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How to Read the Witcher Books in Order (2024 Update)

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How to read the witcher books in order (2024 update).

Since the release of Netflix’s 2019 adaptation of The Witcher, everyone's been buzzing with the same age-old question: are the books better?

We're biased towards books ourselves, of course. But we'll let you decide for yourself — and we'll be here to help you the entire way with the best reading order for The Witcher books.

But first, for anyone new to the series, here's a quick refresher: the origins of The Witcher books actually go all the way back to the 1980s, when Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski entered a short story called The Witcher into a contest run by the magazine Fantastyka . Placing third, that entry spawned a collection of short stories that then inspired the publication of a five-novel series, the Witcher Saga — which then became an entire franchise.

The Witcher focuses on Geralt of Rivia, a man with supernatural abilities that enable him to fight beasts and monsters . The novels primarily revolve around his goal to protect Ciri, a young princess of a recently conquered country who has a great prophecy hanging over her head — but the series is also so much more than that. These are stories that hit hard , by turns sweeping you up in the adventure of slaying monsters, wringing you through the epic tragedy of war, and breaking your heart with the perfect redemption romance.

Here’s a quick look at the series in their recommended reading order, so that you know what you’re in for:

The Last Wish (2007)
Sword of Destiny (2015)
Blood of Elves (2008)
The Time of Contempt (2013)
Baptism of Fire (2014)
The Tower of Swallows (2016)
The Lady of the Lake (2017)
Seasons of Storms (2018)

Without further ado, let's dive in!

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1. The Last Wish

While it may be tempting to jump straight into the novels, you should really start here. This short story collection contains the roots of the Witcher books, and will provide you with background information and character details that will be important once you get into the full-length books.

The Last Wish contains seven stories. The first one serves as a framing device, showing an injured Geralt seeking shelter in a temple; as such, it’s actually broken up into smaller sections and scattered between all the other stories. The remaining six are memories that he flashes back to while recuperating, each one with its own narrative arc. Together, they allow us to really get to know Geralt in all his complexity. The stories are clever, epic, and daring — perfectly setting the stage for the novels to come.

2. Sword of Destiny

While the English edition of Sword of Destiny was published after the first few novels were released in English, the stories within actually take place before the events of the series. That’s why we’d recommend you pick up this one next.

Unlike the first collection, Sword of Destiny follows a much more straightforward timeline: we’re treated to six more amazing stories in roughly chronological order. Many of them provide context for major characters in the main Witcher Saga, including the introduction of Ciri. In fact, one of the stories serves as a direct prequel to Blood of Elves , showcasing events from shortly before that book begins. If you’re looking for a full picture of the Witcher storyline, this is a vital book to add to your list.

3. Blood of Elves

With Blood of Elves, the main saga begins in earnest. Blood of Elves is set about a year after the downfall of Ciri’s kingdom. This tragedy sets off a hunt for the missing princess, with factions on all sides vying to get their hands on her. Unfortunately for them, young princess Ciri has fallen under the protection of one of the most famous witchers alive.

Taken to safety to learn how to hone her skills, the rambunctious and headstrong Ciri wants nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of Geralt, the man she admires so much. But as her powers grow, Geralt is compelled to mend bridges with his long-lost love, Yennefer of Vengerburg, for help. Yennefer’s skills as a witch are exactly what Ciri needs to hone the power she’s destined to wield — but as Yennefer and Ciri’s bond grows, so too does the evil that seeks Ciri out.

After the breakneck pace of the short story collections, some readers might find this book a bit of a slow start — but don’t let that fool you. There is plenty of adventure to be found in Ciri’s struggle to grow up, and in the subsequent books, the payoff for all this setup will absolutely be rewarded.

4. The Time of Contempt

Time of Contempt picks up where Blood of Elves left off. Ciri and Yennefer set off for the city of Gors Velen. Yennefer hopes to enroll Ciri in a magical academy there — but of course, even the best-laid plans can go awry. Between an incident involving a Wyvern, Ciri’s own rebellious escapades, and a long-overdue reunion with Geralt, there’s more than enough for Yennefer to keep track of as she attempts to protect the wayward princess.

But the book is also much larger than that. Here, the pace of the series jumpstarts, as all the major plot threads in the rest of the series ignite. This huge book is a wild ride, with everything from spies and betrayals, to seductive sorceresses and unicorns, to the very real danger of a war erupting. It’s a story about vulnerability and control, about humility, about chaos breaking out across the world. The pacing leaves you breathless, unable to escape the need to find out what happens next.

5. Baptism of Fire

This is the midpoint of the series, and Geralt is certainly in the thick of things by now. In Baptism of Fire, war continues to rage on, and all sides are growing increasingly determined. In the aftermath of events from the previous book, Geralt is recovering from injuries — but how can a protector protect if he’s unable to fight?

Geralt’s determination drives much of this book, as he rallies and gathers allies in an effort to reach Ciri before the rumors of her impending marriage can come true. It’s a complex, nuanced book that explores what it means to be a “monster.” It tears old bonds apart as Ciri takes a turn down a darker path, and it throws Yennefer against terrible odds as she’s imprisoned and struggling to reunite with her family. The slow tension draws you along, never once allowing you to let your guard down.

6. The Tower of Swallows

Ciri returns to center stage in The Tower of Swallows. Everyone is hunting her, but she’s retreated into an anonymous life of banditry and killing... until fate intervenes, and her life is changed once again.

Much of Ciri’s recent story is told in recalled flashback, similar to the framing story of The Last Wish . Some of what she experiences at the hands of a chilling new villain may be difficult to read, but they’re important to understand the depths of her torment and the lengths she will later go to for exacting revenge.

Meanwhile, Yennefer and Geralt deal with situations on their own: she’s seeking out old allies in her quest to find Ciri, and he ends up seduced by someone he probably shouldn’t have allowed himself to fall for. The pacing here returns to the slower setup of a few of the previous novels, building for the payoff of the final book. But it’s still thoroughly engrossing, as Ciri processes her recent past and learns what she’ll need to in order to strike out at those who’ve caused her pain.

7. The Lady of the Lake

All good things must come to an end. For many authors, it’s a struggle to figure out how to write an ending to such an epic fantasy series, but Sapkowski is more than up to the task.

The Lady of the Lake finds Ciri trapped on an elven world, alone and cut off from the people she loves. But where others may fall into desperation, Ciri faces her challenge with the determination we’ve grown to expect from the former princess. Meanwhile, Geralt and Yennefer continue in their adventures as they search for the young woman they’ve grown to see as a daughter. Readers will ache to see if the “family” will ever be reunited and get the happy ending they so richly deserve.

We’re not going to say more for risk of spoiling the many surprises this concluding book takes. What we will say is that it’s loaded with cleverly plotted twists and turns, and features appearances by pretty much every character that’s been introduced so far. This book is a thrilling wrap-up to a beloved series.

8. Season of Storms

Although Season of Storms was one of the last Witcher books to be published, it actually takes place after most of the stories in the first collection, but before the novels.

So why did we list it last? Simple: although the timeline is earlier, it ties directly into a major conflict that takes place in the previous five novels. Reading it beforehand will be less interesting without the context — and it spoils several moments from the other books.

For those who have read the rest of the series, however, this standalone prequel will be a welcome dip back into the world of The Witcher , as we follow Geralt on a quest to regain his lost signature weapons. A satisfying dessert to follow the incredibly rich meal that was the rest of the Witcher books.

9. Bonus: The comics adaptations!

Last, in addition to the Netflix series and video game franchise, The Witcher has also been adapted into graphic novels. A couple of times, in fact! And while the earlier series have not been translated to English, Dark Horse Comics started a Witcher series in 2014 based on the storyline from the video games.

Written by Paul Tobin, with art by Joe Querio, this comic series has covered four different story arcs so far. They’re currently available in a trade pub bind up (as well as a single-volume collection of the first three arcs), and make the perfect addition if you finish the books and find yourself wishing to spend just a little more time in the Witcher universe.

The Witcher Volume 1: House of Glass

The Witcher Volume 2: Fox Children

The Witcher Volume 3: Curse of Crows

The Witcher Library Edition Volume 1

The Witcher Volume 4: Of Flesh and Flame

And there you have it — everything you need to know to dive into the rich and engrossing world of the Witcher books. Pick them up today, and you’ll be ready to laud your spoilery knowledge over all your friends as they wait for season two to drop on Netflix.

Can’t get enough fantasy stories? We’ve got you covered! Check out our list of the Best Fantasy Books of All Time , or find a new favorite with our guide to all the different Fantasy Subgenres .

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You May Need This Crash Course On The Witcher

You might need this crash course on the witcher books, where does the witcher take place, what happens in the witcher book, the last wish , what happens in the witcher book, sword of destiny , who is yennefer, who is princess ciri , who is the bard, what is the conjunction of the spheres, more from tv, r29 original series.

How to Read The Witcher Books in Order

Here’s how to read the witcher books that netflix's henry cavill series is based on..

Now that Netflix’s The Witcher has arrived, this wild world of wonder and weirdness is being introduced to a whole new audience. However, executive producer and showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich’s adaptation of this beloved fantasy world isn’t tied to the massively successful Witcher game franchise developed by CD Projekt Red and which established its significance in the zeitgeist. Instead, the Netflix show is based on the books by author Andrzej Sapkowski. And maybe, just maybe, fans of the show are interested in giving the books a try as well now. Well, let us help you with that!

The Witcher Books In Order

The Last Wish
Sword of Destiny

Blood of Elves

The time of contempt, baptism of fire, the tower of swallows, the lady of the lake, season of storms, netflix's the witcher: cast vs. video game characters.

The Last Wish / Sword of Destiny

See The Last Wish on Amazon
See Sword of Destiny on Amazon

Once you’ve read The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, you’re ready to move on to the saga. This is comprised of five novels, all of which tell the stories of Geralt, Ciri, Yennefer, Triss, Dandelion, and others. They also introduce a range of characters that don’t appear in CD Projekt Red’s adaptations, most of whom are great.

See Blood of Elves on Amazon

The first book in the saga, Blood of Elves, takes place after the short story collections The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny. It introduces Nilfgaardian Emperor Emhyr var Emreis’ pursuit of Ciri, Geralt’s adopted daughter, in order to marry her and attain power over Cintra, the land that is hers by birthright. In an effort to thwart Emhyr’s plans, the Northern monarchs meet and decide to assassinate Ciri, but Geralt of Rivia watches over her in Kaer Morhen, the remote keep inhabited by Wolf School witchers. Meanwhile, a mysterious sorcerer is also trying to locate Ciri.

See The Time of Contempt on Amazon

The Time of Contempt picks up where the previous novel finishes. The Northern Kings are still conspiring with one another in an effort to lure Nilfgaard into war, while Ciri is due to be enrolled at Aretuza in order to study magic. Ciri comes into contact with some of the most powerful sorceresses on The Continent. As war becomes inevitable, she finds herself on the run with a bandit group known simply as The Rats.

See Baptism of Fire on Amazon

Geralt spends time in Brokilon forest recovering from events in the previous book, which is where he and Dandelion encounter an elven archer named Milva, who decides to join their group. People who have played the games will be glad to know that the dwarf Zoltan Chivay temporarily joins Geralt’s ragtag group too, as well as the vampire Regis. A Nilfgaardian knight named Cahir also tags along because he feels indebted to Ciri. Geralt officially receives his “of Rivia” title after an epic battle while Ciri begins to feel at home with The Rats.

See The Tower of Swallows on Amazon

Ciri is gravely injured after an encounter with Nilfgaardian bounty hunter Leo Bonhart, who was hired by the coroner Stefan Skellen to kill her. A kind old man nurses her back to health while Geralt’s party continues their search for Ciri and Geralt renounces his status as a witcher. The Lodge of Sorceresses attempt to gain control of a country called Kovir while Triss Merigold seeks information on Yennefer of Vengerberg. (Known as The Tower of Swallows in the U.S.)

