Let me know if you guys want to see more book reviews like this! I have a passion for fantasy and science fiction, so it would be awesome to cover more novels. Also, if you'd like to see super in-depth thoughts on The Last Wish, we covered it in our book club: ua-cam.com/video/INE_SkCcHdM/v-deo.html
Yeah definitely! , if u dont end up reviewing the whole series id at least be interested to see what u think of sword of destiny seen as that is short stories as well
Book reviews are always welcome. It's severely underrepresented on youtube and it's nice to see one which didn't make me wince the moment I clicked on the video.
From making fun, short, action shots to your detailed analysis of books, games, and stories...it's amazing to me to see the depth that you posses, not to mention the intriguing things you introduce us to. Thank you for taking the time and effort to review the show from such a beautiful standpoint. always a pleasure to hear from you and good to see your face again. Rock on...
I guess I read The Last Wish just in time! Really agree with your assessment here, also about the Netflix show. I did enjoy the show a good bit, but I enjoyed the book a lot more. Love the format you've got here. It's refreshing to see your face, and the multiple camera angles. Also love how you show the text with the voice over. Top notch. Nice job.
Always going to welcome thoughtful analysis of literature from you Mike. I'd say that while these videos might not carry the same audience of your game reviews, I'd freaking love to see many more of these.
Thanks! Always good to see you in the comments. Yeah, I expect this won't get a ton of views, but I just really want to do more of it. We'll see where it goes.
I must've read The Last Wish 3 years ago, and did so in Spanish, and what stepped out to me the most was how naturally all the dialogue and action seemed to flow. As you said in the video, dialogue between the characters is key to enjoying the series. I still haven't watched the show, and I'm not that excited about it either... I don't know why. But anyways, congrats on the review! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
I have not read the last wish yet, but I enjoyed the video. I think you articulated well why it is so special to you. I will definitely get into the series one day. Also, knowing that you are not a huge fan of Season 1 of the Neflix show, I think you were very fair and even keel in explaining the issues you had with it while also mentioning the mindset of the show runner for context. This is the kind of critique that is very difficult to find on UA-cam. (Most UA-cam content creators will "review" /games/movies with only thier own thoughts/experience in mind and pass judgement based on that without considering other perspectives). Personally I enjoyed the Netflix show, but I didn't have any perspective on how good of an adaptation it was of the Novels while I watched it. I think it's important to make that distinction when judging stories (Quality as an adaptation vs Quality as a show/games/book/movie/etc.) And I think you struck a great balance when discussing the Netflix show in that regard.
Same. I listening to the audiobooks. Currently in the middle of Season of Storms. Started Sword of Destiny before realizing that the most recent book is actually set between The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny.
Got The Last Wish for Christmas, and I wanna wait until I finish it before I go anywhere near the game or the Netflix series. So far, it has far more restraint and respect for its fantasy roots than I was expecting.
I would love to see more book reviews like this! I finished the audiobooks of this and Sword of Destiny in the past few months and have to say those stories are captivating and character-driven enough to stand on their own. I do think I will go on to the saga at some point.
I heard that Hussite Trilogy is gonna be released in US and UK soon. Don't know how far they are with translation. This one is gonna be a real treat for you if you enjoyed Sapkowski's writing. He really gets to show he's craft here and himself believes it to be his best work. I'm very sentimental about witcher books as I grew up reading them and I enjoyed every one of them but I have to agree with him on that. He matured as an author and really polished his style.
Hard for to think of anything to add since you gave a great overview as is, and I gotten to leave my comments on things like the book club and podcast before. But this was excellent and I’d enjoy seeing more videos like it. The more love and appreciation we can show for the novels the better.
This video definitely makes me want to check out the book. I’ve thought of possibly getting into the books, (even lurking around during the book club) but now I want to try this one. Especially because it’s an anthology. Really sounds cool.
Mike, I love this format! Talking to the camera with cutaways spliced with clips and artwork. Great production. Would love to see more book reviews like this. Suggesting Mistborn Trilogy, Night Angel Trilogy, Expanse Novels.
Yes, Mike! This was great. You and Casen are crushing the content (though you guys always do), and I love the idea of you doing these book reviews. And speaking to the subject of this video, I've become something of a Witcher fanboy over the years. Played the games, currently listening to the audiobooks, watched the show, and even got a tattoo a few years ago. I wholeheartedly agree about the writing, and that Peter Kenny is amazing on the audiobooks. I feel like the show tried to give a little taste of what the books and games give you, the philosophy and the action, but fell a little short of both ends. Without a doubt though, the Geralt and Renfri fight in the show, is exactly how I imagined it in my mind while reading the book.
Woahhh, your hair is getting long, man! Always love listening to you pick apart my favorite things and make me remember exactly why I started loving them in the first place
Beautiful inside into the core qualities of the books sir! I like how you emphasized the philosophical aspect of the writing and the battle of wits which Geralt enjoys so much. Netflix writers have just never understood Witcher at all, what a waste.
All of the books are broad, intelligent and engaging, as is your review! I haven't seen the show but really appreciate the book analysis and fully agree that the audiobook narrator is exceptional
I actually haven't seen the show and was wondering whether or not I should read the books so I'm glad to see this from you cause I trust your recommendation above all others
You articulated what I thought about the show better than I ever could! Dandelion/Jaskier's relationship with Geralt, and possibly spending too much screen time on Yennefer (who is still a great character, she's just not... a MAIN character) were my biggest faults with the show. I am glad it will come back for more, as they still did a lot of wonderful things, but they faltered on quite a bit. I love trhe universe so much that I'm still pumped about season 2, though.
