I want to thank Orion Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of this book via Netgalley.

I loved the fast paced action, it was like movie scenes. I could actually see this book getting to the big screen. The action and fight scenes were EPIC. The death scenes were brief but effective.

This book had incredible detail and description but not too much that it overwhelms the reader. The use of similes were also fantastic (especially when describing something beyond human kind/supernatural).

Overall if you like adult epic historical fantasies I think you’ll love this book!

Once you get past the slightly overlong, but necessary prologue you are rewarded with a fast paced bawdy romp. The introduction sets the scene for this by providing a humorous potted history of the period and the various religious factions at war in renaissance Europe. Fictional mythical and real life characters compete against a background of epic historical events

The novel introduces many colourful, larger than life characters that weave in and out of the narrative and although some make brief appearances here, some will doubtlessly reappear as the series progresses .

The story revolves around the humorous misadventures of the would be young mystic/healer Reyneyvan who continually flies out of the frying pan into the fire. He doesn’t listen to reason, preferring to act on impulse and is primarily ruled by his lust for the unfaithful Adele . He also dabbles in forbidden arts to gain knowledge. A very dangerous thing to do when the Inquisition is looking for suitable guests to sample their delightful hospitality at the Tower of Fools.

The redoubtable repentant Scharley and the Demon- possessed Samson try to keep him on the straight and narrow and out of the fire, whilst simultaneously following their own agenda, but with little success all round.

The book is an enjoyable mix of revenge ,violence, profanity, witchcraft, demonic possession, political scheming and loose morals and a demonic wall crawler to boot which ensures there is never a dull moment.

I liked the frequent Latin quotations that gives an air of authenticity to the text as does the inspired use of actual historical figures.

This was a long read. I don’t know if it was the translation or the way it was written but I struggled to get into this. This is my first book by this author - haven’t read the Witcher but I saw the show so had some expectations.

The story is about Reinmar of Bielawa who is caught fornicating with the wife of a knight. He barely escapes with his life, but sets off the onset of a family feud, several misunderstandings, crimes, jail breaks and battles. Through his travels, he makes many friends and even more enemies. His key partners are Scharley, Samson and the amazing Nicolette that saves his life. This reads more like historical fiction than fantasy though there is an element of magic/the occult. Reinmer is considered a mage and meets several creatures and witches - which also puts him in the lock hairs of the inquisition as he is branded a heretic.

Pros - the book gets better as you go along, and once you get used to the writing style. Scharley and Samson are awesome and have the patience of saints. There is a a large underlying mystery to solve. The main characters bounce along from place to place and get into a lot of scrapes so it’s interesting to see how they will survive each time.

Cons - Reinmer is very stupid and annoying. He’s a nice guy but fool hardy and just plain dumb. For someone supposedly smart he makes very poor decisions and is the single cause for every bad thing that happens. There are wayyyyy too many characters and keeping track of everyone is tedious. The storyline with Nicolette is very unresolved for me but I’m not invested enough to go into the next book. Reinmer does not deserve her.

Overall - it wasn’t the easiest of reads but it was an interesting tale. One of those I would say is good but not for me.

DNF at page 117.

I wanted to love this book, it certainly sounded interesting. I picked it up a few weeks ago and managed to read over a 100 pages. There was an underlying humor in the narrator and I liked the chapter titles. But once I put it down I just could not get myself to pick it back up. I even dreaded it and at some point that means you have to say a book is not for you. I think that is the case here. Maybe if I had liked the MC better but I didn't really care yet at this point.

Certainly don't make this dnf from me stop you from picking up this book. I think this is a book that will certainly gell well with lovers of A Song of Ice and Fire for instance for the writing.

Tower of Fools by Andrzej Sapkowski is the first in a new series from the awesome author of The Witcher!

TOF is a marvel in its own right; there’s a heavy, heeeeeavy medieval genius to this - but unfortunately this was a weight I could not carry.

I was super excited to read this new series by the author of one of my most favourite franchises, but Tower of Fools, to put it simply, is not The Witcher. It wasn’t just the author that drew me into this one, it was also the words ‘mental asylum’ I mean who isn’t drawn in by that? However, I never made it far enough to get to the asylum.

