The Witcher Books in Order
Geralt of Rivia, a scarred monster hunter with supernatural abilities, takes contracts to slay dangerous creatures while navigating a world of magic, politics, and moral ambiguity. Andrzej Sapkowski's series balances action with philosophical questions about good and evil, destiny and choice. The books feature complex secondary characters and a protagonist defined more by pragmatism than heroic virtue.
The Last Wish
The first Witcher book is a short story collection that introduces Geralt of Rivia through a series of monster-hunting jobs and moral dilemmas. Sapkowski reworks fairy tales and folklore with a cynical edge, so you get Geralt dealing with a cursed princess, a djinn, and a striga, but the outcomes are rarely clean. Several stories introduce characters who become central later, including the sorceress Yennefer and the bard Dandelion. Read this one first regardless of publication order debates.
Published: 2007
Buy on Amazon →Amazon pays us a small commission if you buy a book after clicking from our site. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, it just helps us keep the lights on. More info here.
Sword of Destiny
The second short story collection follows Geralt as he takes on more contracts and keeps crossing paths with a girl named Ciri, whose destiny seems tangled up with his. The stories here are more connected than in The Last Wish, building toward the main saga. Geralt's relationship with Yennefer deepens and gets more complicated, and the story 'Something More' at the end is where the series transitions from standalone tales to an ongoing narrative.
Published: 2015
Buy on Amazon →Amazon pays us a small commission if you buy a book after clicking from our site. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, it just helps us keep the lights on. More info here.
Blood of Elves
The first proper novel picks up with Geralt protecting Ciri at the witcher stronghold of Kaer Morhen, training her to fight while war breaks out across the Continent. Nilfgaard has invaded the Northern Kingdoms and various factions want Ciri for her Elder Blood heritage. Sapkowski shifts from the short story format to a sprawling political narrative, and the book introduces the mages and their power games. The pacing is slower than the short stories as Sapkowski builds the larger conflict.
Published: 2008
Buy on Amazon →Amazon pays us a small commission if you buy a book after clicking from our site. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, it just helps us keep the lights on. More info here.
Time of Contempt
Ciri trains with Yennefer at Aretuza while the political situation across the Continent deteriorates rapidly. A coup among the sorcerers scatters everyone, and Ciri ends up stranded in a desert, alone and hunted. Geralt is caught up in the political fallout and separated from both Ciri and Yennefer. This is where the series gets genuinely dark, and Sapkowski makes it clear that the war isn't background noise anymore.
Published: 2013
Buy on Amazon →Amazon pays us a small commission if you buy a book after clicking from our site. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, it just helps us keep the lights on. More info here.
Baptism of Fire
Geralt recovers from his injuries and sets out to find Ciri with a ragtag company that includes a dwarf, an archer, and a vampire. Nilfgaard's armies are everywhere, and the journey south is dangerous and slow. Sapkowski writes Geralt's party with a dry humor that offsets the grim war setting, and the group dynamic carries the book. Geralt is often sidelined from the main action, which frustrates him and sometimes the reader, but that's the point.
Published: 2014
Buy on Amazon →Amazon pays us a small commission if you buy a book after clicking from our site. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, it just helps us keep the lights on. More info here.
The Tower of the Swallow
The perspective shifts heavily to Ciri, who's fallen in with a gang of young outlaws called the Rats. She's hardened and angry, and Sapkowski doesn't shy away from how the previous books' events have changed her. Meanwhile, Geralt is still searching, and multiple factions are closing in on Ciri for their own reasons. The book uses a frame narrative where a character is told the story years later, which either adds atmosphere or annoys you depending on your tolerance for that device.
Published: 2016
Buy on Amazon →Amazon pays us a small commission if you buy a book after clicking from our site. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, it just helps us keep the lights on. More info here.
The Lady of the Lake
Everything converges. Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri's storylines finally come together as the war reaches its end and Ciri confronts the people who've been hunting her. Sapkowski resolves the major plot threads while leaving enough ambiguity in the ending to keep readers arguing about it for years. The book jumps between timelines and locations more than any previous entry, and the final chapters are divisive. Whatever you think of the ending, it's committed.