See The Lady of the Lake on Amazon

Ciri encounters Arthurian knight Sir Galahad who believes she is the eponymous lady of the lake. The story cuts to a dream in which Geralt overhears Skellen and sets out to rescue Yennefer from a faraway castle. Ciri, meanwhile, tells Galahad about her time in the elven world of Aen Elle, home of the Wild Hunt. She begins to jump between worlds in order to escape them, but Eredin Breacc Glas persistently chases her, as she heads towards a final meeting with her surrogate parents Geralt and Yennefer.

See Season of Storms on Amazon

Those are the eight books in The Witcher series — in English, at least. There are two anthologies consisting of Witcher stories penned by guest authors in Sapkowski’s world that were published in 2013 and 2017, but they’re in Polish. If you can read them, go ahead, but they aren’t considered canon and likely won’t have anything to do with Netflix’s show or the games.

However, this collection is also in Polish. You can check out a fan translation of the “Something Ends, Something Begins” story that’s apparently pretty accurate here, but “The Road to No Return” is a little harder to find. Also, it’s important to recognize that “Something Ends, Something Begins,” like the anthologies by the guest authors, isn’t considered canon, so it’s not indicative of any plot direction in the series at large. The rest of the stories in Something Ends, Something Begins have nothing to do with The Witcher series.

With all of that said, you should also check out The Witcher games if you haven’t yet. The series may not have anything to do with them, but some of the characters you meet also exist in the books, so the games could indirectly serve as a primer for encountering or hearing about some of those in the show. They’re also fantastic, with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, holding up remarkably well — even by 2019’s standards. Henry Cavill, who portrays Geralt in Netflix's series, told IGN even he has played through The Witcher 3 multiple times.

Also See: 3 Witcher Statues to Add to Your Collection!

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How to read The Witcher books in order

If you're a fan of the hit Netflix show, read The Witcher books in order and get all up to speed ahead of the release of Season 3 next year

Getting to grips with how to read The Witcher books in order will serve all you bookworms well as you endure the long wait for The Witcher season 3 to drop on Netflix in 2023.

By far one of the best Netflix shows so far, The Witcher books are just as outstanding, so if you're a fan of the hit series staring starring Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia, then trust us, you're going to want to devour these fantasy novels by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.

The Witcher Season 2 was a huge hit for Netflix and although we don't know tons about The Witcher Season 3 yet, we're expecting it to bring more action as we follow the adventures of the witcher Geralt, a mutated monster hunter who struggles to find his place in a wicked world. But The Witcher existed for its fans long before it became a TV show.

Sapkowski created monster-hunting Geralt of Rivia as part of a magazine's short story competition all the way back in the mid-'80s and would you believe he only finished third? Not to worry, Sapkowski ended up taking all those stories and turning them into his now highly successful and much-loved fantasy book series.

When it comes to how to read The Witcher books in order, you've got a couple of options. The series includes five saga novels, two prequels and a standalone and while it's certainly not the most complicated fantasy series out there by any stretch of the imagination, and you can either follow along by publication order or by the order they come in the Continent’s chronology.

With the books falling anywhere in the region of 300 to 550 pages, you can either purchase them in paperback or hardback or, if you travel frequently, why not treat yourself to the best Kindle so that you can take the entire series with you wherever you go?

Below we talk you through how to read The Witcher books in order, as well as ranking them from best to worst based on their reader ratings on Goodreads. Let's take a look...

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The Witcher books: reading order explained

The Last Wish
Sword of Destiny
Season of Storms
Blood of Elves
Time of Contempt
Baptism of Fire
The Tower of the Swallow
The Lady of the Lake

When it comes to figuring out how to read The Witcher books in order, there are a few things you need to know:

The short stories of The Last Wish come first in the chronology of The Witcher universe, and provide the ideal introduction to Geralt of Rivia, sorceresses Yennefer of Vengerberg and Triss Merigold, and singing bard Dandelion (renamed Jaskier in Netflix’s The Witcher TV series). Indeed, events in the stories ‘The Witcher’, ‘The Lesser Evil’, ‘A Question of Price’, ‘The Edge of the World’ and ‘The Last Wish’ form the basis of Geralt’s arc in the first season of the Netflix show – we meet the Striga, learn how Geralt became known as ‘the butcher of Blaviken’, and see the origin of the ‘Law of Surprise’ that ties him to Princess Ciri.

Although the standalone Season of Storms was published after the five saga novels, the events of the book take place around the same time period as The Last Wish. It’s not essential to the overall story arc, but completists may find hints of things that will later come to pass in the main saga.

The stories in Sword of Destiny , meanwhile, introduce the young Ciri. The book’s final tale, ‘Something More’, shows the fall of Cintra (a key event in the first episode of The Witcher TV show), and serves as a prequel to the quintet of saga novels.

The five saga novels, then, are Blood of Elves , Time of Contempt , Baptism of Fire , The Tower of the Swallow and The Lady of the Lake .

With much of season one of the TV series adapted from the two short story collections, the second season is where the Netflix show will get deep into adapting The Witcher saga novels.

How to read The Witcher books in release order

The first Witcher books debuted in the early '90s in Sapkowski’s native Poland, but the rest of the world was a little slow to catch on to Geralt of Rivia. It wasn’t until the English version of The Last Wish was published in 2007 – the year that the first Witcher videogame was released – that Anglophone readers got their first chance to read the books. Danusia Stok translated the first two English releases before David French took over for the remaining six.

We’ve gone with the original Polish publication order below to help you read The Witcher books in order, which differs slightly from the English-language releases – while Sword of Destiny was the first (still available) collection of Witcher short stories published in Poland, The Last Wish was the first release in English. (It’s interesting to note, however, that four of the short stories in The Last Wish had previously been published in a now out-of-print 1990 release, simply called The Witcher.)

These short story collections were followed by the five novels of the main Witcher saga, as mentioned earlier (Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, The Lady of the Lake), and standalone novel Season of Storms.

Short story collections:

Sword of Destiny (original Polish version: 1992/English: 2015)
The Last Wish (Polish: 1993/English: 2007)

The Witcher Saga:

Blood of Elves (Polish: 1994/English: 2008)
Time of Contempt (Polish: 1995/English: 2013)
Baptism of Fire (Polish: 1996/English: 2014)
The Tower of the Swallow (Polish: 1997/English: 2016)
The Lady of the Lake (Polish: 1999/English: 2017)

Standalone novel

Season of Storms (Polish: 2013/English: 2018)

The Witcher comics explained: are they canon?

Illustrated image from The Witcher comic

If you still haven’t seen enough of the Continent after watching the Netflix show, reading Andrzej Sapkowski’s books, and adventuring your way through the games, there’s even more Witcher storytelling out there, as Dark Horse have published various Witcher comics and graphic novels.

They’re not written by Sapkowski and although Fox Children is based on a chapter from Season of Storms, they’re set in the continuity of the games rather than the books. All are available to buy from Dark Horse as standalone comics, or collected together as graphic novels.

The Witcher: House of Glass (by Paul Tobin and Joe Querio, published 2014)
The Witcher: Fox Children (by Paul Tobin and Joe Querio, published 2015)
The Witcher: Curse of Crows (by Paul Tobin and Piotr Kowalski, published 2016-2017)
The Witcher: Of Flesh and Flame (by Aleksandra Motyka and Marianna Strychowska, published 2018-2019)

The best Witcher books: ranking the source material

Going on the reader rankings on Goodreads.com , The Witcher books are remarkably consistent in terms of quality.

Season of Storms, originally published 14 years after Sapkowski had completed his saga, comes bottom of the pile, which hints that some of the author’s magic had dissipated in the intervening years. And the five books translated by David French come ahead of the two handled by Danusia Stok, suggesting that readers might prefer French’s style.

But seeing as even the lowest-ranked title receives a highly respectable 3.95 out of 5, fantasy fans are unlikely to be disappointed by any of Sapkowski’s novels.

Sword of Destiny – 4.35
Baptism of Fire – 4.34
The Tower of the Swallow – 4.32
Time of Contempt – 4.26
The Lady of the Lake – 4.24
The Last Wish – 4.19
Blood of Elves – 4.16
Season of Storms – 3.95

Richard is a freelance journalist specialising in movies and TV, primarily of the sci-fi and fantasy variety. An early encounter with a certain galaxy far, far away started a lifelong love affair with outer space, and these days Richard's happiest geeking out about Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel and other long-running pop culture franchises. In a previous life he was editor of legendary sci-fi and fantasy magazine SFX, where he got to interview many of the biggest names in the business – though he'll always have a soft spot for Jeff Goldblum who (somewhat bizarrely) thought Richard's name was Winter.

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The Witcher books reading order: where to start with the short stories and novels

Reading order recs for starting your Witcher novels journey.

Reading order
Other books and comics
Should you read them?

Looking for where to start the Witcher books after watching the show? The Witcher season 2 has been out for a while and season 3 has finished filming . A few books have been covered so far, so it's time to look forward to what we can expect in the next season. We'll most likely be hearing a lot more from Phillipa Eilhart and Djikstra as they attempt to wrangle more control in Redania, and Francesca and the elves have already started their retaliation upon the north which won't end well for anyone.

The Witcher 4 : What we know The Witcher season 3 : Trailers and cast Witcher 3 mods : Good hunting

Generally speaking, the show changes plenty of details but takes the broad strokes of its plots directly from the Witcher stories written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, which were also the basis for the CD Projekt Red Witcher games. If you want to read the story that The Witcher season 2 's first episode is based on, for instance, you'll find it in The Last Wish , the Witcher book we recommend you start with.

It's not the most complicated fantasy series ever, but because the stories weren't released in chronologic order, release date won't be your best guide.The Witcher started in the '80s as a series of short stories written by Sapkowski for a fantasy magazine. In the '90s, the stories were published in two collections, which were followed by five novels, all published throughout the same decade. The books were released in English in 2007, with Danusia Stok translating the first two and David French taking over duties from the third book.

The Witcher books follow the story of the titular Witcher, Geralt of Rivia. A Witcher is a mutated human—most certainly a man—who possess supernatural abilities and has trained from childhood to battle monsters that emerged during the Conjunction of the Spheres. Many stories have been told in the Witcher universe, but the central arc follows Geralt as he protects Ciri, a princess whose country has been conquered and his child surprise. If you want sword-wielding action, romance, family ties and grotesque monsters, you're in the right place.

Witcher books reading order

The witcher books reading order.

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Let's get down to business: what order should you read the books in? As previously mentioned, you'll want to ignore the release dates and instead read them in true chronological order if you want the story to make sense. So, here's your list:

The Last Wish
Sword of Destiny
Blood of Elves
Time of Contempt
Baptism of Fire
The Tower of the Swallow
The Lady of the Lake
Season of Storms (optional; explained below)

You'll want to start with The Last Wish . While it was published second, it's the start of the series, introducing Geralt and establishing the Continent as a backdrop.

The Last Wish introduces everything you'll see in the games. Sapkowski sets the scene beginning with the importance of Geralt's silver sword with which he kills the monsters. He also depicts the often-corrupt governments that reside throughout the world, and we meet an ensemble of colourful characters many of us have come to know and love. These include Dandelion (aka Jaskier), a poet friend of Geralt who is hearing these tales we’re experiencing, and Yennefer, a sorceress with whom Geralt begins a turbulent relationship.

The story, A Grain of Truth, which features in this collection kicks off the second season of the Netflix show, telling the story of Nivellen. The rest of the stories in The Last Wish make up most of the show's first season, though it also draws from the book you should read second: Sword of Destiny . It's in Sword of Destiny that we get to know Ciri, and each story takes place directly before the main novels.

A recent release, Season of Storms , takes place within the stories of The Last Wish. While its events aren't integral to the main arc, it's a lore-heavy entry that's worth reading.

Otherwise, read the books in the order they were released: Blood of Elves , Time of Contempt , Baptism of Fire , The Tower of the Swallow and The Lady of the Lake .

