The Tower of Swallows is the fourth novel in Andrzej Sapkowski’s “Witcher” series, following the events of The Baptism of Fire. The novel follows the witcher, Geralt of Rivia, as he navigates the political landscape of the continent and deals with the growing threat of the Nilfgaardian Empire.
If you’re like us and binged the Netflix show in one weekend and put countless hours into The Witcher video game, then the only next step is to take a look at the epic novels that inspired not one, but two different media adaptations!
This is the fourth novel in the Witcher series, so make sure you’ve checked out Baptism of Fire first! Otherwise, let’s take a look at another stop in this epic fantasy ride.
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Official Description
The Tower of Swallows
The world has fallen into war. Ciri, the child of prophecy, has vanished. Hunted by friends and foes alike, she has taken on the guise of a petty bandit and lives free for the first time in her life.
But the net around her is closing. Geralt, the Witcher, has assembled a group of allies including Dandelion, Milva, Regis, and Cahir, to rescue her. Both sides of the war have sent brutal mercenaries to hunt her down. Her crimes have made her famous.
There is only one place left to run. The tower of the swallow is waiting. . .
“It is better to go forward without a goal, than to have a goal and stay in one place, and it is certainly better than to stay in one place without a goal.”
Andrzej Sapkowski, The Tower of Swallows
Our Overview
The story once again follows our beloved protagonist, Geralt of Rivia. He is tasked with rescuing Ciri, a powerful young woman who is also a witcher-in-training. Ciri has been trapped in the Tower of Swallows, a mysterious and ancient tower located in the land of Tir na Lia. The tower is said to be a gateway to other worlds, and many believe that whoever controls it, controls the fate of the world.
Geralt sets out on a journey to rescue Ciri, accompanied by his companions, the bard Dandelion and the druid Mousesack. Along the way, they encounter various monsters, bandits, and treacherous terrain. They also encounter other characters who are searching for Ciri, including the powerful sorceress Yennefer and the Nilfgaardian emperor Emhyr var Emreis.
As they get closer to the tower, Geralt and his companions learn more about the tower’s history and the powerful magic that surrounds it. They also learn that there are others who are trying to reach the tower before them, including a group of elves and a powerful dragon.
As they finally reach the tower, Geralt and his companions must face their toughest challenges yet, including powerful magical creatures and a powerful sorcerer who guards the tower. In the end, they are able to rescue Ciri and escape the tower, but not before making a series of shocking discoveries about the true nature of the tower and the fate of the world.
Our Review
The Witcher series is always a favorite for us. We continue to hang onto Geralt as we watch how his character develops as well as the relationships between him and Ciri. The bond the two have is especially heartwarming. As we have grown with the characters, we truly feel the peril that Ciri is in, and we were on the edge of our seats.
This is in part thanks to Andrew’s exceptional writing. He truly is a king of his craft, a talent which shines through across languages thanks to the wonderfully talented translators.
The shocking revelations about the tower truly took us by surprise, but now that we think about it, it truly wasn’t entirely out of left field and further proves that the author is truly deeply talented in his craft!
We will always encourage fantasy lovers to read this series, especially with hit series and a legendary game series sprouting from the novel series!
Our rating: ★★★★★
Check it out on Netflix
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in Tower of Swallows?
In the Tower of Swallows, Geralt of Rivera sets out to climb the tower to rescue poor Ciri. We follow his journey up the tower and we face plenty of challenges and adventures along the way.
Is Yennefer in Tower of Swallows?
Yennefer is in the novel, and at the center point of a chase from Stefan Skellen, a spy who wants her dead. Not to mention she is at the mercy of one Leo Bonhart.
How many Witcher books are there?
There are a total of 9 books in the series, which include 3 short story collections, 5 main novels and a standalone novel.
- The Witcher (1990)
- Sword of Destiny (1992)
- The Last Wish (1993)
- Blood of Elves (1994)
- Time of Contempt (1995)
- Baptism of Fire (1996)
- The Tower of the Swallow (1997)
- The Lady of the Lake (1999)
- Season of Storms (2013)
How old is Ciri in Tower of Swallows?
This is a difficult question which has many fans scratching their heads. It seems the timeline doesn’t quite add up. Nonetheless, translation errors only cause more confusion. In the original novel, Polish fans say she is “almost twelve”, but in the English translation she is named to be “almost fifteen”.
