History Literature / BaptismOfFire

* BlindJump: A magical variety, involving teleportation to the place of origin of a random item.

While Geralt recuperates from the injuries he sustained at Thanedd, the Nilfgaard Empire conquers half of the Northern lands and scares the rest into submission. As soon as he can, he goes out searching for the disappeared Ciri and is joined by [[ActionGirl archer girl]] Milva, Dandelion the SpoonyBard, Cahir the Nilfgaardian knight who saved Ciri in Cintra, and a VegetarianVampire scholar and healer named Regis. Along the way, they are accompanied by dwarf Zoltan Chivay and his gang. Yennefer is nowhere to be seen; as such, she is presumed to be one of the ringleaders of the Thanedd coup. The truth, however, is more complicated, being related to the machinations of a freshly started sorcerous secret society. Meanwhile, stranded in unfamiliar land, Ciri unexpectedly finds [[LipstickLesbian love]] and [[TrueCompanions family]] within a gang of teenage highwaymen, the Rats.

* OverlyLongName: As revealed in this book, Geralt initially wanted to call himself Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde, but Vesemir explained to him how awful it sounds, so he picked a random kingdrom, becoming Geralt of Rivia, resulting with in-universe FakeNationality (and just as fake accent). He mentions all of that in the presence of [[BlackKnight Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach]] and [[TheMedic Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy]], who both feel insulted and start explaining the origins of their names. Well, them and Julian Alfred Pankratz, viscount de Lettenhove, but no one calls [[spoiler: Dandelion]] that, ''ever''.

* ConvenientMiscarriage: [[spoiler: Milva]] has one of these just a few days after deciding to have her child. Though considering that she'd come to be pretty happy about being pregnant, it's debatable how convenient it really was.

* DentedIron: Geralt's fight against Vilgefortz in the previous book leaves him with a bad knee in this one, which causes him no shortage of pain and only adds to his frustration. This is mentioned to be a side effect of the Dryads healing techniques.

* EverybodyMustGetStoned: Regis in his hut serves the crew a concoction he was just brewing of mandrake and belladonna, which is mildly psychedelic.
* FailedAttemptAtDrama: Geralt's impromptu knighting ceremony is more awkward and humorous than anything, due to him being clueless as to what's going on, Queen Meve having a speech impediment due to losing some of her teeth, and the fact that Geralt is secretly very amused by the irony of becoming Geralt of Rivia for real.

** Geralt's new crew is a motley group of unusual people. A witcher, a vegetarian vampire, a very talkative bard, and others.

%%* GladToBeAliveSex: [[spoiler:Milva's]] child was conceived during a rather ill-fated attempt at crossing into Brokilon. During a temporary rest, seeing how they're surrounded and might be unable to break out, an elf woman disrobed and indulged with her cohorts -- in part how, by elven logic, this might have been their last chance at prolonging their species (which for two of them it ultimately was). [[spoiler:Milva]] did so as well (mostly out of loneliness), but never saw any of them again and would have no way of knowing who is the father if she did.

* OverlyLongName: As revealed in this book, Geralt initially wanted to call himself Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde, but Vesemir explained to him how awful it sounds, so he picked a random kingdrom, becoming Geralt of Rivia. He mentions that in the presence of [[BlackKnight Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach]] and [[TheMedic Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy]], who both feel insulted and start explaining the origins of their names. Well, them and Julian Alfred Pankratz, viscount de Lettenhove, but no one calls [[spoiler: Dandelion]] that, ''ever''.

* RewatchBonus: Once you know the twist, about every other scene with Milva gains a potential deeper meaning.

* GladToBeAliveSex: [[spoiler:Milva's]] child was conceived after she finished helping some Scoia'tael escape their pursuers. Once they had, one of the four (an elf woman) disrobed and indulged in some celebration with her cohorts. [[spoiler:Milva]] did so as well (mostly out of loneliness), but never saw any of them again and would have no way of knowing which one is the father if she did.

