The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher (The Witcher, 1)

Absolutely enjoyed and will gladly keep going with the series.

I’m about to dive into The Witcher 3 video game, but I figured I’d start my journey the proper way — by reading the first book in the series before touching a controller. And wow, The Last Wish did not disappoint. What I loved most is how it treats its characters. Geralt isn’t your typical sword-swinging, invincible, broody, “kill first, ask questions later” toxic masculinity trope. He’s surprisingly thoughtful, often leaning toward a kinder and wiser way of dealing with problems. And then there’s Yennefer — not your usual damsel in distress, but also not written as the overcompensating “I’m one of the boys” cool girl. She’s strong, flawed, sharp, and utterly herself — a balance you don’t often see. Honestly, most of the characters share that same depth. They’re not boxed into neat little archetypes; they just are. And that’s what makes them feel so real. Also, the way Sapkowski twists familiar fairy tales? Brilliant. It’s like someone took the polished, happily-ever-after versions and gave them a gritty, believable makeover — the kind you could imagine actually happening in a world we live in. I’m more inclined to believe that Cinderella ran to escape the unwanted advances of a creepy prince – after all, the girl just wanted to go to a party and dance. If this is just the first step before the game, I can’t wait to keep reading the rest alongside my playthrough. If anything, it’s made me even more excited to meet these characters in-game and see how they are treated.

I tried to watch the Witcher but felt very lost due to the lack of world building. I feel just as lost in the book, the world building is slow and the author writes about things as if you should already know what he’s talking about. Other than that I think it’s fun, maybe the next one will (hopefully) shed some light!

It was good once I got past the infamous first page

Review to come!