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The Witcher Reading Order.

Expert Guideby Andrzej Sapkowski
9 Entries
Ongoing
Quick Answer

Start The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski with "The Last Wish", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

Reading order for The Witcher

Reader's Guide

This series spans 9 main titles released between 1993 and 2025. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "The Last Wish"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

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Community Consensus

Low Debate

"The consensus reading order begins with the two short story collections, *The Last Wish* and *Sword of Destiny*, which are considered vital context and prerequisite reading before moving into the core novel series. The subsequent order follows the publication structure of the five main saga books."

Key Reddit Advice

The core reading order is: The Last Wish > Sword of Destiny > Blood of Elves > Time of Contempt > Baptism of Fire > Tower of Swallows > Lady of the Lake. *Season of Storms* is an optional standalone 'sidequel' set concurrently with *The Last Wish* and should be read after completing the main seven books.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The Witcher conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for The Witcher. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "The Last Wish" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "The Witcher" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Start with "The Last Wish"Explore all by Andrzej Sapkowski

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Order

Preserves character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended. Compare →

Chronological Order

May spoil surprises but improves timeline clarity for fans. Compare →

Publication Reading Order9 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

The Last Wish

Pub: 1993

Geralt the Witcher—revered and hated—holds the line against the monsters plaguing humanity in this collection of adventures, the first chapter in Andrzej Sapkowski’s groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games. ★ The New York Times bestselling series ★ Over Fifteen Million Copies Sold Worldwide ★ World Fantasy Award Winning Author ★ David Gemmell Legend Award Winning Author ★ Named One of the Greatest Book Series of All Time by Forbes Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless hunter. Yet he is no ordinary killer. His sole purpose: to destroy the monsters that plague the world. But not everything monstrous-looking is evil and not everything fair is good . . . and in every fairy tale there is a grain of truth. Witcher collections The Last Wish Sword of Destiny Witcher novels Blood of Elves The Time of Contempt Baptism of Fire The Tower of Swallows Lady of the Lake Season of Storms Crossroads of Ravens Hussite Trilogy The Tower of Fools Warriors of God Translated from original Polish by Danusia Stok

Curation Note:Essential short story collection. Introduces Geralt, Yennefer, and Dandelion. Chronologically the first entry.

2

Sword Of Destiny

Pub: 1992

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Last Wish".

Geralt the Witcher battles monsters, demons and prejudices alike in Sword of Destiny, the second collection of adventures in Andrzej Sapkowski’s groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the Netflix show and the hit video games. The New York Times Bestselling Series Over Fifteen Million Copies Sold Worldwide World Fantasy Award Winning Author David Gemmell Legend Award Winning Author Named One of the Greatest Book Series of All Time by Forbes Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless hunter. Yet he is no ordinary killer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent. Sword of Destiny is the follow up to The Last Wish, and together they are the perfect introduction to a one of a kind fantasy world. Witcher collections The Last Wish Sword of Destiny Witcher novels Blood of Elves The Time of Contempt Baptism of Fire The Tower of Swallows Lady of the Lake Season of Storms Hussite Trilogy The Tower of Fools Warriors of God Translated from original Polish by David French

Curation Note:Critical backstory for Ciri. Must be read before Blood of Elves to understand the main saga.

3

Blood Of Elves

Pub: 1994

Plot details hidden until you finish "Sword Of Destiny".

Andrzej Sapkowski’s New York Times bestselling Witcher series has inspired the hit Netflix show and multiple blockbuster video games, and has transported millions of fans around the globe to an epic, unforgettable world of magic and adventure. ★ The New York Times bestselling series ★ Over Fifteen Million Copies Sold Worldwide ★ World Fantasy Award Winning Author ★ David Gemmell Legend Award Winning Author ★ Named One of the Greatest Book Series of All Time by Forbes For over a century, humans, dwarves, gnomes, and elves have lived together in relative peace. But that peace has now come to an end. Geralt of Rivia, the hunter known as the Witcher, has been waiting for the birth of a prophesied child. The one who has the power to change the world for good—or for evil. As the threat of war hangs over the land and the child is pursued for her extraordinary powers, it will become Geralt’s responsibility to protect them all. And the Witcher never accepts defeat. Join Geralt of Rivia; his beloved ward and the child of prophecy, Ciri; and his ally and love, the powerful sorceress Yennefer as they battle monsters, demons, and prejudices alike in Blood of Elves, the first novel of The Witcher Saga. Witcher story collections The Last Wish Sword of Destiny Witcher novels Blood of Elves The Time of Contempt Baptism of Fire The Tower of Swallows Lady of the Lake Season of Storms Crossroads of Ravens Hussite Trilogy The Tower of Fools Warriors of God Light Perpetual Translated from original Polish by Danusia Stok

4

The Time Of Contempt

Pub: 1995

Plot details hidden until you finish "Blood Of Elves".

