F.B.’s review of Lady of the Lake (The Witcher, #5) > Likes and Comments
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Well said. No idea why this has such a good rating either. Perhaps people who only played the games are rating the book series as well... =D
I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote. I couldn't have said it better. It's a mystery why the book has such a high rating. Thank goodness we have the games. They might not be canon, but imho they give a fitting conclusion to this saga.
Deckmaster,
Thank you for the comment. It's nice to know that I'm not totally crazy (i.e., that there are others out there in the world who didn't enjoy this book either). And I agree with you about how the games wrapped up the saga much better than Sapkowski did. While he obviously introduced the ideas, he never came close to resolving the plot thread regarding Ithlinne's prophecy, the White Frost, how Ciri's Elder blood would play into that, etc. But, now that I think about it, I'm actually glad that he didn't wrap up that plot thread. Otherwise, CD Projekt Red might never have made the games (and we'd be the lesser for it). And, yes, I agree that the games may not be true canon, but they'll always be a part of my 'head canon.' In fact, whenever I think of Geralt and the Witcher universe, I automatically think of the Geralt (and the other characters) of the Witcher 3. The Geralt of the books? I don't even know who that guy is. To me, he came off like a whiney, angsty, emo teen. LOL. Not surprisingly, book Geralt didn't resonate with me a whole lot.
Indeed CDPR's games are a true masterpiece and they managed to surpass the source material. Not just coping the titular characters but improving them. And it's not only Geralt. Triss was barely a character in the books.
Their work is something that happens rarely nowadays with all these butchered interpretations of books in movies and games. A prime example is the Netflix series. Can't imagine how Sapkowski agreed with this adaptation given the fact that he was an adviser. But I suppose a fat pay check is the prime reason.
Deckmaster,
I couldn't agree with you more regarding how CDPR improved both the characters and the universe, as a whole. I think it's clear that they love the source material and wanted to treat it with respect. So, even in those areas and with those characters where they didn't follow canon exactly, I believe that their changes were done in a respectful way. I think that they did a fantastic job of staying true to the atmosphere and tone of the books, and they kept the core of each character intact while, at the same time, fleshing them out and giving them more depth and nuance. Geralt, Triss, Zoltan, Philippa, Dijkstra, and Shani are just a few examples of this. I already mentioned how much I like the way they changed Geralt for the better, but, in my mind, I think that the character they improved the most from the books was Ciri. I can't stand book Ciri. I think she's an insufferable, spoiled, borderline sociopathic brat. Now, given her upbringing and also the trauma she went through as a kid, I can understand why she acts the way she does. But just because I can understand and even empathize with her, it doesn't mean I have to like her or enjoy reading about her. So, I'm incredibly grateful that CDPR decided to make her more mature and likable for the game. It would have been a serious chore dealing with her otherwise.
Yeah, you're probably right about the paycheck. I read a year or so ago that he sued CDPR for monetary compensation even though it's my understanding that he had previously agreed to a contract with them, taken their upfront, lump-sum money, and given them full rights to his universe. Of course, I don't know the details so....
It's clear that you're not a fan of the Netflix series. This is another area where we agree. I only watched the first episode though. That was enough for me. "The Lesser Evil" is my favorite short story so I was fairly interested in seeing how they would adapt it to the screen. Afterwards, I was so disappointed (perhaps, perplexed is a better description) with the writing - one choice in particular - that I decided I had absolutely no desire to continue with the show after that. Given that you're obviously a huge fan of the universe, I'd love to hear your specific reasons on why you didn't like the series.
Indeed you are quite right about the awesome job CDPR did with the characters and the universe. It was quite admirable and really showed that they love the world and are true fans. I totally agree about Ciri as well. They really fixed her and made her likable.
As for the Netflix series, hm..., where to begin? I personally think that the main problem was the pacing of plot. Switching not only between Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri but also between different points in time made it somewhat confusing to watch. I know the director said something along the line that only intelligent people should watch it, but I can't disagree more. The show is based on the books, but you shouldn't need them (or the games) to understand what's happening. That's just bad storytelling. For example, I suggested the show to some friends who haven't read the books or played the games and they said that it was nice, but kind of incoherent.
