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The Witcher #0.2
Season of Storms
The New York Times bestselling series that inspired the Witcher video games.
Geralt of Rivia. A witcher whose mission is to protect ordinary people from the monsters created with magic. A mutant who has the task of killing unnatural beings. He uses a magical sign, potions and the pride of every witcher -- two swords, steel and silver. But what would happen if Geralt lost his weapons?
In this standalone novel, Geralt fights, travels and loves again, Dandelion sings and flies from trouble to trouble, sorcerers are scheming ... and across the whole world clouds are gathering - the season of storms is coming...
Geralt of Rivia. A witcher whose mission is to protect ordinary people from the monsters created with magic. A mutant who has the task of killing unnatural beings. He uses a magical sign, potions and the pride of every witcher -- two swords, steel and silver. But what would happen if Geralt lost his weapons?
In this standalone novel, Geralt fights, travels and loves again, Dandelion sings and flies from trouble to trouble, sorcerers are scheming ... and across the whole world clouds are gathering - the season of storms is coming...
419 pages, Hardcover
First published November 6, 2013
5,101 people are currently reading
2,243 people want to read
About the author
Andrzej Sapkowski
117 books17.9k followersAndrzej Sapkowski, born June 21, 1948 in Łódź, is a Polish fantasy and science fiction writer. Sapkowski studied economics, and before turning to writing, he had worked as a senior sales representative for a foreign trade company. His first short story, The Witcher (Wiedźmin), was published in Fantastyka, Poland's leading fantasy literary magazine, in 1986 and was enormously successful both with readers and critics. Sapkowski has created a cycle of tales based on the world of The Witcher, comprising three collections of short stories and five novels. This cycle and his many other works have made him one of the best-known fantasy authors in Poland in the 1990s.
The main character of The Witcher (alternative translation: The Hexer) is Geralt, a mutant assassin who has been trained since childhood to hunt down and destroy monsters. Geralt exists in an ambiguous moral universe, yet manages to maintain his own coherent code of ethics. At the same time cynical and noble, Geralt has been compared to Raymond Chandler's signature character Philip Marlowe. The world in which these adventures take place is heavily influenced by Slavic mythology.
Sapkowski has won five Zajdel Awards, including three for short stories "Mniejsze zło" (Lesser Evil) (1990), "Miecz przeznaczenia" (Sword of Destiny) (1992) and "W leju po bombie" (In a Bomb Crater) (1993), and two for the novels "Krew elfów" (Blood of Elves) (1994) and "Narrenturm" (2002). He also won the Spanish Ignotus Award, best anthology, for The Last Wish in 2003, and for "Muzykanci" (The Musicians), best foreign short story, same year.
In 1997, Sapkowski won the prestigious Polityka's Passport award, which is awarded annually to artists who have strong prospects for international success.
In 2001, a Television Series based on the Witcher cycle was released in Poland and internationally, entitled Wiedźmin (The Hexer). A film by the same title was compiled from excerpts of the television series but both have been critical and box office failures.
Sapkowski's books have been translated into Czech, Russian, Lithuanian, German, Spanish, French, Ukrainian, and Portuguese. An English translation of The Last Wish short story collection was published by Gollancz in 2007.
The Polish game publisher, CD Projekt, created a role-playing PC game based on this universe, called The Witcher, which was released in October 2007. There is also a mobile version of the game which has been created by Breakpoint Games and is being published by Hands-On Mobile in Western Europe,Latin America and Asia Pacific.
The English translation of Sapkowski's novel Blood of Elves won the David Gemmell Legends Award in 2009.
The main character of The Witcher (alternative translation: The Hexer) is Geralt, a mutant assassin who has been trained since childhood to hunt down and destroy monsters. Geralt exists in an ambiguous moral universe, yet manages to maintain his own coherent code of ethics. At the same time cynical and noble, Geralt has been compared to Raymond Chandler's signature character Philip Marlowe. The world in which these adventures take place is heavily influenced by Slavic mythology.
Sapkowski has won five Zajdel Awards, including three for short stories "Mniejsze zło" (Lesser Evil) (1990), "Miecz przeznaczenia" (Sword of Destiny) (1992) and "W leju po bombie" (In a Bomb Crater) (1993), and two for the novels "Krew elfów" (Blood of Elves) (1994) and "Narrenturm" (2002). He also won the Spanish Ignotus Award, best anthology, for The Last Wish in 2003, and for "Muzykanci" (The Musicians), best foreign short story, same year.
In 1997, Sapkowski won the prestigious Polityka's Passport award, which is awarded annually to artists who have strong prospects for international success.
In 2001, a Television Series based on the Witcher cycle was released in Poland and internationally, entitled Wiedźmin (The Hexer). A film by the same title was compiled from excerpts of the television series but both have been critical and box office failures.
Sapkowski's books have been translated into Czech, Russian, Lithuanian, German, Spanish, French, Ukrainian, and Portuguese. An English translation of The Last Wish short story collection was published by Gollancz in 2007.
The Polish game publisher, CD Projekt, created a role-playing PC game based on this universe, called The Witcher, which was released in October 2007. There is also a mobile version of the game which has been created by Breakpoint Games and is being published by Hands-On Mobile in Western Europe,Latin America and Asia Pacific.
The English translation of Sapkowski's novel Blood of Elves won the David Gemmell Legends Award in 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,734 reviews
October 11, 2021
Sapuś, słońce, no ale kto Cię prosił o ten tom??
July 31, 2019
I received a review copy of Season of Storms in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Andrzej Sapkowski and Gollancz for the opportunity.
Season of Storms begins with the Witcher successfully completing a contract to eradicate the threat of a monster known as an Idr. Upon receiving payment Geralt opts to travel to Kerack where another mission may be waiting. Upon arrival at Kerack's Watchtower he is made to disarm and hand over his two legendary Witcher swords which he does begrudgingly. His first act in the City is to frequent an inn and relax with some food and wine. Before he is able to tuck in though he is posed a question by three characters dressed in black who approached his table without a sound.
"Geralt of Rivia?"
"It is I."
"You are arrested in the name of the law."
The Witcher Wiki states that this standalone novel is a midquel, set before "The Witcher" short story but after most of the other stories in The Last Wish. Although much longer at 368 this entry has much more in common with the short tales in both The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny than the other full-lengths in the saga. Instead of character and point of view hopping which was introduced in Blood of Elves and continued up until The Lady of the Lake, we only follow Geralt's actions here. This is with the exception of certain interludes which include letters, a story draft, and the happenings at an auction house. For me, the interludes were hit and miss for enjoyment/excitement and were really just a device to colour the reader slightly more informed of the current happenings than they would be if only isolated to the Witcher's point of view perspective.
The world-renowned poet and Geralt's best friend Dandelion is one of the main characters throughout this narrative and like quite a few other The Witcher tales, he just happens to randomly come across Geralt in random cities and towns all over the world without planning to. The amount of times this happens throughout the series seems farfetched but I'm willing to forgive Sapkowski as the womanising troubadour is one the best characters in the overall story. The majority of the ensemble here are new creations such as the mysterious fire-haired sorceress Coral and the trusty drawf friend Addario Bach. There are mentions of other characters that are present in the series that readers will know and a few surprising 'easter-egg' moments. One, in particular, you will only understand if you have completed the whole series. As mentioned, this book does work finely as a standalone, however; I wouldn't recommend reading it until a potential reader had read The Last Wish as this collection introduces the character of The Witcher well and would, therefore, heighten the enjoyment experience in Season of Storms. After that though, it can be read at any time.
It is written in similar fashion to the short stories but does feature one of two styles of writing that Sapkowski toyed with more in the latter half of the full series such as dream sequences and transportation/place/world hopping scenes ala The Lady of the Lake. The place/world hopping scenes in the aforementioned book were one of my least favourite parts in the series as a whole so I was glad that it is only limited to half a dozen or so pages here before it proceeds back to the author's fashion of writing style I enjoy a lot more.
Geralt, as always, has unshakable morals and his dependable horse Roach. There are many highs and lows for him here and throughout, more often than not, his luck seems to really be against him. In addition to his talents with blades, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of seemingly everything including law and magic but especially monsters. There are a large number of different sorts of monsters dotted throughout these pages including a she-fox, werewolves and ogrotrolls. Season of Storms features demon hunts, corrupted magic, uncertainty over monarchy ascension, and a battle with a gigantic sea monster. It's not the finest entry but it should be read by all fans of The Witcher as there is a lot to enjoy here. I devoured it in 48-hours and loved being back in the world of The Witcher. Recommended.
Season of Storms begins with the Witcher successfully completing a contract to eradicate the threat of a monster known as an Idr. Upon receiving payment Geralt opts to travel to Kerack where another mission may be waiting. Upon arrival at Kerack's Watchtower he is made to disarm and hand over his two legendary Witcher swords which he does begrudgingly. His first act in the City is to frequent an inn and relax with some food and wine. Before he is able to tuck in though he is posed a question by three characters dressed in black who approached his table without a sound.
