“You can’t stop a soldier from being frightened but you can give him motivation to help him overcome that fear. I have no such motivation. I can’t have. I’m a witcher: an artificially created mutant. I kill monsters for money. I defend children when their parents pay me to. If Nilfgaardian parents pay me, I’ll defend Nilfgaardian children. And even if the world lies in ruin – which does not seem likely to me – I’ll carry on killing monsters in the ruins of this world until some monster kills me. That is my fate, my reason, my life and my attitude to the world. And it is not what I chose. It was chosen for me.”
Blood of Elves
Blood of Elves is the first full length novel in The Witcher series. It picks up right where the short story collection Sword of Destiny leaves off. We see Geralt and Ciri, finally united in their destiny, living at Kaer Morhen. Ciri is undergoing witcher training, even though she can never become one. Yet Ciri has great power that even the other witchers don’t understand, but Geralt is determined to protect.
When an enchantress, Triss, visits Kaer Morhen, she is appalled by the training Ciri is undertaking as it is causing great changes to her physical body while not keeping her magic in check. Ciri is overcome with powerful nightmares and visions that if left uncontrolled could cause her to fall into madness. At Triss’ insistence, Ciri’s care is changed so that she may better grow into her powers.
But Ciri and Geralt are sought out by many for various reasons, and it is up to Geralt to protect her no matter the cost, even if it means asking Yennefer for help…
There is something about the Witcher books that snags its claws in you and makes it impossible to stop reading. These books are full of character, humor, magic and darkness. I really love the way in which Andrzej Sapkowski has built this world. It’s brimming with political intrigue, warfare and magic, and you don’t ever feel as if you are missing something. It simply feels as though you stepped into it and have been there for awhile. The Witcher series gets better and better each book, and I am excited to see what’s next for these characters.
Of Worlds Forgotten 
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