To me that's the main issue. Though there are more as well. It looks and feels like a generic fantasy setting with none of the magic that we had in the books (or mainly the games). They've changed the plot in a rather negative way - Nilfgaard are the bad religious fanatics and it's basically a fight of good versus evil with the gray area missing etc. I can go on and on (i.e. the casting), but I'm just disappointed, because they could have done something similar to CDPR's masterpieces.
Deckmaster,
Thank you for your long, thought-out reply. It's clear you're a true fan of the universe. The writers turning the Nilfgaardians into religious fanatics is definitely an interesting decision. I wonder what their motivation was for that choice. Regardless, it appears that my decision to stop watching after the first episode was the right one.
Given that you're clearly a fan, I thought that I'd let you know that I wrote a Geralt origin story last year. The link is below. I think that he's such an incredibly complex character, and I've always been interested in just how he came to be. What exactly was his upbringing? What events happened in his formative years and what people did he meet that helped to shape him into the man I first met in TW3? And since neither the books nor the games truly dive into his origin, then I thought I would instead. Now, I must warn you that the story is not 100% canon compliant. However, the changes I made are only to - what I consider to be -minor details. (For example, I don't do anything outlandish with the canon like turning Geralt into a woman or having him fall in love with Dandelion, etc.). Additionally, I honestly believe that my changes actually improve the canon (just like CDPR did). I think there are some things about the canon that just don't make any sense, and I believe that my changes fix those. I know that fanfiction has a bad reputation (and deservedly so), but I think you might like it. Regardless of whether you read it or not, I've enjoyed communicating with you. Blessings, from one Witcher fan to another.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13473442...
Hi,
I will surely read your story when I have enough time. The past couple of weeks have been quite busy and unfortunately I don't have time to read as much as I want. Next week I'm going on holiday so I'll check it up. It doesn't bother me that it's fan fiction if it stays true to the original story and I'm sure you've done it correctly. It's always nice to visit the world of the Witcher.
Good luck on the path fellow Witcher fan!
Very on point observations. I was going to write a review, but you've pretty much said what needs saying. I too came to the books from the game, which I loved and which the books have now made me appreciate even more, because only now do I get how much original creativity went into it with the books as a starting point.
I'd wanted to read the books ever since playing the game and it was with schoolboy glee that I began reading the series a few months ago. Long story short (ahem), basically since the show is based pretty much directly on the books I now know why it's so crappy, although the moment they cast the talentless mound of muscle known as Henry Cavill I knew it would be so.
Essentially, Sapkowski does high adventure and some measure of comedy pretty well, but all the endless passages of supposed political intrigue were just a slog and it took a fair amount of dedication to read through the whole series. Also, he's got (or in any case had) a ridiculously warped view of women - and to the point of characters acting out of character, how about Ciri basically acquiescing to be raped by the elf king, feeling better with make up and lingerie, and then crying when he dies? Anyhoo, nuff said, glad I read them, but mostly bravo CDPR for taking mediocre source material and turning it into the most fun I ever had with a game console.
Maciek wrote: "Very on point observations. I was going to write a review, but you've pretty much said what needs saying. I too came to the books from the game, which I loved and which the books have now made me a..."
Maciek,
Thank you for taking the time to comment. While it's always nice when someone agrees with me (about anything), I am sorry that you, like me, were so disappointed with the books. But, as you said, it does make me appreciate even more just what CDPR was able to do with the games - specifically TW3 (and its two expansions). It was without a doubt the most enjoyable videogame that I've ever played. In the 5+ years that have passed since I first played it, no other game has come remotely close to giving me the same experience. I mean, I'm a grown man and the game actually made me tear-up a couple of times. That's a testament to just how amazing the writing, characters, and music were. There are very few characters - whether they be in games, books, movies or television - that have ever resonated with me the way Geralt (from TW3) did. So, I was unbelievably let down by book-Geralt. And, yeah, I agree with you on Ciri. Don't even get me started on her. I thought that she was insufferable in the books. In fact, she may have been my least favorite character, which is not good considering she was the main protagonist in the five-book saga. I'm so grateful that CDPR decided to make her more mature and likable for the game. Otherwise, it would have made playing it a chore.
