Like many others, I am reading this by being spurred on by the new Netflix series, based on The Witcher books. I have played The Witcher computer RPG a bit and have been enjoying that as well. This book is 0.5 in the series, in that it is a collection of short stories that precede the first book, [b:Blood of Elves|6043781|Blood of Elves (Witcher, #1)|Andrzej Sapkowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1443278828l/6043781.SY75.jpg|1877722] (which I have on audiobook and will start soon). While not a big fan of short stories, each was pretty interesting. I especially enjoyed the start of Chapter 4, where Geralt is carrying on a sort of internal conversation. A nice change of pace from the usual straight forward storytelling of the rest of them.

The Last Wish introduces Yennefer, who I've met in one of the twisting story lines of the series. She doesn't seem very nice! But I guess we see her plenty more in the novels to come. And in the later computer games.

That's been my big problem! Mixing the various media has got me all the more confused as far as timelines go, especially given that I guess the series is particularly twisted (I have only watched the first two episodes so far). And with this book being short stories from all over the timeline, it is a bit dizzying.

But I enjoyed them. Geralt seems a particularly deprecating hero, with some limits to his powers. And the recurring cast of characters around him in the stories make me want to read more. So it is on to book 1!