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pvbobrien's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, and Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Incest, Infertility, and Injury/Injury detail
jenziecreates's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Xenophobia and Abandonment
Minor: Physical abuse and Rape
lucecanon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
1.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Incest and Torture
ohthatsgrayt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Cursing, Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
belladonnashrike's review against another edition
4.25
“yen,” she repeated, giving in to him completely. “nobody’s ever called me that. say it again.”
“yen.”
“geralt.”
GOD.
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Incest, Infertility, Rape, Vomit, and War
idajoh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The story is mainly told through dialogue which makes it a pretty quick and easy read. The action sequences, although few, are also very good at creating suspense while being believable. I will admig that I was a bit confused throughout most of them, but I just chalked it up to me being tired while I read most of the book.
The major downfall of this book is the extreme misoginy. No women in this book, except maybe Nenneke, is seen as something other than a sex object by all the characters. That includes Geralt. It was extremely off-putting and I'm glad that aspect was toned down in the TV series. At least Yennefer in the TV series had other redeeming qualities except her want of a child.
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, and Blood
Moderate: Infertility, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
kevin_the_intern's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Body shaming, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Violence
leavened's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Misogyny and Rape
Moderate: Incest
julinapril's review against another edition
2.0
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Rape
leona's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
For the most part, I really enjoyed these stories. I did watch the show first, which made me want to read the books, and these stories are all in the show other than one I believe. I actually really enjoyed the short story format, and I think they were well connected and structured together. I definitely preferred the stories from the second half of the book (which I will probably explain more later.)
I enjoyed most of the characters in this book, Dandilion was one of my favourites but I also liked Calanthe. Geralt is an interesting lead.
I enjoyed the worldbuilding and magic, although I'm hoping this magic will be expanded on in later books. I found myself really enjoying these stories.
But I would be remiss if I didn't mention The Last Wish's glaring flaw (although people will probably complain that I just 'didn't get it' or am wrong, this is an OPINION): this book - especially the first half - was so blatantly sexist and 'male-gaze(y)' at times that I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. I, like an idiot, bought the whole series because I was sure I would love it and it's cheaper to buy them all at once than individually, but I felt like I was dreading reading the others if they were all going to be sexist nonsense. Now, where's the proof?
Here's a cracker from Geralt, as he monologues to a woman who has taken a vow of silence:
'I wanted this girl, sobbing with gratitude, to kiss her saviour on the hands, and her father to thank me on his knees. In reality her father fled with his attackers, and the girl, drenched in the bald man's blood, threw up, became hysterical and fainted in fear when I approached her.'
Yep. This is Geralt's first kill after leaving Kaer Morhen, after he saves a young girl from being raped. And he's disappointed that she didn't thank him for his 'kindness' and hail him like a hero. Not to mention the sexualisation of a 14 year-old in the first story, as well as so many other random women walking around with their boobs out, or completely naked for literally no reason. Not to mention the sympathising of rapists like
The Last Wish is a book with strong female characters, Calanthe and Yennefer, for example, but it is also a book with so much random crap. However, I must say that I feel like the later stories did improve significantly, with still a bit of iffiness here and there.
I'm kind of nervous about reading the other books because I have seen such mixed reviews. Some people say Sword of Destiny gets worse, then I saw some reviews saying Blood of Elves is actually quite modern in terms of female representation. I also know that the series is meant to get considerably darker around the middle, which I'm a bit nervous about (yes I am a bit sensitive, sorry?). This is the first grimdark thing I have read really. Despite this, I am interested and do really want to carry on.
So yes, overall I'm rating this 3 stars.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Incest