To protect his ward Ciri, Geralt of Rivia sends her to train with the sorceress Yennefer. But all is not well within the Wizard's Guild in the second novel of the Witcher, Andrzej Sapkowski's groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games. ★ The New York Times Bestselling Series ★ Over Fifteen Million Copies Sold Worldwide ★ World Fantasy Award Winning Author ★ David Gemmell Legend Award Winning Author ★ Named One of the Greatest Book Series of All Time by Forbes Geralt is a Witcher: guardian of the innocent; protector of those in need; a defender in dark times against some of the most frightening creatures of myth and legend. His task now is to protect Ciri. A child of prophecy, she will have the power to change the world for good or for ill—but only if she lives to use it. Witcher collections The Last Wish Sword of Destiny Witcher novels Blood of Elves The Time of Contempt Baptism of Fire The Tower of Swallows Lady of the Lake Season of Storms Crossroads of Ravens Hussite Trilogy The Tower of Fools Warriors of God Translated from original Polish by David French

5

Baptism Of Fire

Pub: 1996

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Time Of Contempt".

A deadly coup within the Wizard's Guild leaves the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, gravely injured, and his ward Ciri missing in the third novel of Andrzej Sapkowski's groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games. ★ The New York Times bestselling series ★ Over Fifteen Million Copies Sold Worldwide ★ World Fantasy Award Winning Author ★ David Gemmell Legend Award Winning Author ★ Named One of the Greatest Book Series of All Time by Forbes The Wizards Guild has been shattered by a coup, an uprising that has left Geralt seriously injured. The Witcher is supposed to be a guardian of the innocent, a protector of those in need, a defender against powerful and dangerous monsters that prey on men in dark times. But now that dark times have fallen upon the world, Geralt is helpless until he has recovered. While war rages across the lands, the future of magic is under threat and those sorcerers who survive are determined to protect it. It's an impossible situation in which to find one girl—Ciri, the heiress to the throne of Cintra—until a rumor places her in the Niflgaard court, preparing to marry the Emperor. Injured or not, Geralt has a rescue mission on his hands. Witcher collections The Last Wish Sword of Destiny Witcher novels Blood of Elves The Time of Contempt Baptism of Fire The Tower of Swallows Lady of the Lake Season of Storms Crossroads of Ravens Hussite Trilogy The Tower of Fools Warriors of God Translated from original Polish by David French

6

The Tower Of Swallows

Pub: 1997

Plot details hidden until you finish "Baptism Of Fire".

The world is at war and the prophesied savior is nowhere to be found. The Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, races to find her in the fourth novel of Andrzej Sapkowski's groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games. ★ The New York Times Bestselling Series ★ Over Fifteen Million Copies Sold Worldwide ★ World Fantasy Award Winning Author ★ David Gemmell Legend Award Winning Author ★ Named One of the Greatest Book Series of All Time by Forbes The world has fallen into war. Ciri, the child of prophecy, has vanished. Hunted by friends and foes alike, she has taken on the guise of a petty bandit and lives free for the first time in her life. But the net around her is closing. Geralt, the Witcher, has assembled a group of allies including Dandelion, Milva, Regis, and Cahir, to rescue her. Both sides of the war have sent brutal mercenaries to hunt her down. Her crimes have made her famous. There is only one place left to run. The tower of the swallow is waiting. . . Witcher collections The Last Wish Sword of Destiny Witcher novels Blood of Elves The Time of Contempt Baptism of Fire The Tower of Swallows Lady of the Lake Season of Storms Crossroads of Ravens Hussite Trilogy The Tower of Fools Warriors of God Light Perpetual Translated from original Polish by David French

7

The Lady Of The Lake

Pub: 1999

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Tower Of Swallows".

8

Season Of Storms

Pub: 2013

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Lady Of The Lake".

Before he was the guardian of Ciri, the child of destiny, Geralt of Rivia was a legendary swordsman. Join the Witcher as he undertakes a deadly mission in this stand-alone adventure set in the Andrzej Sapkowki’s groundbreaking epic fantasy world that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games. The New York Times bestselling series Over Fifteen Million Copies Sold Worldwide World Fantasy Award Winning Author David Gemmell Legend Award Winning Author Named One of the Greatest Book Series of All Time by Forbes Geralt of Rivia is a Witcher, one of the few capable of hunting the monsters that prey on humanity. He uses magical signs, potions, and the pride of every Witcher—two swords, steel and silver. But a contract has gone wrong, and Geralt finds himself without his signature weapons. Now he needs them back, because sorcerers are scheming, and across the world clouds are gathering. The season of storms is coming. . . Witcher collections The Last Wish Sword of Destiny Witcher novels Blood of Elves The Time of Contempt Baptism of Fire The Tower of Swallows Lady of the Lake Season of Storms Hussite Trilogy The Tower of Fools Warriors of God Translated from original Polish by David French

9

CROSSROADS OF RAVENS

Pub: 2025

Plot details hidden until you finish "Season Of Storms".

The ninth book in the Witcher series. Geralt of Rivia is mentored by a grizzled witcher; translated by David French.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the The Witcher series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read The Witcher?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Last Wish" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Andrzej Sapkowski intended.

Can I read The Witcher books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the The Witcher universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.