Maybe they'll try to make Geralt like Jaskier with the passing of time on the show? Book reviews are always welcome. Got me interested to listening to the audiobook
Excellent review and a welcome change of pace from the standard game reviews. Good literary content feels all too uncommon here on UA-cam, so I'd definitely love to see more.
I've still not got into The Witcher in any format but that said I do really like the format of this book review which is presented well and tightly focussed on all the relevant details.
Always really interesting to see content creators on film after projecting what you think they look like based on only knowing their voice. Lots of people were surprised by what KingK looks like. For some reason I always thought you'd look like Edward Snowden, but now I wouldn't suspect that you make game retrospectives at all if I saw you walking around.
Just finished reading the book... so good! I first played the game, then watched the series and now this one. I think that like many adaptations, reading the book is in the end the richest experience. I found the series entertaining and loved parts of it, like Ciri and Yennefer’s stories. Geralt’s and Jaskier’s are better in the book and in the game but not in a way that make me feel that I like one better than the other. They’re just different takes on a great set of characters. Thanks for the review!
Just started reading the book and i found youtube recommending this to me, also i would love to see you analyze more books cause i really like your jrpg ones
Literally just finished listening to The Last Wish on audible on Saturday. I watched the Netflix show first, and I now have a much greater appreciation for the Geralt sections of that show.
I wonder how hard it could have been to have the Alderman or Stregobor mention the Tridam ultimatum to Geralt after his sexy time with Renfri where she should mentioned it too. Geralt waking up and saying "The Market" is such a bruh moment
Great review! I was disappointed with the Netflix series. The most important and iconic aspect of the books - its interesting dialogue and witty humor was significantly limited and dumbed down in the adaptation. Machiavellian and plotting politicians were replaced by cartoonish versions of the Nilfgaard and wizard's lounge. And while I understand what they were trying to accomplish with Ciri and Yennefer, not much happens in their plotlines (relatively to the screen time that was sacrificed for them). BTW in Polish, the letter 'w' is pronounced like English 'v', so Sapkowski's name sounds like: sapkovsky. :)
Very cool video! Thanks and more liek this. I am playing The Witcher 3 now for the first time, I suck at it and am playing on 2nd to hardest difficulty with almost all HUD turned off. Enjoying slogging my way through and having to plan journeys, feel like a Witcher. Will be checking this book out in Audiobook version thanks for the recommendation
Review the whole *Ciris*. I just finished the books and I'm soaking up as much created content as I can. I can understand why the producer/director/etc made the changes that they did, and I can appreciate it overall. I'm really looking forward to future seasons. I would agree with your criticisms though and say my biggest gripes with the show are Geralt's characterization as being a one note brooding tough guy. He is much lighter in the books, at least until the main plot starts escalating, and much of the books wisdom and humor come from him. I think they are doing a great job with Ciri, and was pleasantly surprised with Yennefer's added story. Lastly I think they might have gone too far setting up Nilfgaard and specifically Cahir as typical bad guys, but I understand it would be hard to unite the short stories without somewhat of a universal antagonist.
I stopped reading the novels a while back but debated on picking it up after watching the show. But I feel like maybe after so long it might be best to reread them, or at least the first two to grab that spirit of the story like you mentioned. The show definitely has moments that don’t hit as hard as the novels do, because not enough time is given to develop the emotional payoff. I’d argue that Geralt does consider Dandelion a friend in the show, but the lines where he shows it don’t happen enough. When he debates how he would feel Dandelion may die he feels conflicted and hurt because he said things he regretted and would not his friend to leave this world thinking Geralt hated him. However it seems the line was missed by a lot of viewers which sucks. Also, the last scene with them is just Geralt screaming at him, which is a real moment having to deal with humor at a bad moment but it leaves the viewers believing that Geralt must always find this traveling companion annoying, like you said.
I probably should have worded that better. I agree that he does end up feeling like a friend after a while, but we don't ever get to see *why* in the show--and that's important because they only ever show Jaskier being annoying and Geralt being irritated. Even when Geralt is trying to save his voice in the 5th episode, there's a quip where they make a point to show how annoying Geralt finds him. He never came across to me as being genuinely concerned as much as obligated to help him.
Resonant Arc very fair points. Maybe this is intentional to build a stepping stone to their friendship and it will be a lot more solid in season 2- but I agree that their bond shouldn’t really be something that needs development: Dandelion is always there for Geralt when no one else is.
I know I'm late to the party, but the last wish blew me away. Did not expect it to be so good. Having said that, sword of destiny and baptism of fire are probably tied for my favorites in the series. And yes, pretty underwhelmed by the show, even as I understand it's limitations. It's still enjoyable though.
i'm not even a big book reader but witcher 3 made me read the books and search for other source material like gwent and thronebreaker. Made me love the world, lore,story and characters.
Interesting. I welcome book reviews. I didn't need to be sold on The Lord of the Rings books because of the movies but your Silmarillion discussion/book club sold me on getting that book. Haven't read it yet but I will at some point. I feel I need to read more anyways because of my interest in acting and in learning to interpret and use words. I've read a ways into the Wheel of Time series and plan to revisit it but I don't know of too many book series besides the most popular (Star Wars, LotR + The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Nania, Harry Potter). Since there are millions of books out there and other competing media like movies and video games I need to be sold on a book or book series. I think it also is a nice change of pace from all the video game reviews especially after doing a lot of them. Maybe you should do movies too. As long as you don't abandon video game reviews completely I'm ok with it.
Sword of destiny is my favorite. Especially during the druid forest where ciri and Geralt interact for the first time, this grow man arguing with a little brat.. and the story about dandelion and effy.
