me: stop giving the witcher books 5 stars simply for the ~vibes~
me: no ♥️
*triggers at the end*
yes, you see that correctly. this short story collection was just as fantastic as the last wish. legendary behaviour ! and the amount of dandelion content ugh we love depth of a comic relief character.

anyways i always enjoy going deeper into geralt's story and psyche, how he handles situations, and comes out the other side. while this is a lot about quests he's gone through over his years, it's also about his friendships and relationships and him growing as a good person. in this book, we see him go through a few situations that really have him back-peddeling in his emotional growth, but we then see him try to pull himself back help. with the help of others and on his own volition as well.

i really wasn't expecting an emotional journey with this stoic ass man but HERE WE ARE i guess ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ loving geralt of rivia is a competition in which i am winning, thank you.

trigger warnings for:
sexual assault (off-page), violence (on and off-page, intense), death of a loved one, grief

super fun, especially the d&d story hehe gonns replay the game ASAP now

legendary... just legendary... (triggers at the end)

this series never absolutely misses, it always hits so damn well, and i have nothing but love for every character seanan mcguire introduces to us. please gimme more regan, i'm so in love with her charisma care she has for everyone.

i'm beyond excited for the next one and it doesn't even have a synopsis.

trigger warnings for
sexism, toxic gender roles, bullying, bigotry, mild gore

sometimes ya boys hit real good. this is one of those times.
(triggers at the end)

i enjoyed this story for what it was; warring clans, lifelong feuds, violence, brutal battles, lady warriors. some iconic stuff. and it's based off VIKINGS. that will always tickle my fancy.

some of it, however, was not cream of the crop. the plot after 50% was completely new and different, and even though i feel like we may have had enough time for a well-rounded storyline there,the ending still felt rushed. the build-up was fine, the transition was a little rocky but alright, yet that ending... i needed more. something that could've pushed it that extra bit for me.

the characters were kinda the saving grace. they felt realistic in their struggles, especially our main character eelyn and the betrayal she feels throughout the story. another character i really found myself enjoying yet wanting more was fiske. he was hardened and broody, but also caring and strong-willed. he had great characteristics, but he wasn't the most fleshed out. i needed some more,, still love you boo tho <3

anyways, some good shit, i will indeed be reading more of this author as well as finally checking out vikings since it's on netflix now hehe

y'all this had me like this

not a shock duh
REREAD 22/01/2021
nothing new in the jess department, same old fucking shit

i'll never not talk about this story. i'll never not feel myself between the pages and the way i wished i read this in 2017, right when i graduated and was doubting if i really cared enough to do university.

i first read this story in 2018, right after my 1st year in university had finished. i was fresh off my first ever breakdown iver the winter break and had just started to piece myself back together with copious amounts of friendly support and therapy. i thunk that's why i felt so much of myself in aled, and in frances. in both of them.

the doubt of going to university, of doing something you might not be passionate about. but also avout already being at university and feeling deeply that you just don't belong there.

since my first reading of this, i'm on my 4th, and i just finished my 3rd year of university and am going into my 4th and final year. yet this story still holds so true to a part of my experience back then and to me currently, and I couldn't love it any more than i do.

yeah that's it. that's my favourite book of the year. i don't think anything can beat it.. Wow.

reread: 12/21/2020

i wanted to reread this before the end of the year because i wanted to solidify it was my favourite of the year - i was correct, of course lol- but i also wanted to go into my next year of life with a fave. i didn't want to turn 21 and not have a memorable book happen. last year, it was the folk of the air trilogy and reading the queen of nothing for the first time as i turned 20. the year before, it was crooked kingdom.

this book means the world and more to me; from the whimsical tones and magic throughout, to the characters who feel so real and alive, to the lessons and meanings that can be taken away from this story, this book is absolutely flawless. something that always hits me is how much linus starts to care for these kids, and that grows into his want to rework the system that holds them down and oppresses him. firstly, it's so fun that he's a cas worker (cps? idk what it is in the states), and that isn't the sector of social work i plan on going into, but it's such an underappreciated sector to work in and navigate, and the amount of empathy and care linus develops for the kids he meets is such a telltale sign of a good social worker.

secondly, that fire he gains from coming to love the kids at this home turns into a want to change the system, fix it from the inside out, which is another huge aspect i've gained from studying in this field. i love seeing it in this book, the lesson of you can change what you are not satisfied in if you want to.

anyways this book is literally perfect and if you haven't read it yet, please do.