"Geralt of Rivia?"
"It is I."
"You are arrested in the name of the law."
The Witcher Wiki states that this standalone novel is a midquel, set before "The Witcher" short story but after most of the other stories in The Last Wish. Although much longer at 368 this entry has much more in common with the short tales in both The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny than the other full-lengths in the saga. Instead of character and point of view hopping which was introduced in Blood of Elves and continued up until The Lady of the Lake, we only follow Geralt's actions here. This is with the exception of certain interludes which include letters, a story draft, and the happenings at an auction house. For me, the interludes were hit and miss for enjoyment/excitement and were really just a device to colour the reader slightly more informed of the current happenings than they would be if only isolated to the Witcher's point of view perspective.
The world-renowned poet and Geralt's best friend Dandelion is one of the main characters throughout this narrative and like quite a few other The Witcher tales, he just happens to randomly come across Geralt in random cities and towns all over the world without planning to. The amount of times this happens throughout the series seems farfetched but I'm willing to forgive Sapkowski as the womanising troubadour is one the best characters in the overall story. The majority of the ensemble here are new creations such as the mysterious fire-haired sorceress Coral and the trusty drawf friend Addario Bach. There are mentions of other characters that are present in the series that readers will know and a few surprising 'easter-egg' moments. One, in particular, you will only understand if you have completed the whole series. As mentioned, this book does work finely as a standalone, however; I wouldn't recommend reading it until a potential reader had read The Last Wish as this collection introduces the character of The Witcher well and would, therefore, heighten the enjoyment experience in Season of Storms. After that though, it can be read at any time.
It is written in similar fashion to the short stories but does feature one of two styles of writing that Sapkowski toyed with more in the latter half of the full series such as dream sequences and transportation/place/world hopping scenes ala The Lady of the Lake. The place/world hopping scenes in the aforementioned book were one of my least favourite parts in the series as a whole so I was glad that it is only limited to half a dozen or so pages here before it proceeds back to the author's fashion of writing style I enjoy a lot more.
Geralt, as always, has unshakable morals and his dependable horse Roach. There are many highs and lows for him here and throughout, more often than not, his luck seems to really be against him. In addition to his talents with blades, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of seemingly everything including law and magic but especially monsters. There are a large number of different sorts of monsters dotted throughout these pages including a she-fox, werewolves and ogrotrolls. Season of Storms features demon hunts, corrupted magic, uncertainty over monarchy ascension, and a battle with a gigantic sea monster. It's not the finest entry but it should be read by all fans of The Witcher as there is a lot to enjoy here. I devoured it in 48-hours and loved being back in the world of The Witcher. Recommended.
June 5, 2018
"They say that progress illuminates the darkness. But there will always be darkness. And in that darkness there will always be Evil, in that darkness there will always be fangs and claws, murder and blood. There will always be things that go bump in the night. And we, witchers, are the ones who bump back at them."
- Vesemir of Kaer Morhen
A difficult book to rate. I enjoyed reading it, of course, as it is a Witcher book. At the same time, it offered nothing new to the series, did not add anything of value, and overall felt like it was completely unnecessary.
Season of Storms is set in between the original short stories, and so before the main Witcher saga. It explores Geralt of Rivia on a minor adventure just prior to him going to Vizima to fight the striga for King Foltest (as fans of The Witcher will know, an integral plot point of both the first book and the first game).
Unfortunately, the storyline is rather dull. The court intrigue is exceedingly poor when compared to Cintra, Nilfgaard and Skellige. The villain suffers equally when compared to Vilgefortz or Letho. The direct approach to real-world social issues felt both strange and forced, and appeared to be Sapkowski attempting to fire back at feminist critics rather than anything that fit well with the other themes of the book. And the great characters and fascinating monsters who have made this series what it is, are few and far between.
It sadly seems as if Sapkowski has gotten less and less interesting with time. The Last Wish is the best book in the Witcher series, and this along with Lady of the Lake are the two worst ones. Sadly, I cannot escape the feeling that CDProjektRed's vision for the world of the Witcher is much more skilfully crafted than Sapkowski's.
Ah, well. This does not renege his achievement in creating one of the most interesting fantasy worlds out there.
- Vesemir of Kaer Morhen
A difficult book to rate. I enjoyed reading it, of course, as it is a Witcher book. At the same time, it offered nothing new to the series, did not add anything of value, and overall felt like it was completely unnecessary.
Season of Storms is set in between the original short stories, and so before the main Witcher saga. It explores Geralt of Rivia on a minor adventure just prior to him going to Vizima to fight the striga for King Foltest (as fans of The Witcher will know, an integral plot point of both the first book and the first game).
Unfortunately, the storyline is rather dull. The court intrigue is exceedingly poor when compared to Cintra, Nilfgaard and Skellige. The villain suffers equally when compared to Vilgefortz or Letho. The direct approach to real-world social issues felt both strange and forced, and appeared to be Sapkowski attempting to fire back at feminist critics rather than anything that fit well with the other themes of the book. And the great characters and fascinating monsters who have made this series what it is, are few and far between.
It sadly seems as if Sapkowski has gotten less and less interesting with time. The Last Wish is the best book in the Witcher series, and this along with Lady of the Lake are the two worst ones. Sadly, I cannot escape the feeling that CDProjektRed's vision for the world of the Witcher is much more skilfully crafted than Sapkowski's.
Ah, well. This does not renege his achievement in creating one of the most interesting fantasy worlds out there.
June 13, 2019
1.) The Last Wish ★★★★★
I'm sorry, friends, but I'm just not going to write a review for this one, because I feel so much dread every time I think about doing it. This book was just so different than what I've come to expect with other Witcher novels. It breaks my heart to say it, but I just didn't enjoy this one. I still love Dandelion with my whole heart and soul, Geralt is daddy, and Horse is a good boy.
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Content and trigger warnings for blood depictions, violence, gore, misogynistic comments (always in a negative light), and war themes.
I'm sorry, friends, but I'm just not going to write a review for this one, because I feel so much dread every time I think about doing it. This book was just so different than what I've come to expect with other Witcher novels. It breaks my heart to say it, but I just didn't enjoy this one. I still love Dandelion with my whole heart and soul, Geralt is daddy, and Horse is a good boy.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Youtube | Twitch
Content and trigger warnings for blood depictions, violence, gore, misogynistic comments (always in a negative light), and war themes.
September 10, 2018
I mean I love the freaking cover of the book! Guess I just need to get a print out!
But... the book fell flat for me! I don't know if it's because I have been reading some amazing books lately or what! Either way, I'm happy for the ones that love it!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
But... the book fell flat for me! I don't know if it's because I have been reading some amazing books lately or what! Either way, I'm happy for the ones that love it!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
February 22, 2025
Bus man pamoka, nereikia klausyti kitų nuomonės, draugas vos ne išleidimo dieną isigijo aš toks po savaitės na ir kaip? Jis toks mehhh,geriausiai šiemet išleisti 10Eu plius šokoladas dovanų, kažkas sako laimės negalima nusipirkti....🫠
April 1, 2016
It was so wonderful to be back in Witcher's world - I feel nostalgic already. There is everything in this book one could hope for:
breathtaking close-up fights with horrible monsters,
light-hearted funny banter with Dandelion,
court intrigues and conspiracies,
mysterious beautiful women and hot nights,
power drunk insane wizards,
plenty oh humour sarcasm and irony,
haunting full of horrors events,
kind monsters and monstrous cruel people.
Highly recommended to all Witcher fans. I can only hope that this is not a singular event and Sapkowski will surprise us once again with the new release. And as I don't want to say Good Bye - I can only say - See you later, Geralt of Rivia. I very much hope so.
breathtaking close-up fights with horrible monsters,
light-hearted funny banter with Dandelion,
court intrigues and conspiracies,
mysterious beautiful women and hot nights,
power drunk insane wizards,
plenty oh humour sarcasm and irony,
haunting full of horrors events,
kind monsters and monstrous cruel people.
Highly recommended to all Witcher fans. I can only hope that this is not a singular event and Sapkowski will surprise us once again with the new release. And as I don't want to say Good Bye - I can only say - See you later, Geralt of Rivia. I very much hope so.
August 26, 2020
(NIE CZYTAJCIE OPISU TEJ KSIĄŻKI-spojler)
Sama jestem zaskoczona tą oceną.
Sama jestem zaskoczona tą oceną.
July 14, 2020
In a lot of ways, this book is more like The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny than the core five books of the series.
It's not to say that this is broken up into many short stories that flesh out the universe, but it reads more like books 4 or 5 in that there are mini-adventures that are more or less self-contained and don't push an overarching plot. In other words, this isn't about the great war or Ciri.
It is, however, fascinating as hell and sometimes humorous and often I just want to scream at Geralt's bad luck. One more bad thing after another.
