How To Read The Witcher Books In Order
Read Time:9 Minute, 33 Second
It began in the unlikeliest of ways: a short story submitted to Fantastyka, a Polish fantasy/science fiction magazine by an economist and salesman-turned-author named Andrezj Sapkowski. The story, a reimagining of a Polish folk tale entitled Wiedźmin (The Witcher), won third place in Fantastyka’s competition. It was Sapkowski’s son who encouraged him to continue the story. Thus, The Witcher saga was born. The franchise now includes video games, TV adaptations, and graphic novels. However, Geralt of Riviera’s story is best told through the words of Sapkowski himself, in an eight-book series that continues to enthrall and delight fans.
However, new fans of The Witcher who are interested in delving into the source material may find it hard to know where to start. The books of the main saga were published in chronological order, but where do the short story collections fit in? Never fear – we’re here to give you the complete and definitive guide on the correct reading order of the Witcher series.
Short Story Collections
1. The Last Wish (1993)
The Last Wish is the best starting point for reading the Witcher books in order. Though it is the third collection of short stories published by Sapkowski as part of the Witcher saga, this book introduces readers to Geralt of Riviera and the world in which he lives. The Last Wish contains four of the five stories originally published in Sapkowski’s first short story collection, The Witcher (published in 1990 in Polish and now out of print), as well as three new stories. Much of the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher is based on the events of The Last Wish and it also introduces the main events and characters of the Witcher games made by CD Projekt Red.
2. Sword of Destiny (1992)
This was the second short story collection published but takes place after The Last Wish. The events of The Last Wish set the scene and give context for many of the stories in Sword of Destiny. This book introduces pivotal characters such as Ciri. Stories from Sword of Destiny have also inspired the Netflix series and video games.
The Main Saga
Once you’ve read The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, it’s time to begin the main saga. This saga comprises five novels: Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of Swallows, and The Lady of the Lake. The books follow Geralt’s journey as he becomes involved in political conflicts and dangerous quests, and encounters powerful beings. The novels are in chronological order, with overarching plotlines and sequential events, so we recommend reading them in order for a seamless (and less confusing) experience.
3. Blood of Elves (1994)
This is often referred to as the first book in the Witcher saga because it was the first full-length novel published after the three short story collections. Instead of the short, fairytale-inspired style of the previous collections, Blood of Elves introduces the epic themes of a world in despair, teetering on the edge of disaster. The story is told from multiple characters’ perspectives, including Geralt, Ciri, Yennefer, Triss, and Dandelion, all of whom fans of the games and the TV series will recognize.
4. Time of Contempt (1995)
Time of Contempt is book two of the Witcher saga and directly follows the events of Blood of Elves. As the Continent falls deeper into chaos and darkness, Geralt, Ciri, and their allies battle against armies, monsters, and fate for their own survival and that of the world they know.
5. Baptism of Fire (1996)
Book three of the Witcher series, Baptism of Fire continues the story where Time of Contempt left off. Described by many fans as a more contemplative, philosophical novel than the others, Baptism of Fire has a slower pace, focusing not on man’s battle with monsters or men but with himself.
6. The Tower of the Swallow (1997)
In The Tower of Swallows, the second to last book of the series, the plot accelerates once again, building tension and raising the stakes as the saga hurtles toward its conclusion.
7. The Lady of the Lake (1998)
In the final book, Sapkowski masterfully brings his epic, far-reaching saga to an end, revealing the fate of Geralt and the rest of our beloved characters.
Prequels and Midquels
Season of Storms (2013)
Season of Storms is the eighth and most recent Witcher book published. It takes place during the events of The Last Wish and builds on the lore and history of the world, as well as giving readers more time with Geralt and the bard Dandelion. Some readers prefer to read it immediately after The Last Wish so as to keep events in chronological order, however others recommend reading it after the main saga. There are certainly easter eggs and some information that have significance later in the series, so for anyone concerned about spoilers, it’s probably best to save it for last.
The Road of No Return
Earlier, we spoke about the very first collection of short stories that Andrezj Sapkowski published in 1990. The collection was simply called The Witcher and consisted of five stories, four of which were included in The Last Wish (1993). The fifth story of the original collection, entitled The Road of No Return, was translated by fans eager to fill in the missing piece in The Witcher’s story. The story focuses not on Geralt but on his mother, Visenna, a druidess and magician who meets a fearless warrior named Korin whom many fans believe may be Geralt’s father. The story is available in eBook format only. It is perhaps best known for inspiring a quest in The Witcher 3 video game, but many die-hard fans of the series have sought it out to satisfy their curiosity about the origins of our mysterious Witcher.
Comics And Graphic Novels
Since 2014, Dark Horse Comics, in collaboration with CD Projekt Red, has published The Witcher graphic novels. Written by Paul Tobin and based on the video game series by CD Projekt Red, the comics revolve around the adventures of Geralt and other beloved characters. Most of the storylines are completely original but some short stories, such as Fox Children and A Grain of Truth, are adapted from the Witcher books.
The comics expand on the Witcher universe, telling side stories and filling in backgrounds in a way that immerses readers in the world. It’s important to note that they are inspired by the Witcher video games rather than the books, but readers agree that they recreate the atmosphere and tone of Sapkowski’s work wonderfully. As a result, it’s not necessary to read them to understand the main storyline, but for any fan of the books, video games, or TV series, they’re yet another way to enjoy the world of The Witcher. That being said, Dark Horse Comics and CD Projekt Red recently announced a new graphic novel based on The Edge of the World, one of the short stories from The Last Wish, continuing the close relationship between the various Witcher adaptations and their source material.
The Ninth Book
Exciting news for fans: Andrzej Sapkowski is writing a ninth Witcher book. The as-yet-untitled book will be a standalone story and is expected to be similar to Season of Storms in that respect. It’s due for release in Poland in 2024, with its translated version anticipated in 2025. Details are scarce but we know the book will focus on Geralt. Geralt’s story concluded in the final book, The Lady of the Lake, and Sapkowski has said before that he has no intention of continuing the series beyond this – “The story is complete, the saga has been concluded, so if by any chance I write something in the Witcher universe, and I sure have such intention, it would probably be something like a prequel or a sidequel. Not a sequel.”
Some Final Words
Beginning a new series is always a little daunting, especially when you have concerns about the correct reading order. We hope we’ve helped lay those fears to rest! With a ninth book on its way, it’s the perfect time to read or re-read Sapkowski’s epic saga, play CD Projekt Red’s phenomenal video games, watch Netflix’s excellent TV adaptation, and check out Dark Horse Comics’ graphic novels – anything to immerse yourself in the incredible world of The Witcher.
Have you read any of The Witcher books? How do you think they compare to their many adaptations? And if you’re new to them, what made you curious to check them out? Let us know in the comments section below! And don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletter, PopPulse Digest, for all things books, pop culture, online deals, and more.
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