Introducing Geralt the Witcher - revered and hated - who holds the line against the monsters plaguing humanity in the bestselling series that inspired the Witcher video games and a major Netflix show.
Geralt of Rivia is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers and lifelong training have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin.
Yet he is no ordinary killer: he hunts the vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent.
But not everything monstrous-looking is evil; not everything fair is good . . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth.
Andrzej Sapkowski, winner of the World Fantasy Lifetime Achievement award, started an international phenomenon with his Witcher series. The Last Wish is the perfect introduction to this one-of-a-kind fantasy world.
Book Review
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The Last Wish is one of those fantasy books that feels instantly familiar but also completely fresh. Instead of jumping straight into a long, sweeping plot, Sapkowski introduces us to Geralt of Rivia through a collection of short stories, all wrapped in a simple framing narrative. It’s a structure that might sound unusual if you’re used to traditional fantasy epics, but it works surprisingly well. Each story feels like an episode from Geralt’s life—some funny, some dark, some philosophical—and together they paint a layered picture of who he is.
Geralt himself is a huge reason the book works. He’s a monster hunter by trade, genetically altered to fight things most people run from, but what’s most interesting about him isn’t the swordplay or the magic. It’s his personality. He’s quiet, a bit weary, and definitely sarcastic, but he’s also far more thoughtful than he lets on. Sapkowski has a great way of showing how Geralt tries to stay neutral in a world that makes neutrality almost impossible. You really get a sense that he’s someone who’s seen the worst humanity has to offer—and still hasn’t become completely cynical.
The supporting characters help balance him out, especially the ones who challenge him or bring out his softer (or snarkier) side. They add a lot of charm and humor, and they make the world feel lived-in instead of just a backdrop for monster-of-the-week encounters.
Speaking of the world, one of the book’s biggest strengths is how it plays with folklore. Sapkowski takes familiar fairy tales and myths and twists them so they feel both mythic and surprisingly grounded. You’ll recognize certain stories as they pop up, but they never feel predictable. That blend of classic inspiration and modern sensibility makes the world feel rich without drowning you in lore dumps.
The themes in The Last Wish sneak up on you, too. On the surface, it might seem like a book about fighting monsters, but it’s just as interested in the messy moral questions that come with those fights. Sapkowski doesn’t spell out who’s right or wrong, and he’s not afraid to show that the “monsters” are sometimes more human than the humans. It makes the book feel more thoughtful than your typical action-driven fantasy.
The writing style helps with that as well. The dialogue is quick and witty, the pacing is smooth, and the tone shifts easily between lighthearted and serious. It never feels heavy, but it’s not shallow either. The translation captures the humor and rhythm well enough that it’s easy to forget it wasn’t originally written in English.
If there’s one thing that might throw some readers off, it’s the non-linear, episodic structure. If you’re expecting a single, big storyline, it might take a moment to adjust. But once you get used to it, the format becomes a strength rather than a drawback. It lets you see different sides of Geralt without overwhelming you with exposition.
All in all, The Last Wish is a great introduction to the Witcher world—smart, funny, atmospheric, and surprisingly emotional. Whether you’re coming from the games, the show, or starting fresh, it’s a book that stands on its own. And by the time you finish it, you’ll probably want to jump straight into the next one just to spend more time with Geralt.
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