The Witcher: Blood of Elves review

Contains spoilers for The Witcher Netflix series!

"Magic is extending its hand towards you, Ciri. To you, strange girl, Surprise, Child of the Elder Blood, the Blood of Elves. Strange girl, woven into Movement and Change, into Annihilation and Rebirth. Destined and destiny. Magic extends its hand towards you from behind the closed door, towards you, a tiny grain of sand in the workings of the Clock of Fate."

Having wholeheartedly enjoyed The Witcher series, watching it through twice, when I saw the first of Andrzej Sapkowski's on the shelf in a Waterstones, I decided that I had to buy it. I was of course aware that coming to a book from its TV adaptation is a slightly unorthodox experience but reading the book made me love the show even more and vice versa.

Danusia Stok's translation from Polish to English seems effortless (to someone who cannot understand Polish but has read some lifeless translations before). Even as a translation, the liveliness and sincerity of Sapkowski's prose is captured. I had to open this review on a quote from the text because throughout the novel it totally enraptured me. He is really skilled at imbuing the entire text with a gravitas that is steeped in sensations of ancientness. The fight scenes were gripping and the descriptions of the monsters too. I was particularly mesmerised by the menacing aeschna that prowled the waters of the Temerian shores.

What pleasantly surprised me was the depth that Sapkowski goes into the politics of the continent and how thrilling I actually found these conversations and mediations. The meeting of much of the Continent's royalty, discussing what their next move should be against Nilfgaard and the Child Surprise, was genuinely enthralling. This lengthy debate really raised the stakes for the novel (and sets up the proceeding novels) and added another level of threat that was outside of monsters and magic. This was also explored in a kind of philosophical exercise near the beginning of the novel which was segued into by a performance by Dandelion. The discussions at the "Seat of Friendship" did a great job of presenting both the myriad of species that live on the continent, but also the racial prejudices held between each other. These tensions were further exemplified in a creative way with Sapkowski used "quotes" and extracts from different treatises, books and speeches from historical Continent figures or present characters. The world Sapkowski builds is incredibly rich, even in the first chapter.

Towards the end of the book, I really enjoyed reading about the development of Ciri's powers and her relationship with Yennefer. I understand now why people that had always known the books first were upset at the way Yennefer treated Ciri in Season 2 of The Witcher. I can perhaps, still, see that Yennefer would do anything to get her magic back, but ultimately it is her adoration, admiration and also fear of Ciri's capabilities that provides her a sense of purpose with Ciri, though it is too late in the show. I think Ciri's youth is especially present in the book so that helps foster a mother/daughter relationship that I hope to see more of in Season 3.

From a TV perspective too, I am certainly intrigued how Jaskier will interact with Dijkstra and the Redanian Secret Service in Season 3. I hope, like in the book, that it is not a barrier between Jaskier and Geralt and that Geralt is somewhat aware it is a capacity Jaskier sometimes fulfils. I laughed at Dijkstra's line to Dandelion: "I know you're almost forty, look almost thirty, think you're just over twenty and act as though you're barely ten." If they don't use this line in the show it would be such a missed opportunity. And, regarding the books, I am interested to know if Dandelion and Dijkstra's plot continues to be interweaved.

It was certainly intriguing to see the differences between the book and TV adaptation, but it did not get in the way of the reading experience. If anything, it actually enhanced my reading experience. I would certainly say that watching the show helped me be immersed in the text; the many countries that make the continent and the Kings and Queens that reside over them were already secure in my knowledge. I could understand how the novel might feel slightly disorientating without this knowledge.

I cannot wait to read more of this series and I can certainly understand its legendary status. I would most definitely recommend this book for its incredible thematic navigation, beautiful prose and originality... the era of the sword and axe is nigh...