The Last Wish (The Witcher, 1)
Geralt the Witcher--revered and hated--holds the line against the monsters plaguing humanity in this collection of adventures, the first chapter in Andrzej Sapkowski's groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games.
Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless hunter. Yet he is no ordinary killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world.
But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good . . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.
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
Hussite Trilogy
The Tower of Fools
Warriors of God
Translated from original Polish by Danusia Stok
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Community Reviews
Originally reviewed on Cyn's Workshop
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski introduces readers to Geralt of Rivia, a man people know as a witcher. This collection of short stories follows the Witcher on his adventures, where he meets exciting characters and fights monsters, both human and inhuman.
Okay, I admit it, I watched the Netflix show first. However, in my defense, I owned his novel already; it was just waiting on my shelf above my desk, waiting for me to pick it up.
Amazing story
I loved these stories. It is hard to say this is a compilation of short stories because they flow and knit together so nicely. The interludes featuring Nenneke bridge the stories together effortlessly, establishing their relationship, and highlight Geralt’s personality, giving him substance.
These stories, well, they are fairy tales. Well, they resemble fairy tales, and I am always a sucker for a good fairy tale. That is why this was such a good novel. These stories they give fairy tales a refreshing take, a darker more mature edge. It is amazing how these stories are structured, how they flow to develop the plot and Geralt’s personality. The reader sees the complexities of his characterization, making him a character worth reading.
Great Dynamics
Geralt is incredible, there is no doubt about that. Furthermore, while his characterization is impressive and thoughtful, it is his relationship with other characters that grab the reader. His relationship with Jaskier, Nenneke, and Yennefer, all highlight something different about Geralt. I love Nenneke and Jaskier. Nenneke does not take any crap from anyone while Jaskier brings in some of the comedy into the text, giving Geralt a jovial side. These characters all worked amazingly together, and each character has such a distinct voice.
Everyone that Geralt meets on his journeys highlights something about his personality, his ethics, and morals, and they offer something to the reader as well. They give the story a well-rounded foundation in which to introduce readers to The Witcher.
Final Thoughts
The Last Wish is an excellent introduction to the world of The Witcher and Geralt. These stories combine effortlessly to give the reader a satisfying new take on the typical fairy tale.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski introduces readers to Geralt of Rivia, a man people know as a witcher. This collection of short stories follows the Witcher on his adventures, where he meets exciting characters and fights monsters, both human and inhuman.
Okay, I admit it, I watched the Netflix show first. However, in my defense, I owned his novel already; it was just waiting on my shelf above my desk, waiting for me to pick it up.
Amazing story
I loved these stories. It is hard to say this is a compilation of short stories because they flow and knit together so nicely. The interludes featuring Nenneke bridge the stories together effortlessly, establishing their relationship, and highlight Geralt’s personality, giving him substance.
These stories, well, they are fairy tales. Well, they resemble fairy tales, and I am always a sucker for a good fairy tale. That is why this was such a good novel. These stories they give fairy tales a refreshing take, a darker more mature edge. It is amazing how these stories are structured, how they flow to develop the plot and Geralt’s personality. The reader sees the complexities of his characterization, making him a character worth reading.
Great Dynamics
Geralt is incredible, there is no doubt about that. Furthermore, while his characterization is impressive and thoughtful, it is his relationship with other characters that grab the reader. His relationship with Jaskier, Nenneke, and Yennefer, all highlight something different about Geralt. I love Nenneke and Jaskier. Nenneke does not take any crap from anyone while Jaskier brings in some of the comedy into the text, giving Geralt a jovial side. These characters all worked amazingly together, and each character has such a distinct voice.
Everyone that Geralt meets on his journeys highlights something about his personality, his ethics, and morals, and they offer something to the reader as well. They give the story a well-rounded foundation in which to introduce readers to The Witcher.
Final Thoughts
The Last Wish is an excellent introduction to the world of The Witcher and Geralt. These stories combine effortlessly to give the reader a satisfying new take on the typical fairy tale.
See more reviews at Cyn's Workshop and follow me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Spotify Podcast | YouTube | BookBub | Goodreads+ | LinkedIn
Wow. I really am a sucker for fantasy that provides a unique take on folk tales and fairy tales. In this world the lines between monsters and heroes aren’t just skewed, they’re intertwined.
Even through translation Sapowski’s writing is electric. Lots of action done well. And it’s very similar in some ways to medieval romances, with moments of long dialogue and describing everything catalogue style. Like in Forrest Gump where Bubba lists everything you can make with shrimp.
In some ways the world is more harsh than other fantasy stories, but there’s a undercurrent of destiny and hope. Often belayed by sarcasm and nihilism, but there nonetheless.
I’ve never played the video games, which I know take place narratively after the book series. This short story collection which begins the Witcher saga chronologically is inviting enough for me to want to thoroughly explore this world with these characters.
I really want to see where this series goes.
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