Published: 2017
Buy on Amazon →Amazon pays us a small commission if you buy a book after clicking from our site. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, it just helps us keep the lights on. More info here.
Season of Storms
Set during the timeline of the first short story collection, this standalone novel follows Geralt as he loses his swords and gets pulled into political intrigue involving sorcerers and a corrupt king. It works as a side adventure rather than a continuation of the main saga, and you can read it after the main series without losing anything. Sapkowski wrote it years after completing the saga, and it reads like he wanted to spend more time with the character without the weight of the larger plot.
Published: 2018
Buy on Amazon →Amazon pays us a small commission if you buy a book after clicking from our site. Don't worry, it doesn't cost you any more, it just helps us keep the lights on. More info here.
Reading Guide
Quick Answer
Start with The Last Wish. While it was technically published second, it contains stories that chronologically precede all other events in the series and introduces Geralt, his world, and the characters you will follow throughout the saga.
The Witcher reading order is essential to follow correctly because Sapkowski wrote two short story collections before the main novel saga, and skipping them means missing crucial character introductions and relationship developments that the novels assume you already know.
---
Why The Witcher Reading Order Matters
Unlike most fantasy series where you simply read Book 1 through Book 5, The Witcher has a unique structure that trips up many readers:
The Short Story Foundation: The first two books are short story collections, not novels. These introduce Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, and Dandelion in ways the main novels never explain. Readers who skip to Blood of Elves often feel lost because the novel opens with characters and relationships already established.
Publication vs. Writing Order: The Last Wish was published in 1993, but Sword of Destiny came out in 1992. However, The Last Wish contains earlier stories - some dating back to 1986. For reading purposes, The Last Wish should come first regardless of publication dates.
The Season of Storms Question: Published in 2013, this standalone novel is set chronologically early in the timeline but was written last. It contains subtle references that work better after reading the main saga, making it best saved for the end despite its chronological placement.
---
The Complete Witcher Reading Order
| Order | Title | Year | Type | Pages |
|-------|-------|------|------|-------|
| 1 | The Last Wish | 1993 | Short Stories | 288 |
| 2 | Sword of Destiny | 1992 | Short Stories | 400 |
| 3 | Blood of Elves | 1994 | Novel | 320 |
| 4 | Time of Contempt | 1995 | Novel | 352 |
| 5 | Baptism of Fire | 1996 | Novel | 352 |
| 6 | The Tower of the Swallow | 1997 | Novel | 464 |
| 7 | The Lady of the Lake | 1999 | Novel | 544 |
| 8 | Season of Storms | 2013 | Standalone | 404 |
Total page count: approximately 3,124 pages
---
Understanding the Structure
The Short Story Collections (Books 1-2)
The first two books contain interconnected short stories that introduce the world and characters:
- The Last Wish weaves tales together through a framing device of Geralt recovering at a temple
- Sword of Destiny follows a similar format with stories that begin building toward the main saga
- Key relationships are established here that drive the entire five-novel arc
The Main Saga (Books 3-7)
The five-novel saga tells one continuous story following Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri through a continental war. Each book picks up directly where the previous one ended.
The Standalone (Book 8)
Season of Storms is set between stories in The Last Wish but was written after the entire saga concluded. It works as both a return to the world for fans and contains an epilogue that resonates more deeply after finishing the main saga.
---
Alternative Reading Approaches
Strict Chronological Order (Not Recommended)
Some readers attempt to read events in timeline order, which would place Season of Storms early and require reading The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny stories in a specific interleaved sequence. This approach:
- Spoils narrative reveals Sapkowski carefully constructed
- Breaks the intended reading experience
- Is unnecessarily complicated for minimal benefit
Video Game Continuation
The CD Projekt Red games (The Witcher, The Witcher 2, The Witcher 3) are set after the books and are considered non-canonical by Sapkowski, but many fans enjoy them as a continuation:
- The games assume you have read all seven main books
- Playing before reading will spoil major saga events
- The Witcher 3 is particularly heavy with book references
Netflix Adaptation Order
The Netflix series remixes and reorders events significantly:
- Season 1 covers stories from both short story collections non-linearly
- Reading the books first provides context the show assumes
- The adaptation takes considerable liberties with the source material
---
Individual Book Highlights
The Last Wish
The perfect introduction to Geralt. These interconnected stories establish his character, moral philosophy, and the morally gray world he inhabits. Features the origin of his most important relationships and several tales that subvert classic fairy tales with dark twists.
