The Witcher; The Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski.

 

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As you should know Tuesdays is book blog day were we talk about one particular book and pretty much run with it. Today's blog is on The Witcher: Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski.

The Witcher is a Series of six novels and a collection of 15 short stories, written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The original story titled the Witcher came about after Sapkowski entered the 1985/86 short story competition posted in the magazine Fantastyka effectively making his debut as an author. Writing the short stories in the early 90's, Sapkowski would go onto write the novels in the late 90's with the last being published in 1999. The Stand a lone Prequel Season of Storms was later published in 2013. The books have gathered a cult following of sorts in Poland and in both Central and eastern European countries, having been translated into 37 languages and have sold over 15 million copies as of December 2019.

The Witcher series have been adapted for TV; The Hexer (Poland) and The Witcher -on Netflix, The Big Screen; The Hexer (Poland), a Comic-Book series and a Gaming series with over 50 million copies sold as of May 2020.

THE BOOK

Sword of Destiny is an anthology collection of six stories loosely connected chronologically within the world of The Witcher. Whilst published in 1992 by SuperNowa, It's officially considered the second book in the overall series behind The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny was eventually translated into English by David French and published in the UK by Gollancz in 2015. The six stories titled “The Bounds of Reason”, “A Shard of Ice”, “Eternal Flame”, “A Little Sacrifice”, “Sword of Destiny” and “Something More”, introduce several characters who become important and major players within the later novels. The short story which lends its name to the overall book “Sword of Destiny”, introduces the character of Ciri. The final short Something more is a direct prequel to the novels.

Sword of Destiny won the Tahtifantasia Award for 2012 in Finland.

“The Bounds of Reason”

(Granica Moziliwosci)

Geralt of Riva meets the travelling knight Borch “Three Jackdaws” and his Zerrikanian bodyguards Tea and Vea, who seek a green dragon. Although Geralt is a Witcher, a professional monster slayer, he explains that he does not kill dragons, because they do not prey on humans. They join a larger party hunting a dragon, including Geralt's friend Dandelion: a group of dwarves led by Yarpen Zigrin: a mercenary group known as the Crinfrid Reavers, and another led by Boholt; Chivalry-obsessed paladin Eyck of Denesle; a company of men-at-arms led by the under aged King Niedamir; and the sorcerers Dorregaray and Geralt's ex-lover Yennefer.

The party eventually encounters a golden dragon. Villentretenmerth who offers a fair battle to anyone who wishes to challenge him. Eyck of Denesle accepts and is defeated, which weakens the party's resolve and causes King Niedamir's cadre to leave.

Boholt, the dwarves, and the Reavers elect to attack the dragon together and split the treasure. Geralt, Dorregaray, and Dandelion disagree, For which they are paralyzed by Yennefer and tied to a cart. Yennefer attempts to disable the dwarves and Reavers so she can kill the dragon itself, as its viscera will supposedly cure her infertility, but is disabled instead. Villentretenmerth, bored of waiting enters the struggle and dispatches the Reavers and Dwarves. He leaves a fledgling green dragon with the remaining party members and attacks an oncoming militia from a nearby village. Tea and Vea appear and assist the golden dragon, revealing that Borch was actually Villentretenmerth in human form.

Reassuming his human form. Villentretenmerth explains that the green dragon, Myrgtabrakke, called him for assistance and left him her “treasure” (Her Hatchling) as payment. Geralt asks Villentretenmerth why he chooses human disguise. Villentretenmerth admits that, unlike the rest of dragonkind, he likes humans. He says that Yennefer's infertility is irreversible, but she refuses to give up on finding a cure. Villentretenmerth returns to his dragon form and flies away.

A SHARD OF ICE

(Okruch Iodu)

Geralt hunts and kills a Zeugl living in a garbage heap outside of Aedd Gynvael. He returns to Yennefer at their inn and complains that the town's atmosphere is making him confused and Short-tempered. Yennefer insists they stay because she likes the town and it's history, and because she is visiting her sorcerer fried Istredd. The Two make love.

