The Last Wish

The Last Wish is a short story collection in The Witcher series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. The book follows Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as a witcher, through a series of interconnected tales framed by his recovery period in a temple. The narrative structure alternates between Geralt's present-day recuperation and vivid flashbacks to his recent adventures. Each story presents a contract or encounter where Geralt must navigate complex moral choices while dealing with monsters, curses, and the often-dubious motives of his human employers. The stories draw heavily from Slavic folklore and familiar fairy tales, but reshape these elements into darker, more morally ambiguous narratives. Characters include sorceresses, kings, monsters, and common folk who populate a medieval fantasy world where good and evil are rarely clear-cut. The collection explores themes of destiny, moral relativity, and the nature of humanity itself, questioning who the real monsters are in a world where humans can be more dangerous than the creatures they fear. Through Geralt's experiences, the stories examine prejudice, power, and the price of remaining neutral in a world that demands choices.

Readers highlight the dark humor, morally complex characters, and fresh take on classic fairy tales. Many note the book rewards both fantasy fans and newcomers unfamiliar with The Witcher series. Readers praise the standalone short story format and describe it as more accessible than later books. Readers like: - Geralt's dry wit and pragmatic outlook - Subversive fairy tale retellings - World-building through natural dialogue - Monster-hunting action sequences Common criticisms: - Confusing timeline jumps between stories - Translation feels clunky in spots - Some stories drag or feel disconnected - Female characters can be one-dimensional Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (402,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (17,000+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (3,800+ ratings) "The perfect entry point to the series" - common reader sentiment "Like Brothers Grimm tales but with a cynical monster hunter" - Goodreads review "Translation issues took me out of the story" - Amazon review

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🔮 The book's core narrative structure was inspired by "The Decameron," a 14th-century Italian work where characters tell stories while waiting out the Black Death. 🗡️ Sapkowski wrote the first Witcher story ("The Witcher") in 1986 for a Polish literary magazine contest, where he won third place and launched the entire franchise. 📚 Several stories in the collection are clever retellings of classic fairy tales, including "Snow White," "Beauty and the Beast," and "The Little Mermaid." 🎮 The popularity of The Last Wish led to a successful video game series that has sold over 75 million copies worldwide as of 2023. 🌍 The book was originally published in Polish in 1993 under the title "Ostatnie życzenie," but didn't receive an English translation until 2007.