Recommended reading order
The Witcher books are best approached in the following recommended order, with the foundational short-story collections and main novel sequence followed before the later prequel and side-story material:[2-10]
| Order | Cover | Title | First published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Last Wish | 1993[11] | Establishes Geralt, Yennefer, Dandelion, and Ciri’s destiny. |
| 2 |
|
Sword of Destiny | 1992[11] | Carries the destiny thread toward Geralt and Ciri’s reunion. |
| 3 |
|
Blood of Elves | 1994[11] | Begins the continuous novel arc after Ciri joins Geralt. |
| 4 |
|
The Time of Contempt | 1995[11] | Continues Ciri’s pursuit and the political crisis around her. |
| 5 |
|
Baptism of Fire | 1996[11] | Follows Geralt’s search after the upheaval of Thanedd. |
| 6 |
|
The Tower of Swallows | 1997[11] | Continues Ciri’s flight and Geralt’s journey toward her. |
| 7 |
|
The Lady of the Lake | 1999[11] | Concludes the main Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri storyline. |
| 8 |
|
Season of Storms | 2013[12] | A side adventure set before the main novel arc. |
| 9 |
|
Crossroads of Ravens | 2024[13] | A prequel about Geralt’s early years as a witcher. |
Publication order
The publication order may suit readers who want to follow the publication sequence, but it places some foundational material after stories that already assume Geralt’s relationships with Yennefer, Dandelion, and Ciri.[11-13]
The Witcher books may be read in publication order, by following this sequence:[11-13]
| Order | Cover | Title | First published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Sword of Destiny | 1992[11] | Opens with later-linked stories and Ciri’s first direct role. |
| 2 |
|
The Last Wish | 1993[11] | Fills in earlier foundations for Geralt, Yennefer, and destiny. |
| 3 |
|
Blood of Elves | 1994[11] | Begins the continuous novel sequence. |
| 4 |
|
The Time of Contempt | 1995[11] | Carries the novel arc into an open crisis. |
| 5 |
|
Baptism of Fire | 1996[11] | Follows Geralt’s search after the crisis. |
| 6 |
|
The Tower of Swallows | 1997[11] | Advances the separated storylines toward convergence. |
| 7 |
|
The Lady of the Lake | 1999[11] | Concludes the main arc. |
| 8 |
|
Season of Storms | 2013[12] | Adds a separate earlier Geralt adventure. |
| 9 |
|
Crossroads of Ravens | 2024[13] | Adds an early-career prequel. |
Chronological order
A strict chronological order starts with Geralt’s youth and early career, then moves through the foundational stories, the main saga, and the later-positioned side adventure where it belongs in Geralt’s life. This route is mainly for rereaders or completionists, because it leads with prequel material before the books that introduce the series’ central relationships most clearly.[2-10]
The Witcher books may be read in chronological order, by following this sequence:[1]
| Order | Cover | Title | First published | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Crossroads of Ravens | 2024[13] | Begins with Geralt as a young witcher. |
| 2 |
|
The Last Wish | 1993[11] | Establishes the core relationships and destiny premise. |
| 3 |
|
Season of Storms | 2013[12] | Fits before the main Ciri-centered novel arc. |
| 4 |
|
Sword of Destiny | 1992[11] | Leads into Geralt’s acceptance of Ciri. |
| 5 |
|
Blood of Elves | 1994[11] | Starts the main novel sequence. |
| 6 |
|
The Time of Contempt | 1995[11] | Continues the central crisis. |
| 7 |
|
Baptism of Fire | 1996[11] | Follows the search through wartime lands. |
| 8 |
|
The Tower of Swallows | 1997[11] | Moves the separated plots toward their endgame. |
| 9 |
|
The Lady of the Lake | 1999[11] | Concludes the main storyline. |
Works in sequence
The essential reading path starts with the two foundational short-story collections, namely The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny. It then continues with the six-book novel sequence that follows Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri through the main arc: Blood of Elves, The Time of Contempt, The Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of Swallows, and The Lady of the Lake. These books supply the necessary background, relationships, and direct continuations for the central story.[3][5-10]