From the get go I was totally lost and the main character, Reinmar of Bielawa, was someone I really didn’t care enough about to find my way.

I will say, like most of Sapkowski’s writing, the environments are so vivid and real, there’s definitely a thick, grounded foundation in the writing that keeps the buildings straight up - but that’s not always enough when the story is....squiggly.

Perhaps it’s just me but there was too many names, roles, families, histories all to take in on the FIRST PAGE, it threw me off and so kept me unattached to the point where I perceived what I read as too much or not enough and so I couldn’t commit!

Genius, inventive writing but too many mechanics of a book rather than just a story!

I feel bad rating since I DNF-ed it so on here I’m not going to!

A huge thank you to @netgalley & @orionbooks for giving me an arc of this for review! I was super happy to try it before its release!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the views expressed in this are my own.
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I had to DNF this very early on. The writing style was strange, the characters were all very flat and it was very difficult to be interested in any of the events up the point I read.

Overall rating: 1/5

DNF, but reviewing because this book made me angry quickly. I'm baffled that this is by the same author who brought us the Witcher. I also don't think this would have been published otherwise, because it's filled with sexism, misogyny, and anti-Semitic statements. The first of the anti-Semitic statements was about Jews being executed and that was bad enough. But it goes on. This is 2020 and you just can't get away with suggesting Jews start plagues or torture children. Add the religious themes on top of that and you have to wonder what Andrzej Sapkowski was thinking and what he really thinks of Jews. And women, since in this book a woman gets called a whore and punched in the face for having sex, but the main character is portrayed as the excruciatingly playful stereotype of a man who loves a good romp.

I'm not sure if something was lost in translation, but the writing was awful, clunky, and confusing as well. I don't tend to like being harsh in my reviews, but the writing was unbearable. The prologue was a confusing info-dump of terminology I didn't understand. There are entire sections in another language that aren't really given much context or explanation.

After some research, I found out this wasn't a "brand new" title from this author after all, but something written twenty years ago, and it shows – but that's still no excuse for some of the content here.

Tower of Fools is the first instalment in a brand new historical fantasy trilogy, which tells the story of Reinmar of Bielawa, also called Reynevan de Bielau. The action takes place in Silesia in 1425, at the time of the Hussite Wars. Twenty-three-year-old nobleman Reinmar of Bielawa, aka Reynevan, both a medicine and magic scholar, has made a huge mistake; one that'll impact his life for the foreseeable future. He has slept with a knights wife, Adèle of Stercza, but as soon as they are doing the deed he realises he will forever have a target on his back, but you can't help who you're attracted to, right? To make matters worse the husband's brother catches them in the act and gives him a hiding. Although he inexplicably manages to escape the brother’s clutches through wit and wisdom, Wolfer of Stercza declares that Reinmar is a dead man walking. This thoughtless indiscretion finds him caught in the crosshairs of a powerful noble family, and he is forced to flee his home. But once he passes beyond the city walls, he finds that there are dangers ahead as well as behind. Pursued by dark forces both human and mystic, it'll take all his wits, his skill in healing, and his knowledge of magic to survive.

When those seeking vengeance realise that he is too crafty to catch, they decide to get to him through his brother; slaughtering him in cold blood for his brother's error. Reinmar warns them he has nothing to lose and will avenge his brother's murder in time. This is a compulsive, tense and action-packed read set against the backdrop of the religious wars of the Renaissance as Czech Hussite reformers battled Catholic Inquisitors across Central Europe. It's a chaotic time and Sapkowski depicts this exceptionally well; due to this there really is never a dull moment throughout. It's an original historical fantasy with the author's passion for the fifteenth century clear for all to see as he portrays historical events of the time accurately and authentically. Reynavan is a hero for the ages and is relatable as he errs just as the rest of us do and joining him on the first leg of his journey was an absolute pleasure. With a richly-imagined and intricate plot, alluring prose and well-defined characters, you simply cannot go wrong. This is historical fantasy at its finest comprised of magic, sex, death, lust, and mayhem. If you were a fan of The Witcher I'm pretty convinced you'll find lots to love within this book, too. Many thanks to Gollancz for an ARC.

