ElCicco – Page 55 – Cannonball Read 17

Endings and beginnings

The Tower of Swallows: A Novel of the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski

March 12, 2020 by ElCicco Leave a Comment

Throughout the Witcher series, the message has been that something big is coming; the world will end and a new world will dawn, and Ciri, the child of the Elder Blood, will help bring this about. Geralt frequently states that he feels like something in him is changing as well, that something is coming to an end, and in this fourth novel (sixth book) of the Witcher series, the reader gets a sense of what he means. Geralt’s schtick has always been that, as a […]

‘Cause you got to have friends, la la la la la la la la la!

Baptism of Fire: A Novel of the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski

March 5, 2020 by ElCicco Leave a Comment

Sapkowski is managing to keep my interest very high with this the fifth Witcher book (3rd novel). The stories of Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer continue to develop along very interesting lines, with plenty of fighting, intrigue and double crosses. The truth about Ciri’s power is slowing being unraveled while Yennefer’s role in the problems at hand is only hinted at, and Geralt finds himself part of an unlikely band of people who decide, against reason and any thought of personal safety, to help Geralt find […]

“Neutrality is usually mean.” ~Sapkowski; “If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice.” ~Rush

The Time of Contempt: The WItcher Book 2 by Andrzej Sapkowski

March 1, 2020 by ElCicco Leave a Comment

The Time of Contempt is the second novel, fourth book, in Sapkowski’s Witcher series, and as with the previous novel, this one is full of political intrigue, war, and fighting. The overriding question for our main characters is whether, in a turbulent war-torn world, it is possible to maintain neutrality, and if not, is it possible to choose a side without becoming hateful and barbaric. The Empire of Nilfgaard is trying to take over world and is enjoying quite a bit of success in this […]

“You did not see me — you did not look at me, and see me.”

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

February 26, 2020 by ElCicco Leave a Comment

This novel is a Bildungsroman about a young slave named George Washington Black, or simply Wash. It is Wash’s recollection of the extraordinary events in his life during the 1830s, especially his relationship with Christopher Wilde, aka Titch, the brother of Wash’s master Erasmus Wilde. The story opens with Wash in servitude at Faith plantation on Barbados, but his travels will take him to many lands where the weather is different but people are often the same. Washington Black is the story of a young […]

The End is Near-ish

Blood of Elves: A Novel of the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski

February 20, 2020 by ElCicco Leave a Comment

This third book in the Witcher series is the first Witcher novel, and its focus, now that Geralt has owned up to his destiny, is on a prophecy about the end of the world. This prophecy involves war among the peoples of earth (human, elven, and other) and the unleashing of some type of very powerful magic. There is the occasional bit of monster fighting, but mostly this story deals in geo-political maneuvering and espionage as Geralt and Yennefer try to keep Ciri safe while […]

Destiny! Destiny! No escaping it for me!

The Sword of Destiny: Tales of the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski

February 11, 2020 by ElCicco 2 Comments

This second Witcher volume, like the first, is a collection of short stories not necessarily told in chronological order. Sapkowski further develops the main character Geralt of Rivia while hitting hard on themes of a changing world and the role of fate and destiny in Geralt’s life. Some of the stories were featured in the TV series, and the reader gets to know characters like Dandelion (Jaskier) and Yennefer a little better. Sword of Destiny includes six stories, the first of which will be familiar […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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