Reviews

The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski

amieroseee's review against another edition

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4.0

I enjoyed this book. I didn’t love every story but I enjoyed the majority of them.
I love the subtle humour in this book.
I also liked the characters and how even though we were only with some for a short time I felt the connection to them.
This is the kind of short story collection I enjoy.

singalana's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Jotkin arvioijat ovat nostaneet esille sen, että Sapkowskin tekstistä paistaa läpi seksistisiä asenteita. No, koska kirja alkaa seksikohtauksella, jossa toinen osapuoli on ilmeisesti melko nuori, en yhtään ihmettele mistä nämä mielipiteet kumpuavat. Mielestäni naishahmojen nuoruus on jopa silmiinpistävää, ja heihin viitataan usein sanalla “tyttö”, eikä nainen. Kirjan hirviöt ovat lähes poikkeuksetta naispuolisia. Ja jos kirjan naishahmot pelastetaan hirviön kynsistä, heidän odotetaan osoittavan asiaankuuluvaa kiitollisuutta.

Kirjan rakenne on melkoisen sekava. Viimeinen toivomus koostuu useasta Noituri-tarinasta. Sen sijaan että ne olisi esitetty kokonaisena ja peräkkäin, ne on pilkottu toistensa lomaan kummallisena sillisalaattina. Tämä ehkä toimii sarjassa, mutta kirjassa lukijan täytyy olla todella hereillä.

Sapkowski lainailee elementtejä kansantaruista ja saduista. Tämä tuntuu hieman jopa laiskalta, sillä odotin, että kirjassa olisi enemmän keskitytty hirviöihin ja ylipäätänsäkin toimintaan. Sen sijaan Viimeinen toivomus on erittäin dialogipainotteinen. Voitaisiin jopa sanoa, että kirja on monologipainotteinen. Äänikirjaformaatissa se jollain tasolla toimii, koska mitä muutakaan äänikirja on, kun jonkun tyypin kertoman tarinan kuuntelemista. Yleisesti ottaen pidän silti enemmän siitä, että dialogi, toiminta ja kuvailu on enemmän tasapainossa. 
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nikkehmouseee's review

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4.0

Very thoroughly enjoyed this book! Grew interested from watching the Netflix series and am now upset so much wasn’t included! I’ll have to search my shelves to see if I was smart enough to buy the sequel because I will be reading it soon! My only issue is although the back and forth between stories was interesting and entertaining, I wish it were formatted differently. I sometimes got lost in remembering where one story left off and where the next one began.

laurentined's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I've played the games, watched the show, finally reading the books. Wasn't sure if I was going to be able to stomach the Man Writing Grimdark of it all but this was honestly fun. And only half as weird about women as I was bracing myself for.
Geralt is funny. Dry. Intelligent. Prone to speeches. His talkativeness is something the games get right mostly but the show really reduces him to a scowling stoic.
Only the bones of the lore is here but there are some of the most popular, foundational stories of the series in here. And a lot more classic fairytale gags than I was expecting also, played with an irreverent humorous tone instead of the ultra-dark I was expecting.
Great time, looking forward to more

inkyjules's review against another edition

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

3.75

mollies_reads's review against another edition

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5.0

Andrzej’s storytelling is detailed, intense, and at times, verbose; but what it does for world-building and character development is spectacular and necessary. The world of The Witcher, aka White Wolf, aka Geralt of Rivia, is dark, dangerous, and huge. Sapkowski’s ability to build this world out for us in short story format - as Geralt recalls tales that have come to pass to his longtime friend and mentor Nenneke as he takes reprieve from his Witcher duties and heals is a fascinating and unique technique. In this way, Sapkowski is able to introduce territories, characters, intricate relationships and complex political systems, and so much more.

If you’re a fan of the series, especially the first season, this book introduces many of the characters and adventures we see in those episodes. Of course, with much more detail and intricacy.

bjclark99's review against another edition

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The Last Wish (1993)
Sword of Destiny (1992)
Season of Storms (2013)
Blood of Elves (1994)
Time of Contempt (1995)
Baptism of Fire (1996)
The Tower of the Swallow (1997)
The Lady of the Lake (1999)

srosso22's review against another edition

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3.0

3.75 ⭐️

aninnocuousbunny's review against another edition

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4.0

Pretty good but completely non-cohesive so not great at times

hammy2734's review against another edition

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

3.5