I feel like in many ways the Witcher 3 faithfully followed up on and dare I say perfected the short story format that was so brilliantly executed in the Last Wish. The numerous side quest and story arcs really do feel like their own self contained chapters. The conflict, philosophical back and forth, great dialogue, crude humour, awesome characters, it's all there and it's glorious. The overarching plot of chasing Ciri and fighting Eredin definitely feels like the least interesting part of the overall experience at least for me. But then they've completely outdone themselves with the two expansions. I especially adore Hearts of Stone. I think it's now my favourite set piece in the Witcher universe. I do love the first two books but sadly I couldn't finish Lady of the Lake. The Ciri saga has its great moments but it just doesn't compare to pure magic that is The Last Wish.
I know D&D couldn’t pull off the last seasons of Game of thrones but they made an amazing show while they had the material and were adapting. Witcher needed someone like them, someone who can adopt a book and be true to it and don’t have any agenda. I liked the yennefer backstory but I was disappointed by the fact that they showed that it was her choice to give up on having a kid in books the choice was taken out of her hand and it was her tragic story. Buy omitting the mother neneka’s story not only we lost her as a great character but the fact that she shows how dangerous Geralt life is. It took geralt a long time to heal and the physical injuries of each battle is like life and death for him not something so simple that à not powerful mage like triss can heal right away. Show runners should have had more trust on their creation and risked more to tell the stories more in depth. At least they’ve done one things very well they made many like me to be interested in the story and read the book. Love your video and analysis. Do you have analysis of the other books?
I really liked the show though I couldn't disagree with your argument about the problem with the writing. When I think about it, a lot of the weakness in the writing didn't really stand out to me as much because `i watched the show literally just after I finished reading the book so I carried over much of the context from the books into the show. So things like Geralt's and Jaskier friendship made sense to me in the show even though it didn't have the pre-requisite dialog that would provide the context. Hopefully they tighten that up for the next season, and showrunner seems to be very open to criticism so I'm hopeful moving forward.
I think they have a solid team in place, and yeah--if she's open to criticism and looking for ways to improve I think they can do a great job on the story of the saga.
I enjoyed the show. The Yennefer story is all kind of made up for the show, but I luved the character and the actress that played her. I agree in that it does condense much of the Last Wish, I really would have liked the story with the cursed guy in a castle with a bruxha lover killing the locals, but maybe it wouldn't have fit the spirit of what they were going for in developing the 3 characters.
@@ResonantArc maybe they could just fit that story into an episode in another season. I liked the cursed character telling his story of loneliness over the years, but I get how its difficult to write it into what they were going for. Maybe when Geralt is separated from Ciri and is going about his adventures they come upon that story, I hope they find a way to make it fit.
Any plans to do a similar review for Sword of Destiny? It did not have the same impact on me as The Last Wish, but it's still pretty good. "A Shard of Ice" is my particular favorite short story from that collection.
SPOILER but not so important. I love the scene in the ,,Baptism of Fire" when Gerald and his company spotted the camp mostly by the smell of the cabbadges and shit. Jaskier is starting poetically describing the camp. Regis is talking like an university professor, wondering why they are so lazy to build the latrine. Milva like a simple-minded uneducated woman ask why they can't simply say it's reak of cabbadges and shit. Pecivall like an concrete engineer end this discussions says quote: ,,Cabbadges and shit are always come together. One enhance another, perpetuum mobile."
Yeah, I'm down for book reviews. I would totally be down for game reviews without game footage for that matter. Capturing footage takes way too much damn time.
I loved your take on everything in this video. I feel very similar in the way you think about the show vs book and this video helped me convey why when I couldn’t explain it before. Thank you. One question. I can understand how the voice of reason ‘chapters’ fit into the book before each story but the last voice of reason seems to throw me off. My gf and I can understand the building of the story of geralt with it a little but other than to show geralt can both out with and out match most men and that he doesn’t care for their silly tricks idk what I was supposed to take from that final excerpt. Help anyone?
One of my favorite bits in The Last Wish is the beginning of the title story. Geralt and Dandelion are fishing together, making bets and jeering at each other in good fun. When Dandelion fishes up a lamp, he gloats that he has fished up a genie and is going to get his wishes. He rubs it in Geralt’s face, even as Geralt tries to seriously warn him how dangerous it is to deal with a Djinn. Dandelion doesn’t heed Geralt’s warnings, continues jeering at him, and frees the Djinn. Even still, Geralt tries to stop Dandelion, who gets in some final jabs, begins to command the Djinn to do his bidding, and is promptly strangled into a coma by the being he freed. This seems halfway played for laughs. I think it’s a moment that illustrates a lot of the great things you talk about in this book. It gets into the way Geralt actually feels about people, his relationship with Dandelion specifically, the hardness of the world, and the humor the author finds in unexpected places. The prose is deft, and the story begins as a semi-humorous anecdote, but quickly and naturally turns into one of the book’s two most significant tales to the whole saga. I love The Witcher, but The Last Wish is one of my favorite books in general
Hey, loved the review. But I do think one part of your review of the show is inaccurate. You mention that Jaskeir is not shown to be useful to Geralt and because the show also shows Geralt being constantly annoyed with him, that Jaskier feels useless. I think the show does a good job, perhaps in a different way, at showing that Jaskier is helpful to Geralt in a very particular way, which is not companionship, as you suggest, but publicity instead. Jaskiers songs transform people's perception of Geralt, and how much he gets paid. Toss a coin, if you will.