Below are the best prices for these books individually, but they do get sold together on Amazon—the first six books all together on Amazon US and the first seven bundled together on Amazon UK .

How many Witcher books are in the series?

As counted above, there are eight books in the Witcher series—six novels, and two short story collections. Some lists will count the series at nine books, including The Witcher , the original 1990 publication of the first five Witcher short stories. Because those stories were all republished in The Last Wish when the series jumped publishers, and because the original book is now out of print, it's not really worth considering as a separate title.

Other Witcher books and graphic novels

Are there other witcher books.

Away from the novels, it's also worth reading The World of the Witcher , which is a compendium of information created directly by CD Projekt Red. It's a beautifully illustrated addition to the series that contains everything you'll want to know about monsters, weapons, people and places. Be warned, though, it does feature spoilers for the games and the books. Read it, and you too can call yourself Geralt of Trivia.

There is a designated Witcher 3: Wild Hunt art book but it is pretty rare as it was released only with collector's editions. One to look out for though; I know I always do. And there's yet more artwork available now following the release of the Gwent game, as it too now has its own art book: The Art of the Witcher: Gwent Gallery Collection . And to finish the art side of things off, there's a Witcher Adult Coloring Book that will keep you occupied long into the night, giving your favourite characters unique outfits and painting your own Witcher pictures.

The Witcher books: reading order and beginner's guide

The Witcher graphic novels

Aside from the short stories and novels, graphic novels from Dark Horse Comics have been released. While not written by Sapkowski, the comics do a great job of adding extras to already released stories, plus they look great as the art evokes the nasty themes of the books and games. Volume 1 , Volume 2 and Volume 3 all include several stories each, while a collated Library Edition packs everything in one.

Should you read The Witcher books?

Why should i read them if i’ve played the games.

Because you are obviously desperate for more Witcher content, that's why! One joy I took from rereading the series was reading them with the voices of the games' characters in mind. I could hear Doug Cockle's dulcet tone every time Geralt spoke, which adds a greater depth to the stories.

They are wonderful books to read with complex political narratives, plenty of backstabbing, magic and love. They aren't just for fantasy nerds, either; they are accessible to lovers of all genres who just want a good series to read. Once you've read them all, you can finally take part in the "What's better: the books, Netflix series or games?" discourse. Come with your notes prepared.

Reading the books will give you a better sense of the world, flesh out more of the cast and create a stronger bond between yourself and the situations in the lore. Characters are drawn with more depth, and although much of the plot will be known to you if you played the games, the books fill in small gaps here and there.

How faithful are The Witcher games to the books?

Very, though only so much of the books was directly brought to the games. CD Projekt Red went to great lengths to bring Sapkowski’s witty, wry and strong Geralt of Rivia to players of the games. Due to the branching narratives of the games, the plot is based on the books, rather than a direct retelling of every story. Everything you’ve seen in the games, however, from runes to weapons and monsters are featured in the series of novels.

There’s an interesting divide between how Sapkowski sees his world and how it was translated to games, but readers will notice only small differences here and there. Coming to the books from the games brings a certain spark of life to the battles and fights.

It's worth noting though that the games, especially ones of such quality, are designed to bring excitement and danger. This can make some sections of the book—mainly the political discussions—rather dull in comparison. The games, because they deliver the story in bite-sized chunks between the killing and hunting, offer the most interactive way to experience part of Geralt's story.

How faithful to the books is the Netflix Witcher series?

A lot more than the games, by design. Officially, the Witcher show is based directly on the books, not the games. That said, the show takes some liberties, particularity with timing. To more naturally introduce viewers to Geralt and the world around him, Season 1's story is a combination of The Last Wish's short stories and the beginning of Ciri's arc in Sword of Destiny.

The first season was confusing for some folk, so Netflix put together a gorgeous timeline map to keep it all straight (spoiler warning for the books, obviously). The second season is much more linear and easy to understand, with a few adaptations to stories here and there.

Where can I get all these books?

Since the profile of The Witcher series and books has been elevated to brilliant, world-famous heights, the books, on the whole, are available from all the major retailers, including Amazon . The only one that is a bit difficult to get, as mentioned above, is the collector's edition The Witcher 3 art book but it usually appears on eBay occasionally. However, for your ease and comfort, see the best prices currently going on all the books below.

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The Witcher books in order: how to read them start to finish

Here's how you can read The Witcher books in order so you're up to speed with Geralt's adventures.

Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer (on horseback) in The Witcher season 3

Looking to read The Witcher books in order and get ahead of the Netflix series now that The Witcher season 3 has landed?

Like many of the biggest fantasy sagas on TV right now, Netflix ’s Witcher franchise is based on a series of hugely popular novels. In this instance, the world of the Continent (and the people that inhabit it) was dreamt up by best-selling Polish author, Andrzej Sapkowski.

Sapkowski's series has shifted more than 15 million copies and has only continued to grow in popularity thanks in part to the show and CD Projekt RED's incredibly successful video games. And with more seasons of the main series on the way (with a new lead actor in the frame) — plus more spin-offs like The Witcher: Blood Origin and Nightmare of the Wolf in the works, we'd bet the series will only get even bigger from here on out.

The books themselves started out life as a series of short stories published in a Polish fantasy magazine. The first set of stories was subsequently collected together and published in 1992, but English translations didn't start to arrive until 2007; Danusia Stok translated the first two, with David French taking over for every Witcher book thereafter.

If you've decided you want to read the Witcher books in order, you might think you can just pick them up in publication order... but that's not necessarily the best way to read the series.

If you want to follow the story chronologically, you'll need to change your approach slightly, which is exactly why we put this guide together explaining how to read the Witcher books in order.

How to read the Witcher books in order

The order you need to read the Witcher books in order to best follow the main story is:

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The Last Wish (English translation first published 2007)
Sword of Destiny (English translation first published 2015)
Season of Storms (English translation first published 2018)
Blood of Elves (English translation first published 2009)
Time of Contempt (English translation first published 2013)
Baptism of Fire (English translation first published 2014)
The Tower of the Swallow (English translation first published 2016)
The Lady of the Lake (English translation first published 2017)

If you're wondering why the above order doesn't follow the publication dates, allow us to give a little bit more detail about the date they were first published, here's why.

The Last Wish collects several stories together that establish the rules of what it means to be a witcher, and give a sense of Geralt’s personality and detail what the Witcher gets up to whilst working and in his spare time.

Sword of Destiny might have been published later, but you should read this second collection of short stories next purely because it’s where we first meet princess Ciri, a character who is vital to the overarching narrative of the entire saga. The first season of the show was based on these two collections.

From there, if you want to experience every single Witcher story Sapkowksi has written, you should pick up Season of Storms, though you could skip this one if you're trying to power through the series as quickly as possible.

Whether you skip Season of Storms or not, things get easier after this third collection, as you can follow the five main novels — Blood of Elves , Time of Contempt , Baptism of Fire , The Tower of the Swallow , and The Lady of the Lake — in release order. And that's how you read the Witcher books in order.

You can purchase each Witcher book individually, but all eight books are often collected together into bundles, so you might save some money by picking the whole set up in one go. You can find eight-book bundles on Amazon US and on Amazon UK .

If you'd prefer to read The Witcher books digitally, you can pick up complete ebook collections at the Amazon Kindle store .

Do I need to read the Witcher graphic novels?

If you've worked your way through eight books, three games, and one of the best Netflix originals to date, and you want to spend even more time in the Witcher universe , you could check out the graphic novels for even more Witcher tales. Comic book publisher Dark Horse has published a series of comics that details even more of Geralt’s exploits on the Continent.

It’s worth noting that the graphic novels are less connected to the story from the Witcher books as they share a continuity with the video games. Each story arc is available for purchase as individual issues or as collected volumes that can be purchased directly from Dark Horse.

If you want to check out the writing and art style of the comics before paying a penny, there's a sampler available on the Dark Horse comics site for free.

New Witcher comics are still being produced, but the current list of stories as of our last update includes:

The Witcher: House of Glass (2014)
The Witcher: Fox Children (2015)
The Witcher: Curse of Crows (2016-2017)
The Witcher: Of Flesh and Flame (2018-2019)
The Witcher: Fading Memories (2020-2021)
The Witcher: Witch’s Lament (2021)
The Witcher: A Grain of Truth (2022)
The Witcher: Ronin [Manga] (2022)

There are also two "Library Editions", which are deluxe hardback collections which bundle multiple series together along with some bonuses like extra art. Volume 1 collects House of Glass, Fox Children, Curse of Crows and the Killing Monters one-shot, whilst Volume 2 collects Of Flesh and Flame, Fading Memories, Witch's Lament and the 2021 Free Comic Book Day story, The Witcher: Once Upon a Time in the Woods .

The World of the Witcher is also in the wild, but this compendium serves as a companion to the video games, rather than the books. It was produced by CD Projekt RED as a guided tour of their version of the Witcher saga and it offers insights on everything from weapons to locations and plot points — that does mean you should probably steer clear if you've not read the books just yet.

How faithful is the Netflix series to the Witcher books?

Geralt (Henry Cavill) standing in front of a portal in The Witcher season 3

Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich said that The Witcher show would be staying true to the books the series is based on, but — as with most adaptations — the show has deviated from the original saga in some big ways.

Ahead of The Witcher season 3's release, reports claimed that the latest installment of the show was the closest to a one-to-one adaptation so far, with Hissrich telling Entertainment Weekly : "What is so interesting is that season 3, to me, is the closest thing that we've done as a one-to-one adaptation of the books.

"Obviously, we can't do every page, but Time of Contempt gave us so many big action events, plot points, defining character moments, huge reveals of a big bad. There's so much to do that we were able to stick really, really closely with the books."

Nevertheless, there are still some big changes that have taken place compared to the books *spoiler warning for season 3!* For a start, the character of Prince Radovid has been changed in several ways, Vilgefortz's attempts to create a fake Ciri were not present in the books and the lavish Thanedd banquet and ball that capped off Volume 1 was originally organized as a sort of trap by Emhyr, but in the series, Yennefer throws the ball before the Conclave of the Mages.

To help you keep up with the latest goings-on in the series, Netflix maintains a dedicated Witcher website that compiles info about major events, characters, locations, and other relevant lore from their version of the Continent.

Are the Witcher books complete?

Yes, but Sapkowski has made it clear he's got plans to produce some more. Most recently, he said "they are in the plans" at the Taipei International Book Exhibition earlier this year.

However, a few years earlier, the author did state: "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 intention, it would probably be something like a prequel or a sidequel. Not a sequel". (Quotes via Redanian Intelligence ).

Martin is a Staff Writer with WhatToWatch.com, where he produces a variety of articles focused on the latest and greatest films and TV shows.

Some of his favorite shows are What We Do In The Shadows , Bridgerton , Gangs of London , The Witcher , Doctor Who , and Ghosts . When he’s not watching TV or at the movies, Martin’s probably still in front of a screen playing the latest video games, reading, or watching the NFL.

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How to read The Witcher books in order

The Witcher books tell a riveting dark fantasy story

The Witcher books are really, really good. I know that because I've read them all — and because I've been telling you this for years . However, let's let bygones be bygones and start fresh.

The Witcher is a best-selling video game franchise . It's a hit Netflix series. But before any of that happened, it was a seven-book series by Polish fantasy novelist Andrzej Sapkowski. The books follow Geralt of Rivia: a white-haired, monster-hunting mutant known as a Witcher. At first, Geralt roams the Northern Kingdoms, slaying beasts and earning coin. But as the books progress, he finds himself wrapped up in affairs of state, ancient magicks and even the workings of destiny itself.

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Whether you want to know the background for the video games, get a jump on the next season of the TV show or simply immerse yourself in a great fantasy novel, The Witcher books are well worth a read. Here's where to start, and how to read The Witcher books in order.

The Witcher books in order

Generally speaking, the best way to read The Witcher series is simply to follow the order in which they were published. I've given the U.S. release dates and publishers for simplicity, but bear in mind that all of these books came out much earlier in Poland, and somewhat earlier in the rest of Europe.