It definitely makes for a fun read, however. I had as much fun during this as I had during the first two short story collections. And Dandelion? Always a treat. :)
As a matter of fact, this one really feels like some of the old classics of Fantasy. Fafhrd and Gray Mouser comes to mind. Great dialogue, fun, rather dark adventures, and a much-updated fantasy ethic.
I could honestly read things like this forever. :) Pure adventure.
Of course, don't come into this one expecting a huge fantasy arc, because this is not that.
It's not to say that this is broken up into many short stories that flesh out the universe, but it reads more like books 4 or 5 in that there are mini-adventures that are more or less self-contained and don't push an overarching plot. In other words, this isn't about the great war or Ciri.
It is, however, fascinating as hell and sometimes humorous and often I just want to scream at Geralt's bad luck. One more bad thing after another.
It definitely makes for a fun read, however. I had as much fun during this as I had during the first two short story collections. And Dandelion? Always a treat. :)
As a matter of fact, this one really feels like some of the old classics of Fantasy. Fafhrd and Gray Mouser comes to mind. Great dialogue, fun, rather dark adventures, and a much-updated fantasy ethic.
I could honestly read things like this forever. :) Pure adventure.
Of course, don't come into this one expecting a huge fantasy arc, because this is not that.
May 14, 2018
Overdue review notes...
The first thing to know about it - it is a full-length novel. Not a collection of short stories like The Last Wish or Sword of Destiny. But despite that, this story is much closer in spirit to these prequel instalments as opposed to the main saga Blood of Elves and onward.
It is an easy and enjoyable read. But it would naturally appeal to those who already love the series. If you are new to Witcher - you can start here... but I am not sure I would recommend it. I would rather go through Last Wish > Sword of Destiny and then stop by here before diving into the main story. Or even keep it as a sweetener farewell entry.
It has all the thing that we enjoy about Mr Sapkowski's world: rich worldbuilding with historical allusions, modern themes raised in the medieval setting and a lonely path of a hero in a cynical world around him. Lots of things to love here... but I don't think this particular book has enough oomph to stand on its own as a stand-alone.
So - 4* from me and hopefully we will hear more about Geralt of Rivia in the future.
***
Dear Orion/Gollancz,
I am so very grateful for this NetGalley ARC! It is probably the very first time I was approved for the book I really really wanted. So: thanks again for making my day today ;)
Witcher/Ведьмак is on my best ever fiction shelf. I fondly remember it as one of my taste formative reads. I read it originally in a wonderful Russian translation and absolutely adored it for years.
I think the themes and a style of these books provides a curious missing link between fantasy of JRR Tolkien and sword&sorcery of GRR Martin; set in a western Slavic environment. If you haven't read it - I strongly recommend. It is NOT a fanfic to the video game. (It is rather the video game is a fanfic to this awesome series and the world it portrays).
Anyhow, Season of Storms is the only book I haven't read yet (it is a prequel released many years after the publication of the main series). Since my Polish is very poor I have tried reading Russian and Ukrainian translations (fan and official ones) but unfortunately left underwhelmed with their clumsy language. So this new English translation is my last resort to re-live the magic of my first encounters with the series.
So, I am crossing my fingers and diving in with excitement and anticipation of awesome ;) Will be sharing my field notes as I progress...
The first thing to know about it - it is a full-length novel. Not a collection of short stories like The Last Wish or Sword of Destiny. But despite that, this story is much closer in spirit to these prequel instalments as opposed to the main saga Blood of Elves and onward.
It is an easy and enjoyable read. But it would naturally appeal to those who already love the series. If you are new to Witcher - you can start here... but I am not sure I would recommend it. I would rather go through Last Wish > Sword of Destiny and then stop by here before diving into the main story. Or even keep it as a sweetener farewell entry.
It has all the thing that we enjoy about Mr Sapkowski's world: rich worldbuilding with historical allusions, modern themes raised in the medieval setting and a lonely path of a hero in a cynical world around him. Lots of things to love here... but I don't think this particular book has enough oomph to stand on its own as a stand-alone.
So - 4* from me and hopefully we will hear more about Geralt of Rivia in the future.
***
Dear Orion/Gollancz,
I am so very grateful for this NetGalley ARC! It is probably the very first time I was approved for the book I really really wanted. So: thanks again for making my day today ;)
Witcher/Ведьмак is on my best ever fiction shelf. I fondly remember it as one of my taste formative reads. I read it originally in a wonderful Russian translation and absolutely adored it for years.
I think the themes and a style of these books provides a curious missing link between fantasy of JRR Tolkien and sword&sorcery of GRR Martin; set in a western Slavic environment. If you haven't read it - I strongly recommend. It is NOT a fanfic to the video game. (It is rather the video game is a fanfic to this awesome series and the world it portrays).
Anyhow, Season of Storms is the only book I haven't read yet (it is a prequel released many years after the publication of the main series). Since my Polish is very poor I have tried reading Russian and Ukrainian translations (fan and official ones) but unfortunately left underwhelmed with their clumsy language. So this new English translation is my last resort to re-live the magic of my first encounters with the series.
So, I am crossing my fingers and diving in with excitement and anticipation of awesome ;) Will be sharing my field notes as I progress...
October 9, 2023
Entire Witcher series officially complete!!!!!!!!! ✅
🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉
Well, Geralt. Is this officially goodbye? 💧
What was so great about Season of Storms was that Geralt was once again in the spotlight especially considering how the series ended! 😭 In the series, he quickly became a secondary character in his own story/universe. This book was more like a “sidequel” and takes place in between the short stories of The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny from what I understand. It also was written after the first couple of Witcher games were released. Anyway, this book was definitely a nostalgic nod toward the short stories in a way. You have some good old-fashioned Dandelion/Geralt banter, a lot of trouble, and lots of funny/adventurous moments.
But as much as I badly want to say that I loved this book equally as much as the series, I just cannot. Hence, the 4-star rating. The plot was just overly simple. There were a lot of inconsistencies. It also drug on in some parts completely losing me. It could also be just me as I’ve been sick twice trying to get through this one book. It’s been rough….Anyway, I’ve done it!
I still want to thank my husband again for buying me the book series and introducing me to the games. I’ve spent countless hours happily lost in the Witcher world, and every time I hear the song “Toss a Coin,” a small tear of nostalgia will still form in my eye. This series has been my first fantasy series completed since I’ve started my reading journey again, and I feel the sea of options is boundless on what I can pursue next. I have so much to look forward to in the fantasy book world. This was such a huge accomplishment for me!! I’ve read this book series through many bad and difficult times over the last few years. So, I’ll also thank Mr. Andrej Sapkowski, too. Pray tell me (one of Dandelion’s favorite sayings), I hear whispers there may even be another Witcher book yet to come. But for now, I’m leaving my candle snuffed out and the door closed but not locked. At the first sign of a return, I’ll be there opening the door and lighting my candle back up. Until then…Geralt…. ⚔️♾️
🎉 🎉 🎉 🎉
Well, Geralt. Is this officially goodbye? 💧
What was so great about Season of Storms was that Geralt was once again in the spotlight especially considering how the series ended! 😭 In the series, he quickly became a secondary character in his own story/universe. This book was more like a “sidequel” and takes place in between the short stories of The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny from what I understand. It also was written after the first couple of Witcher games were released. Anyway, this book was definitely a nostalgic nod toward the short stories in a way. You have some good old-fashioned Dandelion/Geralt banter, a lot of trouble, and lots of funny/adventurous moments.
But as much as I badly want to say that I loved this book equally as much as the series, I just cannot. Hence, the 4-star rating. The plot was just overly simple. There were a lot of inconsistencies. It also drug on in some parts completely losing me. It could also be just me as I’ve been sick twice trying to get through this one book. It’s been rough….Anyway, I’ve done it!
I still want to thank my husband again for buying me the book series and introducing me to the games. I’ve spent countless hours happily lost in the Witcher world, and every time I hear the song “Toss a Coin,” a small tear of nostalgia will still form in my eye. This series has been my first fantasy series completed since I’ve started my reading journey again, and I feel the sea of options is boundless on what I can pursue next. I have so much to look forward to in the fantasy book world. This was such a huge accomplishment for me!! I’ve read this book series through many bad and difficult times over the last few years. So, I’ll also thank Mr. Andrej Sapkowski, too. Pray tell me (one of Dandelion’s favorite sayings), I hear whispers there may even be another Witcher book yet to come. But for now, I’m leaving my candle snuffed out and the door closed but not locked. At the first sign of a return, I’ll be there opening the door and lighting my candle back up. Until then…Geralt…. ⚔️♾️
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 7, 2021DNF on page 205.
I hate having to make the decision not to finish a book, when technically there isn’t anything wrong with it.
I don’t actively dislike this book. I’m just also not having the best time either and life really is too short.
I hate having to make the decision not to finish a book, when technically there isn’t anything wrong with it.
I don’t actively dislike this book. I’m just also not having the best time either and life really is too short.