Yeah man, I been waiting for stuff like this since you guys became Resonant Arc. I’ve not read the books, but I saw a brief glimpse of what you appear to be drawn to in the episode with the hedgehog man, where Gerald says something like “Here’s to a shitless death.” Didn’t care for this show AT ALL though. Didn’t like the acting, writing or general art direction. And the way the timelines played out seemed like an insecure move to look more complex than it needed to. Just focus on Geralt for goodness sake. And I don’t know if that’s an accurate depiction of Dandelion, but he’s as irritating as those UA-cam ads for the Honey App
I'd be really interested to see what you thought of the novel--after having seen the show. If you have time check it out! I love discussing this book, haha.
@@ResonantArc You know, I just might do it. I'm finishing up one book now and need something else to read on my lunch in work, so a collection of short stories would do nicely.
I just got it today! Also you better not be sick with covid19 and if you are you better get better because you are the whole reason I listened to this book and the whole reason I've beat ff7
The book in original Polish has much wider dictionary of swearwords - at least from what the Netflix series uses - and most of them are not used nowadays. This gives the books it own, quite dirty but believable, "style" 😉
Honestly i think they couldnt adapt the last wish properly because of the huge Witcher 3 fanbase, the problem is events in that game are after the whole book series and much of the story and characters is already revield, so they cant differ much from it, The second thing, i think that turning around Jaskiers and Geralt's relation was pretty good choice, which allowed to show more of Geralt's character development on his early stages. When this two spend half of the screentime together as a buddies, is hard to show Geralt as a cold, ostracized, conflicted person. But still i think they are friends in the show, what u can see mostly in ep. 5, btw. their relation is more like in Baptism of fire My biggest issue with the show relate to Aretuza, famous eals, and Yennefer who is off politics and mage community so early, Spoiler i'm courious how they would explain sending ciri there, or how she will encourage Geralt to go with her on Thaned, etc. Overwall u got a lot of good points in ur review i enterally agree with, greatings
Honestly, I don't find the films of Lord of the Rings capture the book at all. The films to me, feel less about the cultures, the journey/adventure, share much more in common with blockbuster action films... even contriving a lot of the typical plot points that you'd see. The Scouring of the Shire was completely cut from the film, but in the book, it is an incredibly important chapter to contrast with the beginning of the story, showing the immense growth of all The Hobbit characters - and I didn't find the films achieved character growth very well. That said, I like the films quite a bit, but as a different sort of work than the book - even though it shares a lot of the superficial elements.
This was a very Soulful review with very useful information Oh, I'd be up for any other recommendations. I share a common favorite in Chrono Trigger, but I have to disagree on The Witcher games I'd like to see an explanation as to their merit.
Good review. I'm Polish. Quality of translation is kind of... fluctuating, some parts are very good, some parts are just loosing a lot of meaning, or are kind of cringe. Overall quality of writing is a lot better in Polish.
1. I've read it, and you've hit my interpretation of the whole thing dead-on: The Last Wish is fantastic, the saga is okay, and the show missed what makes TLW so fantastic. The show is okay! I'm glad it exists. Some of my favorite facets of TLW are nowhere to be seen, and it's a shame. 2. Love the analysis, don't hesitate to analyze more sci fi and fantasy in the future!
I read the first 3 books before witcher 3 came out. I was one of the comparatively small group of English speakers that could enjoy the story with the knowledge of Geralt's relationships with Ciri and Yen. It made all the difference.
the witcher books are my favourite (i remember first reading the fan translations before the official translations came out). The show is just sooo different and looses all nuance, some of the characters just dont even seem remotely the same as their books counterparts.
Let me know if you guys want to see more book reviews like this! I have a passion for fantasy and science fiction, so it would be awesome to cover more novels. Also, if you'd like to see super in-depth thoughts on The Last Wish, we covered it in our book club: ua-cam.com/video/INE_SkCcHdM/v-deo.html
Yeah definitely! , if u dont end up reviewing the whole series id at least be interested to see what u think of sword of destiny seen as that is short stories as well
YEET!!!!!!
I enjoyed the video, I also read all the Witcher books. My faves are Last Wish, Season of Storms, and Lady of the Lake.
Yes, yes and more yes.
Yes please! This video was wonderful and I'd love to see you talk more about the stories you're passionate about, whatever medium they exist in!
Book reviews are always welcome. It's severely underrepresented on youtube and it's nice to see one which didn't make me wince the moment I clicked on the video.
Glad you enjoyed it! I'd love to do more.
From making fun, short, action shots to your detailed analysis of books, games, and stories...it's amazing to me to see the depth that you posses, not to mention the intriguing things you introduce us to. Thank you for taking the time and effort to review the show from such a beautiful standpoint. always a pleasure to hear from you and good to see your face again. Rock on...
Thank you, riuphane! I really appreciate that. Glad you enjoyed the video!
I guess I read The Last Wish just in time!
Really agree with your assessment here, also about the Netflix show. I did enjoy the show a good bit, but I enjoyed the book a lot more.
Love the format you've got here. It's refreshing to see your face, and the multiple camera angles. Also love how you show the text with the voice over. Top notch. Nice job.
Always going to welcome thoughtful analysis of literature from you Mike. I'd say that while these videos might not carry the same audience of your game reviews, I'd freaking love to see many more of these.
Thanks! Always good to see you in the comments. Yeah, I expect this won't get a ton of views, but I just really want to do more of it. We'll see where it goes.
@@ResonantArc good, I'm excited.
I must've read The Last Wish 3 years ago, and did so in Spanish, and what stepped out to me the most was how naturally all the dialogue and action seemed to flow. As you said in the video, dialogue between the characters is key to enjoying the series.
I still haven't watched the show, and I'm not that excited about it either... I don't know why.
But anyways, congrats on the review! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
I have not read the last wish yet, but I enjoyed the video. I think you articulated well why it is so special to you. I will definitely get into the series one day.
