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 seventh book from The Witcher series, and the fifth book of The Witcher Saga, by Andrzej Sapkowski, entitled The Lady of the Lake. Within 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 six part series for this book due to the number of chapters, so keep an eye out for the remaining parts to follow.
Other Parts to this Book
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part I
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part II
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part III
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part IV
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part V
The Lady of the Lake
The book, published in Polish 1999 and into English in 2017. It a continuation from the fourth book in the Witcher Saga, The Tower of the Swallow, and is the final book in the thrilling Witcher Saga. There is an overall page count of 531 pages within the English version of the book which was translated by David French.
Chapter 1
A wandering knight by the name of Galahad, only nineteen years of age, was making his way through the most covered lands around the Cwm Valley, towards the enchanted lake. As he reached the waters edge he heard the sound of a girl singing. Despite the tales of youth where female airs were traps to lure in unsuspecting men, the knight follows the sound.
Following the shoreline, he discovered the girls garments laying on a boulder as she bathed naked in the lake. He took her to be a dweller of the Faërie, a mystical creature, an elf. As he was about to retreat, the girls horse neighed a greeted and altered her to the knights presence, and the girl sprang from the water. She grabbed her sword in readiness to defend herself, and the knight mistook her for the “Lady of the Lake.” Once dressed she demanded he introduce himself. He was Galahad, a knight of King Arthur, the Lord of Camelot. He was unaware of the lands of Temeria, Redania, Rivia, etc, and she introduced herself as Ciri. Still believing she was the famed Lady of the Lake, Galahad expect her to bestow her sword upon him, but he was mistaken.
He exclaimed his belief she must be from Faërie, and Ciri explained she was not this Lady, but that she was from Rivia. She has arrived in this place thanks to the spell of a unicorn. Galahad explained they were in Gwynedd, and that two days ride would bring them to Caer Dathal. Ciri did not care, she was famished and needed food. They ate his smoked sausages and conversed some more, and Galahad explained how the myth of Fairies lead young men to Elfland and make love on a mossy carpet. Ciri immediately explained she was not fairy, but had been in Elfland and was in no hurry to return. More importantly, she made her stance than nothing would happen between them.
Ciri questioned Galahad on the chance of mages or sorceresses in this world. He explains how there was Merlin and the evil Morgana. Merlin was in Camelot, in the court of King Arthur. It was ten days ride, which was too far as far as Ciri was concerned.
Ciri went on to explain how she had been in Elfland, after entering the Tower of the Swallow. It brought her to the land of the elves, where they also exclaimed her to be the Lady of the Lake. She enjoyed the title. That was, until she realised she was a prisoner there. Galahad was enthralled by her story and wanted to know more. Ciri was hesitant, for it was a long story and she was unsure of where it even truly began, but decided she would tell it all to the knight.
Chapter 2
Condwiramurs Tilly was discontent, impatient, tired and hungry as she was slowly being brought across the lake of Loch Blest in a rowing boat. Regardless of her complaints, the old weathered rower would go no faster. Unimpressed with his cargo, a novice witch, he carried on until the mist disperessed and she could see the island with a towering obelisk in the distance. He pulled in his lure, which Condwiramurs snorted as it had caught nothing, and applied all his force to dart them across the remaining bit of water. Once they arrived she made her way up the island of Inis Vitre. It was a legendary place that only few had been to, and at the top of the steps she met Nimue, the Lady of the Lake. The pair introduced themselves and Nimue led Condwiramurs inside to begin their discussions over breakfast.
Nimue, a sorceress only five feet in height, explained to Condwiramurs that the tower contained six storeys, including one below ground. Condwiramurs was to be on the second floor above ground, and had free access to go about the tower as she pleased, bar the top two floors which were Nimues private chambers and study. Nor was Condwiramurs permitted to ‘avail’ of the Fisher King who had brought her there for any intimate services. Nimue queried Condwiramurs of her opinion why she might have been chosen, of all the sorceresses in her class, to become Nimues assistant. Sure of herself, Condwiramurs boasted for her rankings in terms of dream reading and oneiromancery. She could divine by merely having an object, such as a picture, and without the requirement of drugs. Remaining sceptical, Nimue led Condwiramurs to her chambers. Within, to the amazement of Condwiramurs, were a multitude of tapestries. Testing the young novice, Nimue led her among the paintings and Condwiramurs explained the events within. They were all from the legend of Geralt, Dandelion, Yennifer, Triss, Cahir, and Ciri. The question that remained, which was left unclear and uncertain, was how did the legend of Ciri really end?
