The Book Report Episode #10

Episode #9

The Last Wish By Andrzej Sapkowski

The Book

This book was first published in 1993 by a Polish publisher called SuperNOWA and translated into English in 2007. This is the second book of eight. Although chronologically and technically book one.

The book follows the adventures of Geralt, known as The Witcher. The Witchers are a collection of people. They are taken from their families at a young age and turned into mutants using magic and poison. If they survive the process, they are then trained in the methods of monster killing.

This book centres around one main story and several short stories, back and forth throughout the book.

What Did I Think

The reason I started this series was mainly due to its popularity. After the books, it began as a very successful video game. I never played. And then to the success of the Netflix show. I wanted to find some sense from the mess of the first eight episodes of season 1. That was how long it took for me, a newbie to the Franchise. I wanted to make sense of it all. And by all accounts, I wasn’t the only one.

Seeing as this is a book of short stories. There is no primary destination. It’s a book of what happened this day, and this happened the other day’s stories, overlapping the Witcher’s foremost concern. Should he pursue his love for Yennefer?

Reading the stories, I saw and remembered how it was shown on the show. Fair enough, not all of the stories were. Or they were changed slightly. But even though I did understand what the show was trying to do with the books. They screwed it up. They mixed what seems to be the main story with the short stories.

But I am going off-topic. We are here for the book. So, back to it.

The Last Wish

The way I see it, the first book and the second were staging grounds to work on the main story. The author learns about his characters and allows the outside world to join him in his discovery. He continues to create little stories to work out how to go further. Before the big quest. Although, I have no evidence to back this up. But if he wrote this in the order it was published. It sounds about right. Although, I could still be completely wrong.

This first book, even though technically the second, is about introductions and bringing the characters together: Geralt and Dandalion. Geralt and Yennefer, and others. Then, there is an introduction to the world of the Witcher as Geralt goes on his travels.

The main story follows after Geralt has been injured and is recuperating. His friend, the priestess Nenneke, tends to him and tries to get him on a better path. But knows it will be useless but tries anyway. On the whole, he must make the final decision.

I have also enjoyed how Andrzej overlaps his stories with fairy tales. But writes them slightly jagged. What would have happened if they had gone this way instead of that?

This is a great fantasy novel that doesn’t hang onto the monster side of it. Even though they are there. But tends to stick with the people interaction side of it. And even though Geralt would love nothing more to get his hands dirty, the story tells you how he handles dealing with people. I can sort of relate.

Did I work out the mess? Sort of. But there are more books to read.

The Audiobook

Don’t like reading? Try this:

Would I Recommend

Yes, I would recommend the book. The stories are easy to read and not too complicated to understand. Even if some names are a bit tricky to read. There is no significant violence, except at the beginning. But there is plenty of companionship and adventure. I think that’s what I like about it. Even though the Witcher is generally a loner, he still allows himself to join in and be taken in and adopted by his friend Dandelion. With all the mischief he creates, Geralt enjoys it in his way.

But saying all that, it’s not the greatest of books. Yes, I did enjoy it. But… I wasn’t amazed by it. That’s why I scored it this way.

Would you like to purchase your very own copy? Try these shops: Amazon UK USA. Waterstones. AbeBooks UK USA. eBay UK USA. Or maybe your local bookshop. Or maybe try your local library.