Unlike you, I didn't bother with the Netflix show. Before it even came out, there were a couple of big red flags for me that I wouldn't like it - the biggest one being that the show was going to adapt the books. And since I didn't like the books then why would I want to watch an adaptation of them, right? That said, my favorite short story is 'The Lesser Evil,' and I heard that the first episode was an adaption of that. So, about six months ago, I did decide to watch that first episode while visiting my brother one weekend. To be honest, I thought Cavill was probably the best part of the episode. LOL. I was really disappointed with the writing choices in the episode (one in particular). So much so, that I had no desire to watch the other episodes. And from what I've heard from many Witcher fans, I made the correct decision to stop watching.
Anyway, we'll always have the games (and the music). Thanks again for commenting, and I wish you well on the Path.
i agree with the vast majority of your post, but i think the implication was geralt couldn't use magic anymore bc he lost his medallion? idk. like i said, i agree with pretty much everything else you said. really disappointing end to the series
Yulian wrote: "i agree with the vast majority of your post, but i think the implication was geralt couldn't use magic anymore bc he lost his medallion? idk. like i said, i agree with pretty much everything else y..."
Yulian,
I apologize for not responding to your message until now. For some reason, Goodreads did not notify me that you'd left a comment.
Regarding your post: you could be right. I'm not the smartest guy in the world, and sometimes things do escape my notice. That being said, if you are correct and witchers, indeed, cannot use their Signs if they've lost their medallion, then I think the author did a really poor job of conveying that. Because I've read the books twice, and it never even occurred to me that they must have a medallion in order to access the Power until you mentioned it. I've also done a lot of research on the Witcher wiki page while writing my Geralt fan-fiction stories, and I never read of that there, either. So, who knows?
Anyway, thank you for the comment. It's a shame that the last book disappointed us both. Blessings to you and yours.
It is clearly stated that the medallion purpose is to the detect monster nearby, it has nothing to do with Witcher 's magic signs.
Didachos wrote: "It is clearly stated that the medallion purpose is to the detect monster nearby, it has nothing to do with Witcher 's magic signs."
That's my understanding, as well. I don't think Yulian was correct in his assumption that Geralt couldn't use his signs without his medallion. Thanks for confirming that for me, and thanks for leaving a 'like' on my review. Have a blessed day.
I came to this saga years late after the game and the Netflix series. However, I wished that I came across your review few months earlier before I decided to buy the entire 8-book collection and sank tens of hours into reading. I enjoyed the three prequel books (The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, and Season of Storms) but the five-book saga has been a downhill journey.
As I write this, I am about a quarter into the book but I know pretty much the major plot from various reviews and I really really doubt that I want to spend another "9.6 hours" of reading time (according to my Kobo) especially when those 9.6 hours will probably be filled with nonsensical world building that will not matter much especially since that world is coming to an end with the book.
My thoughts exactly. I’m not even disappointed at this point, I’m actually angry. I’ve read a total of SEVEN books just to read this awfully and poorly written ending, where not even one little thing makes sense. I feel like the author had no respect for his characters nor for his readers. If you don’t know how to handle a complex story, just keep it simple, what I really wanted was to read about Geralt’s adventures, his fellowship, not about hundreds of characters whose names I don’t even remember and who did not add anything to the story if not confusion and boring chapters.
Alfred Stephen wrote: "I came to this saga years late after the game and the Netflix series. However, I wished that I came across your review few months earlier before I decided to buy the entire 8-book collection and sa..."
I wasn't notified that you left me a review back in January. So, I apologize for responding so late.
I'm sorry that you were disappointed with the book. I feel your pain. Hopefully, you've found another book series in which the author was able to finish the story well. FYI: I don't recommend that you start the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series by George Martin. LOL.
We'll always have TW3.
Thank you for the review.
_paroleintesta wrote: "My thoughts exactly. I’m not even disappointed at this point, I’m actually angry. I’ve read a total of SEVEN books just to read this awfully and poorly written ending, where not even one little thi..."
Sorry for not responding to your review sooner, but Goodreads didn't send me a notification.
I'm sorry that you were disappointed with the book. I feel your pain. Oh, well. We'll always have The Witcher 3 videogame.
