Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski

“’You say something is ending,’ Eithne slowly went on. ‘Not true. There are things that never end. You talk of survival? I am fighting to survive. Brokilon endures thanks to my fight, for trees live longer than men, as long as they are protected from your axes. You talk to me of kings and princes. Who are they? Those whom I know are white skeletons lying in the necropolises of Craag An, deep in the forest. In marble tombs, on piles of yellow metal and shining gems. But Brokilon endures, the trees sough above the ruins of palaces, their roots break up the marble. Does your Venzlav recall those kings? Do you, Gwynbleidd? And if not, how can you claim that something is ending? How do you know whose destiny is destruction and whose eternity? What entitles you to speak of destiny? Do you actually know what it is?”

– Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski

Sword of Destiny is the second book in The Witcher series, and like the first, it is a collection of stories. I loved this book just as much as the first, if not more. I was reading this book the morning after we found out about the election results, and I admit I was just in this panicked shock for awhile, trying to come to terms with the fact that this was the reality, that we had to endure another four years of this presidency. And as I slid back into this book and let my mind journey with Geralt, I found more and more to comfort me within the pages of this book. Books are incredibly powerful, in more ways than one (don’t get me started, I’ll never stop), and this one was brilliant and profound. It’s another book that I’ve read this year that will be a forever favorite for me.

This book opens with “The Bounds of Reason,” which is the dragon story I have been waiting for in this world. A group of travelers confronts a dragon in an attempt to kill it, but the dragon agrees to duel them only one by one. Geralt declines to fight the dragon because they do not attack humans, but Yennefer has her own reasons for wanting to kill the dragon. This story is just so fun to read, and I enjoyed it so much I’m not going to say too much else on it.

The next story, “A Shard of Ice” tells of Geralt’s conflict with Yennefer and another sorcerer that she has a relationship with, Istredd. I really like that unlike a lot of fantasy, Geralt and Yennefer’s relationship is not a straight line. It’s complex, he cannot truly love another (or so it is to believed) and Yennefer craves enormous power to obtain something she has always wanted. Watching Yennefer struggle between her feelings for both Istredd and Geralt was (annoying yes because I’m always going to choose Geralt) but also complex.

“Eternal Flame” was utterly ridiculous (but in a good way). Geralt and Dandelion run into a man, Dainty, who has been targeted by a doopler, Dudu, a creature who can mimic another person’s looks and mannerisms.  Dudu pretends to be Dainty, handling multiple business transactions that seemingly appear to be ruining his life. Geralt and Dandelion step in, trying to help Dainty and uncover all it is that Dudu has been up to while pretending to be him.

I completely loved “A Little Sacrifice” in which a Duke wishes a mermaid to change her form so he can marry her, but the mermaid wishes the Duke to join her in the sea (even if it means he will die). The story starts with Geralt translating the conversation between the two, but ends with him investigating an area in the sea in which people are being killed, seemingly at the hands of a sea monster. I really enjoyed the lore in this story, the stakes, the characters. It was so well done and definitely one of my favorites.

That leads me into another favorite, “Sword of Destiny,” in which we first meet Ciri. Ciri is a young woman trying to escape an arranged marriage and has wandered into the forest of Brokilon. It is not long after that Geralt realizes he has a claim on Ciri as she is the ‘Child of Destiny’ and despite the insistence of the other characters, Geralt refuses this destiny of his own, walking away from Ciri despite her protests. (I don’t want to spoil too much on this story so I’m being purposefully vague).

The last story, “Something More,” seems to be a catalyst for the rest of the series and I’m once again, not saying anymore than that. I really loved this collection, I’m dying to start Blood of Elves and continue my journey into the Witcher universe. I think this is such a well-built world filled with such incredible, well-written characters.