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The Witcher reading order

The Witcher is two story collections and six novels, and English readers got them out of order. Here are all eight books in the order they were published in English and in the order to read them.

Where to start

Begin with The Last Wish, the first collection of stories, and read Sword of Destiny second. Together they introduce Geralt and the characters who matter in the novels that follow.

The books are written for adults and include violence and sexual content.

Publication order

This is the order the books reached English readers. Sword of Destiny came out in English in 2015, years after the first novel, so story order is the better guide. Crossroads of Ravens, a later standalone prequel about a young Geralt that sits outside the saga, is not listed here.

  1. The Last Wish

    Andrzej Sapkowski

    A collection of short stories about Geralt of Rivia, a witcher who hunts monsters for pay, and the people he meets on the road.

    Book 1 of 8, published 2007.

  2. Blood of Elves

    Andrzej Sapkowski

    The first novel of the saga, as a war between kingdoms draws near and Geralt takes on the care of a young girl whose fate is tied to his.

    Book 2 of 8, published 2008.

  3. Time of Contempt

    Andrzej Sapkowski

    The second novel, in which the north's quarrels deepen and the war that has been building comes closer.

    Book 3 of 8, published 2013.

  4. Baptism of Fire

    Andrzej Sapkowski

    The third novel, a road story in which Geralt gathers an unlikely band of companions as the war spreads.

    Book 4 of 8, published 2014.

  5. Sword of Destiny

    Andrzej Sapkowski

    The second collection of Geralt stories, which sets up characters and events that carry into the novels.

    Book 5 of 8, published 2015.

  6. The Tower of the Swallow

    Andrzej Sapkowski

    The fourth novel, which follows several characters across a country at war and moves the plot toward its last stretch.

    Book 6 of 8, published 2016.

  7. The Lady of the Lake

    Andrzej Sapkowski

    The last novel of the main saga, where its many threads are drawn together.

    Book 7 of 8, published 2017.

  8. Season of Storms

    Andrzej Sapkowski

    A standalone novel set in Geralt's earlier years, between stories in The Last Wish.

    Book 8 of 8, published 2018.

Chronological order

Story order puts Sword of Destiny right after The Last Wish, before the novels begin with Blood of Elves. Season of Storms is a standalone prequel, so it can be read on its own at the end.

  1. The Last Wish
  2. Sword of Destiny
  3. Blood of Elves
  4. Time of Contempt
  5. Baptism of Fire
  6. The Tower of the Swallow
  7. The Lady of the Lake
  8. Season of Storms

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