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The Tower of Fools

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
"A fantastic novel that any fan of The Witcher will instantly appreciate." —The Gamer
Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher series has become a fantasy phenomenon, finding millions of fans worldwide and inspiring the hit Netflix show and video games. Now the bestselling author introduces readers to a new hero on an epic journey in The Tower of Fools, the first book of the Hussite Trilogy.

Reinmar of Bielawa, sometimes known as Reynevan, is a healer, a magician, and according to some, a charlatan. When a thoughtless indiscretion forces him to flee his home, he finds himself pursued
not only by brothers bent on vengeance but by the Holy Inquisition.
In a time when tensions between Hussite and Catholic countries are threatening to turn into war and mystical forces are gathering in the shadows, Reynevan's journey will lead him to 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. And escaping it, avoiding the conflict around him, and keeping his own sanity will prove more difficult than he ever imagined
"A ripping yarn delivered with world-weary wit, bursting at the seams with sex, death, magic and madness." —Joe Abercrombie
"This is historical fantasy done right." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"A highly enjoyable historical fantasy." —Booklist

The Tower of Fools is an historical novel set during the Hussite Wars in Bohemia during the 1400s, a period of religious conflict and persecution. Characters in the novel may express views that some readers might find offensive.
Also by Andrzej Sapkowski:
Witcher collections
The Last Wish
Sword of Destiny
Witcher novels
Blood of Elves
The Time of Contempt
Baptism of Fire
The Tower of Swallows
Lady of the Lake
Season of Storms
The Malady and Other Stories: An Andrzej Sapkowski Sampler (e-only)
Translated by David French
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    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from August 10, 2020
      Sapkowski, author of the bestselling Witcher saga, sets a sharply detailed fantasy of magic, lust, and mayhem, the first in a new series, against the backdrop of the religious wars of the Renaissance as Czech Hussite reformers battle Catholic Inquisitors across Central Europe. Caught up in the cross-crusades, Reinmar of Bielawa, a scholar of medicine and magic, unwisely woos a married noblewoman, Adèle of Stercza, and must flee her husband’s kin when their tryst is discovered. When his pursuers realize they cannot catch him, they murder his brother instead and Reinmar swears vengeance. To the constant dismay of his companions—stoic Scharley, a paroled rebel, and hulking Samson, a supernatural creature trapped in a human body—Reinmar is impulsive, loyal to the point of foolishness, and frequently smitten (moving on from his infatuation with Adèle to an obsession with “the fair Nicolette”), making their plans to escape to Hungary less and less likely to succeed. Sapkowski’s love for the period is clear as he touches on notorious historical events and figures, including the Defenestration of Prague and printing press inventor Johannes Gutenberg. The carefully painted landscapes and intricate politics, meanwhile, effortlessly draw readers into Reinmar’s life and times. This is historical fantasy done right. Agent: Patricia Pasqualini, Patricia Pasqualini Literary Agency.

    • Library Journal

      May 1, 2020

      Polish author Sapkowski, celebrated for his "Witcher" novels--the basis of what was Netflix's second most watched series in 2019--returns with more fantasy. Set during the Hussite wars, this first in a trilogy features Reinmar of Bielau, forced to flee his home and then to shelter in the Narrenturm, the Tower of Fools. With a 30,000-copy paperback first printing.

      Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      October 1, 2020
      This newly translated novel by the author of the popular Witcher series presents a series of picaresque adventures set in Silesia in 1425, a relatively peaceful place simmering with tension from the ongoing crusades against the Hussites in neighboring Bohemia. Reinmar of Bielawa, a skilled physician, amateur mage, and lover of the very much married Ad�le of Stercza, is discovered by Ad�le's brothers-in-law (one of whom accidentally dies) and launched into a series of misadventures. Eventually aided by the cynical and mysterious "penitent" Scharley, Reinmar will, through his own hapless naivete, end up in several jails, a witches' sabbath, a robber lord's castle, and a madhouse. All the while, Reinmar must try and escape the vengeful Sterczas, a mysterious shape-shifting knight, and the inquisitors of the Holy Office. While the sheer amounts of characters, historical names, and untranslated Latin may daunt some readers, Sapkowski's energetic and satirical prose as well as the unconventional setting makes this a highly enjoyable historical fantasy. Recommended for Sapkowksi's many existing fans and for fans of historical fantasy in general.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

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