The next morning, Geralt meets the pompous warrior Mirce (a.k.a “Cicada”) who works for the alderman Herbolth, who pays Geralt his fee for killing the Zeugl but subtracts a small tax. Herbolth also mentions Yennefer has been in Aedd Gynvael many times before to visit Istredd. As Geralt leaves, Cicada harasses him.

Geralt meets with Istredd, who confides that he loves Yennefer and proposed marriage to her, but she asked for time to think about it. Istredd believes that Geralt's presence makes her decision difficult, and wishes for Geralt to leave and never see her again. Istredd insists that he is the better mate for her than Geralt, as Witchers' do not actually feel emotions. Geralt insists that Yennefer loves him, as she slept with him the night before, Istredd smugly replies she slept with him that morning.

Yennefer returns home that night, and she and Geralt discuss their natures. Yennefer creates a black kestrel with her magic and asks it what the truth is, and it replies that “The truth is a shard of ice.” The next day Geralt and Istredd agree to duel for Yennefer's hand. Herbolth intervenes and says that the town needs Istredd's services, and Geralt is not allowed to kill him. Tired and affected by the recent events, Geralt walks into a dark alley without his weapons and is attacked by teo thieves, who leave him after realizing he is a Witcher. One thief tells him not to involve others if he wishes to commit suicide. That evening, he receives a message from Yennefer.

The next morning Geralt beats Cicada and his men before meeting Istredd, who has received a note from Yennefer, wishing him farewell. Istredd does not accept this and still wishes to fight Geralt. Geralt repeats the thieves' words to him and leaves.

ETERNAL FLAME

(Wieczny ogien)

Geralt meets Dandilion in the capital metropolis of Novigrad after the latter is kicked out by his estranged lover Vespula. The pair head to a nearby inn where Dandilion asks his friend, the halfling merchant Dainty Biberveldt to pay his outstanding tab and buy them dinner. Dainty is afraid of Geralt and the trio makes small talk before they are interrupted by another beaten Dainty. The Dainty whom Geralt and Dandelion were talking to is a mimic – also known as a vexling, or a doppler – a creature that can transform into and mimic others.

The doppler introduces himself as Tellico Lunngrevink Letorte, nicknamed “Dudu”. Dudu attacked dainty outside of Novigrad, stole his horses and caravan, and sold them to buy seemingly worthless goods in Daint's name, leaving Dainty destitute and sullying his reputation. Geralt refuses to kill Dudu because he is an intelligent being. Dudu escapes and Dainty is ordered by Schwann, a city official to pay a tax on Dudu's profits, which Dainty cannot afford.

The trio are accosted by Chapelle, Royal minister of security affairs and head of the city's secret police. Chappelle tells them that stories of a doppler in the city must stop spreading, as the city is protected by the Eternal Fire, which promises protection from monsters and similar threats. Muskrat, the merchant guilds treasurer, arrives and tells Dainty that the “Useless” goods bought by Dudu have sold for massive profits, due to recent political events.

Vimme Vivaldi, a banker friend of Dainty's, has made Dudu's transactions thus far. He explains that Dudu's “Worthless” purchases were a cover for legitimate ones, that have resold for exorbitant prices. Due to Dudu's Successes, Dainty has recovered his fortune and reputation, with the taxes paid in full. However Dudu is still at large, making “Random” purchases and sales with Dainty's face.

Geralt, Dandilion and Dainty find Dudu and give chase. Dudu transforms into Geralt to fight him but is too good natured and looses. Dudu explains that he merely wishes to assimilate and survive in the city. He transforms into Dandelion and heads into the market, where he is beaten by a still angry Vespula. Geralt captures Dudu but is stopped by Chappelle, who reveals that he is also a Doppler, taking a recently deceased Chappelle's form. Dainty, Dudu and Chappelle agree that Dudu can live in the city under the alias of Dainty's cousin, Dudu Biberveldt, and work as his proxy in Novigrad. Dudu reveals that his “Random” purchases will be used for more Eternal Fire Altars, making another fortune.