My full review is on my blog page but overall I really enjoyed this. The world building was fantastic and the main character of Reinmar of Beilwa was highly entertaining, even though he was an absolute tool lol. One thing I must say is that this is nothing like the Witcher books. It's more Historical Fantasy than actual hardcore Fantasy. So definitely bare that in mind.

Also, I felt some of the chapters were just such a drag with dialogue that didn't take the story forward. That really annoyed me.

This is the beginning of a new series from the writer of The Witcher series, which I haven't read. So, I wanted to try this author with a new beginning.
I do enjoy historical fantasy a lot, so this was definitely my gem and I enjoyed it a lot. It was light on fantasy and heavy on historical detail. So, if it's your thing, you'll enjoy it. There's quite a bit of into dump as well, but once passed, the characters, the story, and plot are very enjoyable.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

"The Tower of Fools" is light fantasy, so a great introduction to the genre for someone who is reluctant to try it. I found it to be amusing, with plenty of snorts and chuffs along the way. It's a very good story that is well-written (well-translated?). I disliked the characters for the the most part, for various reasons, but I think that just made this read more fun.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

The Tower of Fools is the start of a new trilogy, set apart and in a different world to The Witcher. It is set in the 15th-century Europe around the time of the Hussite wars. In the beginning, we are introduced to the twenty-three-year-old nobleman Reinmar of Bielawa, also referred to as Reynevan. Reynevan is found in a compromising potion with another man's wife. When, unfortunately, the husband's bothers the Stercza's find out, they are hell-bent on revenge and retribution.

Into this, you can add the Holy Inquisition, a strange, mystical force gathering in the shadows. Reynevan finds himself in the Narrenturm, the Tower of Fools. The Tower is an asylum for the mad, or for those who dare to think differently and challenge the prevailing order. The 'patients' of this institution form a gallery of colourful types including the young Copernicus, proclaiming the truth of his heliocentric solar system.

Reynevan does spend the majority of the novel running and hiding from practically, everyone hell-bent on wanting revenge for his actions! Reynevan is an extremely interesting lead character. He's cheeky, charming, thinks he's intelligent, he's a physician, a sort of an apprentice-level mage, he is often very foolish, he always seems to make rash decisions, which is his biggest downfall, that and his weakness for women.

Sapkowski creates a good cast of supporting characters. The story and the writing are much darker than The Witcher, but it's a story with a great atmosphere. One point that elevates this story above all the darkness, is it's packed full of humour which juxtaposes against all the grim realities of bloodshed, torture and fight scenes. The battles and moral dilemmas are set up very well. There are also lots of political aspects to the story and with a magic system that works well.

The Tower of Fools is a great addition to the Sapkowski oeuvre. Engaging likeable characters, good plot with facts interwoven into a historical background. Well worth reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gollancz for an e-arc, all opinions are my own.

This is the start of a fantastic new epic fantasy from the author of The Witcher. And my, does it start with a 'bang' ;-)

With a brilliant supporting cast, excellent historical details (set around the Hussite War period) and fabulous magic, alongside inquisition, battles, religious sects and demons, this book will not disappoint!

I definitely couldn't tell that it had been written around 20 years ago and only just translated!

The book starts out with an extensive report and history on the politics and rulers of the Bohemia/Silesia/Chechz/Polish territories to bring us op-to-date to 1425.
Reynevan or Reinmar of Bielawa may be a brilliant young physician who secretly dabbles a bit in the forbidden arts; he is also a very foolish young man. When he gets caught making out with the married Adele of Strecza by her brothers-in-law he has no choice but fleeing the city. When the youngest brother is killed in a freak accident, the family swears revenge and they organise a real manhunt with some infamous professional trackers.
Along his way, Reimar meets an awful lot of strange characters, some friendly and others not. I’m certain that we will encounter some of these people again, later in the book and series. ). During those travels, he also meets some benevolent supernatural beings that greet him with ‘there’s so few of us left’ and ‘Toledo’(one who studies alchemy as opposed to those with magic in their blood) what includes him in their ranks. He also meets 2 peculiar companions: Scharley a penitent with a dark past and some awesome fighting skills and Samson Honey-eater, a wise being from another realm/dimension that got accidentally trapped in the body of a gentile simple giant. Against every advice he’s given, Reimar insists that Adele has an undying love for him and he is bound to rescue her from her captors. This is after she accused him of sorcery to attract her to him. So, how stupid can you be?
Then there is the Catholic Church intent on raising another general crusade against the Hussite heretics in Bohemia. Political power was in the hands of the church with their knightly orders, monasteries, and bishops just as much as in the kings, dukes, and knights. But even when they want to achieve the same thing, their motives, and reasons still differ. And despite their hate of witchcraft and magic, some secret conspiracy relies on Wallcreepers (a shapeshifter that takes the form of a bird.

