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leona's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- 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
I feel very, very mixed about The Last Wish.
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 Nivellen . But the Iola scene was probably the worst one to me and it made it hard for me to really sympathise or like Geralt as much as I did in the show.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Incest
smg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death and Rape
angelica02's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
taylor_annotates's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
I disliked this for the first 100 pages or so for a few reasons. Then the book grew on me a bit. A bit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Violence
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Rape
aominechichi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest, Rape, Sexual content, and Alcohol
mirandanoel's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Incest
emmeline_ahh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
Minor: Rape
salma__m's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny
Minor: Rape and Sexual violence
freddie_mewcury's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
thatbookishrookie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
I don't really know how I feel about this book honestly. I recently finished watching the Netflix series, knowing nothing about the books, and I quite liked it, so I decided to delve into the books as well.
This is a series of short stories, basically supposed to be an introduction to the Witcher World. There was enough information about concepts that may be important to the story later on, and also explanations as to how certain characters become what they are (witchers, sorcerers, etc).
The characters were only okay. I didn't feel like Geralt had much nuance and character in this book, and hopefully he does in the further books. As of this point, and i know this is probably blasphemous to a lot of the fans, I like tv show Geralt more. I did like the character of the troubadour Dandelion the most. Although, there is a point in one of the chapters where he says something very very sexist.
Short Stories:
The Witcher - 4/5 This one was not bad, and felt like a fairly accurate representation of what a witcher does, as well as a window into Geralt's character, and how he's not like every other witcher.
A Grain of Truth - 2/5 Did not like this one. Mainly because of how much they try to justify the behaviour of Nivellin.
The Lesser Evil - 3/5 The story of the Butcher of Blaviken. Not much to say about this one. It was fine, nothing grand.
A Question of Price - 4/5 I liked how this story panned out. You get an insight to the witcher and his wanting to do something different. As in his own words, he's not a hired thug.
The Edge of the World - 3.5/5 This was the first story with Dandelion in it, and I liked the little bits of humour in it. Overall, pretty decent.
The Last Wish - 3.5/5 I honestly felt that this story dragged on for a bit, and could have done without a few chapters. Another story with Dandelion, and more humour. Also, I like how Geralt and Dandelion's relationship is portrayed in the books as one of mutual respect for each other as well as care.
The Voice of Reason - 2/5 I don't really get the point of this story apart from sort of tying the rest of the stories together.
Overall, it was an okay book. I'm really hoping the coming books are better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Rape