Review Labs: The Last Wish *No Spoilers*

 

Reading Review: The Last Wish 

Stats: 

• Author: Andrzej Sapkowski 
• Fantasy, Adventure 
• Published 1993
• The Witcher Series (Introduction) 
• Page Count: 359 (2007 Orbit Translation)  
• Netflix Series Released in 2020 
• First Video Game Released in 2007
• Original Language: Polish 
• Following book "Sword of Destiny" 

Fun Fact: "The Last Wish" is a compilation of short stories of the Witcher. These act as crucial backstories to the main series starting with "Blood Elves". This book gives detailed events of Geralt, Dandelion (Jaskier), and Yennifer. 

Disclaimer: I am a big fan of the Witcher series. I have watched the Netflix series 1 & 2. However, I am not reviewing nor comparing the Netflix series with the book. I have not played the video games (although I want to in the future). This review is purely on the artistry of Sapkowski, character evolution, plotting, and overall entertainment value of the novel. This review does not have any spoilers. 

    Although I am in love with the book, I find the structure fairly confusing. As a stand alone book there are many breaks from the main storyline. This is how the writer has chosen to progress the storyline. However, in "The Last Wish" there is not a true storyline or plot. There are many tiny plots with one novel that is a testament of the compilation of short stories. Looking back on the breaks of Geralt's stops, I can see this a clever connector. Not going to lie, in the beginning it is fairly confusing and a turn off for a lot of readers. 

    Despite the hick-up in the beginning I adored the use of dialogue throughout the novel. I always questioned how action should be portrayed and how fight scenes and the written word play out. Sapkowski does an amazing job progressing the action through dialogue and descriptive words. 

    Unlike other fantasy novels, Sapkowski doesn't spend much time describing the scenery. This is being compared to the greats like J.R.R Tolkien. This does not take away from Sapokowski's writing but only enhances the action and the backstory of Geralt. With each page I craved more our of pure curiosity of where I would be taken next. Between the well crafted writing and strong character building I was taken into Geralt's world and brought through a whirl wind adventure. 

    Dandelion (aka Jaskier) is a good buffer through many of the chapters. His light hearted nature pared with Geralt's darkness is like a breath of fresh air. I feel as though is an affective use of comic relief. I enjoy seeing how their relationship started and was eager to see how they interacted with one another. 

    I recommend this book to adults, since there are some sexual innuendos (not erotic in any way) and quite a bit of violence. If you desire to be taken on a trip with Geralt and Dandelion through a world of fantasy this is the book for you. This is a great precursor to an exciting fantasy series. 

Overall Rating: 9/10