feat: baptism of fire

5 files changed, 113 insertions, 6 deletions

diff --git a/content/brain-rot/dune/_index.md b/content/brain-rot/dune/_index.md
index 91cefb8..7a4d888 100644
--- a/content/brain-rot/dune/_index.md
+++ b/content/brain-rot/dune/_index.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ abstract = "The Dune series"
   [menu.brain-rot]
     weight = 3001
     identifier = "dune"
+    parent = "series"
 +++
 
 {{< img-r "dune-1st-ed.jpg" >}}
diff --git a/content/brain-rot/dune/part-one-2021.md b/content/brain-rot/dune/part-one-2021.md
index 435095b..e097833 100644
--- a/content/brain-rot/dune/part-one-2021.md
+++ b/content/brain-rot/dune/part-one-2021.md
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ I've read the _Houses_ trilogy, and it was quite nice.
 
 Now that we've got the introduction out of the way, let's go to the movie.
 Let me start with saying that I adore it.
-It's not what I'd want (as the young vloggers say "hear me out"), but at face value it's as close to perfect SF movie as they go.
+It's not what I'd want (as the young vloggers say "hear me out face value it's as close to perfect SF movie as they go.
 
 _Dune: Part 1_ is directed by Denis Vileneuve, who previously directed some of the greatest SF movies of this century - _Arrival_ and _Blade Runner 2049_.
 His other movies are also amazing (I can't recommend _Enemy_ enough), so I was pretty stoked when it was announced that he will direct _Dune_.
diff --git a/content/brain-rot/witcher/_index.md b/content/brain-rot/witcher/_index.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f38c0cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/content/brain-rot/witcher/_index.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
++++
+title = "Wicher"
+author = ["Michał Sapka"]
+date = 2024-04-14T18:10:00+02:00
+categories = ["brainrot"]
+draft = false
+weight = 3001
+primary_menu = "brain-rot"
+abstract = "The Witcher series"
+[menu]
+  [menu.brain-rot]
+    weight = 3001
+    identifier = "wicher"
+    parent = "series"
++++
+
+{{< menu "brain-rot-wicher" >}}
+Witcher
+{{< /menu >}}
diff --git a/content/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-baptism-of-fire.md b/content/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-baptism-of-fire.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eea17bd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/content/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-baptism-of-fire.md
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
++++
+title = "Baptism of Fire (1996)"
+author = ["Michał Sapka"]
+date = 2024-04-25T16:27:00+02:00
+categories = ["brainrot"]
+draft = false
+weight = 3003
+primary_menu = "brain-rot-wicher"
+abstract = "My review of the third book in the Witcher saga"
+[menu]
+  [menu.brain-rot-wicher]
+    weight = 3003
+    identifier = "baptism-of-fire-1996"
++++
+
+_Baptism of Fire_ is the third novel in the _Witcher_ saga.
+While I had not that positive reaction to _Time of Contempt_[^fn:1], this time I loved every page.
+
+We start where we left last time: Ciri joins Rats in the middle of nowhere, while Geralt tries to find her.
+Reads like every novel in the series.
+Andrzej seems to have a template for a book at this point.
+
+But I **loved** this book.
+And it comes to who is it about.
+Yes, we've got Ciri.
+Yes, we've got Yennefer.
+They exist, but we spend almost the entirety of the book with Geralt, Jaskier and a band of mischiefs who form a fellowship.
+We've got Milva, an archer.
+We've also got Zoltanm, a dwarf.
+And we've also got Regis, a vampire.
+
+{{< rating 4.25 "sapkowski-baptism-of-fire.jpg" >}}
+The classic cover
+{{< /rating >}}
+
+Having spent quality time with an interesting, diverse crowd made it very enable ride.
+They even joke sitting by fire!
+I think lack of such interactions is why I disliked the last book.
+It was full of Ciri, Yennefer and other sorceresses while Geralt was ignored most of the time.
+And sorceresses are so up-tight and irritating, so it was not what I would call a nice time.
+Also, here, whenever the action moved to, either Rats or mages, my enjoyment went down significantly.
+
+I don't know why, as I generally don't read fantasy.
+Maybe they are written poorly?
+I don't know the standards.
+For sure the female characters here have nothing to show compared to _Game of Thrones_'s ones.
+It is very hard to write powerful characters who are also female.
+Most of the time, they are male characters in skanky clothes.
+R.R. Martin was able to create menacing woman, who were still woman.
+Sapkowski?
+Not so much.
+And they are not even funny!
+
+They look as a poor rendition of older hits.
+As an example, the sorceresses have a multi-generational plan to mix genomes from selected people in order to create a very specific being.
+It's _Dune_, but while Bene Gesrit  so much more involved, twisted and multidimensional, here it comes out of nowhere (I think?) and disappoints.
+
+But let's ignore the woman for a moment, and we've got ourselves an awesome little book.
+I loved how, in one introduction to a chapter, we see the same legend told from both sides - Humans and Elves.
+This is where _Witcher_ shines.
+It's a great commentary about racism and hatred.
+No wonder it comes from Poland, with our complex history.
+It's as subtle as a bulldozer, but it's not that type of story.
+It's obvious, blunt and takes no prisoners.
+History is never easy, there is never a clear split between the good and bad guys.
+Most likely everything you know is wrong, as it was written by victors.
+This is the overarching theme in the _Witcher_.
+Even a vampire may be a good person!
+
+So, for me Witcher is a moral series _dressed_ as fantasy.
+The magic system is barely there, no one explains _how_ Witchers work.
+And I think it's a plus.
+The meat of the story is not diluted by mechanics of the world.
+The fact that we've got that lovable bunch here is just icing on the cake.
+
+Also, the ending here is much better.
+I finished my review of _Time of Contempt_ assuming that I will get to know the Rats in the follow-up.
+I didn't know anything about them (nor I cared about them), but I assumed they will be the focus.
+I was wrong.
+I still have no idea who they are outside superfluous facts the short burst of their story the book has.
+I _know_ Regis and I want to spend more time with him.
+
+So, I left very satisfied.
+I found charm and a lot of substance.
+I hope that Ciri's plot will develop in interesting ways, as her teenage rebellion may be the end of me.
+
+[^fn:1]: vide [my review](/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt/)
diff --git a/content/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt.md b/content/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt.md
index 3e49f9a..69e4cf8 100644
--- a/content/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt.md
+++ b/content/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt.md
@@ -4,13 +4,13 @@ author = ["Michał Sapka"]
 date = 2024-03-24T22:27:00+01:00
 categories = ["brainrot"]
 draft = false
-weight = 3001
-primary_menu = "brain-rot"
-abstract = "Saga continues"
+weight = 3002
+primary_menu = "brain-rot-wicher"
+abstract = "My review of the second book in the Witcher saga"
 aliases = ["/blog/2024/andrzej-sapkowskis-time-of-contempt/"]
 [menu]
-  [menu.brain-rot]
-    weight = 3001
+  [menu.brain-rot-wicher]
+    weight = 3002
     identifier = "time-of-contempt-1995"
 +++