Baptism of Fire (The Witcher, 5)

I've enjoyed all the books in the Witcher series & saga enormously, and this one was no exception.. I've found them all to be exquisite in their combination of fantasy and satire, story tales of old and parody, and don't understand the negative reviews this book has received. The charm of the world Sapkowski has created for Gerlat of Rivia and co., that makes it so different (and so much richer and more entertaining, from my point of view) from the Lord of the Rings, for instance, is the moral ambiguity, the shades of grey, the lack of clear, over-simplified, unambiguous themes (good vs. evil, for instance). The Witcher's world is much more nuanced, complex, and often confusing - much more "realistic", in a sense, if such a term can actually be used when speaking of fantasy. The "good guys" aren't always all that good, nor are there motives necessarily dignified, transparent or known to the readers or the characters themselves. Rulers' and players' moves and alliances are often the result of strategic geo-political decisions; characters' intentions are often veiled, serving individual ambitions, personal agendas or deceitful plots. Random events change the course of the story, characters doubt, fear, adapt, change, learn, mature... And then...there's the SATIRE. The mocking of all the real-world or fantasy-world stereotypes and clichés, which personally, I just can't get enough of. Perhaps this one IS a bit more slow-paced than some of the previous books in the saga, but definitely not less interesting. If you're reading these books just for the monster-slaying, the parries, pirouettes and humming of Geralt's blade, you're missing out on the best part of these books. If you're read the first books of this saga and are wondering whether to buy this one or not, just judge what you're into the saga for, and how much you value fast-paced action, as opposed to well-constructed atmospheres, great, witty dialogues and tons and tons of irony. ***SPOILER ALERT*** From the elves' far from idyllic nature and ultimate cooperation with Nilfgaard to the Regis' refusal to cave into his vampiric addiction to blood or the Sorcerers' elitist group and centennial conspiracy to get one of their own on the throne , I found this book to be as funny and stimulating as any of the others. I also enjoyed Geralt's internal struggle, the sociological and psychological hints about cooperation and teamwork, as opposed to individualism, or the crudity and cruelty with which war is portrayed - far from the glorious battles in LOTR. Really hoping Gollancz/Orion house will choose to translate the next book in the saga, hopefully SOON. Not sure whether I could wait, I checked out the Spanish edition (all 7 books of the saga are already in Spanish), but they're nowhere near the kind of rich language David French has endowed his English translation with. I don't speak Polish and haven't read the original, but you can tell he's put a lot of hard work into his translation, and has done a fantastic job!

And so the story continues. A bit jumbled in the pacing since breaks in the read signaled an abrupt scene change. It made the read a little difficult as I would lose my momentum. Our characters were separated in this book so the lack of interaction between the three — Geralt, Yen, and Ciri — was felt. Although missed, the story moved forward exceptionally mostly for Geralt but the new characters in his company were joyful and made for a fun read.