This is a textbook plot for fantasy books of course but there’s far more to this story. The series is written against the backdrop of the Hussite wars in Silesia and Bohemia. The Hussite was a Christian movement that followed the teachings of reformer Jan Hus, who preached against the wealth of the church and monasteries. They were one of the most important forerunners of the Protestant Reformation. This predominantly religious movement was also propelled by social issues.
It would have been a good idea to offer a map and a name register, especially as this English translation is aimed at people who are not familiar with the region, the geography, the history, or even the names. I had that problem until I decided to read it as any other fantasy book with its unusual geography and names as imaginary.
On the other hand, the historical context is really fascinating. I can’t stand the temptation to regularly google the names, places, or events that are mentioned and I’ve learned more about the period than I thought. It certainly wasn’t an easy time to live when you could be tried for heresy or witchcraft for just about any excuse. The power of the church was really everywhere, even kings ruled by their grace and needed a papal blessing. It reminds me a bit of the power that IS holds over its subjects and communist indoctrination during the cold war. It paints not a pretty picture of Christianity and I saw little to no love or forgiveness that is preached today. A lot of hypocrisy, I saw.
The fighting and wars at that time were very brutal and violent. Rape, pillage, and plunder were normal practices and even the main incitements to wage a war or crusade. No side is spared in this conflict, both sides are as cruel and disgusting (for modern opinions) as the other.
I must say that the author has really done a lot of research for this series. The devil is in details and there are just so many aspects and details in this long book that are all so well described that you can close your eyes and imagine the streets, woods, and buildings with the smell and sounds included.
As this book is translated from Polish, I must also congratulate the translator for his accuracy in his language that often gives you an idea and feeling for the time described. There is also a poem/song in ancient German (although most of the drinking songs are in Medieval Latin) and I was surprised how much of that I can still understand and some of it was even closer to Flemish than modern German. I’m no expert but that was my impression. There are a lot of Latin expressions and sentences in this novel as that was the international language spoken by the educated people all over Europe.
Years ago, I started to read ‘The Witcher’ by the same author but I couldn’t relate much to the story and didn’t finish it. This book, I loved and I even wonder if I should make another effort to read his other series.
This really is an exciting and interesting story and I can’t wait to read the next translation. With a chase through the city, the first chapters aren’t slow at all as so often happens when the characters are being introduced. We do meet such a large number of people that you can’t tell who will appear later on again or who might be important. So you have to keep your attention well fixed on the story. And then, I got drawn into the narrative and couldn’t read quick enough to find out more. The only drawback is that you don’t pick it up for a 5-minute read.
The author is very subtle in his criticism of mankind. In retrospect, it’s easy to make predictions but some are funny and Samson is great in this. He predicts transport that doesn’t need oxen without polluting the environment at the same time. He also talks about churches that will bear a half-moon crescent.
He draws heavily from Slavic folklore, but not exclusively as amongst others Greek myths and Arthurian lore also feature. We’re being treated on a witch’s Sabbath, magical furry creatures, an old wizard needing aphrodisiacs to satisfy his protective lady and much more. It’s almost magic how Sapkowski melts the actual history with fantastical elements and creates a universe of his own.