--> "He [Geralt] killed a dozen Squirrels, slaughtered Artaud Terranova and caused unhealthy arousal of Keira Metz."
** To avoind confusion for those unfamiliar with the saga: "Squirrel" is the Common Speech term for the Scoia'tael, an insurrectionist force comprised mostly of elves.

* KickTheDog: Ciri finds out that a highwayman's life offers a plenty of ways to vent off her issues. This kicks off a darker turn in her character development.

* OverlyLongName: As revealed in this book, Geralt wanted to initially call himself Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde, but Vesemir explained to him how awful it sounds, so he picked a random city, becoming Geralt Of Rivia. He mentions that in the presence of [[BlackKnight Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach]] and [[TheMedic Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy]], who both feel insulted and start explaining the origins of their names. Well, them and Julian Alfred Pankratz, viscount de Lettenhove, but no one calls [[spoiler: Dandelion]] that, ''ever''.
* PottyFailure: After going through the painful process of decompression, the utterly dehydrated Yennefer takes an impromptu dunk in Francesca Findabar's fountain and pisses herself in it.

** Geralt's new crew is a motely group of unusual people. Himself, a witcher, a vegatarian vampire, a very talkative bard, and others.
** Also, the Rats all come from different backgrounds and have different reasons for resorting to robbery to live.

* TrialByOrdeal: Used by the hanse against an overzealous cleric, and in turn by him on them. They, [[BadassCrew in some 80% a party of high-grade badass]], first suggest a TrialByCombat if he's so keen on gods' will, which he turns against them by suggesting a trial-by-fire instead. Still, it doesn't work for him.

* FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire: [[spoiler: Regis]] is very friendly indeed and indicates that it's mostly prejudice that makes higher vampires treated like the friendly neighbor variety. Geralt is aware this a lies due to ''Literature/TheLastWish.'' However, it seems that vampires are certainly ''no worse'' than humanity.

While Geralt recuperates from the injuries he sustained at Thanedd, the Nilfgaard Empire conquers half of the Northern lands and scares the rest into submission. As soon as he can, he goes out searching for the disappeared Ciri and is joined by [[ActionGirl archer girl]] Milva, Dandelion the SpoonyBard, Cahir the Nilfgaardian knight who saved Ciri in Cintra, and a VegetarianVampire scholar and healer named Regis. Along the way, they are accompanied by dwarf Zoltan Chivay and his gang. Yennefer is nowhere to be seen; as such, she is presumed to be one of the ringleaders of the Thanedd coup. The truth, however, is more complicated, being related to the machinations of a freshly started sorcerous secret society. Meanwhile, stranded in unfamiliar land, Ciri unexpectedly finds [[LipstickLesbian love]] and [[TrueCompanions family]] within a gang of teenage highwaymen, Rats.

* BrokenBird: Due to the long stream of trauma from the previous book, Ciri has become one of these in short order. The twisted relationship she forms with the Rats, and the way the Rats make their living, certainly doesn't help her mental state.

* FaceHeelTurn: Played with as Ciri is still someone Geralt desperately intends to rescue but she is engaged in some truly despicable behavior.
* FriendlyEnemy: Fringilla and Yennefer form this relationship given both make it abundantly clear they hate the other for their role at Sodden Hill. They do, however, share goals of opposing the Lodge's plans.
* FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire: [[spoiler: Regis]] is this and indicates that it's mostly prejudice that makes higher vampires treated this way. Geralt is aware this a lies due to ''Literature/TheLastWish.'' However, it seems that vampires are certainly ''no worse'' than humanity.
%%* GladToBeAliveSex: How [[spoiler:Milva's]] child was conceived. She was helping some Scoia'tael escape their pursuers, and once they had, one of the four (an elf woman) disrobed and indulged in some celebration with her cohorts. [[spoiler:Milva]] did so as well (mostly out of loneliness), but never saw any of them again and would have no way of knowing which one is the father if she did.