As a HUGE Fan of the Witcher games, I'm excited that the complete series is being translated and published in the USA! The Witcher series is a world of high fantasy, with dwarves, elves, humans, sorcerers, kings, empires, knights, vampires, trolls, a complex plot, and realistic characters. Although the world is high fantasy, everything in it feels real. This is no small achievement. Story Geralt and Yennifer continue to look for Ciri, who is now riding with a band of bandits called the Rats. When news of Ciri's Elder Blood reaches higher powers, the world's elite begin searching for her in an attempt to harness her unique powers for their own goals. Geralt and Yennifer search out of love, while the others search to expand their power and influence. This book focuses mostly on Geralt's search as he meets new friends and they explore the war torn borders in search of Ciri. Characters The Witcher series features a unique cast of deep characters with complex motivations. Geralt is a witcher, a professional monster slayer. He is not a hero, and he won't kill a troll because the farmers don't feel safe at night. Geralt will investigate a troll if he is paid, he may let the troll live or die depending on how he feels about the troll in question, then he'll probably spend his money getting drunk or in a brothel; which is what you'd expect from a monster slaying outcast who risks his life on a daily basis. Geralt and Yennifer, a powerful sorceress, are involved in a volatile romantic relationship. At times they can't stand each other. At times, she reads his mind. At times, she manipulates him. At times, he sleeps with other women... which is what you'd expect from a monster slaying outcast and a vindictive sorceress. The emperor of Nilfgaard, a group of sorceresses, and a powerful wizard are also searching for Ciri, and employing their spies, assassins, mercenaries, and magic to find her because of her rare and powerful gifts. What makes this series shine is that the characters are deep and complex, but the motivations behind their actions are always clear to the reader. Nothing is ever done for the sake of good or evil. Everything is about personal motivation from characters with grey morals. Writing Style The translation from Polish to English is excellent. At no point does this read like a book that was translated from another language. The writing style is descriptive, the characters are deep, the world is fascinating and built on European Folklore, the action is brutal, and the humor is dry and sarcastic. Action The books are action packed as Geralt and his group battle monsters, soldiers, wizards, fantasy creatures, and the elements themselves on their quest to locate Ciri. Although, Geralt is a witcher, an extremely deadly fighter, at no point does he feel like a superhero. The action, although fantastic, is always grounded in reality. Maturity These books feature violence, swearing, sex, and complex plots. They are definitely not for kids. Overall Game of Thrones is the most similar series, but instead of 4 family bloodlines converging on the Iron Throne, with over 100 side characters, the Witcher series is much more focused. The southern empire is invading the northern kingdoms, and they're employing elven commandoes, magic, assassins, spies, diplomacy, and treachery to battle the north. The heroes never really have a bird's eye view of their situation, so they're often caught by surprise when the world changes, and they must battle their way out. If you enjoy these books and love RPG’s, you should definitely give the games a chance. If you love the games and want to know about the lore that inspired them, you should read these books. If you want authors who write in a similar style, read David Gemmell and Joe Abercrombie.

Wonderful story and character development. The author draws you in from the start and keeps you enthralled until the end. Filled with twists and turns and unexpected happenings. You feel real compassion and affection for the group of companions and their exploits. The Witcher becomes just one of many fascinating characters. A truly fantastic story, can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

After watching the Netflix show, I knew I had to read the books. I was really happy with my purchase. All the books were in great condition (a necessity as a collector). I also received the exact cover that was displayed for sale (including the somewhat-ugly red sticker that is part of the cover art and non-removable). Shipping-wise, I received my order in 4 days, which I was really impressed with. If you plan on getting these books and can afford to buy them all at once, do so. I received a multi-buy discount which saved me $5. A series that is really easy to read and expands on the world of The Witcher.

For a book written in Polish and translated to English, the translation is excellent. You don't get the feel that you're reading translated material, as is so often the case with foreign writings. Everything having to do with "The Witcher" series will have some degree of sexuality, but the books have less than the games, IMO. And of course, they go more in depth with the characters. For anyone who has played "The Witcher" or who plans to do so, I recommend reading "The Last Wish," "The Blood of Elves," and the next two in the Witcher series for a fuller experience. As books, these certainly stand alone without the video games! If I have one complaint, it's that "The Blood of Elves" hits a very slow pace after a while, then ends suddenly to hook the reader into buying the next book. Good sales tactic :) "Baptism of Fire" picks up the pace and gives the reader a more engaging reading experience.

IMPORTANT - This is the fourth in a series of books; you need to read the others first to get a clear picture of what's going on. There is some catch-up, but it's assumed you know the story thus far. You may consider me biased in my five star rating, but I will proudly admit that I'm very enamored with the world of the Witcher and his companions. I was introduced to Geralt via the Witcher video games. Because of so many allusions in the games to the events of these novels, I've made it a point to get them and read them as they become available in English. They have not disappointed. Even though I know where these stories ultimately lead, I've loved the journey and still find ways to be surprised by the plot twists and oftentimes jarring turns of event. The writing can be challenging at times, possibly because the sentence structure is different in Polish, but it doesn't cause me any real problems. I suspect that a lot of effort goes into the translation because I often forget that these books were not originally written in English. Great attention is made to creating a detailed world, from the eco-system of the particular setting, to every thrust and parry of a sword fight, all the way to the politics and military strategies of the various countries. I will make the same comparison everyone else makes...I'm often reminded of a modern day Tolkien when reading these novels. This book continues to tell the story of Geralt attempting to reunite with his loved ones. He meets many unusual companions along the way and fans of the video games will be happy to meet a few familiar faces. It's somewhat confirming of just how much care went into preserving the "correct" personalities throughout the video games. I thought about four stars because this story almost places Geralt into the background and puts others in the forefront, but I think that's expected when you have so many important and even pivotal moments, though perpetrated by others, directly effecting Geralt and his quest. If you already love the Witcher, you don't need my recommendation. But if you were on the fence about jumping into these novels...DO IT.