Synopsis: It's the year 1423 in mediaeval Silesia, the times are turbulent with the religious war between Catholic Holy Roman Empire and Hussite Bohemia. Reynevan is a young doctor of noble blood who studied at Prague university, along with his interest in magical practice. The story starts with a quite explicit sexual intercourse where Reynevan cuckolds another noble. The nobleman's brothers catch Reynevan in the act and a helter-skelter race through the city starts, including a fist fight with monks and one impaled chaser. 

Driven by his hormones, Reynevan tries to win back the wife, accumulating ever more vengeful foes who try to get hands on him. He is protected by some powerful noble players, gets escorted by a monk, and travels crisscross Silesia.  

He encounters robber-knights, resourceful witches, a mage, shapeshifters, the Holy Inquisition, and also the Tower of fools which is an asylum for the mad. Worthy of mention are Gutenberg - the inventor of  letterpress printing - and Copernicus, talking about the heliocentric solar system. 

Review: Sapkowski became popular to a broader public with the fabulous game adaption of his Witcher series, and recently with Netflix's series adaption. The author has been well known in his Polish home country, and this first part of a trilogy has been originally published in 1994. The recent hype swipes up more from his works to English speaking folks. 

His better known Witcher series is set in a world following remotely mediaeval Europe, filled with fantasy elements every second page. Tower of Fools in contrast tries to be historical correct and geographically exact in Silesia. One could even follow Reynevan's travels on Google maps, and as a middle European it was a treat for me to do so. Fantastical elements like magic or witches take a good while to appear and are more seldom, but in the course of the work it becomes very clear that this novel isn't a historical fiction but more a mixture of that subgenre and fantasy. 

As a historical fiction, Sapkowski overburdens the reader with recurring huge lists of names, places, occurences, religious songs, and hints which can easily be skipped without any consequences. On the positive side, every description of armor, weaponry, church practices or every day life feels exact and lively, really brings the reader into the midst of mediaeval superstituous Europe. 

I had to laugh when Reynevan met Johannes Gutenberg, who tried to sell his innovation, the letterpress printing, which was one of the most important factors bringing up the Renaissance and enabling Luther's Reformation (though that was later). It wasn't exactly believable that Gutenberg wandered through Wrocław in 1923 - it isn't exactly known where he was at that time, so that can be put as a literary freedom. But the other notable person, Copernicus, didn't even live in the time of Reynevan, and the scientific Copernican Revolution was a long time away. That was too much for me, and questioned every historical detail in this work - what of them is pressed in as an author's choice and which of them can be trusted to be correct?

As a work of fantasy, Sapkowski checked off nearly every fantastical element: I waited for a long time to read the gathering of flying witches, but yes, there it was. The same goes for burning witches, mages, and shapeshifters. 

Sensitive people will find loads of triggers, including detailed sexual intercourse descriptions, lots of bloodshed with gory wounds and mutilations resulting from fights, and moments of torture practice by the Inquisition. Even one narration of a gay werewolf raping male victims while they take a shit. The author doesn't spare his reader anything and dives deeper into grimdark territory than in his Witcher novels.

The narration meandered its way through hundred of pages, and while each chapter brought up an interesting variety, the overall tension arc was lacking a direct target. It was mostly unclear what this novel was all about beside of Reynevan's hormonic pressure and idiocy. 

Speaking of him, I didn't like the main protagonist at all, as he couldn't decide if he'd be seeking a noble cause, be an impulsive naif ignoring any recommendation and falling into traps again and again, or developing into a mighty mage. 

Tightened by a third, this novel would work better for me. While I enjoyed most of the narration, I found myself slugging through and fighting to bring it to an end. I won't read the rest of the trilogy but I'm happy to have read this one, resulting in a weak three stars.

Recommended for patient readers interested in a mixture of historical fiction and grimdark fantasy set in mediaeval Middle-Europe.

‘The Tower of Fools’ has the same translator, David French, as Andrzej Sapkowski’s ‘Witcher’ series, and the narrative voice is undoubtedly the same. However, unlike the ‘Witcher’ books, this first instalment in Sapkowski’s ‘Hussite War’ trilogy is much heavier on the historical than the fantasy. I enjoyed the insight into a period of history I know little about – but unfortunately, as the novel continues, the constant references to more and more historical figures become a little draining. It’s like reading ‘A Game of Thrones’ for the first time magnified by ten – it’s impossible to remember who each character is.

