The first of the Witcher novels, it was released after two volumes of short stories and is set after the most recently published book, [b:Season of Storms|36099978|Season of Storms (The Witcher, #0.6)|Andrzej Sapkowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1514124650l/36099978.SY75.jpg|26575985] (although there is some debate on when is the best time to read Season of Storms). So this is actually the fourth Witcher book I've read.

Although Geralt's fateful encounter with Ciri—an orphaned princess and a Source of powerful magic—is covered in a previous short story, this novel covers her early education. She spends roughly the first half of the book with Geralt, being instructed in the ways of the witcher, and the latter half with Yennefer, receiving magic tutelage. Along the way she learns some more about the world and its delicate political state, with the northern kingdoms trying to fend off the inexorable advance of the expansionist empire of Nilfgaard.

This book is tricky to rate. Like a lot of modern fantasy novels (in which a trilogy is assumed, at the bare minimum), this first book is all about preparing the board and setting up the game pieces. As a self-contained story, it fails miserably. There's not much of a plot, just prelude.

That being said, it was still a thoroughly engaging read, provided that the reader is familiar with the original short stories. The translation is smooth and draws zero attention to itself. The setting is immersive and the characters are great. It is such a pleasure spending time with Geralt, Triss, Ciri, Dandelion, and Yennefer. The interaction between these characters is always amusing, and it's masterful how much of their personalities are revealed through seemingly throwaway lines of dialogue and slight gestures.

Geralt himself is a particularly fun and surprising character. If you hear him described, he sounds like a one-dimensional edgy Mary Sue (and also kind of an Elric ripoff, with all the "White Wolf" stuff). But he's not really like that at all. Despite the two swords and the badass mutant monster hunter trappings, he's kind of a blue collar hero. He tackles monster problems like a plumber unclogging drains. His clients are happy to have him around, but they don't particularly respect him or his vocation. He keeps up a tough, world-weary front, but much like the old hardboiled detectives he reveals a softer, more noble side through his actions.

This book doesn't work very well as a novel, but it was an entertaining read that made me excited about the rest of the series.