The Blood of Elves – Andrzej Sapkowski
Orion Gollancz, 2008
RRP: AU$32.99
ISBN: 978-057-508318-9

Reviewed by Kate Smith

Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed his previous book The Last Wish in so many ways, I was a little disappointed in The Blood of Elves. The story continues its focus on Geralt of Rivia but begins to show the larger scope of events in the world.

The story sets up the situation well however there are no conclusions reached. I do not think this would have been a problem for me however the blurb on the back led me to expect more resolutions to some aspects of the tale. The reader is left frustrated at the end of the book as there are no conclusions and while continuing the tale in subsequent books is fine, there was so much set up and so little sorted in The Blood of Elves the reader needs to know that this is a story to be continued. The detailed setting up of the story would then be of great benefit rather than a frustration.

I still enjoyed the book and the way the author sets up his tales is very well done and far from the same old story structures. The reader will either be too frustrated to wait for the next book, or will be eagerly awaiting.