The Witcher novel series is a collection of books that has captivated readers around the world with its unique blend of fantasy, action, and adventure. Written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, the series centers around Geralt of Rivia, a skilled monster hunter known as a “Witcher,” who navigates the treacherous world of politics and magic in a medieval-inspired setting. Originally published in Polish, the series has been translated into numerous languages and has gained a dedicated fanbase across the globe. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the Witcher novel series and its books in order, exploring the fascinating world and characters that have made this series a beloved classic in the fantasy genre.
“The Witcher” (or “Wiedźmin” in Polish) is a series of books by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski that has become a phenomenon in the fantasy genre. The series follows the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher – a skilled monster hunter – in a world filled with magic, political intrigue, and danger. The books are set in a medieval-inspired world, where humans, elves, dwarves, and other creatures coexist but often struggle for power and survival.
The series began with two collections of short stories: “The Witcher” (also known as “The Last Wish”) and “Sword of Destiny”. These stories introduced Geralt and established the world he inhabited, as well as the characters and creatures that populate it. The stories often subvert common fantasy tropes, with Geralt navigating moral ambiguity and gray areas rather than always being a clear hero or villain.
The series then continued with five novels: “Blood of Elves”, “Time of Contempt”, “Baptism of Fire”, “The Tower of Swallows”, and “Lady of the Lake”. These novels further develop Geralt’s story, as well as those of other important characters such as Yennefer, a powerful sorceress, and Ciri, a young girl with magical abilities who becomes crucial to the fate of the world.
One of the strengths of the Witcher series is its complex characters and their relationships. Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri in particular are well-rounded and nuanced, with flaws and motivations that make them compelling and relatable. The series also tackles themes such as racism, war, and the nature of power, making it more than just a typical fantasy adventure.
The Witcher series has gained a large and dedicated fanbase, thanks in part to adaptations such as the video game series by CD Projekt Red and the Netflix television series. The books themselves have been translated into numerous languages, making them accessible to readers all over the world.
Witcher books in order
Short story collections
1. Sword of Destiny (Miecz Przeznaczenia)
Sword of Destiny (Polish: Miecz przeznaczenia) is the second[a] published short story collection in Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series. Although published in 1992,[1] it is officially considered the second entry in the series, behind The Last Wish, which was published the following year. Sword of Destiny was first published in English in the UK by Gollancz in 2015.
The anthology consists of six stories, loosely linked in chronology. They introduce characters that become major players in the later novels, which began with 1994’s Blood of Elves and are known as The Witcher Saga. The titular story, “The Sword of Destiny”, introduces the character of Ciri. The following story, “Something More”, is a direct prequel to the novels.
2. The Last Wish (Ostatnie życzenie)
The Last Wish (Polish: Ostatnie życzenie) is the third[a] published short story collection in Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher series. Published by SuperNowa in 1993, it was preceded by 1992’s Sword of Destiny, but is officially considered the first entry in the series and Sword of Destiny the second. The collection contains seven short stories interspersed with a continuing frame story: Geralt of Rivia, after having been injured in battle, rests in a temple. During that time he has flashbacks to recent events in his life, with each flashback forming a short story.
The Last Wish was first published in English on 7 June 2007 by Gollancz, and has also been translated into several other languages. In 2003, it won the Premio Ignotus for Best Anthology.
The Witcher Saga
3. Blood of Elves (Krew elfów)
Blood of Elves (Polish: Krew elfów) is the first novel in The Witcher series written by the Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, first published in Poland in 1994. It is a sequel to the Witcher short stories collected in the books The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny and is followed by Time of Contempt. The book won the Janusz A. Zajdel Award in 1994 and the David Gemmell Legend Award in 2009. An English translation was published in the United Kingdom in 2008 (Gollancz) and in the United States in 2009 (Orbit).
4. Time of Contempt (Czas pogardy)
Time of Contempt (Polish original title: Czas pogardy, early title was translated less literally as Time of Anger) is the second novel in the Witcher Saga written by Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, first published 1995 in Polish, and 2013 in English (under the title The Time of Contempt). It is a sequel to the first Witcher novel Blood of Elves and is followed by Baptism of Fire.
5. Baptism of Fire (Chrzest ognia)
Baptism of Fire (Polish original title: Chrzest ognia) is the third novel in the Witcher Saga written by Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, first published in 1996 in Polish and in English in 2014. It is a sequel to the second Witcher novel Time of Contempt and is followed by The Tower of the Swallow.
6. The Tower of the Swallow (Wieża Jaskółki)
The Tower of the Swallow, published as The Tower of Swallows in the United States (Polish original title: Wieża Jaskółki) is the fourth novel in the Witcher Saga written by Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, first published in Poland in 1997. It is a sequel to the third Witcher novel Baptism of Fire and is followed by the final entry in the series, The Lady of the Lake.
7. The Lady of the Lake (Pani Jeziora)
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.
Standalone novel
8. Season of Storms (Sezon burz)
Season of Storms (Polish original title: Sezon burz) is the sixth novel and eighth overall book in the Witcher series written by Polish fantasy writer Andrzej Sapkowski, first published in Poland in 2013. It is not a sequel to the original Witcher Saga, but rather is set between the short stories in the first book in the series, The Last Wish.
Fox Children, the second installment of The Witcher comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics, is based on one of the chapters of Season of Storms. The book, with translations by David French, was published in May 2018 in hardcover format in the US and paperback format by UK Orbit (US) and Gollancz (UK). It is also available in both territories as an e-book and audiobook.
How many Witcher books are there ?
There are total 9 books in Witcher novel series. Out of which 3 books are of short stories, 5 books belong to The Witcher Saga and 1 is stand alone book.
Witcher books in order of release date
1. The Witcher (Wiedźmin) 1990
2. Sword of Destiny (Miecz Przeznaczenia) 1992
3. The Last Wish (Ostatnie życzenie) 1993
4. Blood of Elves (Krew elfów) 1994
5. Time of Contempt (Czas pogardy) 1995
6. Baptism of Fire (Chrzest ognia) 1996
7. The Tower of the Swallow (Wieża Jaskółki) 1997
8. The Lady of the Lake (Pani Jeziora) 1999
9. Season of Storms (Sezon burz) 2013
Witcher books in order to read
1. The Last Wish (2007)
2. Sword of Destiny (2015)
3. Blood of Elves (2008)
4. The Time of Contempt (2013)
5. Baptism of Fire (2014)
6. The Tower of Swallows (2016)
7. The Lady of the Lake (2017)
8. Seasons of Storms (2018)
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