Just finished the books for the first time (minus Season), and I need to talk.

In the words of Geralt of Rivia: "Fuck".

I'm not an avid reader. I think the last thing I read for fun was Mockingjay, and I was still in high school. It's not something I'm not into, just a hobby that often falls to the wayside for non-print media.

I am, however, and avid gamer and staunch completionist. When I go to play a game in a series, I always start at the first game first. I don't skip any content: I've played every Kingdom Hearts game, even going as far as to bust out my DS for the ones that had been converted to cutscene movies. So when I finally got around to The Witcher, hearing the copious and unending praises for the series, I knew I was going to start at the first game. And so I did. Shortly before the release of the show, I dove into Geralt's world and was immediately enamored. The setting, the people, the questions of morality, all of it fascinated me to a degree that the lackluster combat was a total afterthought. Midway through Chapter 2, however, a drunken Dandelion begins throwing around spoilers for the books. The existence and fate of one Emiel Regis. The circumstances of Geralt's death.

Another quirk of my media-consuming nature is an utter hatred for spoilers. You may at this point see my problem. My dumb ass was aware that the games took place after the books, but most sources I found said the real spoilers didn't start until Witcher 3; this was, in fact, a mistruth. So at that very moment, as Dandelion availed himself of survivor's guilt at poor Shani's party, I derailed the game train entirely.

The next week, as a birthday present to myself, almost one year ago now, I walked into a Barnes & Noble for the first time since high school and walked out with 8 books and no idea the ride I was in for.

To say the Witcher books have awoken a love of reading I never knew I had would be the understatement of the year. I shredded through the short stories, finishing both Last Wish and Sword of Destiny before the month was out. By January, I had just demolished Baptism of Fire in less than a week, being particularly fond of it. The new college semester and a sheer desire to not be without new content ahead of me slowed my pace considerably, but today, I finally decided to just power through and put the last 2 chapters of Lady of the Lake to bed.

Fuck.

I sit here now, a young man puffy-eyed and dehydrated, to tell you that I have seen many times and places -- but none quite as special to me as those of The Witcher. I have created so many memories with this series. From bawling like a baby at the fate of Essi Daven, to sitting in awe reading the Thanedd Coup while I waited for my COVID test, to the joy of seeing Geralt's Company of Misfits, the confusion and terror of Ciri's journey, the absolute heartrending slog of the Battle of Brenna and Assault on Stygga Castle back to back, to, finally, the end of the story. A beautiful mess full of interesting people and captivating events. And I am sad to see it end for the first time -- but certainly not the last.

Today, I embark on a new adventure. I sit down with fresh eyes, a renewed outlook, and a much, MUCH better gaming PC, and I begin anew the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, of Yennefer of Vengerberg, and of Ciri of Vengerberg, Daughter of Yennefer.

In a different time, and a different place.

I write this down not because I'm a chronic oversharer, but because I hope reading this has brought forth your own fond memories of the first time you experienced this wonderful tale. I have a long way to go still, for I must still dodge spoilers from the games, but I hope to one day be able to discuss, interact, and contribute with all of you. Until then, it's time to see what these "Witcher" games are about, huh?

And God I hope season 2 is good.