Also, knowing that you are not a huge fan of Season 1 of the Neflix show, I think you were very fair and even keel in explaining the issues you had with it while also mentioning the mindset of the show runner for context.
This is the kind of critique that is very difficult to find on UA-cam. (Most UA-cam content creators will "review" /games/movies with only thier own thoughts/experience in mind and pass judgement based on that without considering other perspectives).
Personally I enjoyed the Netflix show, but I didn't have any perspective on how good of an adaptation it was of the Novels while I watched it.
I think it's important to make that distinction when judging stories (Quality as an adaptation vs Quality as a show/games/book/movie/etc.)
And I think you struck a great balance when discussing the Netflix show in that regard.
This came at the perfect time! I just finished reading the first book and it was amazing.
Same. I listening to the audiobooks. Currently in the middle of Season of Storms. Started Sword of Destiny before realizing that the most recent book is actually set between The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny.
Got The Last Wish for Christmas, and I wanna wait until I finish it before I go anywhere near the game or the Netflix series. So far, it has far more restraint and respect for its fantasy roots than I was expecting.
Really happy to see you back. I really love listening to you guys on everything.
I have made my family and friends read the scene where Nenneke urges Geralt to go on a trance. I think my favourite conversation in this book
I would love to see more book reviews like this! I finished the audiobooks of this and Sword of Destiny in the past few months and have to say those stories are captivating and character-driven enough to stand on their own. I do think I will go on to the saga at some point.
Would really love to see more book reviews like this, you came across really natural and genuine about your love for the book.
I heard that Hussite Trilogy is gonna be released in US and UK soon. Don't know how far they are with translation. This one is gonna be a real treat for you if you enjoyed Sapkowski's writing. He really gets to show he's craft here and himself believes it to be his best work. I'm very sentimental about witcher books as I grew up reading them and I enjoyed every one of them but I have to agree with him on that. He matured as an author and really polished his style.
PLease do the rest of the series, loved hearing your thoughts during last years book club
Yeah, I really want to. I'll start recording Sword of Destiny tonight!
Hard for to think of anything to add since you gave a great overview as is, and I gotten to leave my comments on things like the book club and podcast before. But this was excellent and I’d enjoy seeing more videos like it. The more love and appreciation we can show for the novels the better.
This video definitely makes me want to check out the book.
I’ve thought of possibly getting into the books, (even lurking around during the book club) but now I want to try this one. Especially because it’s an anthology.
Really sounds cool.
Yo there are not nearly enough UA-cam channels that cover specific books. I would love it if you did more book reviews. Keep up the amazing work!!
Mike, I love this format! Talking to the camera with cutaways spliced with clips and artwork. Great production. Would love to see more book reviews like this. Suggesting Mistborn Trilogy, Night Angel Trilogy, Expanse Novels.
I'm getting pretty close to finishing Hero of Ages. I would definitely be up for a Mistborn trilogy review.
Yes, Mike! This was great. You and Casen are crushing the content (though you guys always do), and I love the idea of you doing these book reviews. And speaking to the subject of this video, I've become something of a Witcher fanboy over the years. Played the games, currently listening to the audiobooks, watched the show, and even got a tattoo a few years ago. I wholeheartedly agree about the writing, and that Peter Kenny is amazing on the audiobooks. I feel like the show tried to give a little taste of what the books and games give you, the philosophy and the action, but fell a little short of both ends. Without a doubt though, the Geralt and Renfri fight in the show, is exactly how I imagined it in my mind while reading the book.
I just finished this book, and your breakdown of it was perfect. Keep up the good work dawg.
Woahhh, your hair is getting long, man! Always love listening to you pick apart my favorite things and make me remember exactly why I started loving them in the first place
Great review!! I'd love to see more book reviews on this channel :)
An amazing work you have done with this book review!!! Please continue with all other saga books!
Beautiful inside into the core qualities of the books sir! I like how you emphasized the philosophical aspect of the writing and the battle of wits which Geralt enjoys so much. Netflix writers have just never understood Witcher at all, what a waste.
All of the books are broad, intelligent and engaging, as is your review! I haven't seen the show but really appreciate the book analysis and fully agree that the audiobook narrator is exceptional
I actually haven't seen the show and was wondering whether or not I should read the books so I'm glad to see this from you cause I trust your recommendation above all others
You articulated what I thought about the show better than I ever could! Dandelion/Jaskier's relationship with Geralt, and possibly spending too much screen time on Yennefer (who is still a great character, she's just not... a MAIN character) were my biggest faults with the show. I am glad it will come back for more, as they still did a lot of wonderful things, but they faltered on quite a bit. I love trhe universe so much that I'm still pumped about season 2, though.
Maybe they'll try to make Geralt like Jaskier with the passing of time on the show?
Book reviews are always welcome.
Got me interested to listening to the audiobook
Excellent review and a welcome change of pace from the standard game reviews. Good literary content feels all too uncommon here on UA-cam, so I'd definitely love to see more.
I've still not got into The Witcher in any format but that said I do really like the format of this book review which is presented well and tightly focussed on all the relevant details.
Thanks, Rob! Always good to hear from you. I'm a fair way into Hero of Ages, by the way. Really liking it.
Always really interesting to see content creators on film after projecting what you think they look like based on only knowing their voice. Lots of people were surprised by what KingK looks like. For some reason I always thought you'd look like Edward Snowden, but now I wouldn't suspect that you make game retrospectives at all if I saw you walking around.
Absolutely loved this book review format! Hope you'll do more like these in the future, Mike.