1. "The Last Wish" (Hachette, 2008)

2. "Sword of Destiny" (Hachette, 2015)

3. "Blood of Elves" (Hachette, 2009)

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4. "The Time of Contempt" (Hachette, 2013)

5. "Baptism of Fire" (Hachette, 2014)

6. "The Tower of Swallows" (Hachette, 2016)

7. '“The Lady of the Lake" (Hachette, 2017)

8. "Season of Storms" (Hachette, 2018”)

Briefly, the first seven books are all chronologically contiguous. Geralt's adventures begin with a series of stand-alone adventures, as he travels from town to town, hunting monsters and occasionally dodging local politicians. But around the end of the second book, things start to shift, as Geralt claims responsibility for a royal child named Ciri. Ciri's adventures, and Geralt's quest to keep her safe, are mainly the story of the rest of the series.

The first two books are short story collections, while the latter five are novels, but they all fit together to tell a complete narrative in a linear fashion. Don't skip any; they're all good, and they all contain valuable plot information.

The only wrinkle in the formula is "Season of Storms." While the novel is technically the eighth book in The Witcher series, it doesn't take place last in the chronology. In fact, most of the action in the book occurs between "The Last Wish" and "Sword of Destiny." Does that mean that "Season of Storms" should be your second book? Well, maybe.

You see, while "Season of Storms" bridges the gap between the first two books, it also has a framing story, which takes place hundreds of years later. The characters for this framing story first show up in "The Lady of the Lake." I'm not sure any of this material spoils the story, but it might leave readers scratching their heads until five books later.

I recommend reading "Season of Storms" last, but to each his own.

Does the TV show follow The Witcher books?

For the most part, the TV show is a direct adaptation of the books — although the time scale is a little out of whack. Most fans know by now that the first season of The Witcher told three stories simultaneously, although it turned out that the three stories were not all happening at once. In the books, the timeline is much easier to follow, as it's linear.

Season 1 was an adaptation of certain short stories from both "The Last Wish" and "Sword of Destiny." The showrunners also made up and added a lot of material, however, particularly about Yennefer's backstory.

Since Netflix doesn't like keeping shows on the air for more than three or four seasons , I would imagine that each new season will mix and match content from various novels. If you want to get ready for Season 2 without reading too far ahead, I'd stick with "Blood of Elves" and "The Time of Contempt" (after reading the two short story collections, of course).

Do the games follow The Witcher books?

Here's where things get interesting. While the Witcher video games pick up right where the books left off, are they the next chapters of the canonical story, or just entertaining "what-if" scenarios? Well, that depends on whom you ask.

Sapkowski himself has ambivalent feelings toward the games . He thinks they're well made, but aren't necessarily representative of his vision for the series. (It probably doesn't help that there was some bad blood between him and developer CD Projekt Red over licensing fees, which took until late 2019 to get ironed out.) On the other hand, the games follow the book lore extremely closely, and I didn't spot any major contradictions in the story. Some of the characters in the games look different than their literary counterparts, but that's liable to happen in any adaptation.

What to read outside of The Witcher books

Apart from the books and games, there are a few comic book series: "House of Glass," "Fox Children," "Curse of Crows" and "Of Flesh and Flame," all published by Dark Horse. "Fox Children" is an adaptation of a chapter in "Season of Storms," but the rest are all original tales. None of them is necessary to understand the books; in fact, most of them are based on the video game series.

So, there you have it. There are eight Witcher books, and you can buy them all in hard-copy or ebook format. They range between 250 and 700 pages, depending on the book, so you've got a lot of reading ahead of you if you want to plow through the whole thing, start to finish. On the other hand, we've still got plenty of time until The Witcher Season 2 comes out, so you may as well get started.

Finally, on a personal note, my favorite short story was left out of the Netflix adaptation, so I'd encourage you to read "The Last Wish," if only to see how heartbreaking and funny the books can be. The story's called "A Grain of Truth," and I won't spoil what makes it so good.

Next: The Witcher Remake is exactly why we have remakes .

Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing background, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and technology. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.

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'The Witcher' Franchise Explained: The Books, Games, Netflix Series, and More

Dive into the world of the Continent.

Quick Links

The witcher book series (1986-2013), the witcher film: the hexer (2001), the witcher netflix series (2019 - present), the witcher: nightmare of the wolf (2021), the witcher: blood origin (2022), the witcher video game series (2007-present).

Far before its Netflix adaptations, The Witcher began as a series of Polish novels by Andrzej Sapkowski , followed by a 2001 film adaptation that received mixed reviews. In the midst of it all, the series was given the video game treatment, resulting in a slew of Xbox and Playstation games. After more than a decade since its first film adaptation, The Witcher finally saw its prime, thanks to its Netflix series, which quickly grew into a blockbuster franchise that captured the hearts and imaginations of fans worldwide. The Witcher franchise transports viewers to the Continent, a dark and fantastical world where monsters roam, powerful sorcery abounds, and the fates of individuals and kingdoms hang in the balance. Geralt of Rivia, the enigmatic monster hunter with a moral code, and the interconnected stories of Ciri, Yennefer, and other captivating characters are at the heart of this vast and intricate tapestry. The Witcher has become a phenomenon that transcends mediums and has firmly established itself as a powerhouse in the fantasy genre, thanks to its intricate storytelling, rich lore, and memorable characters.

Beyond the novels and the main series, The Witcher franchise has expanded to include spin-offs that explore the origins of Geralt's mentor, Vesemir, and delve into the distant history of the Continent. Now, without further ado, here's The Witcher franchise, explained.

The Witcher

Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

RELATED: Ciri Battles the Voices in Her Head in ‘The Witcher’ Season 3

The Witcher book series is a collection of six fantasy novels and 15 short stories penned by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. At the heart of the series lies the titular character, Geralt of Rivia, a witcher who hunts down and battles wild beasts and monsters. Sapkowski's stories depict witchers as individuals who acquire supernatural abilities in their early years. The origins of The Witcher can be traced back to a short story named The Witcher , which Sapkowski submitted to a competition hosted by Fantastyka magazine in 1986, marking his debut as an author. The series delves into Geralt's encounters with various creatures, both monstrous and human, as he navigates the intricacies of political turmoil, moral dilemmas, and complex relationships. Geralt's journey takes him through different kingdoms, introducing readers to a richly developed world filled with magic, mythical creatures, and deep-rooted conflicts. With each adventure, Geralt comes face to face with the blurred boundaries between good and evil.

Below is the complete list of The Witcher book series :

Short Story Collections

The Witcher (1990)
Sword of Destiny (1992)
The Last Wish (1993)

The Witcher Saga

Blood of Elves (1994)
Time of Contempt (1995)
Baptism of Fire (1996)
The Tower of the Swallow (1997)
The Lady of the Lake (1999)

Standalone Novel

Season of Storms (2013)

Related: ‘The Witcher’ Season 3: Release Date, Trailer, Plot, and What to Expect

Director : Marek Brodzki | Run Time: 130 minutes

Cast : Michał Żebrowski, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Maciej Kozłowski, Tomasz Sapryk, Kinga Ilgner

The Hexer , also known by its other title Wiedźmin , is a 2001 Polish film adaptation based on Sapkowski's The Witcher book series. The film follows the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, the iconic witcher, as he battles monsters and navigates political intrigue in a medieval fantasy world. While the film aimed to bring Sapkowski's fantastical universe to the screen, it faced significant challenges in condensing the complex narrative and rich character development of the books into a single feature-length production. Consequently, the film received mixed reviews from both fans of the book series and general audiences. Despite its flaws, The Hexer holds a unique place in the history of The Witcher franchise as an early attempt to bring Geralt's adventures to visual media, paving the way for the highly successful television series that would come years later.

Creator : Lauren Schmidt Hissrich | Seasons: 3

Cast : Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Joey Batey, MyAnna Buring

Season 1 of Netflix's The Witcher follows the intertwined lives of Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter; Princess Ciri of Cintra, and the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg. The season explores their formative events and journeys prior to the battle for Sodden Hill, jumping back and forth between various timelines. Throughout the season, Geralt and Yennefer encounter each other multiple times, facing challenges such as defeating a djinn, hunting a dragon, and exploring their complicated attraction. Meanwhile, Ciri embarks on her own journey to find Geralt. The climax of the season takes place during the Battle of Sodden Hill, a pivotal conflict between the Northern Kingdoms and the invading Nilfgaardian Empire.

Season 2 picks up right after the Battle of Sodden. Geralt, believing Yennefer to be dead, brings Ciri to the safety of his childhood home, Kaer Morhen. Meanwhile, Yennefer is captured by the Nilfgaardian mage Fringilla Vigo but is later kidnapped by the elven king Filavandrel. As the season unfolds, it becomes clear that Ciri possesses a mysterious and powerful inner strength that attracts the attention of various factions. Geralt, aware of the dangers surrounding Ciri, must protect her from those who seek to exploit her abilities. The Witcher Season 3 continues the gripping tale of Geralt of Rivia , Princess Ciri, and the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg as they navigate a treacherous Continent filled with power-hungry monarchs, cunning mages, and deadly creatures. Geralt, determined to protect his newfound family , takes Ciri into hiding from those who seek to capture her.

Director : Kwang Il Han | Run Time : 83 minutes

Cast: Theo James, David Errigo Jr., Mary McDonnell, Jennifer Hale, Lara Pulver

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is an animated prequel film that delves into the backstory of Vesemir, who becomes a central figure in the live-action series. Set in the year 1165, the film explores Vesemir's journey to becoming a Witcher, highlighting his early experiences and the events that shape him. Vesemir is portrayed as a cocky and confident young Witcher who takes pleasure in slaying monsters for monetary rewards. However, as a dangerous new power emerges on the Continent, Vesemir learns that some witchering jobs are about more than just money. The film delves into his transformation from a servant to a Witcher and explores the significant role he plays in training Geralt and others at Kaer Morhen.

Vesemir's story begins with his work as a servant for a rural nobleman. His encounter with Skelligan Witcher Deglan catches the attention of the experienced Witcher, who becomes his mentor. Vesemir follows Deglan to Kaer Morhen in search of better prospects and gold. The film showcases the rigorous training routines and experiences that shape Vesemir's development as a Witcher. Nightmare of the Wolf ties into Season 2 of the original live-action series .

Creator : Declan de Barra, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich | Run Time : 43-64 minutes | Episodes: 4

Cast : Mirren Mack, Sophia Brown, Laurence O'Fuarain, Joey Batey, Michelle Yeoh

The Witcher: Blood Origin takes viewers 1,200 years before the events of The Witcher and unveils an epic tale of rebellion against the tyrannical Golden Empire. In this prequel series, a group of seven warriors joins forces to combat the Empire's oppressive rule and confront the dire consequences of their dangerous magical experiments. Although set in a distant past, Blood Origin delves into the mysteries that define the world of Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri. The elves of the Golden Empire stumble upon the power of the monoliths, which are also studied by the archaeologist mage Istredd in The Witcher. These monoliths play a crucial role in Ciri's ability to open portals between worlds and unleash monsters while influenced by Voleth Meir.

The series uncovers the origins of the Conjunction of the Spheres , an event triggered by the monoliths that brought monsters and humans to the Continent, marking the end of the Golden Era of the Elves. Additionally, it reveals the genesis of the Wild Hunt, the enigmatic spectral riders who seek to claim Ciri, and sheds light on her mysterious powers and the prophecies that surround her. Blood Origin also explores the creation of a prototype witcher, a champion bestowed with monstrous strength. The knowledge of crafting witchers was lost in the events depicted in the animated prequel film The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf , making Geralt one of the few remaining witchers. The series showcases the early attempts to develop the perfect monster killer through a ritual that yields even more dangerous and unpredictable results. RELATED: How 'The Witcher: Blood Origin' Changes the Witcher Universe

The Witcher video game series is an acclaimed franchise developed by CD Projekt Red which gained widespread recognition and popularity for its immersive storytelling, rich world-building, and compelling gameplay. Throughout the games, players navigate Geralt through morally complex choices, engaging in combat with a variety of creatures, and interacting with a diverse cast of characters, including both allies and enemies. The gameplay features a combination of intense action combat, intricate dialogue options, and exploration of richly detailed landscapes. The overarching narrative of The Witcher games revolves around Geralt's personal journey, his search for his lost memories, and his connection to Ciri, who possesses extraordinary powers. The video game series explores themes of destiny, political intrigue, discrimination, and the consequences of choices made in a morally ambiguous world.

