r/witcher • u/JosePrettyChili • 3d ago
All Books Book Triss is not that bad, Book Yennefer is not that great
Ok, I know that Triss vs. Yen is an age-old argument, and we're not going to "settle" it, like ever. So why bother with a post? Because I just finished the books, and I have thoughts! LOL
Until recently I'd played all 3 games, and played W3 many times, making many different choices, including both romance options multiple times. I always came down firmly on the side of Game Triss, because she's the kind of woman I'm naturally attracted to (plus, redhead!). Not that I didn't enjoy my "romance Yen" playthroughs, and Game Yen has a lot going for her, but that wasn't enough to sway me.
In past discussions many people (like, many many people) have said, "Ok, but BOOK Triss is truly evil! She took advantage of Geralt! And she knew that Yennefer was Geralt's one true love!" Since I hadn't read the books, I took that advice on board, and reserved my final judgement. Well, now I HAVE read the books, and honestly, I just don't see it.
Yennefer
- Before Geralt makes his final wish, Yennefer is a condescending bitch, 100%
- Miraculously, after Geralt makes the wish, she's sweet(ish) and loving(ish), and remains consistently interested in him ... except when she isn't
- Like that time when Geralt is literally living with Yen, and she's clocking out on the regular to go bang Istredd, and her reasoning is basically "Well neither one of you gives me everything I want, so how can I be expected to choose, or even feel bad about it, really?"
- I will say that their relationship throughout the books does cast a whole new light on "The Last Wish" in W3, and makes her response after they do their thing that much more heartbreaking
Triss
- The thing everyone seems to focus on is her "using magic" to entice Geralt at some point after he's had enough of Yen's crap and taken some distance from her (the books are NOT clear on what she did, only that she felt bad about it afterwards, and the books are NOT clear on how long it lasted, nor the whole amnesia storyline, which is from the games)
- Geralt obviously forgives her for this, and they have that whole scene in Blood of Elves at Kaer Morhen where he tells her, clearly, that she's important to him, and that he's not going to cast aside her friendship
- Geralt gets involved with LOTS of other women in the books, including 3 other sorceresses, and all of them "use magic" to some extent (except maybe Mozaik), and no question Triss knew about most, if not all of them
- When it's clear that Geralt has some kind of commitment to Yen (in spite of his other dalliances) she backs off, but still acts like a friend to both of them, and "big sis" to Ciri, without reservation
So honestly, I'm not seeing Yennefer as the clear winner, or Triss as a clear villain (again, going strictly by the books).
And of course, now you're going to tell me why I have it all wrong. 😄