Awesome review, I'm really liking the new format. Really tight review and I think you got all your points really well
I agree 100% with your opinion. I read the entire saga in December 1999:)
this was an excellent review, thank you. and your voice and personality really add to the experience
Just finished reading the book... so good! I first played the game, then watched the series and now this one. I think that like many adaptations, reading the book is in the end the richest experience. I found the series entertaining and loved parts of it, like Ciri and Yennefer’s stories. Geralt’s and Jaskier’s are better in the book and in the game but not in a way that make me feel that I like one better than the other. They’re just different takes on a great set of characters. Thanks for the review!
Love the video mate
Hope u review the rest of the series too :)
Just started reading the book and i found youtube recommending this to me, also i would love to see you analyze more books cause i really like your jrpg ones
I agree 100% on all of this! Especially the audio book. I love audio books and this one is high on my recommended list!
Literally just finished listening to The Last Wish on audible on Saturday. I watched the Netflix show first, and I now have a much greater appreciation for the Geralt sections of that show.
I wonder how hard it could have been to have the Alderman or Stregobor mention the Tridam ultimatum to Geralt after his sexy time with Renfri where she should mentioned it too. Geralt waking up and saying "The Market" is such a bruh moment
More book reviews would be great
Great review!
I was disappointed with the Netflix series. The most important and iconic aspect of the books - its interesting dialogue and witty humor was significantly limited and dumbed down in the adaptation. Machiavellian and plotting politicians were replaced by cartoonish versions of the Nilfgaard and wizard's lounge. And while I understand what they were trying to accomplish with Ciri and Yennefer, not much happens in their plotlines (relatively to the screen time that was sacrificed for them).
BTW in Polish, the letter 'w' is pronounced like English 'v', so Sapkowski's name sounds like: sapkovsky. :)
That was a fantastic review and really refreshing. Mike is the most scholarly scholar of scholars
Very cool video! Thanks and more liek this. I am playing The Witcher 3 now for the first time, I suck at it and am playing on 2nd to hardest difficulty with almost all HUD turned off. Enjoying slogging my way through and having to plan journeys, feel like a Witcher. Will be checking this book out in Audiobook version thanks for the recommendation
Absolutely amazing video, Mike! Would love to see more videos like this on other novels.
Review the whole *Ciris*. I just finished the books and I'm soaking up as much created content as I can.
I can understand why the producer/director/etc made the changes that they did, and I can appreciate it overall. I'm really looking forward to future seasons. I would agree with your criticisms though and say my biggest gripes with the show are Geralt's characterization as being a one note brooding tough guy. He is much lighter in the books, at least until the main plot starts escalating, and much of the books wisdom and humor come from him. I think they are doing a great job with Ciri, and was pleasantly surprised with Yennefer's added story. Lastly I think they might have gone too far setting up Nilfgaard and specifically Cahir as typical bad guys, but I understand it would be hard to unite the short stories without somewhat of a universal antagonist.
Thorough And insightful Review.
Thank You.
I stopped reading the novels a while back but debated on picking it up after watching the show. But I feel like maybe after so long it might be best to reread them, or at least the first two to grab that spirit of the story like you mentioned. The show definitely has moments that don’t hit as hard as the novels do, because not enough time is given to develop the emotional payoff.
I’d argue that Geralt does consider Dandelion a friend in the show, but the lines where he shows it don’t happen enough. When he debates how he would feel Dandelion may die he feels conflicted and hurt because he said things he regretted and would not his friend to leave this world thinking Geralt hated him. However it seems the line was missed by a lot of viewers which sucks. Also, the last scene with them is just Geralt screaming at him, which is a real moment having to deal with humor at a bad moment but it leaves the viewers believing that Geralt must always find this traveling companion annoying, like you said.
I probably should have worded that better. I agree that he does end up feeling like a friend after a while, but we don't ever get to see *why* in the show--and that's important because they only ever show Jaskier being annoying and Geralt being irritated. Even when Geralt is trying to save his voice in the 5th episode, there's a quip where they make a point to show how annoying Geralt finds him. He never came across to me as being genuinely concerned as much as obligated to help him.
Resonant Arc very fair points. Maybe this is intentional to build a stepping stone to their friendship and it will be a lot more solid in season 2- but I agree that their bond shouldn’t really be something that needs development: Dandelion is always there for Geralt when no one else is.
One of the best books I’ve ever read, basically for all the reasons you elucidated here.
I know I'm late to the party, but the last wish blew me away. Did not expect it to be so good. Having said that, sword of destiny and baptism of fire are probably tied for my favorites in the series.
And yes, pretty underwhelmed by the show, even as I understand it's limitations. It's still enjoyable though.
Love this format! Thanks for the great work Mike
Amazing wallpaper on that monitor.
Great review. I myself went back to reread the book because I really didn't like the numerous changes that they made to the content they did adapt.
i'm not even a big book reader but witcher 3 made me read the books and search for other source material like gwent and thronebreaker. Made me love the world, lore,story and characters.
Interesting. I welcome book reviews. I didn't need to be sold on The Lord of the Rings books because of the movies but your Silmarillion discussion/book club sold me on getting that book. Haven't read it yet but I will at some point. I feel I need to read more anyways because of my interest in acting and in learning to interpret and use words. I've read a ways into the Wheel of Time series and plan to revisit it but I don't know of too many book series besides the most popular (Star Wars, LotR + The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Nania, Harry Potter). Since there are millions of books out there and other competing media like movies and video games I need to be sold on a book or book series. I think it also is a nice change of pace from all the video game reviews especially after doing a lot of them. Maybe you should do movies too. As long as you don't abandon video game reviews completely I'm ok with it.
Great vid, would love to see more book reviews!
Watching season 1 of the show was very cool for me because I had just read The Last Wish like a week prior.
Sword of destiny is my favorite. Especially during the druid forest where ciri and Geralt interact for the first time, this grow man arguing with a little brat.. and the story about dandelion and effy.