February 25, 2022
No tiene sentido hacer una reseña de esta entrega de la saga. Quedaos con las estrellas que le pongo y ya.
Es una precuela y a mi me gustó mucho menos que el resto. Salió como 6 años después de finalizar la saga, supongo que para sacar pasta, y a mi me decepcionó mucho.
Ese “6” del título debe de ser por cronología interna de la saga, supongo.
Os dejo lo que escribí del primero, resume toda la saga (salvo el este y el último):
"Septiembre de 2003: uno de los pocos, pocos amigos "no de Red" que tenía que eran amantes de CF/Fantasía me dice "léete uno de un tío polaco, que está muy bien". Y me dejó este libro (luego me le compré para tener toda la colección).
ALUCINÉ. Esta era OTRA fantasía. Esto no lo había leído ni parecido. Por aquí ni se conocía ni se esperaba a Tolkien.
Brujos varones con habilidades potenciadas, pero no mágicas. Bichos raros cuyos nombre no había ni oído. Brujas reales, tangibles, con cuerpo y comportamientos carnales...la ostia, vamos.
Y seguí leyendo a Sapkowski y me harté de recomendar esta saga a todo el que quisiera oirme. Hoy es un autor consolidado y hasta tiene un "game" de mucho éxito (The Witcher) y peli.
Supongo que le conocéis; si no es así, leedle."
Es una precuela y a mi me gustó mucho menos que el resto. Salió como 6 años después de finalizar la saga, supongo que para sacar pasta, y a mi me decepcionó mucho.
Ese “6” del título debe de ser por cronología interna de la saga, supongo.
Os dejo lo que escribí del primero, resume toda la saga (salvo el este y el último):
"Septiembre de 2003: uno de los pocos, pocos amigos "no de Red" que tenía que eran amantes de CF/Fantasía me dice "léete uno de un tío polaco, que está muy bien". Y me dejó este libro (luego me le compré para tener toda la colección).
ALUCINÉ. Esta era OTRA fantasía. Esto no lo había leído ni parecido. Por aquí ni se conocía ni se esperaba a Tolkien.
Brujos varones con habilidades potenciadas, pero no mágicas. Bichos raros cuyos nombre no había ni oído. Brujas reales, tangibles, con cuerpo y comportamientos carnales...la ostia, vamos.
Y seguí leyendo a Sapkowski y me harté de recomendar esta saga a todo el que quisiera oirme. Hoy es un autor consolidado y hasta tiene un "game" de mucho éxito (The Witcher) y peli.
Supongo que le conocéis; si no es así, leedle."
August 23, 2015
It's really easy to bitch and pout about this book, as some did. And I could point at same things they pointed at too, I'm not blind. But I wasn't disappointed by it and forgive it all easily. I am really happy I could return to the world that became sort of my second home almost two decades ago. Sure thing, I can always do it with the help of old saga, or new games, but it's just not the same.
Because, simply as it is -
And I did get some more. And it was interesting, it was funny, it added some new aspects to the world of humans, non-humans and monsters (loved the vixena line!), although . And the ending was beautiful, the one you'd expect from Sapkowski. Should I add that I guess it was promising?
I do expect more stories, master Andrzej, please! And...
January 8, 2015
Bałem się tej książki. Od kiedy usłyszałem że Sapkowski znów zabrał się za Wiedźmina byłem przekonany, że dostaniemy coś na poziomie Żmiji, jakieś popłuczyny po legendzie.
Początek książki potwierdził moje obawy. Wyglądało to jak niezbyt udane opowiadanie pisane przez fana. Słabe żarty oparte na na dupie i pierdzeniu, fabuła tocząca się liniowo - coś się stało, idziemy do kogoś kto może coś wiedzieć, on odsyła nas dalej itp. Miałem wrażenie że czytam scenariusz questa do gry komputerowej i to raczej z pobocznego wątku fabuły.
Na szczęście im dalej tym lepiej. Sapkowski się trochę rozkręca, ale do mistrzowskiej formy nie wraca. Fabuła się trochę komplikuje i rozgałęzia i czyta się już przyjemniej.
Książce klimatem bliżej jest do opowiadań niż do sagi (Kojarzyła mi się trochę z mini powieściami Piekary z podcyklu "Ja Inkwizytor") i tak też jest umieszczona czasowo. Wszystko dzieje się po historii z "Ostatniego życzenia" gdzie Geralt poznał Yen, a kończy przed odczarowaniem strzygi. Ze znanych postaci mamy Geralta, Jaskra i mniej lub bardziej przelotne wspomnienia o paru innych osobach.
Raził mnie fakt, że mamy niby to samo uniwersum, ale pojawia się dużo nowych elementów, np. masa nigdy nie wspomnianych wcześniej potworów, czy osób które są wielce znane i szanowane, ale w dziejącej się później sadze już nikt o nich nie słyszał. Z drugiej strony może to i lepiej, że nie majstrował za bardzo przy dziejach znanych z poprzednich książek postaci. Brakowało niestety świetnych dialogów, zabawy słowem. Niby były jakieś "cięte riposty", ale za mało. Nie podobało mi się też niepotrzebne wplatanie niektórych słów, czy sytuacji - przesadnie nowoczesnych. Mamy jakieś quasi średniowiecze, a tu nagle klimat niszczy antybiotyk, jing i jang, szpital chorób zakaźnych czy spółka cywilna. Na szczęście nie są to rzeczy ważne dla fabuły, ot pojawiające się w dialogach odniesienia do rzeczywistości, które mogły by być subtelniejsze.
Podsumowując: nie jest najgorzej, jest lepiej niż przy Żmiji, ale sadze, czy trylogii husyckiej do pięt nie dorasta. Mimo, że jestem całkiem zadowolony bo spodziewałem się najgorszego to uważam, że książka powstała niepotrzebne. No, ale za coś trzeba pić.
Edit: po przesłuchaniu audiobooka obniżam ocenę bo byłem chyba zbyt łaskawy.
Początek książki potwierdził moje obawy. Wyglądało to jak niezbyt udane opowiadanie pisane przez fana. Słabe żarty oparte na na dupie i pierdzeniu, fabuła tocząca się liniowo - coś się stało, idziemy do kogoś kto może coś wiedzieć, on odsyła nas dalej itp. Miałem wrażenie że czytam scenariusz questa do gry komputerowej i to raczej z pobocznego wątku fabuły.
Na szczęście im dalej tym lepiej. Sapkowski się trochę rozkręca, ale do mistrzowskiej formy nie wraca. Fabuła się trochę komplikuje i rozgałęzia i czyta się już przyjemniej.
Książce klimatem bliżej jest do opowiadań niż do sagi (Kojarzyła mi się trochę z mini powieściami Piekary z podcyklu "Ja Inkwizytor") i tak też jest umieszczona czasowo. Wszystko dzieje się po historii z "Ostatniego życzenia" gdzie Geralt poznał Yen, a kończy przed odczarowaniem strzygi. Ze znanych postaci mamy Geralta, Jaskra i mniej lub bardziej przelotne wspomnienia o paru innych osobach.
Raził mnie fakt, że mamy niby to samo uniwersum, ale pojawia się dużo nowych elementów, np. masa nigdy nie wspomnianych wcześniej potworów, czy osób które są wielce znane i szanowane, ale w dziejącej się później sadze już nikt o nich nie słyszał. Z drugiej strony może to i lepiej, że nie majstrował za bardzo przy dziejach znanych z poprzednich książek postaci. Brakowało niestety świetnych dialogów, zabawy słowem. Niby były jakieś "cięte riposty", ale za mało. Nie podobało mi się też niepotrzebne wplatanie niektórych słów, czy sytuacji - przesadnie nowoczesnych. Mamy jakieś quasi średniowiecze, a tu nagle klimat niszczy antybiotyk, jing i jang, szpital chorób zakaźnych czy spółka cywilna. Na szczęście nie są to rzeczy ważne dla fabuły, ot pojawiające się w dialogach odniesienia do rzeczywistości, które mogły by być subtelniejsze.
Podsumowując: nie jest najgorzej, jest lepiej niż przy Żmiji, ale sadze, czy trylogii husyckiej do pięt nie dorasta. Mimo, że jestem całkiem zadowolony bo spodziewałem się najgorszego to uważam, że książka powstała niepotrzebne. No, ale za coś trzeba pić.
Edit: po przesłuchaniu audiobooka obniżam ocenę bo byłem chyba zbyt łaskawy.
November 5, 2022
Nie wiem o cholerę chodziło, czułam się jakbym czytała jakiś dziwny fanfic.
