Review: Baptism of Fire

Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Despite the title, there is very little baptizing and/or fire in this book. Not that I took the name literally, there was still little going on. I'm not even referring to action, but more to plot progression. It's far more walking around until they need to sit behind the bushes for an exposition dump. It's characters and world still manage to keep it afloat, but barely. If I wasn't already committed to completing the series, this one might have made me come to a stop.

I don't have much to say about it as the book didn't seem to have much to do. Mostly all I can do is give some examples. Like when Regis spends the first half of the last chapter going over, in great detail, how humans stereotype vampires. Even using terms like 'circadian rhythm' even though this is supposed to be a middle-ages fantasy book. There is also a meeting of sorceresses that discusses Ciri's family tree and why she is one of 'elder blood'. While going deeper into her lore was needed to some degree, most of it was world-building trans fat.

The interactions between Regis and Geralt were by far the best parts of the book. It's a cool idea, pitting Geralt against his resolve to slay monsters, but nothing really happens plot-wise because of it. Geralt just mopes around in a foul mood while side characters tell him to let it be. This is me literally summing up the best part of the novel.

I already made it this far into the series, so I might as well finish. There was a moment in the book that seems to be laying the groundwork for the last two books, but there was just too much nothingness to make me feel excited about it. The series has great lively characters but doesn't give them anything to do. Except for walking about and talk like its a TV show with a low budget.

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Review: Magician

Magician by Raymond E. Feist
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one gets off to a slow start. Just want to get that out there. It's so trope and familiar that I was about to get out my fantasy novel bingo card. Then aliens invade and we meet a band of pirates. What starts off as a fairly conventional book subtly turns into a grand adventure. To be honest, I was just about to give up on the tome before I slowly started to like it. It might even be a good book to relax with on a beach if it's length wouldn't make you die of skin cancer.

The novel has strong detailed prose, likable characters, and a plot with just enough intrigue to keep you invested. Now, I'm sure you're thinking, he's about to point out what's wrong with it. And you'd be right. Magician, and the writing of Feist in general, just isn't very deep. It's well put together and everything, but don't expect to walk away with your life changed. The book is enjoyable and I dare say even made me content with the universe. Not everything has to make you think, it would just be nice if it did.

Side note for people who live on different sides of the Atlantic. In 'Merica, the book is split into two volumes while the limy side of the pond has the book kept whole. I read the complete version. Surely you're asking, can you read just one volume? Technically yes. The first book ends on a good spot to take a break but hardly leaves you with a sense of resolve. And the second book begins in a completely different place with a bit of a time skip but also ends on such a note that Feist could have died the day after completing it and everyone would have been fine with it. There's enough leftover for more books, and you should know at this point there are more, but you can read this complete tome and walk away happy.

As I said before, the book isn't very deep. So it prevents me from really going into detail about how I feel about it. There's just not a great deal to say about beyond it's enjoyable. Pretty much anyone can sit down with this book and find at least some contentment from its words. However, its gift is also its curse. Magician is non-threatening. It will never bite you with its ideas because it has no teeth.

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