A LITTLE SACRIFICE

(Troche poswiecenia)

Geralt acts as translator to help Duke Agloval propose to his lover, the mermaid Sh'eenaz. The Proposal is unsuccessful because neither party agrees to transform themselves to live with the other. Agloval refuses to pay Geralt. He meets up with Dandelion and his close friend Essi Daven, a female minstrel known as “Little eye”. Aglovel arrives with a job for Geralt. A pearl-diving boat was found floating alone in the ocean, with the crew vanished and blood splatters on the deck, presumably the work of a sea monster. After accepting the job, Geralt and Essi share a kiss which neither can explain.

The next day, Geralt begins his hunt, and Essi joins him. Geralt fails to find anyone willing to take him to the fishing boat's location. Sh'eenaz warns Geralt away from the site. Essi's nautical knowledge, however allows Geralt to reach the site, which he does with Dandelion. The two find stairs leading into the water, which Dandelion theorizes leads to the sunken city of Ys. The pair are attacked by undersea creatures. Geralt is dragged underwater as he and Dandelion escape, but is saved by Sh'eenaz, who again warns him away. While dressing his wounds, Essi admits her love for Geralt. However, Geralt feels nothing for her due to his love for Yennefer.. He allows Essi to spend the evening with him and gives her a pearl found on the stairs to Ys, Which Essi swears to keep.

Geralt tells Agloval of the undersea race, but refuses to kill them, as they are intelligent. Agloval decides to go to war with the creatures, despite Geralt and Essi's pleas against it. However Sh'eenaz arrives, having become human, so she can marry Agloval and live with him. Geralt Dandelion and Essi leave and travel together, with Geralt and Essi eventually ending their affair. Dandelion composes a ballad the night before they part ways, about a Witcher and a bard falling in love, but never performs it. Geralt and Essi never see each other again, and Essi dies in a smallpox epidemic a few years later, with dandelion burying her with her lute and the pearl Geralt gave her.

SWORD OF DESTINY

(Miecz Przeznaczenia)

Geralt heads to Brokilon, the last forest, to deliver a message to the Queen of the dryads, Eithne, from king Venzlav. He finds bodies left by the dryads, along with one survivor, his friend Freixenet, alive but wounded. Dryads accost Geralt and the Dryad Braenn agrees to take him to Eithne. Geralt and Braenn encounter and kill a giant centipede threatening a girl named

Ciri., who joins them, Ciri likes Geralt, and explains she is a princess and was going to be married off to Prince Kistrin, son of King Ervyll, but ran away

Braenn, Geralt Ciri arrive in Duen Canell, the heart of Brokilon. Freixenet's wounds have been treated, as the Dryads intend for him to impregnate some of them. Ciri realizes that the dryads plan to keep her – the dryads bolster their numbers by taking and brainwashing young girls into their culture, as they had done to Braenn. Geralt meets Eithne and the two discuss destiny, which Eithne believes is a “Double-edged sword”

Eithne allows Ciri to choose whether she wants to stay in the forest or leave with Geralt. She makes Ciri drink the water of Brokilon, which removes memories of a former life, but it doesn't affect Ciri. At the same time, drinking the water causes Geralt to realise that Ciri is “Cirilla, daughter of Pavetta and granddaughter to Queen Calanthe of Cintra,” and Geralt's promised “Child of Destiny” as per the law of surprise (Which he enacted in “A question of price”)

Ciri and Geralt awaken at the edge of Brokilon, released by Eithne. The two move towards Brugge to tell King Venzlav that Eithne refuses to concede land to him. They encounter Verdan mercenaries, sent by King Ervyll, who have murdered a group of mercenaries and plan to use the incident to provoke war with the dryads. Geralt fights them while Ciri hides, and is helped by dryads and the druid Mousesack, who has sent to bring Ciri to Cintra. As they journey to Cintra, Mousesack confides that Calanthe has cancelled Ciri's marriage to Kistrin, and Ervyll's dishonourable actions will reinforce her decision. Ciri and Mousesack urge Geralt to take Ciri with him, as expected under law of surprise, but Geralt declines and attempts to leave while Ciri is sleeping. Ciri wakes up and calls to Geralt, insisting that she is his destiny but he walks away.

