Review: Sword of Destiny

Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Here's a game for you. Read "Sword of Destiny" and take a shot every time you see the actual word 'destiny'. It depends on the story, but there are a few that will literally kill you with its repetitious. There's a slight arch to the theme, but it's more of a light switch scenario. Where our hero believes a certain thing, and, by the end, has no choice but to accept the other side. It's not a bad story, but you might vaguely wonder if you've heard it before.

Like it's predecessor, "The Last Wish", this volume is a collection of short stories. However, there is a big difference in narrative focus as it turns towards a select group of characters, namely the relationship between Geralt and Yennefer, rather than the world at large. I suppose that being a pro or con depends on your position on characterization versus world-building. Personally, I like a good mix of the two, but Sapkowski seems to be slightly better at the latter rather than the former. Making the volume as a whole a mixed bag of middling quality.

If you want my advice, and you must if you're reading this, then read the first story "The Bounds of Reason", and then the last two stories of this book. The middle three don't serve much purpose beyond character interactions and can be numbing to the senses. "The Bounds of Reason" is a really good story set in the world and is the gem of the volume. The last two are mostly setup for the full-length novels that are to follow. To be honest, the volume's namesake "Sword of Destiny" spills out like an excessive exposition dump while most of the action of "Something More" happens out of Geralt's view and is told to him after the fact. They're required reading if you want to dive into the novels, but being required doesn't mean their good.

The writing isn't bad, in fact, most of the time it can be rather good. But, if Stephen King told you about his uneventful trip to the grocery store, it might be a fairly well-told story but it will still bore you to tears. The problem isn't the prose as much as it is the subject matter. Two of the stories are literally just Geralt dealing with shitty relationship problems. Chalking up his terrible taste in women to the pull of destiny.

Like I said, if you want to get into the novels, you have to read at least some of this book. Though, your mileage may vary. There honestly isn't anything here that couldn't be told in a good prologue. Also, once again, Triss doesn't show her face, which irked me in all the wrong places.

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