Shelfology Book Pairing

Witcher 1: Introducing the Witcher

by Andrzej Sapkowski

Geralt is a witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent. He roams the country seeking assignments, but gradually comes to realise that while some of his quarry are unremittingly vile, vicious grotesques, others are the victims of sin, evil or simple naivety. One reviewer said: 'This book is a sheer delight. It is beautifully written, full of vitality and endlessly inventive: its format, with half a dozen episodes and intervening rest periods for both the hero and the reader, allows for a huge range of characters, scenarios and action. It's thought-provoking without being in the least dogmatic, witty without descending to farce and packed with sword fights without being derivative. The dialogue sparkles; characters morph almost imperceptibly from semi-cliche to completely original; nothing is as it first seems. Sapkowski succeeds in seamlessly welding familiar ideas, unique settings and delicious twists of originality: his Beauty wants to rip the throat out of a sensitive Beast; his Snow White seeks vengeance on all and sundry, his elves are embittered and vindictive. It's easily one of the best things I've read in ages.'

the absolutely addictive and action-packed space opera

by Pierce Brown

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Pierce Brown's New York Times bestselling Red Rising series continues in the thrilling sequel to Dark Age. The Reaper is a legend, more myth than man. But he is also Darrow: husband, father, friend. After a devastating defeat, Darrow longs to return to his wife and sovereign, Virginia, to defend Mars from Lysander. Lysander longs to destroy the Rising and restore the supremacy of Gold, and will raze the worlds for his ambitions. The worlds once needed the Reaper. Now they need Darrow. So begins his voyage home, an interplanetary adventure where old friends will reunite, new alliances will be forged, and rivals will clash on the battlefield. Because Eo's dream is still alive - and after the dark age will come a new age: of light, of victory, of hope. Readers love Pierce Brown 'This book, this series, will elicit all the emotions you could possibly feel' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A action packed heart breaking triumph of a novel' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fantastic book' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Everything we could hope from the master that is Pierce Brown, drama, action, love, loss, humour, violence' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Truly an amazing addition to an already outstanding series' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