Geralt of Rivia is on a mission to save his ward, Ciri, and with her the world, in this third novel in the bestselling Witcher series that inspired the blockbuster video games and the fourth season of the hit Netflix show.
The Wizards Guild has been shattered by a coup and, in the uproar, Geralt was seriously injured. The Witcher is supposed to be a guardian of the innocent, a protector of those in need, a defender against powerful and dangerous monsters that prey on men in dark times.
But now that dark times have fallen upon the world, Geralt is helpless until he has recovered from his injuries.
While war rages across all of the lands, the future of magic is under threat and those sorcerers who survive are determined to protect it. It's an impossible situation in which to find one girl - Ciri, the heiress to the throne of Cintra, has vanished - until a rumour places her in the Niflgaard court, preparing to marry the Emperor.
Injured or not, Geralt has a rescue mission on his hands.
Translated by David French.
Read MoreSapkowski revitalizes the genre with energetic and compelling writing. A breath of fresh air in a well-worn genre. Don't miss it! - DREAMWATCHThe character interplay is complex, unsentimental and anchored in brutal shared history. All bodes well for twisty plotting to come - SFXLike Mieville and Gaiman, Sapkowski takes the old and makes it new - FOUNDATIONAn incredibly nuanced, well-articulated novel, imbued with a self-assured command of description and brimming with Eastern European folklore - Starburst on Time of ContemptLike a complicated magic spell, a Sapkowski novel is a hodge podge of fantasy, intellectual discourse and dry humour. Recommended - Time MagazineDelightfully dry humour, mythology brimming with radical creatures and a group of interesting characters - Fantasy Book ReviewOne of the best and most interesting fantasy series I've ever read - Nerds of a FeatherThere's lots of imagination on show, the writing has a strong voice, and the Witcher is an entertaining character - Mark Lawrence