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-title = "Baptism of Fire (Andrzej Sapkowski, 1996)"
-author = ["Michał Sapka"]
-date = 2024-04-25T16:27:00+02:00
-categories = ["brainrot"]
-draft = false
-weight = 3002
-primary_menu = "brain-rot-wicher"
-abstract = "My review of the third book in the Witcher saga"
-aliases = ["/brain-rot/witcher/andrzej-sapkowskis-baptism-of-fire/"]
-rating = 4.25
-[menu]
-  [menu.brain-rot-wicher]
-    weight = 3002
-    identifier = "baptism-of-fire-andrzej-sapkowski-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/)