The supplementary works, namely Season of Storms and Crossroads of Ravens, expand Geralt’s life outside the main sequence. They add earlier adventures, additional witcher work, and retrospective context, but they are not required before reading the principal Geralt-and-Ciri storyline. These supplementary titles are most useful for readers who have already read the main novels and want a fuller view of Geralt’s career.[4][2]
1. The Last Wish
The Last Wish (1993),[11] a collection of short stories, is the best entry point for the series because it introduces Geralt through linked episodes that define his work, his code, and the world around him.[3]
It also establishes major recurring characters, including Dandelion and Yennefer, and includes the Cintra story that creates the destiny bond leading toward Ciri and the later novels.[3]
2. Sword of Destiny
Sword of Destiny (1992),[11] another collection of short stories, develops the relationships and obligations that make the main sequence possible. Its stories continue Geralt’s uneasy bond with Yennefer, show his place among humans and non-humans, and bring Ciri from a distant promise into Geralt’s life.[5]
This collection is the bridge between the introductory stories and the continuous novel arc.[5]
3. Blood of Elves
Blood of Elves (1994)[11] begins the main novel sequence after Geralt has found Ciri. This book shifts the series from episodic witcher stories into a broader narrative about training, protection, political danger, and uncontrolled magical power.[6]
It also places Ciri under the care of Geralt, the witchers of Kaer Morhen, Triss, and eventually Yennefer.[6]
4. The Time of Contempt
The Time of Contempt (1995)[11] continues from the tensions established in Blood of Elves. Ciri’s safety becomes entangled with the ambitions of kings, mages, spies, and Nilfgaard, while Geralt and Yennefer try to protect her amid worsening political instability.[7]
This book marks a major escalation in the continuous storyline and leaves the central characters separated and endangered.[7]
5. Baptism of Fire
Baptism of Fire (1996)[11] follows the aftermath of the upheaval in The Time of Contempt. Geralt sets out to find Ciri, gathering an unlikely company as war reshapes the lands around him.[8]
This book’s place in the series is primarily transitional and quest-driven: it follows Geralt’s movement from recovery into active pursuit while Ciri’s fate remains uncertain.[8]
6. The Tower of Swallows
The Tower of Swallows (1997)[11] advances the separated storylines of Ciri, Geralt, and Yennefer. Ciri recounts her time as a fugitive, Geralt’s company continues its search, and Yennefer pursues her own attempt to locate and protect Ciri.[9]
This book depends on the preceding events and moves the main arc toward its final convergence.[9]
7. The Lady of the Lake
The Lady of the Lake (1999)[11] brings the main novels to their conclusion. Framed through Ciri’s account and later attempts to understand the legend of Geralt and Ciri, it resolves the central pursuits, confrontations, and political consequences built through the preceding novels.[10]
It should be read after the earlier main books, as it is the culmination of their shared storyline.[10]
8. Season of Storms
Season of Storms (2013)[12] follows Geralt in a separate adventure involving stolen swords, court intrigue, sorcerers, monsters, and Dandelion. It is set before the main Ciri-centered novel arc but after Geralt’s history with Yennefer is already established.[4]
It reads better after the main sequence, where its returning characters and retrospective position are easier to place.[4]
9. Crossroads of Ravens
Crossroads of Ravens (2024)[13] is a prequel centered on a younger Geralt early in his career. It follows his partnership with the older witcher Preston Holt, his first contracts in Kaedwen, and his effort to define his own path.[2]
Although it is the earliest story in Geralt’s personal chronology, it is supplementary to the main reading path and is best saved for fuller coverage.[2]
References
- All books – Tagged “THE WITCHER”. Sapkowskibooks.
- Crossroads of Ravens. Orbit. ISBN: 9780316597739.
- The Last Wish. Orbit. ISBN: 9780316333528.
- Season of Storms. Orbit. ISBN: 9780316453165.
- Sword of Destiny. Orbit. ISBN: 9780316452564.
- Blood of Elves. Orion. ISBN: 9780316029193.
- The Time of Contempt. Orbit. ISBN: 9780316452762.
- Baptism of Fire. Orbit. ISBN: 9780316452861.
- The Tower of Swallows. Orbit. ISBN: 9780316452960.
- The Lady of the Lake. Orbit. ISBN: 9780316453066.
- Andrzej Sapkowski. superNOWA. Archived.
- WIEDŹMIN. SEZON BURZ. superNOWA. Archived.
- Nowa Fantastyka’s Post. Facebook.