This one took me awhile to read (started it in May, finished in January), but I blame that on my own distractibility / starting other books, not on the book itself. Once I got to around pg 170, I was rolling and it took me less than a week to finish the remainder.

I really enjoyed this one, particularly the last half! (Probably more than #2.) The ending put Geralt in a humorous situation, (I won't spoil!) which had my sister looking at me weird because of how much I was chuckling to myself.

Some standout points:
- Perspective was handled in a way that stood out from the last one as being a great choice to watch the story unfold. Very clever and supported the worldbuilding.
- A few new characters are introduced in this one and I loved their interactions with Geralt.
- The geopolitical talks in this book were less prevalent and more enjoyable to me than in previous installments. Instead, there is a very interesting lore / genealogical info drop.

Overall, it was well-balanced between exploring interpersonal dynamics, commentating on societal issues & war, and dry, witty humor. I love books with that kind of blend; intelligently written, but don't take themselves too seriously. I've already picked up the next one.

Felt like this was trying to say something about sexual violence towards women but felt more like it was targeted for men to understand and empathize with rather than for women and victims of sexual assault to feel seen by

Also a weird pro-life argument that evades consequences by having it end in a tragic miscarriage 

Andrzej Sapkowski’s fifth Witcher novel (and third in the saga), Baptism of Fire, marks my favourite entry in the series so far, earning a rating of 4.25/5 stars. The story shifts from the tumultuous events of Time of Contempt to follow Geralt closely as he resumes his quest to locate Ciri. This installment focuses heavily on Geralt’s journey and the diverse group of companions he gathers along the way.

Among his companions are a dryad-sympathising human archer, a barber-surgeon with a sanguineous secret, a caravan of dwarves, a Nilfgaardian who denies his affiliation, and, of course, the ever-present bard Dandelion. Their dynamic is humorously highlighted in a memorable exchange:

The portions of the book detailing the group’s journey are particularly compelling, as we witness Geralt’s isolationist tendencies being challenged. He gradually comes to endure, if not embrace, his comrades. Special mentions must go to Milva and Regis, two characters who have greatly endeared themselves to me.

Aside from Geralt’s travels, significant insights are provided into the politics of the Lodge of Sorceresses and the movements of Ciri, still in the company of barbarous gang “The Rats.” The novel’s first half is a slow build, setting the scene for the action-packed second half. By the halfway mark, all relevant characters and locations have been introduced, and it’s just a matter of increasingly tempestuous events unfolding.

Sapkowski’s writing shines as we see significant growth in Geralt’s character. Regis’s observation about Geralt encapsulates this evolution:

This characterization, while perhaps true for witchers generally, becomes increasingly untrue for Geralt, whose paternal connection with Ciri (and perhaps his relationship with Yennefer) adds depth and purpose to his journey. Regis’s immediate recantation of his words underscores this transformation.

Overall, Baptism of Fire is a worthy addition to the Witcher series, with its rich character development and engaging narrative. Highly recommended.