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Witcher Book Order

Andrzej SapkowskiOngoing9 books

Witcher is best read in publication order: all 9 Witcher books so far, from The Last Wish (1993) to Crossroads of Ravens (2025). Open The Last Wish and keep going. Start with The Last Wish, not Blood of Elves; save Season of Storms until after Lady of the Lake.

Updated August 2026

Best read in publication order

  1. Short story collections
  2. Cover of The Last Wish

    The Last Wish

    1993

    Short stories introducing Geralt of Rivia and the moral gray of monster hunting.

    Bookshop.org

  3. Cover of Sword of Destiny

    Sword of Destiny

    1992

    More short stories including first meetings that shape the later novel arc.

    Bookshop.org

  4. Saga novels
  5. Cover of Blood of Elves

    Blood of Elves

    1994

    Geralt protects Ciri as political powers hunt the child of prophecy.

    Bookshop.org

  6. Cover of Time of Contempt

    Time of Contempt

    1995

    Ciri trains at the witcher keep while a coup shatters the wizard's conclave.

    Bookshop.org

  7. Cover of Baptism of Fire

    Baptism of Fire

    1996

    Geralt's company marches south as war engulfs the Northern Kingdoms.

    Bookshop.org

  8. Cover of The Tower of the Swallow

    The Tower of the Swallow

    1997

    Ciri's fate diverges across parallel paths while Geralt searches for her.

    Bookshop.org

  9. Cover of The Lady of the Lake

    The Lady of the Lake

    1999

    The saga concludes as destinies converge and the world faces transformation.

    Bookshop.org

  10. Standalone side novels
  11. Cover of Season of Storms

    Season of Storms

    2013

    A side adventure set in the short-story era. Best read after Lady of the Lake for the epilogue.

    Bookshop.org

  12. Cover of Crossroads of Ravens

    Crossroads of Ravens

    2025

    A younger-Geralt novel. Read after the saga like Season of Storms.

    Bookshop.org

How Witcher is structured

Before you start

Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher saga opens with short stories, then five novels that form the core plot. The reading order that usually clicks: The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny to meet Geralt, Yennefer, and Dandelion, then Blood of Elves into the novel sequence. Season of Storms and Crossroads of Ravens are later side novels best saved until after the saga.

That is the order below: two collections, five novels, then the side novels. Years are first Polish publication. Netflix and the games are different continuities. Expect a different tone and plot if that is how you met Geralt, and do not treat them as spoilers for Sapkowski's books.

Start with The Last Wish unless you insist on novels-only (Blood of Elves works, but you miss a lot of character groundwork). Blood of Elves through Lady of the Lake is one continuous story once you are in the saga proper. Sapkowski's humor and moral gray sit closer to the page than most adaptations show. That gap surprises a lot of game-first readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Witcher books are there?

Two short story collections, five saga novels, and two side novels for the core English path.

Where should I start with Witcher?

The Last Wish. Blood of Elves works for novels-only, but you miss groundwork.

Can I start with Blood of Elves?

You can follow the plot, but relationships and tone are built in The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny. Start there unless you only want novels.

When should I read Season of Storms?

After Lady of the Lake for a first pass. Chronologically it sits among Last Wish stories, but the epilogue is spoiler-sensitive if read early.

Do Netflix or the games follow these books?

No shared continuity you can trust. Games continue after the saga with their own story; the show reshuffles and invents.

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