PS ciągle mnie wkurza to jak Sapkowski pisze o kobietach
TW gw4łt, šmi3rć, n4rkotyki, WSZYSTKO
PS ciągle mnie wkurza to jak Sapkowski pisze o kobietach
TW gw4łt, šmi3rć, n4rkotyki, WSZYSTKO
February 26, 2023
“Lyta Neyd, vadinama Koralu. Ją taip pravardžiavo dėl jos lūpdažio spalvos. Kadaise Lyta taip apšmeižė Geraltą karaliui Belohunui, jog raganiui savaitę teko tūnoti kalėjime. Paleistas Geraltas nuėjo pas ją - norėjo išsiaiškinti, kodėl ji taip pasielgė. Bet nežinia kaip atsidūrė jos lovoje, kur ir praleido kitą savaitę.”
Va tokia štai nedidelė pastraipa apsakyme “Kažkas daugiau”. Nedidelė, bet iš esmės nuo jos atsispyrė Sapkowskis, po daugelio metų nusprendęs grįžti prie raganiaus. Grįžo ne tęsiniu, ne priešistore. Grįžo pasakojimu, chronologiškai tarsi įsiterpiančiu tarp apsakymų „Ledo krislas“ (Geraltas išsiskyręs su Jennefer) ir „Raganius“ (pabaigoje sužinome apie Foltestą, ieškantį, kas atkerėtų jo dukrą).
Grįžo kažkuo tarpiniu tarp pirmųjų apsakymų ir bandymo tą pačią formulę perteikti didesnėje formoje. Ne iki galo sėkmingai. Trys siužetinės linijos driekiasi per „Audrų sezoną“ – Lapės, Sorelio Degerlundo ir perversmo Keracko karalystėje. Tos trys linijos persipina, tai išnyra paviršiun, tai užleidžia vietą kitai. Ir viskas būtų gerai, bet... Ne, ne taip. Viskas ir yra gerai. Bet.
Panašu, kad Sapkowskiui prireikė kažkiek laiko įsibėgėti, vėl panirti į raganiaus pasaulį. Nes nuolat iki „puiku“ vos vos pritrūksta. Nedaug. Mažumėlę. Bet pritrūksta. Ir tik į pabaigą – jau visai beveik beveik.
O galbūt taip atrodo todėl, kad nėra tos gilumos, kuri buvo epo penkiatomyje, ir nėra to koncentruoto „uch“, kuris buvo apsakymuose. Todėl ir gavosi nei tas, nei anas. O kažkas nauja.
Sakykim, kažkur tarp keturių ir penkių. Kitas gautų penkis be abejonės, Sapkowskiui gi – „Audrų sezonas“ tikrai ne lubos.
---
Apie lietuviškąjį leidimą.
Bendrai vertimas tikrai neblogas. Va, kiek kruopštesnio redaktoriaus darbo akivaizdžiai pristigo.
Yra ne viena vieta, kur „aš daryčiau kitaip“. Bet tai ne priekaištas. Ir tai normalu. Vertėjo darbas – nuolatinis pasirinkimas. Ir ne visada akivaizdu, kuris iš dviejų (ar penkiolikos) įmanomų teisingiausias. Tai čia viskas ok.
Kas ne ok?
Ne ok lotyniškas žodis „pax“ (taika), nesuprasi, kodėl pavirtęs į... „bac“! Kaip, Karlai? Kaaaip? Net pagal kontekstą – du žmonės ginčijasi, trečiasis gi juos bando nuraminti, įsiterpdamas „Bac, bac“?
Ne ok sykis nuo sykio Geraldu virstantis Geraltas.
Ne ok sūkurys ar verpetas, pavadinamas viesulu.
Na, ir labai jau rėžia akį matrosai.
Bet, pasikartosiu – čia kelios smulkmenos. Šiaip vertimas ok.
Va tokia štai nedidelė pastraipa apsakyme “Kažkas daugiau”. Nedidelė, bet iš esmės nuo jos atsispyrė Sapkowskis, po daugelio metų nusprendęs grįžti prie raganiaus. Grįžo ne tęsiniu, ne priešistore. Grįžo pasakojimu, chronologiškai tarsi įsiterpiančiu tarp apsakymų „Ledo krislas“ (Geraltas išsiskyręs su Jennefer) ir „Raganius“ (pabaigoje sužinome apie Foltestą, ieškantį, kas atkerėtų jo dukrą).
Grįžo kažkuo tarpiniu tarp pirmųjų apsakymų ir bandymo tą pačią formulę perteikti didesnėje formoje. Ne iki galo sėkmingai. Trys siužetinės linijos driekiasi per „Audrų sezoną“ – Lapės, Sorelio Degerlundo ir perversmo Keracko karalystėje. Tos trys linijos persipina, tai išnyra paviršiun, tai užleidžia vietą kitai. Ir viskas būtų gerai, bet... Ne, ne taip. Viskas ir yra gerai. Bet.
Panašu, kad Sapkowskiui prireikė kažkiek laiko įsibėgėti, vėl panirti į raganiaus pasaulį. Nes nuolat iki „puiku“ vos vos pritrūksta. Nedaug. Mažumėlę. Bet pritrūksta. Ir tik į pabaigą – jau visai beveik beveik.
O galbūt taip atrodo todėl, kad nėra tos gilumos, kuri buvo epo penkiatomyje, ir nėra to koncentruoto „uch“, kuris buvo apsakymuose. Todėl ir gavosi nei tas, nei anas. O kažkas nauja.
Sakykim, kažkur tarp keturių ir penkių. Kitas gautų penkis be abejonės, Sapkowskiui gi – „Audrų sezonas“ tikrai ne lubos.
---
Apie lietuviškąjį leidimą.
Bendrai vertimas tikrai neblogas. Va, kiek kruopštesnio redaktoriaus darbo akivaizdžiai pristigo.
Yra ne viena vieta, kur „aš daryčiau kitaip“. Bet tai ne priekaištas. Ir tai normalu. Vertėjo darbas – nuolatinis pasirinkimas. Ir ne visada akivaizdu, kuris iš dviejų (ar penkiolikos) įmanomų teisingiausias. Tai čia viskas ok.
Kas ne ok?
Ne ok lotyniškas žodis „pax“ (taika), nesuprasi, kodėl pavirtęs į... „bac“! Kaip, Karlai? Kaaaip? Net pagal kontekstą – du žmonės ginčijasi, trečiasis gi juos bando nuraminti, įsiterpdamas „Bac, bac“?
Ne ok sykis nuo sykio Geraldu virstantis Geraltas.
Ne ok sūkurys ar verpetas, pavadinamas viesulu.
Na, ir labai jau rėžia akį matrosai.
Bet, pasikartosiu – čia kelios smulkmenos. Šiaip vertimas ok.
October 13, 2024
Прилични истории, споени в една обща такава. Според мен са специално написани за феновете на Вещера, които се надяваха 13 години да излезе нещо ново за него.
По-ниската ми оценка е заради големите ми очаквания, които не се оправдаха - в книгата няма почти нищо ново и оригинално.
Трансформацията на Гералт в изпечен плейбой също не ми допадна и мисля, че не заслужава такова тривиално развитие на образа си.
Връх на книгата - ръкопашната схватка на Гералт с шест преяли с боб мадами-стражи!!! :)
Цитат:
"Testis unis, testis nullis!" :)
По-ниската ми оценка е заради големите ми очаквания, които не се оправдаха - в книгата няма почти нищо ново и оригинално.
Трансформацията на Гералт в изпечен плейбой също не ми допадна и мисля, че не заслужава такова тривиално развитие на образа си.
Връх на книгата - ръкопашната схватка на Гералт с шест преяли с боб мадами-стражи!!! :)
Цитат:
"Testis unis, testis nullis!" :)
June 17, 2018
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum: https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/06/17/...
There really is no such thing as a bad Witcher book, just some are better than others. Season of Storms is probably one that I would put on the lower end of the spectrum—meaning I enjoyed it, but compared to the rest of the books in the series, it simply didn’t stand out as much as I’d hoped. While this is the eighth one overall (when you include all the novels and collections), it is also something of a standalone prequel, taking place between the short stories featured in The Last Wish and well before the events of the main saga.
In Season of Storms, readers are given insight into the events occurring just prior to Geralt of Rivia’s fateful visit into the city of Vizima to deal with King Foltest’s striga problem, which was chronicled in what was Andrzej Sapkowski’s debut work, a tale simply titled “The Witcher”. When the story opens, we get to catch up with our protagonist in a quiet seaside kingdom, though in true Geralt fashion, it’s not long before he finds himself embroiled in a spot of trouble and winds up getting arrested and thrown in jail.
Unfortunately, this also means that his swords are taken from him. A Witcher without his iconic weapons? Say it isn’t so! After all, what use is a monster hunter without the tools of his trade? As a result, the main plot of this book mostly focuses on Geralt as he is roped into taking on all kinds of dangerous and daring missions to try and get his swords back. It involves a lot of the elements you would expect—shady sorcerers, political intrigue, monster killing, and sexy times.
