Ciri goes with Yennefer to Gors Velen to begin her studies at Aretuza, the sorceresses' school, while Geralt tries to work out who has been hunting her and Dandelion carries messages he'd rather not. Everything comes together on the island of Thanedd, where the mages of the North gather for a conclave just as the truce with Nilfgaard starts to fall apart.
What this adds if you've played the games
Most of the North's grudges in the games start here. Philippa Eilhart shows what she's capable of, Vilgefortz becomes a real presence, and the mages split into camps that Witcher 2 is still dealing with. The middle is heavy on politics, with long letters and council talk, but the night on Thanedd is one of the best stretches in the saga. Read it if you want to know why the games' kings and sorceresses trust nobody.
Where it fits
- Read afterBlood of Elves
Continues directly from Blood of Elves as Ciri heads for Aretuza and Geralt follows. Read the saga in order; each book gives away the one before.
- Comes beforeBaptism of Fire
Opens on the aftermath of The Time of Contempt and gives away how it ends, so read that one first.
Editions
HACHETTE INDIA paperback
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