Thanks for the review.
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Feb 17, 2020 03:02AM
Well said. No idea why this has such a good rating either. Perhaps people who only played the games are rating the book series as well... =D
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I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote. I couldn't have said it better. It's a mystery why the book has such a high rating. Thank goodness we have the games. They might not be canon, but imho they give a fitting conclusion to this saga.
Deckmaster, Thank you for the comment. It's nice to know that I'm not totally crazy (i.e., that there are others out there in the world who didn't enjoy this book either). And I agree with you about how the games wrapped up the saga much better than Sapkowski did. While he obviously introduced the ideas, he never came close to resolving the plot thread regarding Ithlinne's prophecy, the White Frost, how Ciri's Elder blood would play into that, etc. But, now that I think about it, I'm actually glad that he didn't wrap up that plot thread. Otherwise, CD Projekt Red might never have made the games (and we'd be the lesser for it). And, yes, I agree that the games may not be true canon, but they'll always be a part of my 'head canon.' In fact, whenever I think of Geralt and the Witcher universe, I automatically think of the Geralt (and the other characters) of the Witcher 3. The Geralt of the books? I don't even know who that guy is. To me, he came off like a whiney, angsty, emo teen. LOL. Not surprisingly, book Geralt didn't resonate with me a whole lot.
Indeed CDPR's games are a true masterpiece and they managed to surpass the source material. Not just coping the titular characters but improving them. And it's not only Geralt. Triss was barely a character in the books. Their work is something that happens rarely nowadays with all these butchered interpretations of books in movies and games. A prime example is the Netflix series. Can't imagine how Sapkowski agreed with this adaptation given the fact that he was an adviser. But I suppose a fat pay check is the prime reason.
Deckmaster,I couldn't agree with you more regarding how CDPR improved both the characters and the universe, as a whole. I think it's clear that they love the source material and wanted to treat it with respect. So, even in those areas and with those characters where they didn't follow canon exactly, I believe that their changes were done in a respectful way. I think that they did a fantastic job of staying true to the atmosphere and tone of the books, and they kept the core of each character intact while, at the same time, fleshing them out and giving them more depth and nuance. Geralt, Triss, Zoltan, Philippa, Dijkstra, and Shani are just a few examples of this. I already mentioned how much I like the way they changed Geralt for the better, but, in my mind, I think that the character they improved the most from the books was Ciri. I can't stand book Ciri. I think she's an insufferable, spoiled, borderline sociopathic brat. Now, given her upbringing and also the trauma she went through as a kid, I can understand why she acts the way she does. But just because I can understand and even empathize with her, it doesn't mean I have to like her or enjoy reading about her. So, I'm incredibly grateful that CDPR decided to make her more mature and likable for the game. It would have been a serious chore dealing with her otherwise.
Yeah, you're probably right about the paycheck. I read a year or so ago that he sued CDPR for monetary compensation even though it's my understanding that he had previously agreed to a contract with them, taken their upfront, lump-sum money, and given them full rights to his universe. Of course, I don't know the details so....
It's clear that you're not a fan of the Netflix series. This is another area where we agree. I only watched the first episode though. That was enough for me. "The Lesser Evil" is my favorite short story so I was fairly interested in seeing how they would adapt it to the screen. Afterwards, I was so disappointed (perhaps, perplexed is a better description) with the writing - one choice in particular - that I decided I had absolutely no desire to continue with the show after that. Given that you're obviously a huge fan of the universe, I'd love to hear your specific reasons on why you didn't like the series.
Indeed you are quite right about the awesome job CDPR did with the characters and the universe. It was quite admirable and really showed that they love the world and are true fans. I totally agree about Ciri as well. They really fixed her and made her likable. As for the Netflix series, hm..., where to begin? I personally think that the main problem was the pacing of plot. Switching not only between Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri but also between different points in time made it somewhat confusing to watch. I know the director said something along the line that only intelligent people should watch it, but I can't disagree more. The show is based on the books, but you shouldn't need them (or the games) to understand what's happening. That's just bad storytelling. For example, I suggested the show to some friends who haven't read the books or played the games and they said that it was nice, but kind of incoherent.