Something More

(Cos Wiecej)

Geralt saves the merchant Yurga from monsters that had toppled Yurga's cart, after exacting the law of surprise from him. Geralt defeats the monsters but is severely wounded. Yurga puts him in his cart and gives Geralt one of his healing potions, which knocks Geralt unconscious and causes him to dream of memories.

In the first Geralt spends Beltaine with Yennefer, who says that they can't stay together, which he accepts. In the next, Geralt visits Cintra six years after his visit in 'A Question of Price', he notices children playing in the moat of the castle. Calanthe allows him to guess which child is Pavetta's, who died with Duny in a shipwreck, and take it, but will not tell him if he is correct. Geralt however had not intentions to call in his promise, wanting to look into the face of destiny and understand. Geralt explains he was abandoned by his sorceress mother, not claimed by the Witcher's law of surprise, and as such doesn't believe in destiny. Believing Pavetta had a son, he claims the son isn't playing in the moat and leaves.

Geralt awakens and finds his mother Visenna healing him. Geralt wishes to look at her and know if destiny has lead them back to each other, but Visenna refuses, saying that it won't change anything. The next day Yurga tells Geralt about the battle for sodden that drove back the Nilfgaardian forces, but killed fourteen sorcerers who fought there/ There is a monument listing the dead sorcerers' names. Geralt goes there and remembers encounters with the sorcerers listed, before meeting death in the form of a young woman. She reads him the last name on the monument, Yennefer of Vengerberg. Heartbroken, Geralt asks death to take him but she refuses. Yurga later tells Geralt that he knows the names, and the last is not Yennefer. Geralt rescinds his law of surprise after Yurga offers one of his sons for Witcher training.

Geralt recalls meeting Dandelion soon after Nilfgaard began marching across the continent. Geralt saves Dandelion and promises to help him cross the river after he goes to Cintra. Dandelion tells him that Cintra has fallen, with Calanthe throwing herself from the castle walls and all of the nobility committing suicide. Ciri is missing and assumed dead. Despondent, Geralt asks Dandelion if he believes in destiny, and claims that even if two people are destined to be together, there must be “Something more” for that destiny to mean anything.

Finally, Geralt and Yurga arrive at the Latter's house. Yurga's wife has a surprise: she has taken in a young girl orphaned in the attacks. The child is revealed to be Ciri, who escaped Cintra. Ciri and Geralt embrace and Ciri asks if she is his destiny, to which Geralt Responds that she is “Something more”

I received the Sword of Destiny as part of a Witcher series box set for my birthday. As I'd already seen the Witcher S1 and S2 on Netflix, I'd already knew some of the stories outcomes, anyway I quite liked the book, like the last wish it gave me extra background to the Netflix show along with story and character know-how. As such I give the book an 8/10.

THE AUTHOR

Born on June 21^st 1948 in Lodz, Poland, Andrzej Sapkowski spend much of his childhood in Nowa Sol, attending the Boleslaw Prus high school No21, eventually going to the University of Lodz to study economics. Before becoming a writer Sapkowski worked for a foreign trade company as a senior sales representative. Sapkowski now lives and works as an polish fantasy author, essayist, translator and trained economist. Described as the Polish Tolkien, Sapkowski's work, which includes ten novels and eight short stories, has much influence from Slavic Mythology. Which has earned Sapkowski the Zajdel award five times. Poland's most popular science fiction and fantasy award as well as several other awards including the David Gemmell award, World Fantasy Live Achievement Award and the Medal for Merit to Culture-Gloria Artis.

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