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.

Previous Part to this Book

The Witcher Saga - Blood of Elves - Part I

Chapter 3

Triss is discussing with the Witcher's how times have changed and they need not fear her taking Ciri like the wizards used to do with child Sources in the past. The enchantress is determined to discover just how powerful Ciri is, and the Source she is emanating power from. Lambert is not convinced, but Vesemir and Geralt believe Triss can be the help the need for Ciri. Coen is entertaining Ciri while the remainder are discussing matters, and eventually Triss discovers that Ciri drank a Witcher elixir on her first night and went into a trance. The elixir is a concoction of herbs and Witcher secrets, causing hallucinations and enlightening the mind. Ciri prophesised Coen and Geralt to die, but the Witcher is not worried by this. They allow Triss to sample a bit, and she  decides to give Ciri more so she can see the trances for herself. Once Ciri has drank her fill the enchantress performs a spell with her amulet and enters Ciri's mind. Within she is horrified, as what initially seems like a wave filled shore gets overtaken by a deathly metallic voice. This voice foretells of death, and informs Triss that she is already dead from all she lost at Sodden. Triss tries to discover who this powerful being is but is unable, and eventually wakes in her bed to Geralt caring for her. She insists he gets Yennifer to help as another trance could be the death of Ciri, and Geralt agrees once Ciri is with Nenneke they will inform Yennifer, making Triss decide to stay at Kaer Morhen until Springtime to watch over Ciri and guide her magical powers. Triss also learns that while Ciri was waking from her trance she whispered 'Forget about him, don't torture him' in reference to Triss and her longing for Geralt. Triss promises she wont, but convinces Geralt to stay with her for the night. Just stay, that's all. Ciri is suffering the effects of the trance by having disturbing dreams and nightmares, and Triss cares for her over the next ten nights as this occurs. 

Ciri spend the coming months training with all the members of Kaer Morhen. Triss is training her to speak the old Elven dialect, while Lambert, Coen, and Geralt put Ciri through her paces when it comes to Witcher training. They intend to ensure she is more than capable of fighting and standing her own ground in battle, with Ciri even getting her own Witcher sword. Vesemir meanwhile spends his days teaching Ciri about the different monsters of the world, and how a Witcher would face them in battle. Each Witcher needs to know the ins and outs of the creatures they could face, and most importantly what each monster is weak against in battle, such as a silver sword or the use of fire. Triss also teaches Ciri about womanly things such as applying make up, an art which was invented by the Elves. Geralt particularly train Ciri in the art of fighting, helping her to understand even though she is a girl and therefore weaker than her opponents, its about using her speed to take the momentum from her opponents and use it against them.

Within the halls of Kaer Morhen the Witchers and Triss are deep in conversation about the war in the world and how Nilfgaard may be planning another attack. The conversation turns to Sodden where Triss explains how she witnessed her friends and fellow wizards and witches dying before her eyes, and the terror of the battle in general. She also explains how she would fight again if needed, but Geralt is not of the same mindset. He is cold and emotionless, and when Ciri interrupts the conversation exclaiming she wishes to kill the Nilfgaardians who costs her Cintra and Calante, Geralt barks she is not allowed to use a sword again until she learns it is for defences and not just killing when frightened. Ciri runs out into the February snow and both Geralt and Triss follow her. In the fresh snowfall  Ciri falls from a ledge, and to Triss' amazement the Witcher catches her, holding her close and once again showing her she still has him even though she lost everything else. In this moment Triss decides it is an opportune time for the three of them to leave Kaer Morhen and make their way to Nenneke.

Chapter 4

The trio of Geralt, Triss, and Ciri are travelling by horseback through the lands across Kaedwen, but Triss has become unwell. The enchantress has what Geralt suggests could be food poisoning, and make their way to a nearby bridge crossing in hopes of getting beyond it and finding her aid and rest. In what would generally be a quiet bridge crossing, they encounter a large supply of wounded men. When speaking to a leader, Geralt discovers a group of Socia'tael have attacked groups of people, looking to bring Elves back into power and take advantage of the disruption caused by the Nilfgaardian invasion. For two years they have been attacking in a guerrilla warfare style campaign in the hopes of regaining lands and proclaiming the time of men is at an end. The soldiers and merchants gathered have little trust for non humans and feel the loyalties of even the most loyal elves, dwarves, gnomes, etc, will turn sour and side with Nilfgaard if the war starts once more. With Triss so unwell the men are not welcome to her presence, fearing she may spread some plague or disease amongst the already weakened men. Geralt plans to push forward and head for Daevon or Ard Careaigh, but is advised to try catch up with a caravan which passed the bridge recently and should be stopping for rest on the path ahead.

Geralt approaches the caravan and to his amazement he discovers it to be a group of dwarves led by none other than Yarpen Zigrin, who we first encountered in The Bounds of Reason. They are working under commissar Vilfrid Wenck, the leader of the company, in the service of King Henselt of Ard Carraigh who is the ruler of Kaedwen. Zirgin, along with some assistance from Ciri, make an old medicine his grandmother taught him, and afterwards discusses with Geralt about the state of his companions. Geralt discovers the caravan is 'merely at the kings service and resupplying arms and good for the war efforts.' While the Witcher does not believe this story, there are more pressing matters, and he pleads with Zigrin to convince Wenck that Triss must be allowed to travel and rest peacefully in one of their wagons while she heals. Geralt and Wenck discuss the matter at hand, and with Wenck under strict order with a deadline to meet, he tries to persuade Geralt to assist his company with any creatures or monsters they may encounter along the way. Geralt refuses as he cannot allow himself to enlist with soldiers, but Wemck still aggress to allow the trio to remain while Triss improves her health.

