Saturday, January 2, 2021

 See why I Was Happy To Take Shelter Among The Pages Of. . .




The Season of Storms

The Season of Storms is the 8th overall adventure in the Witcher series and – to keep things in context – is set between the events of the first book, The Last Wish, and the one I reviewed last week, The Lady of the Lake. (So, this is before he meets Ciri)

The best way to think of it is as an interquel, because it helps us flesh out the substance of the lands through which Geralt travels, as well as giving us a greater insight as to how – and why – his mind works the way it does. Very clever. Because although our favorite witcher is an out and out killer, something of a dark knight resides within him. He has standards. A personal code of ethics to which he restricts his activities while performing the tasks he is hired for.

And this, despite the fact that most people despise him; that the guild of sorcerers look on him as a joke; and brigands constantly want to test themselves against him.

The poor guy never seems to get a break. As is exemplified by his visit to the city of Kerack. He is wrongly arrested; his swords are stolen; he is mysteriously exonerated and sent on a mission to assist the sorcerers at Rissberg; he is double/triple and goodness-knows what else crossed. Only to find its all been a ruse to force his assistance in deeper/greater matters.

(What they are, you’ll discover for yourself as this wickedly deceitful tale unravels).

Personally, I thought it was a breath of fresh air. Few authors take the time to help you really get to know their main characters and their history, but Sapkowski does just that in a basic straightforward way that helps you relate to Geralt’s plight on a personal level. And of course, it does so on a stage of high fantasy, political intrigue, revenge, and good old-fashioned set-tos that are immensely satisfying . . . especially with the Easter Egg you get right at the end. See if you can spot what it means J

Another gem to store away in your collection.



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