Below is the complete list of The Witcher video game series:

Main Series

The Witcher (2007)
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (2011)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)
The Witcher Remake (TBA)
Project Polaris (TBA)

Expansion Packs

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Hearts of Stone (2015)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Blood and Wine (2016)
The Witcher: Crimson Trail (2007)
The Witcher Adventure Game (2014)
The Witcher Battle Arena (2015)
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game (2018)
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales (2018)
The Witcher: Monster Slayer (2021)
Roach Race (2022)
Project Sirius (TBA)

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Your Ultimate Guide To Reading All Of The Witcher Books In Order

It’s our final season with Henry Cavill playing our Witcher and it’s safe to say we are devastated . Part 2 of Season 3 has just dropped, and we already know you’re about to go through another round of Witcher withdrawal. Therefore, it’s unsurprising to see you’re probably eyeballing every other piece of The Witcher content you can find, from the books the show is based on, to the video game series and comics.

As it turns out, there are quite a few of them, and if you’re unclear on the order of The Witcher books it can be difficult to know where to start.

We’re here to help you with a chronological list on how to read all The Witcher books and other associated media in order.

What order should you read the witcher books in, where does the tv show fit into the timeline, the witcher video games in order.

Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski is the mind behind the world of The Witcher , which began initially as a group of short stories. Sapkowski’s first volume of stories featuring Geralt of Rivia is out of print but was eventually recollected into the book known as The Last Wish . This is where you should start your reading, even though Sword of Destiny is technically published first.

Season of Storms is another outlier. It was written by Sapkowski over a decade after he wrapped up The Witcher saga in Lady of the Lake and serves as a prequel, taking place between the events of The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny . It’s considered an optional read seeing as it’s more of a standalone instalment.

The main Witcher saga then kicks off in Blood of Elves and follows chronologically by publish date.

Here’s a rundown of The Witcher books in timeline order:

The Last Wish
Season of Storms
Sword of Destiny
Blood of Elves
Time of Contempt
Baptism of Fire
The Tower of the Swallow
The Lady of the Lake

Here they are in publish order if you’d prefer to read them that way:

Sword of Destiny (1992)
The Last Wish (1993)
Blood of Elves (1994)
Time of Contempt (1995)
Baptism of Fire (1996)
The Tower of the Swallow (1997)
The Lady of the Lake (1999)
Season of Storms (2013)

Where to buy The Witcher books

If the TV show or the games have got you sold, take the plunge and buy Sapkowski’s complete box set from either Amazon ($135) , Booktopia ($140) or Dymocks ($140) .

If you’re not sure that you want to commit to the entire series, feel free to grab an individual copy from any of the retailers below:

The Last Wish : Amazon ($12) | Booktopia ($19.25) | Dymocks ($22.99)
Season of Storms : Amazon ($20.35) | Booktopia ($20.35) | Dymocks ($22.99)
Sword of Destiny : Amazon ($17.70) | Booktopia ($20.35) | Dymocks ($22.99)
Blood of Elves : Amazon ($19.25) | Booktopia ($19.25) | Dymocks ($22.99)
Time of Contempt : Amazon ($12) | Booktopia ($20.35) | Dymocks ($22.99)
Baptism of Fire : Amazon ($17.70) | Booktopia ($20.35) | Dymocks ($22.99)
The Tower of the Swallow : Amazon ($17.70) | Booktopia ($20.35) | Dymocks ($22.99)
The Lady of the Lake : Amazon ($17.70) | Booktopia ($20.35) | Dymocks ($22.99)

Netflix’s The Witcher is an adaptation of Sapkowski’s books, not the video games .

Season 1 covered many of the stories told in The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny , while Season 2 moved into the events of the Blood of Elves .

The third season is expected to continue the timeline order of the books and cover the events in Time of Contempt, so that’s where you should read up to if you’re reading and watching simultaneously.

Netflix’s other The Witcher spin-off Blood Origin is set thousands of years before the books, so no reading is required there.

The Witcher video games from CD Projekt Red are pretty self-explanatory and can easily be played in release order. That being:

The Witcher
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt

The initial two The Witcher games are a bit older and are yet to be remastered for newer consoles, so it can be a little hard to get a hold of them. If you’re after a hard copy, feel free to order a copy of The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt from any of the following retailers:

PlayStation 5: Amazon ($57) | Big W ($69)
PlayStation 4: Amazon ($45) | Kogan ($49)
Xbox: Amazon ($57) | Big W ($69) | Xbox ($59)
Nintendo Switch: Amazon ($74.99) | Kogan ($69)

Most people agree that you can easily skip the first two games and just dive into The Witcher 3 if you’re keen to give the games a go after seeing the Netflix show. Although, it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on on some of The Witcher lore online if you’re finding it hard to keep track.

Once you’ve finished the games, feel free to check out the comics! If you expected the comics to be a riff off the books, you’ll be sorely mistaken. The comics act as additional content for the games, which is designed to keep that fire burning if you’re in need of a Witcher fix. Especially since the next Witcher video game is aeons away.

There are seven volumes to pick up, each fixating on a different monster hunt. You can grab a copy below:

The Witcher: Volume One
The Witcher: Volume Two – Fox Children
The Witcher: Volume Three – Curse of Crows
The Witcher: Volume Four – Of Flesh and Flame
The Witcher: Volume Five – Fading Memories
The Witcher: Volume Six – Witch’s Lament
The Witcher: Volume Seven – The Ballad of Two Wolves

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One response to “Your Ultimate Guide To Reading All Of The Witcher Books In Order”

“Netflix’s other The Witcher spin-off Blood Origin is set thousands of years before the books”

And ignores the lore of the books almost completely, making up an entirely new background for the spheres, the elves and the witchers, to the extent that it probably shouldn’t be considered a Witcher story at all.

The Lady of the Lake

View history

The U.S. edition was released by Orbit on 14 March 2017, with the first U.K. edition by Gollancz following a few days after on 16 March 2017. The second U.K. edition came out 8 March 2018. All English versions were translated by David French .

2 Translations
4 Book Covers

Summary [ ]

After walking through the portal in Tor Zireael while narrowly escaping death, Ciri finds herself in a completely different world... an Elven world. She is trapped there with no apparent way out. Time does not seem to exist and there are no obvious borders or portals to cross back into her home world.

But this is Ciri, the child of prophecy, and she will not be defeated. She knows she must escape to finally rejoin the Witcher, Geralt , and his companions - and also to try to conquer her worst nightmare. Leo Bonhart , the man who chased, wounded and tortured Ciri, is still on her trail. And the world is still at war.

The story opens with Ciri bathing in a pond in an unknown world. As she does so, Sir Galahad of the Arthurian legend stumbles upon her. After mistaking her for the fabled Lady of the Lake, they talk and Ciri recounts her story.

The story cuts to a point in time that takes place after the story, where a young maiden, Condwiramurs , meets the Lady of the Lake, Nimue , to study the legend of Geralt and Ciri. They do so through intense study of the pictures portraying the characters and events from the story, to guide dreams. Eventually Condwiramurs starts to dream of the events at the behest of the Lady of the Lake. Her first dream is that of Stefan Skellen and Leo Bonhart, who are revealed to be working for Vilgefortz and have imprisoned Yennefer .

The dream ends and a new dream starts, this time dealing with the adventures of Geralt. Geralt has been completing monster contracts in the Beauclair city of Toussaint while the rest of the group, Dandelion , Regis , Milva , Angouleme , and Cahir , have been exploring and relaxing. Geralt eventually starts a relationship with the castle sorceress, Fringilla . Fringilla is one of the select members of the Lodge, a secret group of sorceresses that wish to control the political world, and is assigned to delay Geralt from seeking out Yennefer and Ciri. Geralt eventually receives a contract to investigate and potentially kill several monsters which live in an abandoned castle near the city of Touissant. While accomplishing the task, he overhears Skellen, Bonhart, and several other associates talk about where Vilgefortz and Yennefer are located and how Ciri is missing. Geralt rushes back to Touissant in order to gather his group and leave to save Yennefer.

Ciri is shown to have arrived in a foreign world after entering the portal at the Tower of the Swallow. This world appears to be ruled by elves, who live in peace except for occasional fights with the unicorns. She meets with several elves, notably Avallac'h and Eredin Bréacc Glas , who is the leader of a cavalry unit called Dearg Ruadhri and reveals that the unicorns have become restless since she entered their world. She is told she must bear the child of their king, Auberon, who appears to be addicted to fisstech and is emotionally cold. Despite her disgruntlement with the situation, she agrees. After several fruitless nights, she confronts the other elves of the castle and demands that she be let go, as it appears their king is not interested in her, and that she wants to return to her friends. She is told that time happens differently in this world, and that once her task is accomplished she will be returned to her time. Eventually Eredin confronts her, giving her a vial and hinting that she should poison Auberon .

In a bout of frustration, she rides her horse, Kelpie, as far away as possible from the castle, despite the warnings that barriers prevent her from leaving the place. As she is riding she is cornered by several unicorns, who threaten to kill her, fearing her power. She is spared, as one of the unicorns, Ihuarraquax , recognizes her as saving him from death earlier. The unicorns then reveal how she can bypass the barriers. She finds Auberon dead from overdose and then steals a boat for herself and Kelpie, which is revealed to be the only way to pass the barriers. She is confronted by Eredin Breacc Glas, who is enraged by Auberon's death and tries to leave abruptly. A brief battle ensues, in which she injures Eredin and escapes to find Ihuarraquax and co. waiting for her. Eredin and his riders soon find her, and a battle between the Dearg Ruadhri and the unicorns ensues. Ciri, in the midst of chaos, teleports out of the world with the assistance of Ihuarraquax.

The story now follows Jarre , a monk who chooses to join the army of all the Northern Kingdoms formed to repel the invading Nilfgaardian army. He meets up with several individuals, including characters seen earlier in the story, and joins a unit called the PFI, or " Poor Fucking Infantry ."

Ciri's story continues, where she is jumping between worlds and times in order to find her own, still running from Eredin and the Dearg Ruadhri. She briefly appears before the Lady of the Lake and Condwiramurs, who point the way and wish her luck on her journey as she leaves soon after.

We continue with Jarre: The armies of the Northern alliance and Nilfgaard have collided in a valley near the town of Brenna. The battle lasts hours, teetering the brink of victory and defeat several times. Elven units, led by Yaevinn, attack the flanks of the Northern army, go so far as to slaughter the injured in medical tents. As the Northern army finally starts to rout, a contingent of Redanian cavalry charge over a hill that was not scouted properly by the elves. This causes panic amongst the Nilfgaardian forces, which soon panic and are abruptly slaughtered. The commander of the Nilfgaardians, Coehoorn, is killed in an attempted escape. The battle is referred to as the Miracle at Brenna soon after. The Northern alliance soon push all Nilfgaardian forces south of the Yaruga, which served as the border, and a ceasefire is declared in order to make peace.