In other words, Season of Storms is full of your usual Witcher shenanigans. It means that if you’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series, then there is a good chance that you’ll enjoy this one too. This novel also felt more light-hearted to me, though of course, when it comes to The Witcher, words like lightness and darkness are all relative. Since this one is a prequel, there are quite a few people who haven’t yet made their appearances in Geralt’s life, the most notable of these being Ciri, which does mean the story is generally free of the kind of angst that typically follows her character everywhere. There’s also a general nonchalance and more laidback tone to the story which gives the impression of much simpler times.
In fact, that might be part of the problem. Season of Storms doesn’t really add anything new or special to what we already know of the world or protagonist; everything feels like it has been done before—in bigger, better, and more complex ways. Its status as a standalone prequel might also have a lot to do with this, since the main saga itself is over and done with, leaving this one to feel “tacked on” and apart from the other novels. Whatever intrigues and challenges Geralt has to deal with in this book, they simply pale in comparison to those he has faced in the overarching series. Likewise, when it comes to the relationships he forges, the villains he fights, or the monsters he kills, all of them feel rather like superficial throwaway encounters in the context of this novel.
Does this mean you shouldn’t read Season of Storms? Not at all. As a matter of fact, it might make a good choice if you are new to Sapkowski or The Witcher. While I would still recommend starting with the main series, this book would be an ideal jumping off point to dip a toe into the world if you just want a little itty-bitty taste of the series’ overall tone or writing before taking the full plunge. Plus, it would also make for a nice, light introduction to the author’s style, which can be tough to get on board with if you are not used to non-linear storytelling. Devices like time jumps, flashbacks, multiple plot threads are all employed here, giving new readers a good idea of what to expect from the main saga.
There’s plenty of things to like too, if you’re an old fan—as long as you’re not hoping for big revelations or anything earth-shattering. As a longtime follower of this series, I would describe Season of Storms as a comfortable read, full of references and cool easter eggs you might catch, but it is far from being Geralt’s best adventure. For completion’s sake though, I would still deem it a must-read, and at the end of the day, the uncomplicated spirit of this novel meant that I had a fun time with it.
Audiobook Comments: Obviously, I’m a huge fan of Peter Kenny. I started listening to the audiobooks of this series with Blood of Elves, and because of his excellent narration, I’ve never looked back. Kenny’s voice has an intensity to it that makes it perfect for Geralt of Rivia, and yet he is also versatile enough to portray every single other character, bringing all the humor, magic, and charisma of this series to life.
There really is no such thing as a bad Witcher book, just some are better than others. Season of Storms is probably one that I would put on the lower end of the spectrum—meaning I enjoyed it, but compared to the rest of the books in the series, it simply didn’t stand out as much as I’d hoped. While this is the eighth one overall (when you include all the novels and collections), it is also something of a standalone prequel, taking place between the short stories featured in The Last Wish and well before the events of the main saga.
In Season of Storms, readers are given insight into the events occurring just prior to Geralt of Rivia’s fateful visit into the city of Vizima to deal with King Foltest’s striga problem, which was chronicled in what was Andrzej Sapkowski’s debut work, a tale simply titled “The Witcher”. When the story opens, we get to catch up with our protagonist in a quiet seaside kingdom, though in true Geralt fashion, it’s not long before he finds himself embroiled in a spot of trouble and winds up getting arrested and thrown in jail.
Unfortunately, this also means that his swords are taken from him. A Witcher without his iconic weapons? Say it isn’t so! After all, what use is a monster hunter without the tools of his trade? As a result, the main plot of this book mostly focuses on Geralt as he is roped into taking on all kinds of dangerous and daring missions to try and get his swords back. It involves a lot of the elements you would expect—shady sorcerers, political intrigue, monster killing, and sexy times.
In other words, Season of Storms is full of your usual Witcher shenanigans. It means that if you’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series, then there is a good chance that you’ll enjoy this one too. This novel also felt more light-hearted to me, though of course, when it comes to The Witcher, words like lightness and darkness are all relative. Since this one is a prequel, there are quite a few people who haven’t yet made their appearances in Geralt’s life, the most notable of these being Ciri, which does mean the story is generally free of the kind of angst that typically follows her character everywhere. There’s also a general nonchalance and more laidback tone to the story which gives the impression of much simpler times.
In fact, that might be part of the problem. Season of Storms doesn’t really add anything new or special to what we already know of the world or protagonist; everything feels like it has been done before—in bigger, better, and more complex ways. Its status as a standalone prequel might also have a lot to do with this, since the main saga itself is over and done with, leaving this one to feel “tacked on” and apart from the other novels. Whatever intrigues and challenges Geralt has to deal with in this book, they simply pale in comparison to those he has faced in the overarching series. Likewise, when it comes to the relationships he forges, the villains he fights, or the monsters he kills, all of them feel rather like superficial throwaway encounters in the context of this novel.
Does this mean you shouldn’t read Season of Storms? Not at all. As a matter of fact, it might make a good choice if you are new to Sapkowski or The Witcher. While I would still recommend starting with the main series, this book would be an ideal jumping off point to dip a toe into the world if you just want a little itty-bitty taste of the series’ overall tone or writing before taking the full plunge. Plus, it would also make for a nice, light introduction to the author’s style, which can be tough to get on board with if you are not used to non-linear storytelling. Devices like time jumps, flashbacks, multiple plot threads are all employed here, giving new readers a good idea of what to expect from the main saga.
There’s plenty of things to like too, if you’re an old fan—as long as you’re not hoping for big revelations or anything earth-shattering. As a longtime follower of this series, I would describe Season of Storms as a comfortable read, full of references and cool easter eggs you might catch, but it is far from being Geralt’s best adventure. For completion’s sake though, I would still deem it a must-read, and at the end of the day, the uncomplicated spirit of this novel meant that I had a fun time with it.
Audiobook Comments: Obviously, I’m a huge fan of Peter Kenny. I started listening to the audiobooks of this series with Blood of Elves, and because of his excellent narration, I’ve never looked back. Kenny’s voice has an intensity to it that makes it perfect for Geralt of Rivia, and yet he is also versatile enough to portray every single other character, bringing all the humor, magic, and charisma of this series to life.
October 13, 2018
This is the most recently translated book in The Witcher saga, the series which inspired the video games by the same name. I have heard rumours that another book is in the works, but as of now, this is the last one.
First I'd like to comment quickly on where this fits into the reading order. This is it without Season of Storms:
The Last Wish (short story collection)
The Sword of Destiny (short story collection)
The Blood of Elves (novel)
The Time of Contempt (novel)
Baptism of Fire (novel)
The Tower of Swallows (novel)
The Lady of the Lake (novel)
Season of Storms is a full length novel which chronologically takes place between two of the short stories in The Last Wish (read The Last Wish first). You could read this after the short story collections, or after you've finished the entire series.
I read it last which I think worked out well for me on my first time through. On a reread I think I might read it after Sword of Destiny just to see how that feels. This book is considered a standalone, so no matter where you read it, it is self-contained.
This book follows Geralt, a witcher who kills monsters to both protect people, and earn a profit. The story revolves around one "what if" question. What if Geralt lost his two swords? His steel blade, and his silver witcher blade.
This book is one of the lighter ones in the series. There's a fairly even mix of philosophizing dialogue and action. The stakes don't feel super high, because you know it has to have a satisfying conclusion. It can't really leave anything hanging, being a standalone published after the rest of the series.
This book feels a little bit like a video game in the way that one event leads to the next. You have one main quest objective, but in order to get what you need out of the people you encounter, you have to complete other missions. Then to complete those other missions you have to do something else for someone else. Before you know it you're kind of on a wild goose chase barely holding onto sight of your original goal. That is this book. That structure doesn't work for some people, I know. Personally I found it very entertaining. It all ties together in the end, so as random as some parts may seem, they're all important in the end.
The book also features quite a bit of the character Dandelion, who always lightens the mood. There is a sorceress love interest in this one, (what's new with Geralt) who is important for this book only. I was a bit disappointed at the absence of Yennefer, though she is mentioned throughout and does have an influence on the story. There is no Ciri in this one, this is a pre-Ciri book. Many fans would be excited by that, but personally I like her. That said I didn't miss her.
All of the Witcher novels that I've read have been translated by David French, but they feel very different from each other, as if it were a different translator or author between books. Personally, I think Season of Storms falls on the clumsier end of the spectrum. Some words or sentences just seemed clunky or not quite right. Dandelion also has a few poems that are super clunky once translated. Of course, it's hard to translate poetry when rhythm and rhyme are so important, so that's to be understood.
The Blood of Elves and the rest of the novels read more like high fantasy to me- it's on a grander scale with more characters, armies, wars, etc. I would probably categorize Season of Storms as Sword and Sorcery- it quite literally deals with sorcerers as well as a pair of missing swords, but that's not why. It's very self-contained, doesn't appear to have grand-scale consequences, and follows one character who might be considered morally ambiguous, or at least whose actions are very financially motivated. It is really dark as well; there are a few horror elements in it- graphic depictions of massacres and the like. For this reason, Season of Storms is more similar in tone to short stories. This is why I was glad I read it last. For many readers (including myself), The Lady of the Lake doesn't end on the most satisfying note. It's nice to then have one final book to pick up that feels more like the Last Wish, if only for nostalgia's sake. The epilogue also takes place post Lady of the Lake and in some ways pacified some of my earlier dissatisfaction.