The caravan sets out and Ciri overhears Zigrin and Geralt discussion past adventures, including the hunt for the Golden Dragron from "The Sword of Destiny" book. The pair continue into the topic of the war and rebellion, with Geralt adament he wishes to remain neutral and impartial. Zigrin meanwhile is siding against his brethern on the rebellious side, which leads to the dwarf getting angry at Geralt and booting him from his wagon. As Geralt continues on Roach, Ciri joins the dwarf at the head of the wagon. She saves them from a crash into a stump on the road, and the pair converse. Ciri presses questions regarding what being impartial entails, and learn that dwarves are amongst the Socia'tael. They are fighting for their freedom up to the point they would even kill fellow dwarves who are against them, such as Zigrin. He explains how they are misled in believing they can achieve freedom, and that it was the gnomes who were the first on earth, followed by the dwarves and then the elves, with man appearing a good thousand years later. All are at odds with each other to reign supreme and it is man who multiply and kill quicker than others.

Triss awakens and is feeling somewhat better but still in a very weakened state. She requires Geralt and Ciri to aid her in dressing and bathing, and while the dwarves go fishing she is to have a bath. The enchantress is emotional and pleads with Geralt that they should not have, she should not have....and Geralt dismisses Ciri from their presence. The princess encounters Zigrin eavesdropping outside, and she informs him how she likes the dwarf as a person. She believes all men, dwarves, and elves are similar and live in similar ways. She questions which side of the rebellion is right, to which he cannot truthfully answer. He does however disclose that he is fighting for the peace which existed for 100-200 years as all races managed to live in harmony side by side one way or another before the war broke out. As the caravan rides on they encounter a group of riders who stop the wagons. There are ten of them, led by lance-corporal Zyvik on behalf of King Henselts army. Zyvik insists on searching the wagons for slaves which could be sold to the Nilfgaards, but when he discovers Triss she enchants him so he ignores both her and Ciri. He warns the caravan of Socia'tael who have attacked a patrol nearby at Badger Ravine, which leads Zigrin to up his guard. The dwarf and Geralt discuss how they cannot ride blindly into a trap and should scout the road ahead.

Ciri is back on her horse, and fed up with the cautious approach of those around her, she rides out ahead before Geralt can stop her. Feeling she is nearly thirteen and capable of looking out for herself, Ciri is scouting ahead, checking the path for any dangers ahead, when she sees movement from the corner of her eye. She hides in bushes and sees a group of Socia'tael passes through. Geralt finds Ciri and tells her not to inform the others about the Socia'tael as he believes they will not attack. He shows Ciri why, by leading her through the thickets and into a ruined palace known as Shaerrawedd. It is a decimated mess of what it once was two centuries before, and he leads Ciri to a fountain and statue in the centre. The statue is of Aelirenn, a warrior who led the elves in the second war with humans 2 centuries before. The elder elves did not wish to fight and instead destroyed their cities, towns, and palaces, retreating to the mountains in the belief they could outlast the humans. Aelirenn rallied the young elves to stand and fight, and in doing so led them to their death. A massacre. Geralt explains to Ciri how its only the young elves who are fertile and their battle had all but condemned the elves to extinction. A bed of roses blooms year round as a reminder of the events that took place before, and many elves visit it in honour of their fallen brethren. Geralt explains this is the reason they remain neutral, as to not hasten the elves ending in this world. Ciri decides to take a rose as a reminder, and in doing so has a vision of Triss, Zirgin, and the rest of the caravan being attacked and killed.

Ciri and Geralt ride with haste into the middle of the battle, where the Socia'tael have ambushed their allies. Triss is being defended by Zigrin near his upturned wagon, which Ciri rides straight towards in aid of her enchantress friend. Ciri's horse is struck by an arrow but it does not deter the girl, as she leaps to the wagon and pulls Triss beneath it with the help of another dwarf called Paulie Dahlberg. Yarpen Zigrin, Wenck, and Geralt battle like demons while another dwarf Regan battle on his wagon with a halfling, eventually getting his vehicle moving again and circling them to create a barricade. Wenck made his way towards his horse while battling two elves, and had been pierced by two arrows in the process, leaving Ciri alone to defend the weakened Triss under Zigrins flaming wagon. Her energy had left and Ciri could feel the harsh reality of battle before her, trembling and unable to draw her sword. Before her eyes she watch Geralt battle with an elf and to her dismay she witnessed Paulie Dahlbery freeze in battle, unwilling to fight and getting struck down by a Socia'tael dwarf whom he did not wish to attack. Yarpen Zigrin lept down and slashed the dwarf to pieces, while Ciri was attacked beneath the wagon. Her training in Kaer Morhen stood her well, but she was unbalanced and disarmed by an elf. As the elf stood ready to deliver her killer blow, she couldn't help but stare at the rose on Ciri's chest. Aelirenn, Shaerrawedd the elf cried as Geralt slashed her down to save Ciri and Triss.

The battle was over after troops from Ban Gleán had arrived to save the day, at least as much as they could of it. There were many wounded and dead, with humans, elves, and dwarves all lain out together in a row of dead, including Paulie Dahlbery and Yannick Brass, two of Yarpen Zigrin's band of dwarves. All over were split open barrels with their contents thrown across the ground. Stone and rocks, nothing more. Ciri stounded asks was it a trap? Wenck is dying from his wounds as Triss is unable to save him with magic, but he confirms to the leader of the troops from Ban Gleán, Fredegard, that it was not Zigrin before passing. Yarpen Zigrin looks at the men, the humans, and bellows what have they made of dwarves, as it emerges that the trap was for Zigrin to see if his men could be trusted. The trap had cost many lives. Geralt hold Ciri and removes the rose from her, throwing it on the dead elf, and ask's for forgiveness for not remaining neutral as he had no choice but to save his friends.

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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