Ciri is soon revealed to have gone to Vilgefortz's castle in order to save Yennefer herself, unable to find Geralt and knowing that Yennefer would die without her help. Ciri asks that Yennefer be released in exchange for herself, but Vilgefortz laughs and imprisons her anyway. Geralt arrives at the castle quickly after Ciri, not knowing that Ciri arrived earlier. Geralt and co. storm the castle, killing many of Skellen's men before Milva eventually dies. Geralt and Regis go to find Yennefer, Cahir and Angouleme go to save Ciri once they learn she is here. Yennefer is saved by Geralt, who indiscriminately kills to save her. Bonhart frees Ciri, desiring to kill her in a fair fight. Ciri flees, and encounters Cahir, who fights Bonhart himself to save Ciri. Cahir is killed outright, and soon after Angouleme dies in the same manner. Ciri and Bonhart soon fight, with Ciri finally winning using the environment to her advantage. Ciri takes the three witcher medallions that Bonhart claimed to have taken off the corpses of witchers previously. Ciri runs to find Geralt and Yennefer.

Meanwhile, Geralt, Regis, and Yennefer seek and fight Vilgefortz. Regis is obliterated in the fight, turning into a molten mass of dust. Geralt and Vilgefortz fight, with Geralt being victorious. Ciri eventually finds Geralt and Yennefer, who chose to go outside. On their way to the courtyard, they kill more of Skellen's men. As they reach the courtyard, they find the Emperor of Nilfgaard's men taking the castle and imprisoning any remaining men. The Emperor is revealed to be a long-lost acquaintance of Geralt: Duny , Ciri's father. He plans to marry her so they can have a powerful child. Geralt and Yennefer are told to commit suicide while Ciri will be taken to the capital of Nilfgaard to be married to the Emperor. Geralt, without much of a choice, accepts, and Yennefer and Geralt take a bath together, with a dagger left in the room. In the courtyard, Duny sees Ciri, and regrets his plan. Without revealing their relationship, he kisses her forehead and lets her go free. She goes back and finds Geralt and Yennefer, saying that the Emperor's men left without a word. The three depart, with Ciri leading the way to all of the places during her adventures earlier in the story. They eventually return to Toussaint, and save Dandelion from being executed. The four now split into two groups, Dandelion and Geralt heading to Rivia and Ciri and Yennefer going to meet with the sorceresses' Lodge.

During Geralt's time in Rivia , a riot erupts, in which humans are killing non-humans indiscriminately. He meets a couple of his dwarven friends in a pub, but when they are targeted by the mob he enters the fray and kills several individuals before being impaled by a pitchfork. Ciri, Yennefer, and Triss Merigold arrive in Rivia shortly after the rioting starts, and they eventually find Geralt on the verge of death. Yennefer attempts to use all of her magical strength to revive him, then passes out beside the witcher. Ihuarraquax shortly appears and channels her power through Ciri to heal Geralt and Yennefer. Ciri sends her trusted mare, Kelpie, with Ihuarraquax to their world. The rioting moves away from the area, and Ciri brings their bodies out onto a boat on a nearby lake. While Triss, Dandelion, and their dwarven friends say their goodbyes, Ciri takes off into the lake which erupts into a light and the three disappear.

Ciri ends recounting her tale to Galahad, who has been listening intently the entire time. Ciri says she "could" claim that the tale ends with Geralt and Yennefer waking in an unknown location, comforting each other; that they marry, and that a celebration ensued between all the different dead and alive characters of the saga.

Galahad eventually invites her to the court at Camelot, which she accepts. The saga ends with Ciri and Galahad riding side by side, holding hands.

Translations [ ]

When Condwiramurs Tilly dreams of the Battle of Brenna , she says she heard a madman cry " The eagles! The eagles! ". This might be a joking tie in reference to the sudden appearance of the great eagles in J.R.R. Tolkiens "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" during large battles; whereas the madman was referring to the Redanian infantry, whose standard and national emblem are a white eagle on a red background.

Book Covers [ ]

The Witcher
2 Geralt of Rivia
3 Yennefer of Vengerberg

Sword of Destiny

69 pages • 2 hours read

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Summary and Study Guide

Sword of Destiny marks Andrzej Sapkowski’s inaugural venture into the celebrated action-fantasy series, The Witcher. As of 2023, The Witcher series is comprised of three short story collections and five novels. Published in 1992 and translated into English in 2015, the stories featured in Sword of Destiny occur between the events of The Last Wish (a short story collection) and Blood of Elves (the first novel in The Witcher saga). The titular “witcher,” Geralt of Rivia , is a man at once cynical and honorable, who has been enhanced through an arcane process to become a monster hunter for hire. Throughout the series, he faces monsters, prejudice, and self-discovery while navigating the complexities of his destiny. The tales in Sword of Destiny play a pivotal role in the overall success of The Witcher series, and in addition to being translated into over 25 languages worldwide, the collection’s impact has resonated beyond literature, inspiring highly successful video games and multiple television adaptations.

This guide refers to the 2015 Kindle edition, translated by David French.

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Sword of Destiny focuses on the adventures of a witcher named Geralt of Rivia, whose body has been enhanced through a transformative magical process to increase his ability to hunt and kill the world’s most dangerous monsters. Gifted with superhuman abilities, Geralt makes his living as a monster hunter for hire, and amidst his day-to-day struggles, he must also grapple with the predetermined path set for him by destiny, which has linked his fate to that of the wayward Princess Ciri, granddaughter of Queen Calanthe. As the story unfolds, the looming shadow of destiny weaves through Geralt’s relationships with the sorceress Yennefer, the bard Dandelion , and Princess Ciri over a period of approximately 10 years.

In “The Bounds of Reason,” Geralt encounters the knight Three Jackdaws and the Zerrikanian warriors, Téa and Véa. Despite their queries about dragon slaying, Geralt clarifies he does not kill dragons but agrees to join them. Their journey is interrupted by King Niedamir’s soldiers during a dragon hunt. They join King Niedamir’s diverse dragon-hunting party, which includes Sir Eyck, the Crinfrid Reavers, a group of dwarves, the sorcerer Dorregaray, and Geralt’s ex-lover, the sorceress Yennefer. They face many challenges and encounter the legendary golden dragon, Villentretenmerth. Tensions rise as Dorregaray tries to protect the dragon, resulting in him, Dandelion, and Geralt being bound to a wagon. Yennefer, seeking a cure for infertility, threatens the group and wishes to face the dragon alone but is overpowered and bound to the wagon herself. Villentretenmerth incapacitates the dwarves and the Reavers, prompting the local villagers to attack. The adventurers realize that Villentretenmerth is protecting a baby dragon and work together to defeat the villagers. When the dust settles, Villentretenmerth shifts to human form, revealing that he is Three Jackdaws. He explains that he serves as a witcher of sorts: one who fights on behalf of wronged monsters. He states that Yennefer’s infertility cannot be cured and affirms that her fate lies with Geralt.

In “A Shard of Ice,” Geralt slays a zeugl in a muck heap in the city of Aedd Glynvael. Annoyed by the place, Geralt joins Yennefer at an inn, hoping to leave, but she refuses due to her attachment to the town’s sorcerer, Istredd.

Geralt seeks payment for the zeugl slaying from Mayor Herbolth. Haggling and taxes follow, souring the reward. Geralt meets with Istredd, who confesses his love for Yennefer. Istredd requests Geralt’s departure, believing that the witcher’s presence troubles Yennefer and voicing the commonly held prejudice that Geralt has a witcher’s stunted emotions and is therefore incapable of love. Later, Yennefer and Geralt discuss their relationship; she desires his love, but he deems himself incapable of it due to his witcher-related enhancements. At an impasse, Geralt and Istredd agree to duel for Yennefer’s affection. Later, the mayor states that Geralt cannot kill Istredd because the sorcerer is vital to the town. The next day, Istredd offers to fight Geralt with swords. Geralt learns that Yennefer has ended her dalliance with Istredd. Istredd rejects her decision and desires to proceed with the duel. Geralt advises against involving others in his suicide and returns to the inn, where a message of rejection from Yennefer awaits.

In “Eternal Flame,” Geralt reunites with Dandelion in the city of Novigrad after the bard’s tumultuous parting with Vespula, his ex-lover. They meet a halfling merchant named Dainty Biberveldt, but a second, battered Dainty soon interrupts their conversation. Upon realizing that the first Dainty is a doppler, or shape-shifter, Geralt subdues him. The doppler’s real name is Tellico; he attacked the real Dainty and stole and sold the halfling’s horses. Despite Dainty’s calls for retribution, Geralt recognizes the doppler’s intelligence and refuses to kill him. Tellico, alias Dudu, escapes as Dainty faces hefty taxes imposed by city official Schwann, which the halfling cannot afford. Soon, Minister Chappelle intercepts the trio, concerned over the spreading rumors about the doppler and asserting that the renowned Eternal Flame protects the city from all monsters. The trio visits Dainty’s banker and learns about Tellico’s many profitable transactions, all of which were cleverly conducted in Dainty’s name. Eventually, the narrative reveals that Chappelle, who is also a doppler, wants to establish Tellico as Dainty’s purported cousin, ensuring his place in Novigrad as Dainty’s proxy.

In “A Little Sacrifice,” Geralt translates Duke Agloval’s failed proposal to the mermaid Sh’eenaz. Each party refuses to transform for the other’s benefit. Facing financial struggles, Geralt and Dandelion find a windfall when the bard is hired to perform at a betrothal party. At the gathering, Geralt encounters the bard Essi Daven, and Agloval hires Geralt to investigate a sea monster that has destroyed a pearl-diving boat. Geralt and Essi share an unexpected kiss. While Geralt tries to find a boat willing to take him, Sh’eenaz advises them to avoid the area altogether. Ignoring the warning, Geralt and Dandelion find themselves attacked by sea creatures during low tide. Sh’eenaz rescues Geralt from near-death. Later, as Essi tends to Geralt’s wounds, she confesses her love for Geralt, who cannot reciprocate because he is devoted to Yennefer. Later, Geralt refuses Agloval’s demand that he kill the sea creatures; to Geralt, they are intelligent beings, not monsters. Agloval declares war on the creatures, but suddenly Sh’eenaz intervenes, sporting human legs. Dandelion, Essi, and Geralt set off traveling together. Geralt and Essi consummate their relationship but soon part ways. Essi succumbs to smallpox four years later, and Dandelion buries her.

In “Sword of Destiny,” Geralt embarks on a mission to Brokilon Forest, carrying a message from King Venzlav to the dryad queen, Eithné. On arrival, he discovers bodies left by the dryads, and he also finds a man named Freixenet, who is a friend and a wounded survivor of the recent battle. Assisted by the dryad Braenn, Geralt saves a young girl named Ciri from a giant centipede. Ciri is intrigued by Geralt and discloses her escape from an arranged marriage. The trio reaches Duén Canell, the capital of Brokilon, where Ciri realizes the dark truth: The dryads plan to assimilate her into their society and transform her into a dryad, robbing her of her memories and personality in the process. Geralt discusses the nature of destiny with Eithné, who offers Ciri a choice—to stay in Brokilon or follow her destiny. Although drinking the water of Brokilon is meant to erase memories and transform girls into dryads, this process does not affect Ciri at all. Geralt challenges Eithné, claiming that she did not give Ciri the water. Accepting her challenge to try the water himself, Geralt hallucinates and loses consciousness. Awakening at Brokilon’s edge, Geralt and Ciri head to Brugge. En route, they confront Verden mercenaries who are trying to incite war with the dryads. Geralt fights them, aided by dryads and the druid Mousesack , who is an advisor to Queen Calanthe of Cintra , Ciri’s grandmother. Mousesack implores Geralt to fulfill the Law of Surprise by taking charge of Ciri, but he resists and attempts to leave as she sleeps. Ciri awakens, insisting on their intertwined destinies, but Geralt walks away.