I hope that, if Sapkowski is writing another Witcher book, it explores more of what happens 100 years after the ending of the series. I would like to know more about Nimue.
My video review of this book is up HERE.
First I'd like to comment quickly on where this fits into the reading order. This is it without Season of Storms:
The Last Wish (short story collection)
The Sword of Destiny (short story collection)
The Blood of Elves (novel)
The Time of Contempt (novel)
Baptism of Fire (novel)
The Tower of Swallows (novel)
The Lady of the Lake (novel)
Season of Storms is a full length novel which chronologically takes place between two of the short stories in The Last Wish (read The Last Wish first). You could read this after the short story collections, or after you've finished the entire series.
I read it last which I think worked out well for me on my first time through. On a reread I think I might read it after Sword of Destiny just to see how that feels. This book is considered a standalone, so no matter where you read it, it is self-contained.
This book follows Geralt, a witcher who kills monsters to both protect people, and earn a profit. The story revolves around one "what if" question. What if Geralt lost his two swords? His steel blade, and his silver witcher blade.
This book is one of the lighter ones in the series. There's a fairly even mix of philosophizing dialogue and action. The stakes don't feel super high, because you know it has to have a satisfying conclusion. It can't really leave anything hanging, being a standalone published after the rest of the series.
This book feels a little bit like a video game in the way that one event leads to the next. You have one main quest objective, but in order to get what you need out of the people you encounter, you have to complete other missions. Then to complete those other missions you have to do something else for someone else. Before you know it you're kind of on a wild goose chase barely holding onto sight of your original goal. That is this book. That structure doesn't work for some people, I know. Personally I found it very entertaining. It all ties together in the end, so as random as some parts may seem, they're all important in the end.
The book also features quite a bit of the character Dandelion, who always lightens the mood. There is a sorceress love interest in this one, (what's new with Geralt) who is important for this book only. I was a bit disappointed at the absence of Yennefer, though she is mentioned throughout and does have an influence on the story. There is no Ciri in this one, this is a pre-Ciri book. Many fans would be excited by that, but personally I like her. That said I didn't miss her.
All of the Witcher novels that I've read have been translated by David French, but they feel very different from each other, as if it were a different translator or author between books. Personally, I think Season of Storms falls on the clumsier end of the spectrum. Some words or sentences just seemed clunky or not quite right. Dandelion also has a few poems that are super clunky once translated. Of course, it's hard to translate poetry when rhythm and rhyme are so important, so that's to be understood.
The Blood of Elves and the rest of the novels read more like high fantasy to me- it's on a grander scale with more characters, armies, wars, etc. I would probably categorize Season of Storms as Sword and Sorcery- it quite literally deals with sorcerers as well as a pair of missing swords, but that's not why. It's very self-contained, doesn't appear to have grand-scale consequences, and follows one character who might be considered morally ambiguous, or at least whose actions are very financially motivated. It is really dark as well; there are a few horror elements in it- graphic depictions of massacres and the like. For this reason, Season of Storms is more similar in tone to short stories. This is why I was glad I read it last. For many readers (including myself), The Lady of the Lake doesn't end on the most satisfying note. It's nice to then have one final book to pick up that feels more like the Last Wish, if only for nostalgia's sake. The epilogue also takes place post Lady of the Lake and in some ways pacified some of my earlier dissatisfaction.
I hope that, if Sapkowski is writing another Witcher book, it explores more of what happens 100 years after the ending of the series. I would like to know more about Nimue.
My video review of this book is up HERE.
February 2, 2023
Loved it ! More in keeping with the tone of the first two books ; this prequel was a fitting end to what's been an amazing series. Great fun ,with my enjoyment enhanced by being able to visualise Henry Cavill and Joey Batey as Geralt and Dandelion respectively .
Highly recommended and a must read.
Highly recommended and a must read.
August 19, 2020
به خودم قول دادم که مدت زمانی رو برای سوگِ مجموعه بگذرونم و بعد، بدون سوگیری ریویو بنویسم.
ولی حقیقت اینه که بعد از دو هفته از پایان مجموعه ی هشت جلدی ویچر هنوز دارم غصه میخورم و تا به اکنون، تلاش هام برای متقاعد کردن اطرافیان به خوندنش جواب نداده (دیکتاتورِ درونم اصلا خوشحال نیست)
دنیای ویچر، اصلا دنیای گرم و نرم قشنگی نبود ولی با تمام هیولاهاش، در این مدت جای بسیار بهتری برای پناه بردن از دنیای واقعی بود. بیشتر از همه از پایان کتاب هشتم خوشم اومد که به نوعی به اول کتاب اول وصل شد - گرچه پایان اصلی کتاب، خیلی به دلم ننشست-
تک تک شخصیت ها، طنز کلام و شوخی با افسانه های معروف مثل پری دریایی رو دوست داشتم. اگر مثل من مدت هاست که بزرگ شدید ولی هنوز ته دلتون عاشق فانتزی هستید، وقت رو تلف نکنید و کتاب اول رو شروع کنید. من که هنوز موفق نشدم جایگزینی براش پیدا کنم :((
ولی حقیقت اینه که بعد از دو هفته از پایان مجموعه ی هشت جلدی ویچر هنوز دارم غصه میخورم و تا به اکنون، تلاش هام برای متقاعد کردن اطرافیان به خوندنش جواب نداده (دیکتاتورِ درونم اصلا خوشحال نیست)
دنیای ویچر، اصلا دنیای گرم و نرم قشنگی نبود ولی با تمام هیولاهاش، در این مدت جای بسیار بهتری برای پناه بردن از دنیای واقعی بود. بیشتر از همه از پایان کتاب هشتم خوشم اومد که به نوعی به اول کتاب اول وصل شد - گرچه پایان اصلی کتاب، خیلی به دلم ننشست-
تک تک شخصیت ها، طنز کلام و شوخی با افسانه های معروف مثل پری دریایی رو دوست داشتم. اگر مثل من مدت هاست که بزرگ شدید ولی هنوز ته دلتون عاشق فانتزی هستید، وقت رو تلف نکنید و کتاب اول رو شروع کنید. من که هنوز موفق نشدم جایگزینی براش پیدا کنم :((
September 23, 2019
I didn’t expect this but damn, I loved this so much. It’s now my favorite Witcher book. It was peak Geralt wandering around and getting into trouble and kicking ass and taking names. It’s just so good. There’s no ciri or yen but honestly I didn’t miss them here. It was about Geralt and that just made this story for me. Even when he was getting into panties or stupid ass trouble it was good, made me chuckle and kept me engaged.
Read
August 25, 2024DNF pag. 279
L'ho abbandonato sostanzialmente per disinteresse: sconclusionato e "inutile" ai fini della storia principale. I romanzi della serie mi avevano abituato a ben altro, sia dal punto di vista della trama sia delle atmosfere. L'idea di tornare in questo meraviglioso mondo poteva anche essere interessante, ma non così. Il libro non aggiunge nulla, è superfluo tanto da chiedersi se ce ne fosse davvero bisogno. Occasione sprecata
L'ho abbandonato sostanzialmente per disinteresse: sconclusionato e "inutile" ai fini della storia principale. I romanzi della serie mi avevano abituato a ben altro, sia dal punto di vista della trama sia delle atmosfere. L'idea di tornare in questo meraviglioso mondo poteva anche essere interessante, ma non così. Il libro non aggiunge nulla, è superfluo tanto da chiedersi se ce ne fosse davvero bisogno. Occasione sprecata
January 30, 2023
3.5 Stars
Like The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny this entry to the Witcher Saga is a short story collection. Unlike the other two Season of Storms does not have clearly seperated stories. I enjoyed the way the shorter stories were connected into a bigger story, but sometimes it took me some time to understand a new setting (since I didn't always notice that a new story started). This made the story feel a bit messy for my taste. The stories themselves were interesting, but not the best in the Witcher universe. That's pretty much how I feel about the whole book: good but not great.
The cover is still amazing though.
Like The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny this entry to the Witcher Saga is a short story collection. Unlike the other two Season of Storms does not have clearly seperated stories. I enjoyed the way the shorter stories were connected into a bigger story, but sometimes it took me some time to understand a new setting (since I didn't always notice that a new story started). This made the story feel a bit messy for my taste. The stories themselves were interesting, but not the best in the Witcher universe. That's pretty much how I feel about the whole book: good but not great.
The cover is still amazing though.
February 6, 2022
2.5⭐
Opuściłam trochę ocenę za to jak Sapkowski przedstawia kobiety, bardzo mnie to irytuje. Jednak opowiadania były lepsze niż w "Ostatnim życzeniu".
