The Tower of the Swallow

by Sapkowski Andrzej Bere Stanisaw

paperback, 443 pages

Published by Gollancz.

View on OpenLibrary

(34 reviews)

1 edition

ratfactor reviewed The Tower of the Swallow by Sapkowski Andrzej Bere Stanisaw

Review of 'The Tower of the Swallow' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

In my reading order, this is Witcher book 6. Putting a star rating to this is going to be very difficult. There are many, many brilliant things in this book. Very clever dialog and situations. The pace can be a bit plodding at times (not helped by how slowly I read it, which was not the book's fault). But when it heats up, the action is fast and furious. I liked it. I didn't love it, but I liked it. And I respect it. I'm certainly curious where all of this is going!

jvt038 reviewed The Tower of the Swallow by Sapkowski Andrzej Bere Stanisaw

Review of 'The Tower of the Swallow' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

The Tower of the Swallow is the sequel to Baptism of Fire, and gives a new way of narration and telling stories.

Ciri being hunted by allies and enemies, seeks refuge in a swamp, with Vysogota. Then, the story begins, with Ciri, Vysogota, Dandelion's Fifty Years of Poetry, and a witness in a lawsuit, recounting the events between Baptism of Fire, and the Tower of the Swallow.

With quick-witted dialogue, ingenious ways to finance the Redanian army, and the conclusion being 'that the most effective defence against intellectual domination is roundly to affront the domineering intellectual', I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though a bit more chapters of Geralt's companions would've been appreciated.

5/5

zumurud reviewed The Tower of the Swallow by Sapkowski Andrzej Bere Stanisaw

Review of 'The Tower of the Swallow' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

absolutely stunning pacing and an amazing journey to witness. this book sparked something inside me. something I will never forget.

Coalford reviewed The Tower of the Swallow by Sapkowski Andrzej Bere Stanisaw

Review of 'The Tower of the Swallow' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

There is an awful lot of talking, and not a lot of 'meat'.
I'm a big fan of wordy books, and this would be fine if it wasn't just characters repeating things we already know over and over and over.

Chungledown Bim reviewed The Tower of the Swallow by Sapkowski Andrzej Bere Stanisaw

Review of 'The Tower of the Swallow' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

At times a bit slow, & a bit confusing with the changes of POV, but altogether a rollicking tale. The author seems to be trying out some new techniques to varying degrees of success. The very end bit though? At the lake? chef kiss

Sean Gursky reviewed The Tower of the Swallow by Sapkowski Andrzej Bere Stanisaw

Review of 'The Tower of the Swallow' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Really good read. As frustrating as I find the non-linear story telling it worked exceptionally well with Ciri and Vysogota. I liked the closing repetition of their chapters with them talking in the hut by the fire as it really hit home the seclusion Vysogota had.

Finding Ciri is a pretty common theme in the last few books but her story was excellent in this book and it was enjoyable to see new and old characters come together or cross paths in the search for Ciri.
It didn't hurt that Ciri was kind of a badass in this book, which was a pleasant contrast to Geralt who was questioning his motives and purpose.

I feel that B-characters (those not named Geralt, Yennefer or Ciri) that were introduced in previous books had more of a presence here but I was challenged with trying to remember if they were new or not, or suddenly had more screen time.

The non-linear story is fun, it worked wonderfully on Ciri's story, and even Kenna's story (introduced at a trial, flashbacks through her testimony, and then story ends back at the trial) worked well, but it was a bit on overdrive in this book. It felt like a flashback within a flashback at times and I wasn't sure which perspective we were in as we jumped from one character to another. This is a challenge if you take a break in mid-chapter and then return and forget who is telling which story.

At this point I expect Sapkowski to continue with this method and will follow along as best I can, or quickly scan a page for a character name so I have an idea of where I am in the story.

RxBrad reviewed The Tower of the Swallow by Sapkowski Andrzej Bere Stanisaw

Review of 'The Tower of the Swallow' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Ciri's a prisoner; then she gets her butt kicked; then she kicks some butt. And then there's a cliffhanger. Is it just me, or is the author just stalling on the plot for the sake of making the series longer? Meh.