The novel follows Reinmar of Bielewa – known as Reynevan – a scholar and physician from Prague who fled after the invasion of the Hussites. Now safely ensconced the other side of the border, he makes the mistake of having an affair with a nobleman’s wife. The nobleman’s family are enraged, and Reynevan is forced to flee. Thus begins a story in which Reynevan runs from town to town, makes generally bad choices, and survives thanks to good luck and much smarter friends.

Reynevan has great potential as a character. An accomplished physician – and secretly, a far less accomplished mage – he comes across as a generally nice man (unless women are involved). Unfortunately, his constant terrible decision making makes him a very difficult character to like. He’s rash, hot-headed, and – unless medicine is involved – generally a bit clueless about everything. I have no idea how he’s ended up with so many useful and helpful friends without picking up a lick of common sense himself.

The cast of supporting characters evolves, but some of the most interesting are Scharley, Samson, and Urban Horn. This is a plot-driven rather than character-driven novel, and all three characters are left mostly mysterious, but hopefully more will be revealed in book two – especially about Samson, who is far more than he seems.

The fantasy elements are mainly the existence of mages – of which Reynevan is an amateur, but far more accomplished mages and witches are encountered – demons, and mysterious shapeshifting creatures, including one known as the Wallcreeper. There’s no specific magic system, but each element is worked neatly into the story. The Wallcreeper appears to be the true overarching ‘enemy’ of the trilogy, but remains a peripheral figure in this first instalment. The witches are brilliant and, whilst they only make cameos, deserve their own book.

The main issue I have with this book is one that I also have with the ‘Witcher’ novels, and that’s the attitude towards women. Of course, ‘The Tower of Fools’ is a historical (15th century) book written through a man’s perspective, so misogyny is to be expected – but that doesn’t make it pleasant to read about for 500 pages. Sapkowksi appears to try to make Reynevan marginally less misogynistic than his peers, but his thoughts about women are regularly unpalatable.

Overall, this is a solid historical fantasy novel that will likely appeal to fans of Bernard Cromwell-esque historical fiction, Sapkowksi’s Witcher novels, and fantasy novelists like Mark Lawrence – but it definitely shows its age compared to the more progressive fantasy being published now.

I received an uncorrected proof copy of The Tower of Fools in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Andrzej Sapkowski and Gollancz.

In The Tower of Fools, we are introduced to the twenty-three-year-old nobleman Reinmar of Bielawa, also referred to as Reynevan, whilst he is having sex with another man's wife. Unfortunately, the cuckolded husband's brothers interrupt proceedings and pummel the young rapscallion. Our protagonist somehow manages to escape, losing his many pursuers until finally, Wolfer of Stercza declares that Reinmar is a dead man.

"I'll catch you, kill you, destroy you. Exterminate you and your entire viperous family."

There are lots of characters introduced in the opening chapter and the general consensus is that they are all after Reynevan. Reinmar of Bielawa spends much of the novel running and hiding from many who would see him executed. For all who seem to oppose him though, there seem to be many others who will aid him or give assistance, sometimes due of his high birth, that they are friends of an acquaintance, or because he went to university in Prague with them.

Reynevan is an extremely interesting lead character. He's good-looking, charming, intelligent, a physician, is sort of an apprentice-level mage, is often foolish, makes rash decisions, and has a major weakness when it comes to the opposite sex. Reynevan has more in common with Dandelion than with Sapkowski's most famous protagonist, Geralt of Rivia.

"Reynevan... Misbegotten, albeit, but of Piast blood. A bishop's son. Kin of the Nostitz family. The nephew of the scholaster at Wroclaw Collegiate Church. A friend of rich men's sons at university. On top of that, if that weren't enough, a conscientious physician, almost a miracle worker, capable of winning the gratitude of the powerful."