I feel like in many ways the Witcher 3 faithfully followed up on and dare I say perfected the short story format that was so brilliantly executed in the Last Wish. The numerous side quest and story arcs really do feel like their own self contained chapters. The conflict, philosophical back and forth, great dialogue, crude humour, awesome characters, it's all there and it's glorious. The overarching plot of chasing Ciri and fighting Eredin definitely feels like the least interesting part of the overall experience at least for me. But then they've completely outdone themselves with the two expansions. I especially adore Hearts of Stone. I think it's now my favourite set piece in the Witcher universe. I do love the first two books but sadly I couldn't finish Lady of the Lake. The Ciri saga has its great moments but it just doesn't compare to pure magic that is The Last Wish.
Totally agree. The Witcher 3 did a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of the books.
Would love to see this on the other Witcher books!
I know D&D couldn’t pull off the last seasons of Game of thrones but they made an amazing show while they had the material and were adapting. Witcher needed someone like them, someone who can adopt a book and be true to it and don’t have any agenda. I liked the yennefer backstory but I was disappointed by the fact that they showed that it was her choice to give up on having a kid in books the choice was taken out of her hand and it was her tragic story. Buy omitting the mother neneka’s story not only we lost her as a great character but the fact that she shows how dangerous Geralt life is. It took geralt a long time to heal and the physical injuries of each battle is like life and death for him not something so simple that à not powerful mage like triss can heal right away. Show runners should have had more trust on their creation and risked more to tell the stories more in depth. At least they’ve done one things very well they made many like me to be interested in the story and read the book. Love your video and analysis. Do you have analysis of the other books?
I really liked the show though I couldn't disagree with your argument about the problem with the writing. When I think about it, a lot of the weakness in the writing didn't really stand out to me as much because `i watched the show literally just after I finished reading the book so I carried over much of the context from the books into the show. So things like Geralt's and Jaskier friendship made sense to me in the show even though it didn't have the pre-requisite dialog that would provide the context. Hopefully they tighten that up for the next season, and showrunner seems to be very open to criticism so I'm hopeful moving forward.
I think they have a solid team in place, and yeah--if she's open to criticism and looking for ways to improve I think they can do a great job on the story of the saga.
Make video on any nerd media, and I'll watch.
This was such a great watch. I've read The Last Wish and I fully agree with everything here.
You guys make some incredible content.
I enjoyed the show. The Yennefer story is all kind of made up for the show, but I luved the character and the actress that played her. I agree in that it does condense much of the Last Wish, I really would have liked the story with the cursed guy in a castle with a bruxha lover killing the locals, but maybe it wouldn't have fit the spirit of what they were going for in developing the 3 characters.
That story was one of my favorites in the book! I really missed it in the show.
@@ResonantArc maybe they could just fit that story into an episode in another season. I liked the cursed character telling his story of loneliness over the years, but I get how its difficult to write it into what they were going for. Maybe when Geralt is separated from Ciri and is going about his adventures they come upon that story, I hope they find a way to make it fit.
You mean Nivellen? He will be played by Kristofer Hivju in the 2nd season. I guess Geralt and Ciri will meet him on their way to Kaer Morhen
I just read both The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny. Loved the hell out of both, sadly I read fast when I enjoy a good book so they didnt last long.
Any plans to do a similar review for Sword of Destiny? It did not have the same impact on me as The Last Wish, but it's still pretty good. "A Shard of Ice" is my particular favorite short story from that collection.
SPOILER but not so important.
I love the scene in the ,,Baptism of Fire" when Gerald and his company spotted the camp mostly by the smell of the cabbadges and shit. Jaskier is starting
poetically describing the camp. Regis is talking like an university professor, wondering why they are so lazy to build the latrine. Milva like a simple-minded uneducated woman ask why they can't simply say it's reak of cabbadges and shit. Pecivall like an concrete engineer end this discussions says quote: ,,Cabbadges and shit are always come together. One enhance another, perpetuum mobile."
Yeah, I'm down for book reviews. I would totally be down for game reviews without game footage for that matter. Capturing footage takes way too much damn time.
I own the whole series and I like to re listen to the audio books while I work
I loved your take on everything in this video. I feel very similar in the way you think about the show vs book and this video helped me convey why when I couldn’t explain it before. Thank you. One question. I can understand how the voice of reason ‘chapters’ fit into the book before each story but the last voice of reason seems to throw me off. My gf and I can understand the building of the story of geralt with it a little but other than to show geralt can both out with and out match most men and that he doesn’t care for their silly tricks idk what I was supposed to take from that final excerpt. Help anyone?
Awesome review ! Do all 7 witcher books. And, yes, Season fo Storms do not exist :P
One of my favorite bits in The Last Wish is the beginning of the title story. Geralt and Dandelion are fishing together, making bets and jeering at each other in good fun. When Dandelion fishes up a lamp, he gloats that he has fished up a genie and is going to get his wishes. He rubs it in Geralt’s face, even as Geralt tries to seriously warn him how dangerous it is to deal with a Djinn.
Dandelion doesn’t heed Geralt’s warnings, continues jeering at him, and frees the Djinn. Even still, Geralt tries to stop Dandelion, who gets in some final jabs, begins to command the Djinn to do his bidding, and is promptly strangled into a coma by the being he freed.
This seems halfway played for laughs.
I think it’s a moment that illustrates a lot of the great things you talk about in this book. It gets into the way Geralt actually feels about people, his relationship with Dandelion specifically, the hardness of the world, and the humor the author finds in unexpected places. The prose is deft, and the story begins as a semi-humorous anecdote, but quickly and naturally turns into one of the book’s two most significant tales to the whole saga.