Opuściłam trochę ocenę za to jak Sapkowski przedstawia kobiety, bardzo mnie to irytuje. Jednak opowiadania były lepsze niż w "Ostatnim życzeniu".
June 7, 2023
I liked this last foray into the Witcher universe.
November 18, 2014
Nevím už, kdy vyšel poslední Zaklínač, ani si nejsem jistý, kdy vyšel v češtině první. Ale jak začínal ten první, si pamatuju dodnes: "A potom se říkalo, že ten muž přišel od severu, Provaznickou branou. Šel pěšky, osedlaného koně vedl za uzdu." Byla to literární láska na první pohled, hluboce spirituální i materialistická, filosofická i násilná. Miloval jsem Sapkowskeho popisy bojů, ekonomiky i historie a samozřejmě všechny postavy, od těch nejsympatičtějších až po ty nejodpornější. Takový Sigismund Dijkstra... ech, to bychom byli ale daleko od Bouřkové sezony.
Bouřková sezóna mi po těch tak patnácti letech vrací všechnu radost ze zaklínače a mistrovství husitské trilogie. Jestli jste cokoliv z toho měli rádi, Bouřková sezona je sáhnutí po jistotě, po Sapkowském v nejlepší formě. A samozřejmě po překladu v nejlepší formě, přiznám se, že český překlad mi vždy přišel lepší, než polský originál, protože trapaslíci v polštině nemluví nářečím, což jim ubírá na autenticitě (i když i tomu už autor zjevně přicházel na kloub). A tak jsem si dobrovolně rok počkal.
Bouřková sezona příjemně dovysvětluje celý Zaklínačův svět. "Dokusuje" se zde řada nakousnutých příhod a zmínek, řada reálií, otevírají se některé nové, těžko říct, nakolik důležité a do budoucna zhodnotitelné. Znervozňující je odskok o stopětadvacet let do budoucnosti - co z toho pojde? Jen ojedinělý odskok? Co neumím zatím zařadit, je příběh Mozaik, budu si jej muset soustředěně přečíst ještě jednou a možná si znovu pročíst celou ságu, přeci jen řadu příběhů už jsem četl před více jak deseti lety.
Také se přiznám, že izolovaný příběh o rozsahu knihy mi vyhovuje lépe, než krátké příběhy. Sapkowski jej umí prokreslit, rozvinout sílu a naléhavost vyprávění, plastičnost světa. U vícedílných příběhů mohu v těch mnohaletých pauzách ohlodat poličku v knihovně...
Co dodat. Doufám, že Sapkowski se dostane do finančních potíží, vězení či jiného dostatečně dobrého důvodu, aby za rok či dva napsal další takovou knihu. Když to pomáhalo Scorsesemu, proč by to nepomohlo Sapkowskemu... :)
Bouřková sezóna mi po těch tak patnácti letech vrací všechnu radost ze zaklínače a mistrovství husitské trilogie. Jestli jste cokoliv z toho měli rádi, Bouřková sezona je sáhnutí po jistotě, po Sapkowském v nejlepší formě. A samozřejmě po překladu v nejlepší formě, přiznám se, že český překlad mi vždy přišel lepší, než polský originál, protože trapaslíci v polštině nemluví nářečím, což jim ubírá na autenticitě (i když i tomu už autor zjevně přicházel na kloub). A tak jsem si dobrovolně rok počkal.
Bouřková sezona příjemně dovysvětluje celý Zaklínačův svět. "Dokusuje" se zde řada nakousnutých příhod a zmínek, řada reálií, otevírají se některé nové, těžko říct, nakolik důležité a do budoucna zhodnotitelné. Znervozňující je odskok o stopětadvacet let do budoucnosti - co z toho pojde? Jen ojedinělý odskok? Co neumím zatím zařadit, je příběh Mozaik, budu si jej muset soustředěně přečíst ještě jednou a možná si znovu pročíst celou ságu, přeci jen řadu příběhů už jsem četl před více jak deseti lety.
Také se přiznám, že izolovaný příběh o rozsahu knihy mi vyhovuje lépe, než krátké příběhy. Sapkowski jej umí prokreslit, rozvinout sílu a naléhavost vyprávění, plastičnost světa. U vícedílných příběhů mohu v těch mnohaletých pauzách ohlodat poličku v knihovně...
Co dodat. Doufám, že Sapkowski se dostane do finančních potíží, vězení či jiného dostatečně dobrého důvodu, aby za rok či dva napsal další takovou knihu. Když to pomáhalo Scorsesemu, proč by to nepomohlo Sapkowskemu... :)
October 23, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up
Surprisingly this was among my favorite books in the series! It's just a lot of fun- Geralt on a side quest to recover his stolen swords. Apparently this is an unpopular opinion? It's the most linear book in the entire series and the vibes are more similar to the first two short story collections rather than the sprawling politics of later ones.
Surprisingly this was among my favorite books in the series! It's just a lot of fun- Geralt on a side quest to recover his stolen swords. Apparently this is an unpopular opinion? It's the most linear book in the entire series and the vibes are more similar to the first two short story collections rather than the sprawling politics of later ones.
August 31, 2015
Prilično sam razočaran ovom knjigom.
Očekivao sam neki početak sage no dobio sam nešto što samo radnjom prethodi prvoj knjizi ciklusa.
I to nešto što mi se uopće ne sviđa. Osnovni mi je utisak kako je Sapkowskom nestalo novaca pa je nabacao štošta u knjigu bez glave i repa pisano nekim čudnim, primitivnim, stilom.
Grimmove bajke mi izgledaju kao vrhunska literatura spram ove koja bi željela biti ozbiljna.
Sve mi je neuvjerljivo, bez glave i repa - te mu ukralo mačeve, te šeta neka lisica, te ga svi umlate i prevare svakih par stranica pa malkice popije neku flašicu i onda napravi paprikaš od svih.
Između toga ima neki davež pjesnik, neka s kojom se seksa i krčma s delicijama...
Svašta-ništa kako kažu.
Postoji i poseban dodatak koji začinjuje dojam, pogledajte spisak - ja se potrudio popisati:
progenitura, asesor, kriminogenoj, perfidiju, perifraze, eksperijenciju, kabestana, parotidni, koneksije, dispesiju, evaluaciju, konfratera, mandibulama, pedipalpe, cefalotoraksu, toraksa, Arahnomorf, tritonima, hipokampima, konkokcije, kabotažnu, flatulencije, Asesor, peregrinacije, aprehendiram, Konstabl, ripostira, preceptorom, panacejom, vomitivnim, divagacije, Patio, kompasiju, Fig. 1, Fig. 2, ad libitum, komilitone, antišanbr, taran
+ ima početaka poglavlja sa engleskim i francuskim pjesmicama
što je ovaj prevoditelj, a još manje njegov urednik mislio stvarno mi nije jasno ????
što, da pošaljemo knjigu na prijevod kako bi ju normalno čitali nakon njihovog "prijevoda" ????
aprehendirate ponekad?
Pročitaj ću još prvu kronološki, ova mi je čista "sjedni, jedan!"
Očekivao sam neki početak sage no dobio sam nešto što samo radnjom prethodi prvoj knjizi ciklusa.
I to nešto što mi se uopće ne sviđa. Osnovni mi je utisak kako je Sapkowskom nestalo novaca pa je nabacao štošta u knjigu bez glave i repa pisano nekim čudnim, primitivnim, stilom.
Grimmove bajke mi izgledaju kao vrhunska literatura spram ove koja bi željela biti ozbiljna.
Sve mi je neuvjerljivo, bez glave i repa - te mu ukralo mačeve, te šeta neka lisica, te ga svi umlate i prevare svakih par stranica pa malkice popije neku flašicu i onda napravi paprikaš od svih.
Između toga ima neki davež pjesnik, neka s kojom se seksa i krčma s delicijama...
Svašta-ništa kako kažu.
Postoji i poseban dodatak koji začinjuje dojam, pogledajte spisak - ja se potrudio popisati:
progenitura, asesor, kriminogenoj, perfidiju, perifraze, eksperijenciju, kabestana, parotidni, koneksije, dispesiju, evaluaciju, konfratera, mandibulama, pedipalpe, cefalotoraksu, toraksa, Arahnomorf, tritonima, hipokampima, konkokcije, kabotažnu, flatulencije, Asesor, peregrinacije, aprehendiram, Konstabl, ripostira, preceptorom, panacejom, vomitivnim, divagacije, Patio, kompasiju, Fig. 1, Fig. 2, ad libitum, komilitone, antišanbr, taran
+ ima početaka poglavlja sa engleskim i francuskim pjesmicama
što je ovaj prevoditelj, a još manje njegov urednik mislio stvarno mi nije jasno ????
što, da pošaljemo knjigu na prijevod kako bi ju normalno čitali nakon njihovog "prijevoda" ????
aprehendirate ponekad?
Pročitaj ću još prvu kronološki, ova mi je čista "sjedni, jedan!"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,734 reviews