What order should I read the Witcher books?

Read in this order: 1. The Last Wish (short stories), 2. Sword of Destiny (short stories), 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 (standalone, can be read last).

Do I need to read the Witcher short stories first?

Yes. The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny introduce Geralt, Yennefer, Ciri, and the moral tone of the world. The novel saga assumes you know these characters. Skipping the short stories and starting with Blood of Elves leaves most readers feeling lost.

Is the Witcher book series finished?

Yes. The original Witcher Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski is complete. The series ends definitively in The Lady of the Lake (Book 7). No further Witcher novels have been announced.

Reading Order Guide

What Order to Read the Witcher Books

Short Answer

Start with the two short story collections (The Last Wish, then Sword of Destiny), then read the 5-novel Saga in order. The short stories introduce Geralt and are essential before the novels. Do not skip them.

Complete Witcher Reading Order

Order	Title	Type	Year (English)
1	The Last Wish START HERE	Short stories	2007
2	Sword of Destiny Short stories	Short stories	2015
3	Blood of Elves	Novel (Saga #1)	2008
4	Time of Contempt	Novel (Saga #2)	2013
5	Baptism of Fire	Novel (Saga #3)	2014
6	The Tower of the Swallow	Novel (Saga #4)	2016
7	The Lady of the Lake	Novel (Saga #5)	2017
8	Season of Storms	Standalone novel	2018

Why start with the short stories? The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny introduce Geralt, his philosophy, his relationships with Yennefer and Ciri, and the moral tone of the world. The Saga novels assume you know these characters. Many readers who skip straight to Blood of Elves feel lost and emotionally unattached to the characters. The stories are also excellent — don't treat them as a chore.

What Is the Witcher About?

Geralt of Rivia is a Witcher — a mutant monster hunter for hire in a dark, morally complex fantasy world loosely inspired by Slavic mythology and folklore. The world feels lived-in and unglamorous. There are no clear heroes or villains. Geralt repeatedly discovers that the humans who hired him are often worse than the monsters he hunts.

The Saga (Books 3–7) focuses increasingly on Ciri — a young girl with extraordinary powers who becomes Geralt's adoptive daughter — and her flight from those who want to use or destroy her. The relationship between Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri is the emotional heart of the entire series.

Season of Storms — When to Read It

Season of Storms (2013 in Polish, 2018 in English) is a standalone novel set during the timeline of The Last Wish stories. It can technically be read at any point — some fans read it after The Last Wish, some save it for after the full Saga. Reading it last is the safest option, as its epilogue contains Saga spoilers.

Is the Witcher Series Finished?

Yes — the original Witcher Saga by Andrzej Sapkowski is complete at 7 books (2 story collections + 5 novels + 1 standalone). Sapkowski has not announced any further Witcher novels. The series has a definitive ending in The Lady of the Lake.

Books vs Games vs Netflix

The Witcher video games (CD Projekt Red) are set after the books and are considered non-canonical by Sapkowski, though he has softened on them over time. The Netflix series adapts events from both The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, with significant deviations. If you've seen the show or played the games, reading the books still offers a substantially different and richer experience.

Get The Last Wish →