The time of contempt

This crowded sequel to the Polish bestseller Blood of Elves mashes up political intrigues, military maneuvers, magic duels, and monster hunts. Geralt, the Witcher (a magic-boosted warrior), and his beloved, the sorceress Yennefer, try to protect Princess Cirilla, heir to a conquered land, from the Empire of Nilfgaard as it attempts to absorb all the Northern Kingdoms. The Nilfgaardian Emperor Emhyr var Emreis sends hunters to pursue Ciri and to disrupt a conclave of mages while his troops roll over his squabbling neighbors. Ciri is forced to flee on her own through an unreliable portal, facing a variety of ordeals while Geralt searches for her. French's translation piles on cliches and contemporary English slang ("raining cats and dogs," "have a butchers") to play up Sapkowski's fondness for anachronisms such as mages arguing over the killing of endangered species. Sapkowski moves the plot quickly amid a welter of names and lightly sketched histories, giving the world depth but also confusing the reader at times. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

As a Witcher, Geralt has perfected his physical prowess as well as his sorcerous abilities in order to fight the demons and other evil creatures that threaten the land and its people. Now he must protect a young girl named Ciri, a child of prophecy whose actions can save or destroy the world. When Ciri goes missing, it is up to Geralt to discover who has taken her and to find her before it is too late. Second in the series (after Blood of Elves; a book of short stories, The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher, which precedes the main series, has also been translated into English), this latest novel by Polish fantasy author Sapkowski presents a fast-paced fantasy world in which sorcerers can bring about both great good and great evil. VERDICT Readers familiar with the related Witcher Role Playing Game should enjoy reading adventures set in the role-playing world, while sword and sorcery fans can take this title on its own merits. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

As a Witcher, Geralt has perfected his physical prowess as well as his sorcerous abilities in order to fight the demons and other evil creatures that threaten the land and its people. Now he must protect a young girl named Ciri, a child of prophecy whose actions can save or destroy the world. When Ciri goes missing, it is up to Geralt to discover who has taken her and to find her before it is too late. Second in the series (after Blood of Elves; a book of short stories, The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher, which precedes the main series, has also been translated into English), this latest novel by Polish fantasy author Sapkowski presents a fast-paced fantasy world in which sorcerers can bring about both great good and great evil. VERDICT Readers familiar with the related Witcher Role Playing Game should enjoy reading adventures set in the role-playing world, while sword and sorcery fans can take this title on its own merits.

This crowded sequel to the Polish bestseller Blood of Elves mashes up political intrigues, military maneuvers, magic duels, and monster hunts. Geralt, the Witcher (a magic-boosted warrior), and his beloved, the sorceress Yennefer, try to protect Princess Cirilla, heir to a conquered land, from the Empire of Nilfgaard as it attempts to absorb all the Northern Kingdoms. The Nilfgaardian Emperor Emhyr var Emreis sends hunters to pursue Ciri and to disrupt a conclave of mages while his troops roll over his squabbling neighbors. Ciri is forced to flee on her own through an unreliable portal, facing a variety of ordeals while Geralt searches for her. French's translation piles on clichés and contemporary English slang ("raining cats and dogs," "have a butchers") to play up Sapkowski's fondness for anachronisms such as mages arguing over the killing of endangered species. Sapkowski moves the plot quickly amid a welter of names and lightly sketched histories, giving the world depth but also confusing the reader at times. (Sept.)