Good day everyone,

I hope you are all having a good day, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things gaming and literature. Today I will be doing an analysis and review of the third book from The Witcher series, and the first of The Witcher Saga, by Andrzej Sapkowski, entitled Blood of Elves. Within the overall review I will break down the chapters and give an overview of what happens within the story, with a conclusion on the overall book at the end. This will be done in a four part series for this book, so keep an eye out for the remaining parts to follow.

Blood of Elves

The book, published in Polish 1994 and English in 2008, is the first in a five book saga which takes the Witcher, Geralt, on the adventure of his lifetime as the effects of the post war with Nilfgaard looms over the land, and sparks the beginning of his destiny bound journey with Ciri. We encounter many familiar faces such as Dandilion and Yennifer, along with the introduction of some interesting new characters throughout the lands as Geralt roams and wanders, undertaking a variety of missions and contracts on his way. New locations are introduced along with many interesting discoveries, particularly on the origin of Elves and the deeper effects of the war with Nilfgaard and the rebellious Socia'tael. The rulers of the land are introduced along with the senior powers such as the Council of Wizards, all of whom are intent on discovering the missing child, princess Ciri.

There is an overall page count of 315 pages within the English version of the book which was translated by Danusia Stok.

Chapter 1

The chapter begins with Ciri in Cintra during the Massacre which ended with Calante's death. She is escaping with a knight on horseback as her city is under siege. The warriors are fighting but the evil of Nilfgaard outpowers them. As the pair try escape in a group of Cintra knights, her rider is slain but another grabs Ciri and places the princess upon his horse as he tries to bring her to safety outside the city walls. He is shot with an arrow and Ciri becomes trapped under him and his horse, as a black cloaked figure shrieks and swoops down upon her against the backlight of red ember flames while the city she loved burns around her. Ciri awakens as it was just a dream, a nightmare. She is with Geralt, and he calms and reassures her that everything will be alright and she wont have this nightmare anymore. While she had heard that before, for the first time she believes it as she is with the Witcher and finally feels like she is with someone she can trust, someone safe.

Dandilion is playing a ballad regarding the events of Cintra and the aftermath with Geralt, Yennifer, and Ciri living happily ever after. He is at a banquet of Nobility, Wizards, Merchants Peasants, Elves, Dwarfs, and Gnomes. The crowd are locked in discussion after his ballad, contemplating the events which really took place at Cintra and why they should unite in the face of Nilfgaardian threats of further war. We learn more about the battle of Sodden, where one hundred thousand warriors banded from four kingdoms to repel the threat of Nilfgaard and end the war, for now at least, while thirty thousand of those brave warrior perished. The obvious tensions between the races are evident, and the topic of racism is even brought up as the Elves are accused to be aligned with the Nilfgaards, who apparently have the same bloodline. That's when the Elves retort of how man has mixed with Elves for centuries and at this stage it would be rare to find anyone without some form of elven blood within them. As the crowd continues with its merrymaking, discussions, and delight at the work of Dandilion, they notice the bard has disappeared and left without saying farewell, how very human of him.

Dandilion has gone to a nearby town and while in a brothel, choosing between two charming ladies, he gets an unwelcome visitor. This man introduces himself as Rience and begins to ask questions about Geralt and Ciri, which makes Dandilion uneasy. The bard tries to make a dash to escape but he is captured and tortured into giving information on the whereabouts of Geralt and Ciri. Just as Dandilion is about to break, Yennifer appears and eliminates two of the three men who have captured him, while the third, Rience, escapes through a portal. Renice has some magic, but nowhere near the levels of Yennifer as she knows it was someone else who created the portal for Rience to escape and that is why she did not pursue him through it. She takes Dandilion to a nearby tavern and the two dine on chicken while discussing the events that happened. She is satisfied Dandelion did not give up knowledge on Geralt or Ciri, as the bard is unaware of their location or whether Geralt even found the child of destiny. The last encounter between the bard and the Witcher was with Yurga at the river when Geralt helped Dandelion to escape North, and the duo parted ways soon after. Yennifer advises Dandilion not to mention Ciri in any of his ballads again, and to seek shelter with Dijkstra for his own safety.

Ciri and Geralt are trekking along a dark path with rotting skulls around them. Ciri is uneasy but Geralt calms her, explaining they are heading to a safe place; Kaer Morhen. They meet Eskel at the gate and him is astounded that the Wolf has a girl child with him. While Geralt is putting Roach in the stables Eskel reveals his scarred and hideous face to Ciri, but she is reassured he is in fact human. Ciri is distraught at the feelings overcoming her, being in a run down old ruin of a castle with rats running over her feet, and as they enter the grand hall her feelings of dread and fear return. The red ember flames from the hearth, the dark shadowy silhouettes of the other Witcher's present remind her of the events of Cintra, but Geralt puts his hands on her shoulders and all her fear is gone. She is safe with Geralt, and he explains to Vesemir, Lambert, Coen, and Eskel that Ciri is "our destiny."

