Sword of Destiny (The Witcher, 2)

Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop

Sword of Destiny gives readers new tales of the Witcher Geralt with twists on classics and new unique adventures of fantasy and magic.

Amazing Writing
Sapkowski is a fantastic writer. Why? Because he was a way with words, storytelling, drawing the reader into the story and giving them something.

In Sword of Destiny, there are six short stories, each one as different as the one before it, and yet, the way they move into one another makes sense. These stories do not seem random. Instead, each one has a message that drives the story forward, keeping up the story’s momentum.

These stories are also so fulfilling. I usually do not read compilations because I am often left unfulfilled by them. However, with Sword of Destiny, I devour them, and I am satisfied by the ending. Geralt grows; each story has plot development and character development to hold the reader in the narrative. Two stories draw illusions to The Snow Queen and The Little Mermaid. I loved that; I loved how Sapkowski could draw from those tales to create something else entirely.

Sapkowski does not retell fairy tales; he reinvents them.

Character Growth
Each tale in Sword of Destiny also sees growth in the characters. Geralt is a Witcher, which means he is met with many prejudices against those who are different. He has Yennefer and Dandelion, two characters who see him as more than an abomination, but they rarely do. However, of course, each story does have Geralt come across someone new who is respectful of him.

These characters challenge him; they have ethical and moral debates that add to the growth of the narrative and the character Geralt.

There is a change in Geralt as a person by the final tale, and it happens subtly over time. However, it also seems more like his deeper self is coming to the surface, that he is allowing himself to be more human, rather than apart from them.

The reader also sees more of his relationship with Ciri, Yennefer, and Dandelion develop. These three characters are more present in these stories than in The Last Wish, adding to the depth of his relationship with them. The reader sees and understands what these characters mean to one another and the depth of love between them. They are lovely and funny all at once, especially where Dandelion and Ciri are concerned, offering up something delightful.

Final Thoughts
Sword of Destiny is a fantastic collection of stories. There is depth and humor to them, and for fans of Netflix’s Witcher series, this is a must-read.

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Like The Last Wish, The Sword of Destiny is a collection of short stories centered around the witcher Geralt of Rivia. These stories serve as the narrative thread connecting this collection to the larger saga. I’m reading these stories while also playing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and while the game is richly detailed and impressively faithful to Sapkowski’s world, it simply can’t capture the same nuance that the books give to Geralt’s character. The collection is also significant because it introduces Cirilla (Ciri), the third central figure of the saga, and traces the beginning of her bond with Geralt. Through these stories, you gain a layered understanding of Geralt - not just his skills as a witcher but also his insecurities, his lost childhood, and, at times, his immaturity. But alongside these vulnerabilities come his growth and depth: his loyalty, humility, gratitude, and quiet kindness. It’s striking how different he feels from the Geralt in the games, where you can play his role with near-invincible confidence and unshakable poise. Sapkowski’s Geralt, by contrast, is achingly human, flawed, unsteady, sometimes detached, but very real. I find myself enjoying these books just a little more than the game. More than that, they have started shaping how I play, pushing me to make choices not as the Geralt of the game, but as the Geralt revealed in Sapkowski’s writing.

I like to picture Henry Cavill while I read this. 😏

Story is good. Female characters are written terribly.

This was a fascinating collection of short stories.  I love Geralt and Dandelion and their banter.  All of these "side quest" stories all add.  I'm looking forward to getting into the full story.