In “Something More,” Geralt rescues the merchant Yurga from a horde of monsters, invoking the Law of Surprise as payment for his services. (The Law of Surprise dictates that the payment must be whatever the merchant finds unexpectedly at home.) Geralt defeats the monsters but is gravely injured, prompting Yurga to put him in the wagon and tend to him. En route to the merchant’s home, Geralt imbibes several potions and hallucinates past experiences. The first vision reenacts Geralt’s last meeting with Yennefer during Beltane celebrations. The sorceress emphasizes that destiny requires “something more.” He also recalls an encounter with Queen Calanthe, during which he refused to claim Ciri from a group of children. Waking to find his long-estranged sorceress mother, Visenna , healing him, Geralt seeks answers about his early childhood, but she withholds all information. Later, as Geralt recovers, Yurga recounts the Second Battle of Sodden, in which 14 sorcerers were killed. At the memorial stone, Geralt encounters Death herself and asks about the last name on the stone—fearing that it might be Yennefer’s. He asks Death to take him, but she refuses. Yurga later explains that the last sorcerer is not Yennefer. Geralt crosses the Yaruga River with Yurga, recalling a past crossing with Dandelion, in which Dandelion informed Geralt of Cintra’s fall and Ciri’s likely demise. Now, Geralt ponders the nature of destiny and “something more.” When they reach Yurga’s home, Yurga’s wife surprises them with an orphaned girl—Ciri. Embracing Geralt, Ciri questions if she is Geralt’s destiny, and he tells her that she is more.

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The Witcher

All The Witcher season 4 news we’ve heard so far

Next time we see Geralt, he’ll have a very different face

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Ciri (Freya Allan) holding a sword up to Cahir (Eamon Farren) and holding him by the throat, while Geralt (Henry Cavill) looks on in the background

The Witcher season 3 has reached an end after two parts and eight episodes, but that doesn’t mean our heroes’ journey across The Continent is over. After violent coups, dangerous plots, secret portals, and plenty of fights , Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri are all separated, and who knows when they might get back together again.

Netflix is definitely bringing The Witcher back for season 4 , and while we have a few ideas about what’s to come, including the series’ already infamous recasting, there are still quite a few questions left, including when it might come out.

Will there be a Witcher season 4?

Yes, there will be. Netflix’s most official statement on this has been casting Liam Hemsworth as Geralt next season , but that is enough to say for sure that a fourth season is being planned. This isn’t too much of a surprise, since The Witcher remains one of Netflix’s most popular series, though the two most recent seasons never reached the viewership heights of the first one .

When will The Witcher season 4 come out?

The Witcher season 4 hasn’t even started filming yet, as far as we know, so it’s likely to be a pretty long wait between seasons — and as with every series or movie right now, the ongoing writers and actors strikes in Hollywood is likely to push any release date back even further. The Witcher also frequently goes quite a while between seasons. Season 1 was released in 2019, while season 2 didn’t come out until 2021, and season 3 just arrived this year. With all that in mind, it’s likely that we won’t see the show’s fourth season until sometime around 2025 at the earliest.

Who will play Geralt in The Witcher season 4?

Liam Hemsworth will take over the role of Geralt from Henry Cavill in season 4. We’re still not sure how this swap will happen in the show, or how big Hemsworth-Geralt’s role will be in season 4, but we do know Cavill won’t be in the show next season.

What will The Witcher season 4 be about?

The Witcher season 3 doesn’t leave a whole lot of hints about what’s to come, so it’s really anyone’s guess, especially in the case of Geralt and Yennefer — at least we know that Ciri will be spending a while hanging out with The Rats, the young group of adventurers we see her with at the end of season 3. On the other hand, if you’re more a spoil-it-for-me type, you could always go read Andrzej Sapkowski’s Baptism of Fire , the book season 4 is likely to be based on.

Season 4’s casting also lets us know who fans can expect to show up: Sharlto Copley (known for District 9 ) will be playing Leo Bonhart, a brutal bounty hunter known for enjoying his work. He has quite a mix-up with Ciri and the Rats in the books. James Purefoy was also announced to be playing Skellen, a court advisor and spy for Emhyr (and the one who hires Bonhart in the books).

But while those two might be joining the darker sides of The Witcher season 4, there’s some big casting announcements on Geralt and Ciri’s side as well. Danny Woodburn ( Seinfeld ) will be playing Zoltan, a dwarf who is a good friend to Geralt. And Laurence Fishburne will be joining The Witcher as Regis, described as “a world-wise Barber-surgeon with a mysterious past who joins Geralt on his journey.” Regis is also first introduced in the novel Baptism by Fire, so the inspiration should seem clear at this point if you’re looking for potential “spoilers” for what is to come. (Netflix even describes the plot as if Yen, Ciri, and Geralt “can embrace and lead the groups of misfits they find themselves in, they have a chance of surviving the baptism of fire — and finding one another again.”)

So what’s Henry Cavill up to?

He has a few movies on the horizon, most immediately two action movies: Argylle , from Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn, and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare , directed by Guy Ritchie. Even more enticing, though, is the fact that Cavill is apparently in talks to produce and star in a Warhammer project . Cavill is a massive Warhammer fan , making this a bit of a passion project for him. But since we don’t have any details on it yet, it seems much further away.

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TV & Movies

The Ripley Book Ending Features A Scam For The Ages

In Netflix’s new series, social climbing turns deadly.

'Ripley' Book Ending & Plot Summary For The New Netflix Series Andrew Scott in 'Ripley.' Photo via N...

It’s been 25 years since Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Matt Damon starred in the psychological thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley — and now, there’s a new spin on the story about an Italian sojourn gone wrong.

Like the film before it, Netflix’s new limited series Ripley is based on the 1955 novel The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, as well as the series of novels as a whole (there are five!), the streamer notes. But don’t expect the new adaptation to echo the vibe of the Oscar-nominated film. Series creator Steve Zaillian told IndieWire that he wanted to convey the “quite sinister and quite dark” tone of Highsmith’s novel. “I just couldn’t imagine that taking place in a beautiful Italian setting with bright blue skies and colorful outfits and things like that,” he explained.

Wondering what to expect? Here’s The Talented Mr. Ripley book ending and plot summary to refer to as you watch the 1960s period thriller.

A Mysterious Visitor

Herbert Greenleaf wants his son, Dickie, to return to the United States after living in Italy. He asks Tom Ripley to travel there and encourage him to come home. He thinks Tom and Dickie are old friends, but they barely know each other at all. But Ripley is a con artist, so he’s able to play along.

'Ripley' Book Ending & Plot Summary For The New Netflix Series. Marge, Dickie, and Ripley in 'Ripley...

He travels to Italy on the Greenleafs’ dime and meets Dickie and Marge, who are living together. Ripley quickly gets close to the couple. Too close. Dickie is especially disturbed to find Ripley wearing his clothes and imitating his host in the mirror.

Later, Ripley and Dickie take a trip to San Remo together. It’s here that Ripley realizes he’s no longer in Dickie and Marge’s life. His anger and obsession culminate in a fateful boat trip, in which Ripley beats Dickie to death with an oar.

Ripley’s Cover-Up

As he’s a con artist, Ripley quickly puts a plan into place. He stages a story about Dickie choosing to travel to Rome alone, instead of returning to Marge in the town they lived together. He even writes to Dickie’s parents as their son, to update them about his whereabouts (and keep getting their money).

'Ripley' Book Ending & Plot Summary For The New Netflix Series. Andrew Scott in 'Ripley.' Photo via ...

However, Ripley’s killing doesn’t stop there. He also murders a suspicious friend of Dickie’s, Freddie, and this rouses police suspicion. But the police, Dickie’s parents, and Marge ultimately come to the conclusion that Dickie planned to die by suicide.

Ripley, in an especially bold move, even writes to the Greenleafs to say he found their son’s will — and Dickie left everything to Ripley. And they buy it. At the end of the novel, Ripley decides to continue with his travels now funded by his dead friend’s fortune.

Screen Rant

6 things from the bridgerton books that netflix must not change in season 3.

As Bridgerton season 3 draws closer, it remains to be seen how the story will adapt and change the book it's based on in the original series.

WARNING! SPOILERS ahead for Bridgerton book four, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, by Julia Quinn!

Bridgerton season 3 maintains key plot points from the book series for Colin and Penelope's love story to blossom authentically.
Colin and Penelope's early meeting and shared love for writing are crucial to their relationship development in the upcoming season.
The show must balance Penelope's reveal as Lady Whistledown with her romance with Colin, allowing for reconciliation and acceptance.

Bridgerton has taken the world by storm since its premiere on Netflix in 2020, and as Bridgerton season 3 approaches, there are some plot points the show cannot change from the story in the books. The TV series is based on the book franchise by Julia Quinn, with a total of eight novels that each track the love story of one of the titular Bridgerton children. Both the books and the TV show are a revisionist history of Regency-era London that turns up the volume on the intrigue, scandal, and drama, making the romances all the more watchable.

It's the first season to deviate from the order of the books, telling the story of Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) from Romancing Mr. Bridgerton , the fourth book of the series.

Season 1 followed the story of Daphne (Phoebe Dynevor) and her love story with the Duke (Regé-Jean Page), while season 2 introduced the amazing enemies-to-lovers romance between Anthony (Jonathon Bailey) and Kate (Simone Ashley). Many fans are sad to say goodbye to Anthony and Kate's steamy love affair, but Bridgerton season 3 will be very different from seasons 1 and 2 . It's the first season to deviate from the order of the books, telling the story of Colin (Luke Newton) and Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) from Romancing Mr. Bridgerton , the fourth book of the series.

The series creators decided to skip over the third book, An Offer From A Gentleman , which encompasses Benedict's (Luke Thompson) story because Colin and Penelope's chemistry was so clear in the first two seasons. However, even though the order of the books has changed, that doesn't mean all the aspects of Romancing Mr. Bridgerton should be. Plenty of moments particularly between Colin and Penelope, must remain unchanged for their relationship to blossom and for audiences to see how much they mean to each other. Their friends-to-lovers relationship is a highlight of the Bridgerton canon.

6 How Colin & Penelope Met

Shown in a flashback, proving they always had chemistry.

In the book, readers gain insight into Penelope and Colin's early relationship and the events that set their love in motion. For the first two seasons, Penelope and Colin are good friends, but Penelope wants them to be more. She privately pines for Colin throughout her life, and he obliviously doesn't see her as anything more than a friend. In the show, it seems as if Penelope has always been attached to the Bridgerton family because of her closeness to Colin's sister, Eloise (Claudia Jessie). Eloise and Penelope are practically inseparable throughout the first two seasons.

It would be easy to assume that Colin and Penelope met through Eloise, but their first meeting is much more impactful. Bridgerton has incorporated flashbacks before, like in Anthony's season when he recalled the death of his father, and providing a look back at Colin and Penelope's first meeting shouldn't be omitted from the show. As teenagers, they meet on a walk, and Penelope's hat flies into Colin's face. In a moment that should be awkward and mortifying, Colin eases Penelope's anxieties and laughs at his misfortune, showing that he is genuinely a good fit for her.

Bridgerton Season 3’s Missing Character Creates A Huge Challenge For Colin & Penelope's Romance

5 penelope & colin bonding over writing, establishing their shared interests and intellectual compatibility.

What brings them together is their mutual love of writing, though they express it in different ways. In the book, when Penelope discovers Colin's writing, she's impressed and intrigued.

Colin and Penelope struggle with how others perceive them throughout the series. Penelope wishes to be taken more seriously and looked at as a romantic prospect by young men instead of an awkward member of a family with a middling reputation. Conversely, Colin wants people to see him as more than yet another charming Bridgerton who has little to offer besides his looks and social standing. What brings them together is their mutual love of writing, though they express it in different ways. In the book, when Penelope discovers Colin's writing, she's impressed and intrigued.

Though there's some concern over Colin and Penelope's romance in Bridgerton and how different it will be from the books, maintaining the throughline of a connection through writing will strengthen their budding relationship. The fact that Penelope is not only a writer but Lady Whistledown herself becomes a major point of tension between the pair. Understanding that Colin is a writer himself and feels jealousy at Penelope's success adds nuance to her role as Whistledown and depicts them as equals. This illustration of her success is vital as Penelope frequently puts herself down and thinks she isn't worthy of Colin.

4 Colin Discovering Penelope Is Lady Whistledown

Eloise shouldn't tell him even though she already knows in the show.

