Okay, let’s get a serious review in here. This book is the beginning foundation for a world that can rival Tolkien. This book is a wonderful place to start for anyone new to the Witcher universe.
Yes, it is true that the first two books of eight are short stories. Don’t let this fool you. While the stories are technically separate, there is still an overarching story going on that is being led into. If you have ever read The Martian by Andy Wier, this is more engaging than that.
In the end, I absolutely recommend someone hop in to this world, and this is the best place to start. If the games or show interests you AT ALL, you would be doing yourself a favor by reading these first.