Before I approached The Tower of Fools, one of my favourite elements of Sapkowski's writing was that he created great supporting characters, groups, brotherhoods and fellowships. An example would be the ensemble of Geralt, Dandelion, Regis, Milva, and Cahir in Baptism of Fire. This strength of the author's is present throughout The Tower of Fools too, with characters like Scharley, Samson Honey-Eater and Urban Horn being just as complex, colourful and interesting to read about as the novel's lead is.

Unlike the (mostly) straight-up epic fantasy nature of The Witcher saga, The Tower of Fools would be best described as historical fantasy. It is set in the 15th-century around the time of the Hussite Wars. This is an alternative universe version of historical events that features magic, religious sects, inquisitions, demons, and many monsters of the sort that Geralt would have crossed paths with. There are witches and mages, Wallcreepers, a werewolf who rapes unsuspecting male victims, amongst other creatures lurking in this reimagined Europe. I will admit that the period when this is set is a time of history that I know very little about but I am certain that some of the characters are based upon real-life counterparts. It would be interesting to research the era and see how the characters and the events fit in with those depicted in these novels.

The Tower of Fools was originally released as Narrenturm in Polish almost 20 years ago. This release is the first time that it has been translated into English. The translator is David French who worked with Sapkowski on six of The Witcher novels, and if you enjoyed his work on those novels then, like me, I imagine you will like this translation too. The Tower of Fools has a similar flow, feel, and lexical choices to those books and a couple of the issues that I found with them too. The Tower of Fools must mention the names of hundreds of Knights, members of the nobility and religious figures. It's extremely detailed and thorough, and all the information, although useful, can be overbearing for a typical reader who just wants to read a good fantasy tale. I honestly didn't care what twenty various Knights from different places had marked on their shields when it doesn't seem to have any impact on the story.

For me, The Tower of Fools came across as a slightly darker read than most of The Witcher Saga. The often naive yet good-intentioned (unless he's got his eyes on pretty women) Reynevan has some horrendous things happen to him in this novel, including events in the titular tower. Some parts read as particularly grim and it is heightened because these moments are due to religious motives and beliefs. The novel features many fights and skirmishes, lots of bloodshed, moments of torture, violence, and gruesome deaths. The Tower of Fools isn't without humour though. I smiled and chuckled frequently which was a nice juxtaposition to the darkness and gloom. The side characters have some extremely humourous exchanges with Reinmar, and our narrator also gives a cheeky, informal summary at what is to happen in the upcoming chapter.

The Tower of Fools is a great opening chapter of the Hussite Trilogy. It is a well-crafted mix of historical fiction and fantasy with engaging characters, a tight plot, and a unique setting. It is set in a reimagined Europe and features religion, heresy, war, magic, demons, and monsters. The ending is well-worked and fulfilling and sets up the sequel, Warriors of God, in fine fashion. I have had positive experiences with all of Sapkowki's books so far, except for Lady of the Lake, and for me, The Tower of Fools sits alongside Baptism of Fire and The Tower of the Swallow as some of the author's finest work. I'm intrigued to see what happens next with the Hussite Wars in this series and to find out the part that Reinmar of Bielawa and his companions may play. Recommended for fans of Sapkowski's The Witcher Saga, and those who enjoy a dark fantasy take on historical events.

*Quotations are taken from an uncorrected proof copy of The Tower of Fools and could change in the final release.

I was not a lover of this book, I struggled to keep up with the sheer amount of information thrown at us, I mean, that prologue made me want to cry a little.

I am sure that this book will appeal to so many people, but for me, I just struggled through it, I couldn't concentrate. That said, the author is a brilliant writer and I appreciate the range of description he included, it didn't feel repetitive which was impressive!

DNF
Although I well aquainted with Andrzej Sapkwoski's work, I did not enjoy this book, which is a shame as I was quite excited to read something new from him. I'm not sure if it was the style of writing employed or something else, but I just did not connect with the book.

Thank you to Orion, NetGalley and Andrzej Sapkowski for my arc of Tower of Fools in exchange for an honest review.

I was hoping for more of what I loved from The Witcher series but unfortunately this really wasn’t my kind of book. It feels a lot more like historical fiction with some random black magic thrown in and maybe it’s the translation or the fact the original book is a few decades old but it was way too misogynistic for me.