This is, in my opinion, one of best installments of the Witcher series. The dynamic of the little group formed to rescue Ciri is wonderful. My only complaint is that this group of diverse, widely fascinating characters makes it a tad difficult to get through the chapters that don't involve them, which aren't quite as interesting (although still a good read). I could have easily read another 100 pages about the altruistic Zoltan and his group of dwarves, a gnome, and his profane parrot. And then yet another 100 getting to know Cahir, Milva, and of course, Regis (who may very well be the best character of the Witcher universe, and perhaps one of the most original takes on a vampire). Like most of the Witcher books, this is a joy to read. Highly recommend.

Great book. Book collectors should be aware that the seller sends books without any quality control. The packaging was good but the book seems to have been kept in a humid or sunlit area and so the pages have yellowed like its ten years old. For a book collecter this is not acceptable. But I am not returning it because they will probably sell it to someone else instead.

Nice story. It's a great sequel, albeit not necessarily the greatest one. Certainly better written and more adult than Tolkien's work.

Baptism of Fire is the third full novel of the Witcher series, following on directly from Time Of Contempt and Blood Of Elves. For me it's highlight is the wonderful character interplay that Andrezj Sapkowski became renowned for when the novel was originally released in polish in the late 1990's. It is set in a world which is heating up with each novel over the series and in Baptism of Fire we really begin to see the saga of Geralt of Rivia unraveling. The translation is also good, if that can be believed. Be warned: minor spoilers below. Continuing on Time Of Contempt, Geralt is severely wounded and with his eternal companion Dandelion in Brokilon forest. Ciri is somewhere in the Nilfgardian provinces, where Geralt is convinced she is in danger. Yennefer has gone missing, whilst the other sorceresses dabble in a secret political 'lodge' to forge the world in a way that they desire. Against all this the Empire of Nilfgaard has broken the truce made In 'Contempt and invaded the Northern Kingdoms again, this time in Brugge, south of Temeria. In short, there really is a lot to follow in the novel, and though the novel focuses primarily on Geralt and his desire to find Ciri the events of the world are in action, constantly driving on the plot, driving Sapkowski's complex characters further and further, towards Geralt;s literal 'baptism of fire' in the novels final pages. Over the course of the novel, Geralt meets several entirely new characters, each as complex and wonderfully built as himself. Milva: a woman, secretly pregnant, escorting scoia'tael to the safety of Brokilon, Regis: a powerful higher vampire who has vowed not to drink blood & Cahir, the Nilfgaardian who isn't a Nilfgaardian continues to hound the Witcher from the previous novels: the three of them will stick with Geralt to the very end, not that it's easy getting to that point. Zoltan Chivay: a dwarf & the leader of a troupe fleeing the war joins with Geralt at least for this part of the company's journey too. The interplay between these characters are all wonderfully crafted, whatever the scene and by the end of the novel not just each individual character has come a long way but also the entire group itself. The translation, completed by David French (who has experience with Sapkowski's work including the previous novel 'Time of Contempt'), is overall very good. Throughout the novel there are one or two small errors however; these are only small. Truthfully, I feel these errors could easily be down to an overlooked typo and are not outright translation issues, as has often been a gripe in the past for the translations of the Witcher saga in English. With this release, I hope David French has proven both to the fans of the series and to Gollancz that he is the right man to continue translating Sapkowski's work into English.

De momento, el que más me ha gustado de la serie

This book continues the story of Gerhalt and his group. There is action and intrigue on each page. I can't wait to see what happiness the next book. A real page turner. A great read.