I love The Witcher, but The Last Wish is one of my favorite books in general
I agree with this 100%! So well put.
@@ResonantArc Thanks! You tend to make such thoughtful and well-considered points in your videos, so I'm glad to hear that.
This scene was played out exactly like this in the show :)
My only problem with the audiobook is how Peter Kenny reads the name "Dandelion" in the Last Wish. It really grates every time.
Yeah, he eventually corrects himself down the line (in Baptism of Fire or something?), but it is a little weird.
Hey, loved the review. But I do think one part of your review of the show is inaccurate. You mention that Jaskeir is not shown to be useful to Geralt and because the show also shows Geralt being constantly annoyed with him, that Jaskier feels useless. I think the show does a good job, perhaps in a different way, at showing that Jaskier is helpful to Geralt in a very particular way, which is not companionship, as you suggest, but publicity instead. Jaskiers songs transform people's perception of Geralt, and how much he gets paid. Toss a coin, if you will.
Yeah man, I been waiting for stuff like this since you guys became Resonant Arc. I’ve not read the books, but I saw a brief glimpse of what you appear to be drawn to in the episode with the hedgehog man, where Gerald says something like “Here’s to a shitless death.”
Didn’t care for this show AT ALL though. Didn’t like the acting, writing or general art direction. And the way the timelines played out seemed like an insecure move to look more complex than it needed to. Just focus on Geralt for goodness sake.
And I don’t know if that’s an accurate depiction of Dandelion, but he’s as irritating as those UA-cam ads for the Honey App
I'd be really interested to see what you thought of the novel--after having seen the show. If you have time check it out! I love discussing this book, haha.
@@ResonantArc You know, I just might do it. I'm finishing up one book now and need something else to read on my lunch in work, so a collection of short stories would do nicely.
I just got it today! Also you better not be sick with covid19 and if you are you better get better because you are the whole reason I listened to this book and the whole reason I've beat ff7
More. Book. Reviews. More. Books. Reviews.
and maybe a fantasy book club.
Geralt is a sidekick in his own tv show.
Really cool review, keep it up!
The book in original Polish has much wider dictionary of swearwords - at least from what the Netflix series uses - and most of them are not used nowadays. This gives the books it own, quite dirty but believable, "style" 😉
Honestly i think they couldnt adapt the last wish properly because of the huge Witcher 3 fanbase, the problem is events in that game are after the whole book series and much of the story and characters is already revield, so they cant differ much from it,
The second thing, i think that turning around Jaskiers and Geralt's relation was pretty good choice, which allowed to show more of Geralt's character development on his early stages. When this two spend half of the screentime together as a buddies, is hard to show Geralt as a cold, ostracized, conflicted person. But still i think they are friends in the show, what u can see mostly in ep. 5, btw. their relation is more like in Baptism of fire
My biggest issue with the show relate to Aretuza, famous eals, and Yennefer who is off politics and mage community so early,
Spoiler
i'm courious how they would explain sending ciri there, or how she will encourage Geralt to go with her on Thaned, etc.
Overwall u got a lot of good points in ur review i enterally agree with, greatings
Honestly, I don't find the films of Lord of the Rings capture the book at all. The films to me, feel less about the cultures, the journey/adventure, share much more in common with blockbuster action films... even contriving a lot of the typical plot points that you'd see. The Scouring of the Shire was completely cut from the film, but in the book, it is an incredibly important chapter to contrast with the beginning of the story, showing the immense growth of all The Hobbit characters - and I didn't find the films achieved character growth very well. That said, I like the films quite a bit, but as a different sort of work than the book - even though it shares a lot of the superficial elements.
I definitely recommend the audiobooks of the witcher.
Really well done!
More book reviews please :)
This was a very Soulful review with very useful information Oh, I'd be up for any other recommendations. I share a common favorite in Chrono Trigger, but I have to disagree on The Witcher games I'd like to see an explanation as to their merit.
Hopefully people will want to see more of the book reviews, because I'd love to go through all of them and build up to reviews of the games as well.
We talked briefly when Henry was picked to play the Witcher and you believed he was miscast, has your opinion changed for either good or ill?
I thought he was adequate in the role. I didn't have any problems with Henry.
Good review.
I'm Polish.
Quality of translation is kind of... fluctuating, some parts are very good, some parts are just loosing a lot of meaning, or are kind of cringe.
Overall quality of writing is a lot better in Polish.
@Dalle Smalhals No, but I wanted.
i like your channel so muchh...so informative
Is this edition illustrated?? Regards!
1. I've read it, and you've hit my interpretation of the whole thing dead-on: The Last Wish is fantastic, the saga is okay, and the show missed what makes TLW so fantastic. The show is okay! I'm glad it exists. Some of my favorite facets of TLW are nowhere to be seen, and it's a shame.
2. Love the analysis, don't hesitate to analyze more sci fi and fantasy in the future!
So is this a good place to start for someone one jumping into the series?
It's the BEST place to start!
Yeah the book is a million times better than the TV series. I still enjoyed the TV series, but they missed out on a big opportunity.
Imo, writers of the show didn't get many aspects of the books.
I read the first 3 books before witcher 3 came out. I was one of the comparatively small group of English speakers that could enjoy the story with the knowledge of Geralt's relationships with Ciri and Yen. It made all the difference.
The Wisher: The Last Witch | Book Review
Nice
the witcher books are my favourite (i remember first reading the fan translations before the official translations came out). The show is just sooo different and looses all nuance, some of the characters just dont even seem remotely the same as their books counterparts.
And there is the nilfgardian scrotum armor, the forced politics and characters replaced with random black people and latinos.