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A review by a_leo_reading
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
3.0
⭐⭐⭐Review for: The Last Wish (Introducing The Witcher)( The Witcher #0) written by Andrzej Sapkowski translated by Danusia Stok.
Reading Dates:
February 17, 2022 – March 12, 2022
“’People," Geralt turned his head, "like to invent monsters and monstrosities. Then they seem less monstrous themselves. When they get blind-drunk, cheat, steal, beat their wives, starve an old woman, when they kill a trapped fox with an axe or riddle the last existing unicorn with arrows, they like to think that the Bane entering cottages at daybreak is more monstrous than they are. They feel better then. They find it easier to live.’” -Andrzej Sapkowski, The Last Wish.
As a beginning to a large epic fantasy series and introduction to the Witcher saga, The Last Wish was a incredibly disappointing experience. Being a collection of short stories loosely connected together by “the main narrative” within the novel itself, The Last Wish had a confusing and almost convoluted plot structure with constant time jumps.
The Last Wish focused solely on Geralt, which should be obvious since this novel is called “Introducing the Witcher”, which felt disappointing with the incredible cast of characters that Geralt of Rivera is with. Don’t get me wrong, this novel was not awful, in-fact after reading the second prequel, The Sword of Destany, it made me love The last Wish even more.
The writing is beautiful and brutal. The character work is incredible as is the very slow world building, magic systems and creature designs.
All the positives that The Last Wish offered felt overshadowed by its unnecessarily difficult plot. Luckily the next novel is wayyyyy better.
Audiobook review:
Peter Kenny did an incredible job narrating this novel. Each character and creature has their own distinct and recognizable voice. Sadly Peter Kenny's voice acting for Geralt was very lack luster and did not sound like the character . The voice actor for the game and the super thirst trap Henry Cavill definitely did the best with Geralt.
Reading Dates:
February 17, 2022 – March 12, 2022
“’People," Geralt turned his head, "like to invent monsters and monstrosities. Then they seem less monstrous themselves. When they get blind-drunk, cheat, steal, beat their wives, starve an old woman, when they kill a trapped fox with an axe or riddle the last existing unicorn with arrows, they like to think that the Bane entering cottages at daybreak is more monstrous than they are. They feel better then. They find it easier to live.’” -Andrzej Sapkowski, The Last Wish.
As a beginning to a large epic fantasy series and introduction to the Witcher saga, The Last Wish was a incredibly disappointing experience. Being a collection of short stories loosely connected together by “the main narrative” within the novel itself, The Last Wish had a confusing and almost convoluted plot structure with constant time jumps.
The Last Wish focused solely on Geralt, which should be obvious since this novel is called “Introducing the Witcher”, which felt disappointing with the incredible cast of characters that Geralt of Rivera is with. Don’t get me wrong, this novel was not awful, in-fact after reading the second prequel, The Sword of Destany, it made me love The last Wish even more.
The writing is beautiful and brutal. The character work is incredible as is the very slow world building, magic systems and creature designs.
All the positives that The Last Wish offered felt overshadowed by its unnecessarily difficult plot. Luckily the next novel is wayyyyy better.
Audiobook review:
Peter Kenny did an incredible job narrating this novel. Each character and creature has their own distinct and recognizable voice. Sadly Peter Kenny's voice acting for Geralt was very lack luster and did not sound like the character . The voice actor for the game and the super thirst trap Henry Cavill definitely did the best with Geralt.