Audiobook Sample
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- Title: Tower of Swallows
- Author: Andrzej Sapkowski
- Narrator: Peter Kenny
- Length: 16:30:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 17/05/2016
- Publisher: Hachette Book Group USA
- Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Epic Fantasy
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
The first time I heard Peter Kenny’s voice bring Geralt of Rivia to life, I was navigating the winding roads of Transylvania at dusk – the perfect setting for Sapkowski’s dark fantasy. There’s something about listening to epic fantasy while moving through ancient landscapes that makes the experience visceral. ‘Tower of Swallows,’ the fourth installment in The Witcher saga, proves no exception to this rule, offering a listening experience as rich and complex as the Oaxacan mole I once spent three days learning to prepare from a family matriarch.
Sapkowski’s narrative unfolds like a Slavic tapestry – intricate, occasionally brutal, but always mesmerizing. This installment finds Ciri, the child of prophecy, fully embracing her bandit persona while the world burns around her. The war-torn Continent feels particularly vivid in audio format, with Kenny’s narration adding layers of texture to Sapkowski’s already evocative prose. I found myself parked on a Montenegrin cliffside for an extra hour just to finish a particularly gripping chapter, the Adriatic wind making the political machinations feel all the more real.
Kenny’s performance is nothing short of masterful. He handles the enormous cast with the precision of a Witcher’s swordplay – each voice distinct, each accent carefully considered. His Vilgefortz carries just the right amount of silken menace, while his Ciri evolves beautifully from the frightened girl we first met to the hardened survivor she becomes. The way Kenny modulates his pacing during the novel’s famous nested storytelling sequences (particularly the ‘Hansel and Gretel’ style fairy tale within the narrative) reminded me of those Oaxacan storytelling nights – knowing exactly when to speed up for action and when to linger on a poignant moment.
What struck me most about this audio experience was how Sapkowski’s themes of found family resonated differently when heard versus read. The scenes between Geralt’s ragtag company – the vampire Regis, the archer Milva, the poet Dandelion – take on new warmth in Kenny’s interpretation. Their roadside banter during the long trek to find Ciri reminded me of shared meals with fellow travelers in Georgian mountain villages, where strangers become comrades through shared hardship.
The audiobook’s production quality matches its stellar narration. Hachette’s engineers have balanced clarity with atmosphere perfectly – whether it’s the clang of swords in a tavern brawl or the eerie silence of a cursed forest. At 16.5 hours, it’s a substantial listen, but like a well-paced pilgrimage, the journey never feels tedious.
For listeners new to The Witcher series, I’d recommend starting from the beginning (The Last Wish), as Tower of Swallows builds heavily on previous events. Fans of complex, morally gray fantasy like Gene Wolfe’s Book of the New Sun or Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy will find much to love here. That said, Sapkowski’s penchant for nonlinear storytelling can be challenging in audio format – this isn’t a book to listen to while distracted by airport announcements or subway noise.
If I had one critique, it’s that some of the political intrigue’s complexity gets slightly muddled in audio form. There were moments I wished for a physical book to flip back and check names. But this is a minor quibble against an otherwise exceptional production.
May your literary journeys be as rewarding as the roads less traveled,
Marcus
Marcus Rivera
