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 assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent. He roams the country seeking assignments, but gradually comes to realise that while some of his quarry … are unremittingly vile, vicious grotesques, others are the victims of sin, evil or simple naïvety.
One reviewer said: ‘This book is a sheer delight. It is beautifully written, full of vitality and endlessly inventive: its format, with half a dozen episodes and intervening rest periods for both the hero and the reader, allows for a huge range of characters, scenarios and action. It’s thought-provoking without being in the least dogmatic, witty without descending to farce and packed with swordfights without being derivative. The dialogue sparkles; characters morph almost imperceptibly from semi-cliché to completely original; nothing is as it first seems. Sapkowski succeeds in seamlessly welding familiar ideas, unique settings and delicious twists of originality: his Beauty wants to rip the throat out of a sensitive Beast; his Snow White seeks vengeance on all and sundry, his elves are embittered and vindictive. It’s easily one of the best things I’ve read in ages.’
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As many others, I started reading this because of the show and I really, really enjoyed it. Maybe even more than I thought.
I’m normally not a big fan of short stories or a collection of short stories, so I was a bit hesitant. But, I really liked it.
Yes most I knew from the show, but I liked that we get deeper into the lore and mythology of it, …
4.5
The Last Wish is a uniquely compiled book that consists of short stories with over-arching interludes that connect them together. If you’ve watched the Netflix series, you will be familiar with several of these stories. It’s well worth coming along for the ride with Geralt, Dandelion (Jaskier), and Yennefer.
Like most people, I decided to explore this collection of stories after seeing the Netflix series. Geralt of Rivia was not a stranger to me thanks to the world of video games, but I find I like the Geralt of literature far more than any other version I’ve come across. It’s true what they say. The book really is better. The characters leap off the …
I don’t know any other series, where the European legends are brought together in a mystical world and faced by a very well thought out hero.
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/2020/05/02/review-the-last-wish-by-andrzej-sapkowski/
I know that I promised myself no to begin more sagas and finish with the ones I had already started, but there are a couple of reasons for starting The Witcher earlier. Well, three actually. The first one: the couple of Epic Fantasy sagas I’m …
It’s been my favourite fantasy tale since I read it as a teenager some, err, years ago. Yes, I was lucky enough to be able to read it in the original language and savour every brilliantly crafted detail (can’t vouch for the translation). It baffles me, frankly, that so many people only think of Geralt in terms of the game character. Highly …
I’m loving these fantastic monster hunter tales.
This book was given to me by my son. He demanded I read it. For three days he pestered me to start it. His reason was that it was the first book in a series that a game called. THE WISHER was created. Which means nothing to me.
Not Even close…the whole consept is off the wall narly and far beyond anything I have ever read. I thought THE NAME OF …
Got this whole series for Christmas from my brother, finished the first book in less than a day, really awesome, dark fantasy series about a character known as the witcher. Written by a polish author and subsequently turned into a popular video game series, (the books actually came first!) the witcher battles monsters, magick and village intrigue …
I saw the show first, played the game second and decided to read the series. And man, fantasy action, with well known tropes presented in a new and unique way. I am ripping through the series now. Give them a read. You’ll be happy you did.
As good as the hype promised.
Absolutely enchanting stories and absolutely perfect narration hand in hand. On a day when every other book did suffer my foul mood (finding the narration to be irritating) this one was triumphant. Wow, what a treat. This is my first taste of Andrzej Sapkowski´s writing. Again, what a treat. Perfect storytelling in …
Once a human, Geralt has undergone a series of rituals to become a witcher. A hunter of monsters. In this novel, readers will experience a collection of short stories that show snippets of Geralt’s life. But while he hunts monsters for money, he also lives by a code. Geralt understands that not all monsters are killers.
The novel is structured …
The Last Wish is a uniquely compiled book that consists of short stories with over-arching interludes that connect them together. If you’ve watched the Netflix series, you will be familiar with several of these stories. It’s well worth coming along for the ride with Geralt, Dandelion (Jaskier), and Yennefer.
Read my full …
3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this installment of The Witcher series. The Last Wish is collection of 7 short stories. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that some of them are retelling of fairy tales such as Beauty and the Beast and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but in much darker way.
It was entertaining to see how Geralt gets out of certain …
I enjoyed the book, but not as much as the Netflix Series, which is rare. I found the book a little episodic. Geralt was moving from obstacle to obstacle that felt unrelated, but overall it wasn’t a bad read. I recommend it simply for comparison sake.
Better than the Netflix series
I’ve watched The Witcher TV series first, and since my wife wanted to watch it again ahead of season 2 it was high time to read the books.
*** What to Expect
Six short stories / novelettes introducing us to the world of the Witcher, glued together with interludes that make for a seventh. We get glimpses into Geralt’s character, his companions, …
A really fun, witty read. Much better than the show on Netflix.
I’m not the biggest fan of fantasy books, but that one was a great reading and I can totally recommend “The Last Wish”. It’s amazing it’s been published in 1993!