Bridgerton season 3's biggest character change will be Eloise. Particularly the relationship between Eloise and Penelope, since Eloise knows she's Lady Whistedown. The fact that Eloise knows Penelope is Whistledown is a shift from the books, but it was the right move for the show to tell Colin and Penelope's story in season 3. Penelope needs to break away from her friendship with Eloise to figure out who she is away from the Bridgertons. Additionally, her rift with Eloise will allow Colin to stop seeing her as a little sister and start seeing her as a romantic prospect.

However, Eloise must stay out of their courtship and not disrupt how Colin discovers Penelope's secret. Bridgerton season 3 has teased that Colin is going to help Penelope find a match in the marriage mart and slowly realize his feelings for her along the way. As they grow closer, he must discover that she is Whistledown on his own as he does in the books. If Eloise were to tell him and rob Penelope of the opportunity to explain her side of things, it could be disastrous for their relationship and would be a betrayal Penelope wouldn't easily forgive.

3 The Ton Accepting Penelope As Lady Whistledown

She deserves acceptance after being ostracized for so long.

It's in Romancing Mr. Bridgerton that Penelope's identity as Lady Whistledown was made public, but instead of being angry at her and casting her out of society, she was celebrated for her work as a writer. It would be difficult for the show to put off this reveal to another season, as Penelope isn't likely to be a protagonist after her relationship with Colin is chronicled. Extending Penelope's Lady Whistledown plotline past their story wouldn't work for the show. Colin and Penelope must end up married and be honest with each other by the end of the season.

Penelope has been cast aside by her friends and family so far in Bridgerton , and her Whistledown unmasking should be triumphant.

It would be shocking if Colin encouraged her to keep her identity a secret and continue hiding from the ton. Instead, season 3 should allow Penelope to come clean with everyone and receive the recognition she's waited for all these years. It's true that some of what she wrote as Lady Whistledown hurt people she cared about, but it was an important outlet for her and allowed her to discover her strength as a writer. Penelope has been cast aside by her friends and family so far in Bridgerton , and her Whistledown unmasking should be triumphant.

2 Colin Supporting Penelope's Writing And Ideas

Setting aside his jealousy and believing in her.

Penelope has faced humiliation at Colin's hands and has been hurt deeply by his actions. Even if he was never vicious or overlooked her on purpose, that doesn't change how much their relationship has to come back from in season 3. They both have a lot of maturing to do as characters, and the tables have turned so that Colin must prove he is good enough for Penelope instead of the other way around. A change that season 3 must make is having Penelope enter the marriage mart with newfound confidence and the realization that she can live without Colin.

However, she’ll soon discover that she doesn’t want to be separated as Colin evolves and starts to understand her more deeply. This change should be illustrated through his support of her being Lady Whistledown and the realization that she's a talented writer with an incisive voice that adds important insight into the workings of the ton. It's alright if he's jealous or hurt at first, so long as he sticks to the book's characterization of love and support in the face of learning that Penelope is more skilled and wise than he knew.

1 Eloise And Penelope Becoming Friends Again

Forgiving each other and being united as a family.

She and Penelope will be on separate paths in season 3, but this will allow them to heal following their blowout fight in season 2 and for Eloise to gain perspective into why Penelope wrote what she did as Whistledown.

Although Eloise's plotline and romance are bound to change significantly, that doesn't mean her relationship with Penelope should take a different course. In the book, Eloise gets married around the same time as Penelope. Of course, Bridgerton season 3 has moved up the timeline of these events, so it might be difficult to squeeze in Eloise's romantic prospects. However, there's plenty of opportunity for her to heal her relationship with Penelope and for their ending to remain the same. Though Eloise finds out that Penelope is Lady Whistledown differently in the books, she still forgives her and understands.

However, Eloise is much more concerned with who Lady Whistledown is in the show, and season 3 might deviate from Eloise's story for good . She and Penelope will be on separate paths in season 3, but this will allow them to heal following their blowout fight in season 2 and for Eloise to gain perspective into why Penelope wrote what she did as Whistledown. Seeing them grow as characters and come back together as adults who love and respect each other will be just as rewarding a payoff as witnessing Colin and Penelope fall in love.

*Availability in US

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From Shondaland and creator Chris Van Dusen, Netflix’s Bridgerton is based on the romance novels of the same name by author Julia Quinn. The series follows the eight Bridgerton siblings, Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory, and Hyacinth, as they search for love during the social season and navigate life in Regency-era England.

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How to Read the Witcher Books in Order (2024 Update)
1. The Last Wish. While it may be tempting to jump straight into the novels, you should really start here. This short story collection contains the roots of the Witcher books, and will provide you with background information and character details that will be important once you get into the full-length books.
The Witcher
The Last Wish contains four of the five stories in The Witcher, in addition to three other stories.The fifth story, "The Road with No Return", is not in the book. Production Short stories Andrzej Sapkowski made his debut as an author with "The Witcher" (1986).. In 1985, Andrzej Sapkowski was a 38-year-old traveling fur salesman with an economics degree and a love of fantasy literature.
A Summary Guide To The Witcher Books For Netflix Show
Geralt is a witcher, which means he is a beast hunter who developed supernatural abilities to battle wild beasts and monsters. Originally, the stories were published sort-of out of order, so let ...
The Witcher series
The Witcher (Polish: Cykl wiedźmiński) by Andrzej Sapkowski is a series of fantasy short stories (collected in two books, except for two stories) and five novels about the witcher Geralt of Rivia. The books have been adapted into a movie and two television series (The Hexer and Netflix's The Witcher), a video game series (The Witcher), a comic book and others. The novel series (excluding the ...
How to Read The Witcher Books in Order
The Witcher Books In Order. The books covered in this Witcher Books Order article are (a.k.a. the TL;DR version): The Last Wish. Sword of Destiny. Blood of Elves. The Time of Contempt. Baptism of ...
The Witcher Series by Andrzej Sapkowski
Book 1-5. The Saga of the Witcher: Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow and The Lady of the Lake. by Andrzej Sapkowski. 4.42 · 518 Ratings · 23 Reviews · 4 editions. Herein lies the main saga of Geralt the Witcher - ….
How to read The Witcher books in order
The first Witcher books debuted in the early '90s in Sapkowski's native Poland, but the rest of the world was a little slow to catch on to Geralt of Rivia. It wasn't until the English version ...
The Witcher books official reading order
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. The Witcher. The Witcher 4. Load Comments. Here's the official reading order of The Witcher books to get you properly acquainted with ...
How to Read "The Witcher" Books in Order
The Witcher books were written as a series, but Season of Storms, published in 2013, is a highly anticipated stand-alone novel. It offers new and compelling glimpses of Geralt of Rivia, who's on ...
The Witcher books in order: how to read them start to finish
The Witcher series has strayed from the original narrative in several ways. (Image credit: Netflix) Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich said that The Witcher show would be staying true to the books the series is based on, but — as with most adaptations — the show has deviated from the original saga in some big ways.. Ahead of The Witcher season 3's release, reports claimed that the latest ...
The Witcher Books in Order (Chronologically and by Release Date)
Action. Adventure. Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts. Release Date. December 20, 2019. Creator ...
How to read The Witcher books in order
Generally speaking, the best way to read The Witcher series is simply to follow the order in which they were published. I've given the U.S. release dates and publishers for simplicity, but bear in ...
The Last Wish: Study Guide
The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher is the first installment of Adrzej Sapkowski's fantasy book series, The Witcher.Translated to English from its original Polish by Danusia Stok, The Last Wish tells the story of witcher Geralt of Rivia, as he battles monsters, breaks curses, finds love, and begins a journey of self-reflection.Geralt's adventures have fascinated audiences around the ...
'The Witcher' Franchise Explained: The Books, Games, Netflix Series
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The Witcher Books: How to Read All of The Novels in Order
Your Ultimate Guide To Reading All Of The Witcher Books In Order. Lauren Rouse. 8 months ago. July 28, 2023 at 1:22 pm. While you wait for season three on Netflix here's the order you should be ...
The Witcher storyline
Vizima gate concept painting. This chapter opens introducing Alvin, an unusual child whose path will repeatedly cross Geralt's.Hot on the trail of the mysterious men with Salamander badges, our witcher explores the outskirts of Vizima, where a terrifying beast harasses the villagers by night. The witcher encounters old friends (whom he doesn't recognize at first) and makes connections with ...
How To Read The Witcher Books In Order (Chronological & Release Dates)
The Witcher books by Andrzej Sapkowski are popular and follow the adventures of the witcher Geralt, inspiring the Netflix series.; There is no definitive order to read the Witcher books, but starting with The Last Wish may be a good option for new fans.; Readers can choose between reading the Witcher books in release order for a traditional experience or in chronological order for a different ...
The Last Wish: Full Book Summary
Summary The Last Wish Full Book Summary. Previous Next . ... Geralt is a witcher, someone who has undergone an intensive process to become capable of fighting monsters. Each chapter alternates between a story from Geralt's past and his present stay at the temple of Melitele. At the temple, Geralt is recovering from an injury under the care of ...
The Witcher Saga Chapter Summaries, Book Ranking, and Reviews
Chapter 2: Milva saves Geralt/Jaskier from Nilfgaardian unit attack on hawkers, Geralt discovers Cahir trapped in hawker's coffin, Nilfgaard/Verden defeat Brugge, company meets Zoltan/dwarves escorting refugees, Cahir tails behind company, company kills would-be marauders at cottage. Chapter 3: Dwarves bury mystery wagon goods and split up ...
The Lady of the Lake
The Lady of the Lake (Polish: Pani Jeziora), written by Andrzej Sapkowski and first published in Poland in 1999, is the seventh book in The Witcher series and the fifth novel in the saga. It continues the story from The Tower of the Swallow. The U.S. edition was released by Orbit on 14 March 2017, with the first U.K. edition by Gollancz following a few days after on 16 March 2017. The second U ...
Blood of Elves Summary and Study Guide
Blood of Elves is the first novel in Andrzej Sapkowski's The Witcher saga, but it is the third book in the series, following the short story collections The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny.Originally published in Polish in 1994, Blood of Elves was first translated into English in 2008 by Danusia Stok.This study guide uses the first trade paperback edition of that translation, published by ...
The Lady of the Lake (Sapkowski novel)
The Lady of the Lake. (Sapkowski novel) The Lady of the Lake ( Polish original title: Pani Jeziora) is the fifth and final novel in the Witcher Saga written by Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, first published in Poland in 1999. It is a sequel to the fourth Witcher novel, The Tower of Swallows .
Sword of Destiny Summary and Study Guide
Sword of Destiny marks Andrzej Sapkowski's inaugural venture into the celebrated action-fantasy series, The Witcher.As of 2023, The Witcher series is comprised of three short story collections and five novels. Published in 1992 and translated into English in 2015, the stories featured in Sword of Destiny occur between the events of The Last Wish (a short story collection) and Blood of Elves ...
All The Witcher season 4 news we've heard so far
Season 4's casting also lets us know who fans can expect to show up: Sharlto Copley (known for District 9) will be playing Leo Bonhart, a brutal bounty hunter known for enjoying his work. He has ...
The Witcher Season 4: Liam Hemsworth Is Ripped In Geralt Training Photo
A new photo reveals Liam Hemworth's impressive physique as he gets in shape to play Geralt in The Witcher season 4. Based on the bestselling fantasy books by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher follows the story of the monster hunter Geralt of Rivia and Cirilla, the Crown Princess of Cintra with whom he is sworn to protect and bound by destiny. Previously played by Henry Cavill, it was revealed ...
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6 Things From The Bridgerton Books That Netflix Must Not Change In Season 3
SPOILERS ahead for Bridgerton book four, Romancing Mr. Bridgerton, by Julia Quinn! Summary. Bridgerton season 3 maintains key plot points from the book series for Colin and Penelope's love story to blossom authentically. Colin and Penelope's early meeting and shared love for writing are crucial to their relationship development in the upcoming ...

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The Lady of the Lake

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