ratings (31)

Incredible (5)
Loved It (13)
Liked It (7)
It Was OK (5)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (46):

Read It (33)
Want To Read (11)
Not Interested (2)

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Baptism of Fire

Andrzej Sapkowski

Book 3 in the series:The Witcher