A character-driven entry with strong emotional core, Blood of Elves struggles with pacing and translation issues that make it feel like something is missing.

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Today we’re talking about Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski, the first novel in the main The Witcher series. And before anything else, this needs to be said: this is not where you should start the series.

You absolutely need to read The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny first. Those books establish the emotional core of the story, especially the relationships between Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri. Without that foundation, this book will feel incomplete in ways that go beyond just missing backstory.

A Noticeable Shift in Tone

One of the first things that stood out to me was how different this book feels compared to the earlier entries.

The short story collections read like dark fairy tales. They’re tight, atmospheric, and emotionally rich in a very immediate way. Blood of Elves shifts into a more traditional fantasy narrative, which makes sense since this is where the main saga really begins. But the transition doesn’t feel entirely smooth.

The tone isn’t bad—it just feels like something got lost between formats. Instead of feeling like a natural evolution, it feels like stepping into a different version of the story altogether.

The Translation Problem

Throughout the entire book, I kept asking myself the same question: why does it feel like I’m missing something?

And honestly, I think a lot of that comes down to the translation.

There’s a noticeable disconnect in how scenes flow into each other. Conversations sometimes feel slightly abrupt, transitions don’t always land cleanly, and by the time I reached the ending, it felt like the story wrapped up far too quickly.

It’s not that the plot is incomplete, but it feels like parts of it didn’t fully translate onto the page. That sense of something being absent lingers from beginning to end, and it affects how the pacing comes across.

Pacing That Feels Both Fast and Incomplete

The pacing is one of the strangest aspects of this book.

It doesn’t feel slow at all, but it also doesn’t feel fully developed. Events move quickly, sometimes too quickly, and just when it seems like the story is about to expand or deepen, it jumps forward.

By the time I reached the final portion, I kept thinking there was still so much left to explore. There were threads that felt like they needed more time, more development, more space to breathe. Instead, the book ends in a way that feels abrupt rather than intentionally open.

I understand this is part of a larger series, but even within that context, the pacing feels uneven in a way that makes the story feel incomplete.

What Absolutely Works: The Characters

If there’s one thing this book absolutely gets right, it’s the characters.

Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri are all incredibly strong here, and their relationships continue to be the heart of the story. The characterization feels consistent and engaging, even when the pacing and structure falter.

Ciri, in particular, stands out. She’s young, shaped by trauma, but determined to grow stronger. Her desire to become a Witcher, not just for herself but to protect others, adds real emotional weight to her journey.

Yennefer remains as compelling as ever, bringing depth and sharpness to every scene she’s in. Her developing bond with Ciri is one of the most engaging elements of the book.

Even smaller moments, like Triss stepping in and immediately calling out the Witchers for not understanding how to care for and train a young girl, add humor and realism that ground the story.

Why You Need the Short Stories First

This is something I cannot emphasize enough. If you skip The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, you are going to feel like you’re missing crucial emotional context.

Those books establish the relationships, the tone, and the world in a way that this novel builds on rather than reintroduces. Without them, the story loses a significant amount of its impact.

Final Thoughts

Blood of Elves is a good book, but it doesn’t quite reach the same level as the short story collections that came before it.

The characters remain excellent, and the world is still compelling, but the pacing and translation issues create a persistent feeling that something is missing. It feels like parts of the story didn’t fully carry over, which makes the reading experience slightly frustrating.

I liked it, and I’m still invested enough to continue the series, but I didn’t love it the way I expected to.