A review by carlyoc
The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

adventurous funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was worried it wouldn't live up to the show, but they are very similar. I still found the character of Geralt likeable and amusing, and I had fun noticing which monster encounters were lifted directly into the show, but with different characters present (i.e. here Geralt meets Nivellen, a man cursed to look like a monster and who is in love with a striga, alone, whereas in the show, he has Ciri in tow). The chapters are very episodic, often leaving me wishing for more detail about what happens in between. But once I realized that they were originally published as short stories, that made a lot more sense. We also get to see more of the character Nenneke than we do in the show, as Geralt rests at her temple between many of his adventures, and tells a number of the chapters as flashbacks during an extended stay there. 
I was also worried about how a book originally written in the 90s would depict its female characters, but I found Nenneke, Yennifer, Renfri, and Queen Calanthe to be interesting and well-rounded characters. 
Overall, this has served its purpose of keeping me immersed in the Witcher world while I await Season 3 of the tv show, and I will likely continue the series.
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