* HatesBeingAlone: Ciri's entire reason for being with the Rats.
* HatesBeingTouched: Ciri has become this, which interferes with her relationship with Mistle, which is already a farce as far as Ciri's concerned.
* HeteronormativeCrusader: Homophobia is apparently alive and well on the Continent. Giselher at one point upbraids Mistle when Ciri screams and wakes the rest of them up (he apparently thought it was an ImmodestOrgasm, but it was really a CatapultNightmare), and a random brigand later taunts the pair with homophobic insults as they walk along hand in hand. Until Ciri loses her temper and kills him.
* HitchhikerHeroes: Geralt insists on setting off to find Ciri alone, but finds no shortage of colorful characters who in turn insist they come with him for one reason or another.

* KickTheDog: Ciri finds out that a highwayman's life offers a plenty of ways to vent off her issues.
* {{Knighting}}: Geralt has this happen to him due to his AccidentalHero actions. Made absurd by the fact the Queen of Rivia has her two front teeth knocked out and is lisping the entire time.

* MuggingTheMonster: Averted; a minor informer begins trailing Ciri & Mistle while they're walking around a bazaar, intending to get close enough to try and overhear some information he can sell. When he sees Ciri kill a man just for making homophobic comments about her and Mistle, he decides no amount of money is worth the risk and backs off.

* OverlyLongName: As revealed in this book, Geralt wanted to initially call himself Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde, but Vesemir explained to him how awful it sounds, so he picked a random city, becoming Geralt Of Rivia. He mentions that in the presence of [[BlackKnight Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach]] and [[TheMedic Emiel Regis Rohellec Terzieff-Godefroy]], who both felt insulted and start explaining the origins of their names. Well, them and Julian Alfred Pankratz, viscount de Lettenhove, but no one calls [[spoiler: Dandelion]] that, ''ever''.

* PsychoLesbian: Ciri comes across like this; she murders a man in cold blood just for jeering her and Mistle's relationship.
* RagtagBunchOfMisfits: Geralt's new crew. Also, the Rats. The concept of TrueCompanions is discussed in here; ''aen hanse'' is a Nilfgaardian word for an armed company whose members are friends.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Elder Laabs during the "witch" trial. While he makes it clear he doesn't care about the girl, he's adamant about the trial being fair and will not let the priest burn her until her guilt is proven.

* {{Tsundere}}: Ciri slices a man to ribbons for tossing homophobic insults at her and Mistle. Then she pouts because killing him made her drop her candy floss.

* VegetarianVampire: It turns out this is actually possible for ''most'' higher vampires because they don't actually drink blood for food but because it has an effect on them similar to alcohol. Geralt says that humans being a tap for vampires is actually ''worse'' than being food.
%%* XanatosGambit: Philippa Eilhart has one of these involving marrying Ciri to the ruler of Kovir to create a magocracy across the North, one which would be capable of standing up to Nilfgaard.

* ActionGirl: Milva, Ciri, Mistle

* BadassCrew: Geralt's hanse is, quite possibly, the most dangerous group ever assembled on the Continent given they're all peers of him in combat [[MyFriendsAndZoidberg ... except for Dandelion]].

* BrokenBird: Ciri has become one of these in short order.

* CerebusSyndrome: From this book, the cycle starts getting darker and darker.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: While Djikstra has committed many morally reprehensible actions [[spoiler: (up to and including shipping Redanian political prisoners off to a gulag), even he is revolted when his men show Djikstra the remains of a dungeon where [[BigBad Vilgefortz]] has been [[TestedOnHumans experimenting]] on [[StrappedToAnOperatingTable vivisecting]] pregnant women as part of his EvilPlan for Ciri]].
* EverybodyMustGetStoned: Regis in his hut serves the crew a concoction he was just brewing of mandrake and belladonna. Which is mildly psychedelic.

* GladToBeAliveSex: How [[spoiler:Milva's]] child was conceived. She was helping some Scoia'tael escape their pursuers, and once they had, one of the four (an elf woman) disrobed and indulged in some celebration with her cohorts. [[spoiler:Milva]] did so as well (mostly out of loneliness), but never saw any of them again and would have no way of knowing which one is the father if she did.

* ContrivedCoincidence: The hanse are a collection of, quite possibly, some of the most dangerous people in the world and they arrive together purely by chance before agreeing to help Geralt in his quest because they're bored.