Nimue explained how her obsession with the legend of Ciri began, and how she expected the same from her apprentice for as long as she was with the Lady of the Lake. Looking through the painting, Condwiramurs questioned were there any paintings of Ciri. None of the actual girl existed, only from painters imaginations. One particular one, by Master Robin Anderida was of interest to Condwiramurs. In her dreams, she saw the truth behind it.
Six months had passed since Emperor Emhyr was presented the wrong girl as Ciri in Loc Grim. Stella Congreve had turned her into a princess in Darn Rowan Castle, and now Emhyr wanted to talk with her. He interrupted as she was being painted for a portrait, the same portrait Condwiramurs used to see this memory. Out on the terrace he talked alone to the girl. Knowing she was not who he wanted, Emhyr requested her real name, but the girl was well trained and would not disclose it. Instead, Emhyr somewhat feeling a strange sense of guilt, promised to grant her any wish. Anything. Even to let her leave and return home. Instead the girl requested to remain at Dawn Rowan Castle with lady Stella. Emhyr agreed, albeit believing she made the wrong choice. He had other concerns, as his troops were preparing for battle once more in the North. They would hunt down Vilgefortz, and Rience, and find the real Cirilla.
Nimue questioned Condwiramurs about her dreams, and the apprentice informed her of all she remembered. Once they had finished eating, they returned to the library to continue unravelling the mystery of Ciri. A portrait of Loc Grim, when the fake Ciri was presented, lead Nimue to contemplate the fact the other noble houses of Nilfgaard were affronted by Emhyrs decision not to marry one of their daughters, leading to conspiracies of revenge and murder. They did not know the fate of the fake princess, but assumed she had an unpleasant end when the real Ciri was obtained by Emhyr.
As the days and weeks passed at the tower of Inis Vitre, Condwiramurs realised her role was to decipher the truth of what really happened with Ciri and Geralt. Many scholars had tried in the past, some had succeeded in parts, but there was one particular area that eluded them. The winter Geralt spent in Toussaint. Apparently ‘winter passed’ before Geralt could set out once again following the battle of the druids and his meeting with Avall’ach, but Nimue wanted to know more. Condwiramurs had been twelve nights on the island and created three lists of her dreams, one of successes, one of failed dreams, and one of works in progress as she worked on deciphering the dreams. Finally she was ready to approach Nimue once she knew what Geralt had done over the winter in Toussaint.
She dreamt of Geralt with a woman with hair as black as coal in an intimate embrace. She was unaware of the woman’s name, but could tell Geralt was infactuared with her. Nimue studied the painting she had of the sorceresses of the lodge but could not be sure if the woman Condwiramurs spoke of was among them. They could not decipher this woman, and as the days passed Condwiramurs dreamt on. She found herself dreaming of erotic pleasures with the “Fisher King” who was in fact the secret desire of Nimue, and the apprentice witch found herself worried if Nimues caught them as she dreamed of him taking her. As time moved on Condwiramurs began to feel like more of a prisoner than a guest on the island, especially as there was an inaccessible terrace which only Nimue could reach, and Condwiramurs often felt the presence of the Lady of the Lake looking down upon her from it. Eventually Condwiramurs brought this up, and Nimue immediately brought the apprentice to her private chambers.
She lead her down a winding stairs into a private chamber, off of which the terrace lay. The room contained a painting of Vilgefortz citadel, where Yennifer was held captive and the known legend ended. According to rumour Ciri had been held captive at the Tower of the Swallow, before escaping to rescue Yennifer. Nimue wanted Condwiramurs to decider her dreams from this tapestry, which also allowing the novic to make use of the Hartmann Looking Glass, an object which allowed user to see into other worlds. Nimue warned how the looking glass worked both ways, and something could just as easily emerge from it. Nimue pressed Condwiramurs hard, as the novice had only been able to dream of the citadel from a birds eye view, flying above it. Nimue was determined to know what was within the castles walls.
