For the clearest first read, follow this sequence: The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, then the five Witcher Saga novels from Blood of Elves through The Lady of the Lake. After that, add Season of Storms if you want another Geralt adventure. Crossroads of Ravens, about Geralt’s early career, is an optional standalone rather than part of the five-novel saga.
What order should I read The Witcher books in?
- The Last Wish — the first collection of stories and the publisher-supported starting point.
- Sword of Destiny — the second collection; read it before the saga novels.
- Blood of Elves — the first novel in the five-book Witcher Saga.
- The Time of Contempt — the second saga novel.
- Baptism of Fire — the third saga novel.
- The Tower of Swallows — the fourth saga novel.
- The Lady of the Lake — the fifth and concluding saga novel.
- Season of Storms — a standalone “side-quel” the publisher recommends reading after the saga.
- Crossroads of Ravens — an optional standalone about young Geralt’s first steps toward becoming a legend.
The publisher’s beginner guide supports the first eight placements, including reading Season of Storms after the saga. It does not assign Crossroads of Ravens a numbered place, so placing it after the core sequence here is a practical option, not an official ordering. This recommended sequence is not a claim that every book’s events happen chronologically.
Why the first two books come before the saga
The Last Wish
This story collection introduces Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer, making it the clearest entry point for newcomers. The English-language publisher’s guide recommends beginning here. See Orbit’s Witcher reading order.
Sword of Destiny
The second collection continues with Geralt’s adventures and belongs before the novels. Together, the two collections establish the characters and world that lead into the central saga.
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After the story collections, read the saga novels in publication sequence. They follow the developing story of Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer, with Ciri’s fate driving much of the later books.
Blood of Elves
The first saga novel centers on Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer and begins the five-book sequence.
The Time of Contempt
In the second novel, Geralt sends Ciri to train with Yennefer.
Baptism of Fire
The third book follows the coup in the Wizards’ Guild and Geralt’s effort to find Ciri.
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The fourth novel follows Geralt as he seeks Ciri amid war.
The Lady of the Lake
The fifth and final saga novel brings the central sequence to its conclusion, with Ciri trapped in an elven world and separated from Geralt.
Rank #3
- Perfect For Bibliophile
- This Boxed Set Contains All Eight Books: 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.
- It Ensures You Get The Best Usage For A Longer Period
Where do the standalone novels fit?
Season of Storms
The publisher calls this book a “side-quel”: it returns to an earlier Geralt adventure, but its beginner guide places it after the five saga novels. For a first read, follow that recommendation rather than interrupting the main sequence.
Crossroads of Ravens
This standalone follows young Geralt’s early career. It is not one of the five saga novels, and the publisher’s reading guide does not give it a numbered slot. Read it after the core sequence if you want more background on Geralt, or save it for later; it is optional for readers focused on the original saga.
Which books are in the boxed sets?
The publisher lists two different boxed sets. Check the contents before choosing: the stories set is not the five-novel saga set, and neither set should be assumed to include the standalone novels.
| Set | Contents | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| The Witcher Stories Boxed Set | The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny | Readers starting with the introductory collections |
| The Witcher Boxed Set | The five saga novels, from Blood of Elves through The Lady of the Lake | Readers who want the central saga in one set |
The publisher also lists individual volumes and illustrated hardcover editions of The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny. Its boxed-set page credits Danusia Stok and David French for translation. Check a specific edition’s listing for its format and contents.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Original Polish publication dates
The author’s bibliography gives the following original Polish publication years. These are not English edition or translation dates.
| Book | Original Polish publication year | Place in the series |
|---|---|---|
| The Last Wish | 1993 | Introductory story collection |
| Sword of Destiny | 1993 | Second story collection |
| Blood of Elves | 1994 | Saga novel 1 |
| The Time of Contempt | 1995 | Saga novel 2 |
| Baptism of Fire | 1996 | Saga novel 3 |
| The Tower of Swallows | 1997 | Saga novel 4 |
| The Lady of the Lake | 1999 | Saga novel 5 |
| Season of Storms | 2013 | Standalone side-quel |
| Crossroads of Ravens | 2024 | Standalone about young Geralt |
These dates are from Andrzej Sapkowski’s official bibliography.
A quick choice for different reading goals
- For the recommended newcomer path: start with The Last Wish and continue in the order above.
- For the main saga: read the first seven titles: both story collections, then all five saga novels.
- For more Geralt after the ending: add Season of Storms.
- For young Geralt: try Crossroads of Ravens as an optional standalone.
- When buying a set: verify whether it contains the two story collections or the five saga novels.
Orbit / Hachette Book Group reports that the books have been translated into over 40 languages and that more than 30 million copies have sold worldwide; the publisher page does not state a year for those figures. Orbit’s series information and reading guide.
Quick Recap
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