To me that's the main issue. Though there are more as well. It looks and feels like a generic fantasy setting with none of the magic that we had in the books (or mainly the games). They've changed the plot in a rather negative way - Nilfgaard are the bad religious fanatics and it's basically a fight of good versus evil with the gray area missing etc. I can go on and on (i.e. the casting), but I'm just disappointed, because they could have done something similar to CDPR's masterpieces.
Deckmaster,Thank you for your long, thought-out reply. It's clear you're a true fan of the universe. The writers turning the Nilfgaardians into religious fanatics is definitely an interesting decision. I wonder what their motivation was for that choice. Regardless, it appears that my decision to stop watching after the first episode was the right one.
Given that you're clearly a fan, I thought that I'd let you know that I wrote a Geralt origin story last year. The link is below. I think that he's such an incredibly complex character, and I've always been interested in just how he came to be. What exactly was his upbringing? What events happened in his formative years and what people did he meet that helped to shape him into the man I first met in TW3? And since neither the books nor the games truly dive into his origin, then I thought I would instead. Now, I must warn you that the story is not 100% canon compliant. However, the changes I made are only to - what I consider to be -minor details. (For example, I don't do anything outlandish with the canon like turning Geralt into a woman or having him fall in love with Dandelion, etc.). Additionally, I honestly believe that my changes actually improve the canon (just like CDPR did). I think there are some things about the canon that just don't make any sense, and I believe that my changes fix those. I know that fanfiction has a bad reputation (and deservedly so), but I think you might like it. Regardless of whether you read it or not, I've enjoyed communicating with you. Blessings, from one Witcher fan to another.
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13473442...
Hi, I will surely read your story when I have enough time. The past couple of weeks have been quite busy and unfortunately I don't have time to read as much as I want. Next week I'm going on holiday so I'll check it up. It doesn't bother me that it's fan fiction if it stays true to the original story and I'm sure you've done it correctly. It's always nice to visit the world of the Witcher.
Good luck on the path fellow Witcher fan!
Very on point observations. I was going to write a review, but you've pretty much said what needs saying. I too came to the books from the game, which I loved and which the books have now made me appreciate even more, because only now do I get how much original creativity went into it with the books as a starting point.I'd wanted to read the books ever since playing the game and it was with schoolboy glee that I began reading the series a few months ago. Long story short (ahem), basically since the show is based pretty much directly on the books I now know why it's so crappy, although the moment they cast the talentless mound of muscle known as Henry Cavill I knew it would be so.
Essentially, Sapkowski does high adventure and some measure of comedy pretty well, but all the endless passages of supposed political intrigue were just a slog and it took a fair amount of dedication to read through the whole series. Also, he's got (or in any case had) a ridiculously warped view of women - and to the point of characters acting out of character, how about Ciri basically acquiescing to be raped by the elf king, feeling better with make up and lingerie, and then crying when he dies? Anyhoo, nuff said, glad I read them, but mostly bravo CDPR for taking mediocre source material and turning it into the most fun I ever had with a game console.
Maciek wrote: "Very on point observations. I was going to write a review, but you've pretty much said what needs saying. I too came to the books from the game, which I loved and which the books have now made me a..."Maciek,
Thank you for taking the time to comment. While it's always nice when someone agrees with me (about anything), I am sorry that you, like me, were so disappointed with the books. But, as you said, it does make me appreciate even more just what CDPR was able to do with the games - specifically TW3 (and its two expansions). It was without a doubt the most enjoyable videogame that I've ever played. In the 5+ years that have passed since I first played it, no other game has come remotely close to giving me the same experience. I mean, I'm a grown man and the game actually made me tear-up a couple of times. That's a testament to just how amazing the writing, characters, and music were. There are very few characters - whether they be in games, books, movies or television - that have ever resonated with me the way Geralt (from TW3) did. So, I was unbelievably let down by book-Geralt. And, yeah, I agree with you on Ciri. Don't even get me started on her. I thought that she was insufferable in the books. In fact, she may have been my least favorite character, which is not good considering she was the main protagonist in the five-book saga. I'm so grateful that CDPR decided to make her more mature and likable for the game. Otherwise, it would have made playing it a chore.