Yennifer had been moved from her dungeons into newer and warmer ones, although she was still captive by Vilgefortz. The sorcerer was healing, with his eye growing back, albeit smaller than his other one. She was unsure of how much time had passed, but she believed around six months and it was around January at this point. Viglefortz had allowed Yennifer to join him, and some of his Nilfgaardian guests, for food. She was still injured, with her hands numb and stiff, possibly having lost feeling in some of her fingers forever. With her dimeritiun bracelet she could not attack him, as he explained how Ciri had perished and his plans were in ruin. Yennifer was happy, but not for long, as Viglefortz continued to explain how Geralt was also dead, thanks to him. Hatred filled in Yennifer, but she calmed herself and remarked that she knew Viglefortz was lying becuase neither Reince or Shirrú were torturing her anymore, instead she believed they failed in capturing Ciri or killing Geralt, and both the sorceresses and Emhyr were closing in on Viglefortz. One of the guests spoke up, denying they were done torturing Yennifer, and introduced himself as Stefan Skellen, Tawny Owl.
Viglefortz informed Yennifer he had no use for her anymore, but would not kill her. Not yet anyway. She was led back to her chamber, a royal palace compared to her previous dungeon when she had originally been moved after two months of torture, but in time it was just a prison cell once more. As she was in her chamber, a man quietly entered. It was Bonhart. He goaded Yennifer, explaining how he had captured Ciri and forced her into the arena in Ebbing, but she had escaped. He planned to find her once more. He also showed her three witchers medallions, one of a cat, one an eagle, and the last a wolf. He claimed Geralt had died in the fire. Yennifer refuted it, but Bonhart explained he was a killer, a Witcher hunter, and that he would prove to be more man to her than her Witcher lover ever was.
The guards outside Yennifers chamber suddenly heard, thumping, banging, crashing, and a yell of pain. Rushing in, they discovered Yennifer, with her clothing torn and breasts exposed, had managed to thump Bonhart with her sharp bracelets, and jammed a stolen fork in his cheek. She sneered that he should stay away from bitches, but Bonhart was incensed. He roared for the guards to hold her down and spread her eagle, but they would not get involved. They informed him that they did not wish to end up like Rience or Schirrú.
Condwiramurs was unimpressed, knowing Geralt had been with some burnette in Toussaint while Yennifer had been a prisoner. Nimue however claimed would she condemn him considering he had no idea of what happened to Yennifer. Neither could figure out where the castle had been, but legends differed and neither were certain. Nimue made it clear certain facts, such as how Ciri looked, would never be known.
That night as Condwiramurs slept she had one of her frequent dreams which she never deciphered. A cloudless night with two horsemen riding beyond and outer wall of a battlement. They entered a portal, but only one arrived at the entrance to a dungeon. The one with milky white hair. He descended through the rubble and took a path to the right. Condwiramurs knows this path is full of danger. She wishes to scream out to him, as a monster emerged and attacked from the darkness like a tongue of flames.
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 short stories in 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 of short stories from the Witcher, it is available here: The Witcher: The Sword of Destiny
The Witcher Saga
Book 1
The Witcher Saga - Blood of Elves - Part I
The Witcher Saga - Blood of Elves - Part II
The Witcher Saga - Blood of Elves - Part III
The Witcher Saga - Blood of Elves - Part IV
Book 2
The Witcher Saga - Time of Contempt - Part I
The Witcher Saga - Time of Contempt - Part II
The Witcher Saga - Time of Contempt - Part III
The Witcher Saga - Time of Contempt - Part IV
Book 3
The Witcher Saga - Baptism of Fire - Part I
The Witcher Saga - Baptism of Fire - Part II
The Witcher Saga - Baptism of Fire - Part III
The Witcher Saga - Baptism of Fire - Part IV
Book 4
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part I
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part II
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part III
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part IV
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part V
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part VI
Have a great day.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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