Sword of Destiny
Deepens the emotional stakes with stories that are longer and more developed. Introduces key characters whose fates drive the entire saga. The final story sets up everything that follows in the novels.
Blood of Elves
The true beginning of the main narrative. Shifts from episodic adventures to an epic scope involving politics, war, and prophecy. Readers who started here often struggle because this book assumes familiarity with the short stories.
Time of Contempt
The saga hits full stride with major events that reshape the continent. Relationships are tested and alliances shift. Contains some of the most memorable sequences in the entire series.
Baptism of Fire
An extended journey that develops secondary characters while advancing the main plot. Features Geralt assembling an unlikely group of companions. Slower paced but essential for what follows.
The Tower of the Swallow
The narrative becomes more complex with multiple storylines converging. Dark and intense, this book raises the stakes considerably. Ciri becomes more prominent as a point-of-view character.
The Lady of the Lake
The epic conclusion that brings all threads together. Features an unconventional narrative structure that some readers love and others find challenging. Provides definitive closure to the saga.
Season of Storms
A welcome return to standalone Geralt adventures after the intensity of the saga. Lighter in tone than the later novels while still delivering Sapkowski's trademark wit and moral complexity. The epilogue adds poignant context to the overall series.
---
Common Questions
Can I start with Blood of Elves?
Technically yes, but you will miss essential character introductions and relationship foundations. The novel opens assuming you know who Yennefer, Dandelion, and Ciri are and why they matter to Geralt.
Should I read Season of Storms first since it is chronologically early?
No. Despite its early timeline placement, it was written last and contains an epilogue that spoils and reflects on events from the entire saga. Save it for the end.
I played The Witcher 3 first. Should I still read the books?
Absolutely. While you will know some major plot points, the books provide far more depth to characters and events the games only reference. Many readers find the books enhance their appreciation of the games.
Are there more books coming?
Sapkowski has indicated the saga is complete. Season of Storms was intended as a gift to fans rather than a continuation. However, he has not ruled out future stories in the world.
Do I need to read in Polish?
The English translations by Danusia Stok (earlier books) and David French (later books) are well-regarded. Some fans note tonal differences between translators, but both capture Sapkowski's storytelling effectively.
---
Content Considerations
The Witcher series contains:
- Violence: Combat is described in detail, including monster hunting and warfare
- Mature Themes: The series deals with racism, genocide, sexual violence (referenced but not graphically depicted), and moral ambiguity
- Complex Morality: There are few clear heroes or villains - characters make difficult choices with real consequences
- Dark Tone: While humor exists, the overall atmosphere is grim and the world is harsh
The series is appropriate for mature readers comfortable with dark fantasy.
---
Reading Tips
1. Do not skip the short stories - The most common mistake new readers make is jumping to Blood of Elves
2. Take notes on names - Polish names can be challenging and there are many characters to track
3. Pay attention to the framing devices - Sapkowski uses nested narratives and multiple timelines intentionally
4. The Lady of the Lake requires patience - Its structure is unconventional but rewards attentive readers
5. Save Season of Storms for dessert - It is a satisfying return to the world after the intensity of the saga
---
The Witcher Experience
Reading The Witcher in order provides one of fantasy's most rewarding experiences. Sapkowski created a world where fairy tale tropes are subverted, moral choices have weight, and a monster hunter might be the most human character you encounter.
The journey from short story collections to epic saga to nostalgic standalone mirrors Geralt's own arc from solitary witcher to someone with found family worth fighting for. Trust the reading order and let Sapkowski guide you through his remarkable creation.