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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