Chapter 2

Triss Merigold is travelling towards Kaer Morhen on her horse, freezing in the winter cold and dreading the thoughts of another night camped in a crook on the mountainside. As she approaches the keep, having travelled this route before and aware of the landscape, a young Witcher flashes past her while running the trail. Triss is astounded as she has not seen a child Witcher and wants to make the most of this opportunity. She rides ahead and hears a cry as the young Witcher falls. Dismounting her horse, Triss also falls as she approaches the child. Astounded, she meets a girl and not a boy as she originally perceived. Ciri is cautious but afters a brief discussion with Triss, and the enchantress healing Ciri's grazed knee, the pair ride towards the entrance of Kaer Morhen together. Along the way Triss senses the magic from Ciri and hears her speaking of how Triss is similar to the bones that line the outskirts of the Witchers castle, dead from the battle of sodden. The bones at Kaer Morhen are from the past, before Triss was born, and represent a time when the wizards and a rouge group of men attacked the castle and killed all the 'mutant monster' Witchers who resided there.

The pair of women are greeted by Geralt, Eskel, and Lambert as they reach the entrance. A fleeting moment between Triss and Geralt is noticeable, as the pair have romanced together in the past. It is six months since Ciri and Geralt arrived at the Witcher's castle and she has been training as a Witcher ever since, although has never undergone the 'changes' to become a true 'mutant' Witcher. Ciri goes to continue her training with Lambert while Geralt and Triss bring her horse to the stable. He is relieved that the rumours of her death at Sodden were mistaken, and a brief moment of intimacy is interrupted when Vesemir and Coen arrive to welcome Triss. They beckon her inside to warm up and fill her belly with food, giving her the best bed in the Tower to treat their guest well. She is appreciative but deep down inside would rather be sharing the worst bed with the company of Geralt. Triss is left wondering exactly what reason the Witchers beckoned for her arrival at Kaer Morhen, as the excuse of Vesemir being ill was clearly exaggerated. She is unable to sleep as her mind is racing, coupled with her strong sense of arousal from being around Geralt again. Triss is good friends with Yennifer and was amazed at how she and Geralt managed to have a relationship, and once they separated Triss took advantage of that moment to bed Geralt. She was smitten by it but not looking for anything, as she had experienced many men, women, and wizards who were all the same to her. As her thoughts moved on to why she is in Kaer Morhen, she realises it must be Ciri. Triss believes the Witcher's are giving Ciri special herbs and food to improve the child surprises capabilities and overall fitness. Is Triss there to assist in the mutation, which requires a wizard to apply? Or is it that the Witcher's have sensed the magic within Ciri and needed a friendly magician to help them understand and contain Ciri, who Triss refers to as the Source, from astounding them with her abilities.

The following morning at breakfast Triss passes comment on the outfit which Ciri is wearing, and proposes she assists the child in improving her attire. The Witchers begin to protest as Ciri needs to continue her training, but Triss insists and Geralt nods in agreement, happy that Ciri will get some attention and assistance in her clothing from a woman. Triss instructs Ciri to undress so she can magically improve her clothes, and in doing so she inspects Ciri's body. To her horror the child is covered in bruises, which Ciri explains are from the windmill, the pendulum, and the comb. These are a series of exercises and equipment to help improve her fighting technique, and while Triss is horrified, Ciri explains how Geralt told her even when something bad happens, you have to go back to it or you get frightened. Ciri asks a request of Triss, can she be turned into a boy, which Triss abruptly replies no. She then informs Triss of the fact it is her days of the month and that it is making her weaker and less fit for all the training the Witcher's are putting her thorough. Outraged, Triss goes to discuss this with the men and they are horrified and shocked, having only thought of Ciri as a strong girl who is as capable as any boy who trained with them, oblivious to the fact her body is naturally different to a mans. Ciri enters the room to interrupt the conversation, wearing a beautiful blue dress from Triss. She strongly explains how she is indisposed and will be unable to train, which the men of course agree to. Ciri also asks Vesemir if Triss can remain with them, which the old Witcher happily agrees to. Delighted with herself, Ciri excuses herself and Triss makes it clear that if Ciri is wearing a dress in the morning there can be no training that day. 

Triss has three pieces of advice for the Witcher's in their handling of Ciri. The first is simply to not overdo the herbs and magical mushrooms they feed Ciri. While it has enhanced her physically, Triss wants to ensure no harm happens to the girls hormonal development. Secondly, Ciri requires a normal life as much as possible. Geralt agrees, and explains how once Spring arrives he will bring Ciri to Temeria to stay with Nenneke, where Ciri will receive an education in a safe place. Finally, triss warns of the power within Ciri and how she is a Source, confirming from Vesemir that was the real reason why they called her to Kaer Morhen as the Witcher's had sensed the child's magical abilities. Triss cares for Ciri the following day and ensures the child is alright during her days, while helping Geralt to skin a goat the Witcher had hunted. The enchantress has urges to no longer sleep alone and enjoys being close to Geralt, but Ciri declares she wishes to sleep with Triss that night in her bed.

To be continued.......

If you would like to check out my analysis on the World of the Witcher, please follow this link here: The Witcher 

While if you wish to check out my review on the first book of the Witcher series, it is available here: The Witcher: The Last Wish 

Finally if you want to see what I wrote about the second book from the Witcher, it is available here: The Witcher: The Sword of Destiny

Have a great day.

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

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