Unlike you, I didn't bother with the Netflix show. Before it even came out, there were a couple of big red flags for me that I wouldn't like it - the biggest one being that the show was going to adapt the books. And since I didn't like the books then why would I want to watch an adaptation of them, right? That said, my favorite short story is 'The Lesser Evil,' and I heard that the first episode was an adaption of that. So, about six months ago, I did decide to watch that first episode while visiting my brother one weekend. To be honest, I thought Cavill was probably the best part of the episode. LOL. I was really disappointed with the writing choices in the episode (one in particular). So much so, that I had no desire to watch the other episodes. And from what I've heard from many Witcher fans, I made the correct decision to stop watching.
Anyway, we'll always have the games (and the music). Thanks again for commenting, and I wish you well on the Path.
i agree with the vast majority of your post, but i think the implication was geralt couldn't use magic anymore bc he lost his medallion? idk. like i said, i agree with pretty much everything else you said. really disappointing end to the series
Yulian wrote: "i agree with the vast majority of your post, but i think the implication was geralt couldn't use magic anymore bc he lost his medallion? idk. like i said, i agree with pretty much everything else y..."Yulian,
I apologize for not responding to your message until now. For some reason, Goodreads did not notify me that you'd left a comment.
Regarding your post: you could be right. I'm not the smartest guy in the world, and sometimes things do escape my notice. That being said, if you are correct and witchers, indeed, cannot use their Signs if they've lost their medallion, then I think the author did a really poor job of conveying that. Because I've read the books twice, and it never even occurred to me that they must have a medallion in order to access the Power until you mentioned it. I've also done a lot of research on the Witcher wiki page while writing my Geralt fan-fiction stories, and I never read of that there, either. So, who knows?
Anyway, thank you for the comment. It's a shame that the last book disappointed us both. Blessings to you and yours.
It is clearly stated that the medallion purpose is to the detect monster nearby, it has nothing to do with Witcher 's magic signs.
Didachos wrote: "It is clearly stated that the medallion purpose is to the detect monster nearby, it has nothing to do with Witcher 's magic signs."That's my understanding, as well. I don't think Yulian was correct in his assumption that Geralt couldn't use his signs without his medallion. Thanks for confirming that for me, and thanks for leaving a 'like' on my review. Have a blessed day.
I came to this saga years late after the game and the Netflix series. However, I wished that I came across your review few months earlier before I decided to buy the entire 8-book collection and sank tens of hours into reading. I enjoyed the three prequel books (The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, and Season of Storms) but the five-book saga has been a downhill journey.As I write this, I am about a quarter into the book but I know pretty much the major plot from various reviews and I really really doubt that I want to spend another "9.6 hours" of reading time (according to my Kobo) especially when those 9.6 hours will probably be filled with nonsensical world building that will not matter much especially since that world is coming to an end with the book.
My thoughts exactly. I’m not even disappointed at this point, I’m actually angry. I’ve read a total of SEVEN books just to read this awfully and poorly written ending, where not even one little thing makes sense. I feel like the author had no respect for his characters nor for his readers. If you don’t know how to handle a complex story, just keep it simple, what I really wanted was to read about Geralt’s adventures, his fellowship, not about hundreds of characters whose names I don’t even remember and who did not add anything to the story if not confusion and boring chapters.
Alfred Stephen wrote: "I came to this saga years late after the game and the Netflix series. However, I wished that I came across your review few months earlier before I decided to buy the entire 8-book collection and sa..."I wasn't notified that you left me a review back in January. So, I apologize for responding so late.
I'm sorry that you were disappointed with the book. I feel your pain. Hopefully, you've found another book series in which the author was able to finish the story well. FYI: I don't recommend that you start the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series by George Martin. LOL.
We'll always have TW3.
Thank you for the review.
_paroleintesta wrote: "My thoughts exactly. I’m not even disappointed at this point, I’m actually angry. I’ve read a total of SEVEN books just to read this awfully and poorly written ending, where not even one little thi..."Sorry for not responding to your review sooner, but Goodreads didn't send me a notification.
I'm sorry that you were disappointed with the book. I feel your pain. Oh, well. We'll always have The Witcher 3 videogame.
Thanks for the review.
