I mean, this was fine. It was sort of a nostalgic good time to go back to when the Witcher was just a Witcher and not failing to save the world and failing at being a foster dad simultaneously, and like, tramping around the countryside with vampires and dwarves. We even get some good old fashioned Dandelion/Geralt bonding time. But at the same time, this story (which is set sometime in the middle of the second book of short stories), is also a blatant cash grab. It was published in 2013, well after the last book of the series, I can only assume after the massive success of the video games.
The contents of this episodes in Geralt’s life could easily have fit into the space of a novella, and instead it’s around 400 pages, streeeeetched to fit. It was fine when I was reading it, but I never felt super compelled to pick it up. The main conflict is Geralt trying to get his two swords back, which you know, I know he has those in the future, so no big suspense there. There were also some truly bizarre things shoved in here. I suppose there’s always a failure of translation, or some cultural stuff I’m missing, but what the fuck is up with the room of farting women guards? That is an actual plot point in this book! I do not understand! (And I say this as someone who thinks farts are most often very good inclusions in books and stories.)
Anyway, I have finished this well in time for season two of The Witcher, and am also mid-rewatch of season one, so I consider this whole endeavor a success. And I think I will definitely be revisiting the short stories especially in the future.