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Series · epic fantasy
The Witcher
The Witcher series by Andrzej Sapkowski has 8 known books (8 published) and is best read in publication order, starting with Sword of Destiny (1992). Andrzej Sapkowski wrote the series; book 1 were translated by Danusia Stok; books 2-6 were translated by David French.
- Books
- 8 known books (6 novels + 2 collections)
- Published
- 8
- First published
- 1992
- Status
- completed
- Shelved under
- Fantasy
- Last checked
Start here: Sword of Destiny (1992) — then read straight through in publication order.
Reading order
The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.
- Book 1:
Sword of Destiny
Published in 1992, Sword of Destiny is the first Witcher book Sapkowski wrote in Polish, though most English editions place it second after The Last Wish , since the latter's stories introduce Geralt more naturally. It runs 400 pages and gathers the short-story fairy-tale retellings that predate the five-book Blood of Elves saga.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sword of Destiny - Book 2:
The Last Wish
The Last Wish was published in 1993, spanning 352 pages, translated into English by Danusia Stok. Nearly every English edition puts it first despite Sapkowski writing Sword of Destiny 's stories earlier, since The Last Wish introduces monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia and is meant to open the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Last Wish - Book 3:
Blood of Elves
The third entry in The Witcher series, Blood of Elves was released in 1994 in an English translation by Danusia Stok. It opens the five-book saga proper, pulling Geralt out of his solitary monster-hunting life through his bond with Ciri, a princess with a destiny several kingdoms are willing to go to war over.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Blood of Elves - Book 4:
Time of Contempt
Number 4 in The Witcher series, Time of Contempt was dated 1995. It was credited to Andrzej Sapkowski and David French. It runs just 331 pages, the shortest entry in the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Time of Contempt - Book 5:
Baptism of Fire
Baptism of Fire is the fifth book in The Witcher series, released in 1996. It was credited to Andrzej Sapkowski and David French. It spans 352 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Baptism of Fire - Book 6:
The Tower of the Swallow
The sixth book in The Witcher series, The Tower of the Swallow was published in 1997. It is the longest book in the series at 436 pages. It was co-written by Andrzej Sapkowski and David French.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Tower of the Swallow - Book 7:
The Lady of the Lake
Released in 1999, The Lady of the Lake is the seventh book in The Witcher series, running 400 pages in David French's English translation. It concludes the Blood of Elves saga, resolving the war and political maneuvering that Ciri's destiny set in motion across the preceding five novels.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Lady of the Lake - Book 8:
Season of Storms
The eighth book in The Witcher series, Season of Storms was published in 2013. It was co-written by Andrzej Sapkowski and David French. It arrived 14 years after The Lady of the Lake.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Season of Storms
The order the story's events happen in, novellas slotted where they belong.
- Book 1:
The Last Wish
The Last Wish was published in 1993, spanning 352 pages, translated into English by Danusia Stok. Nearly every English edition puts it first despite Sapkowski writing Sword of Destiny 's stories earlier, since The Last Wish introduces monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia and is meant to open the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Last Wish - Book 2:
Sword of Destiny
Published in 1992, Sword of Destiny is the first Witcher book Sapkowski wrote in Polish, though most English editions place it second after The Last Wish , since the latter's stories introduce Geralt more naturally. It runs 400 pages and gathers the short-story fairy-tale retellings that predate the five-book Blood of Elves saga.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Sword of Destiny - Book 3:
Season of Storms
The eighth book in The Witcher series, Season of Storms was published in 2013. It was co-written by Andrzej Sapkowski and David French. It arrived 14 years after The Lady of the Lake.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Season of Storms - Book 4:
Blood of Elves
The third entry in The Witcher series, Blood of Elves was released in 1994 in an English translation by Danusia Stok. It opens the five-book saga proper, pulling Geralt out of his solitary monster-hunting life through his bond with Ciri, a princess with a destiny several kingdoms are willing to go to war over.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Blood of Elves - Book 5:
Time of Contempt
Number 4 in The Witcher series, Time of Contempt was dated 1995. It was credited to Andrzej Sapkowski and David French. It runs just 331 pages, the shortest entry in the series.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Time of Contempt - Book 6:
Baptism of Fire
Baptism of Fire is the fifth book in The Witcher series, released in 1996. It was credited to Andrzej Sapkowski and David French. It spans 352 pages.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of Baptism of Fire - Book 7:
The Tower of the Swallow
The sixth book in The Witcher series, The Tower of the Swallow was published in 1997. It is the longest book in the series at 436 pages. It was co-written by Andrzej Sapkowski and David French.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Tower of the Swallow - Book 8:
The Lady of the Lake
Released in 1999, The Lady of the Lake is the seventh book in The Witcher series, running 400 pages in David French's English translation. It concludes the Blood of Elves saga, resolving the war and political maneuvering that Ciri's destiny set in motion across the preceding five novels.
Alternative text for cover: Cover of The Lady of the Lake
About The Witcher
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher — a monster hunter mutated and trained from childhood to track down the things that prey on ordinary people, feared and distrusted by the villagers he protects precisely because he isn't quite human anymore. Andrzej Sapkowski built the series out of dark, morally slippery fairy-tale retellings before turning it into a full political fantasy saga: Geralt gets pulled out of his solitary monster-hunting life by his bond with Ciri, a princess with a destiny several kingdoms are willing to start a war over, and by his complicated, genuinely adult relationship with the sorceress Yennefer.
Written in Polish and translated into English years after Sapkowski became a bestseller across Europe, the series is sharper and more cynical about "chosen one" tropes than most epic fantasy of its era, filtering war, racism against non-human species, and political opportunism through Geralt's studied neutrality — a stance the books keep testing and undermining. It's the source material for the globally successful video game trilogy from CD Projekt Red and the Netflix television series, both of which draw more on the novels' world and characters than their specific plots.
Frequently asked questions
Who writes the The Witcher series?
Andrzej Sapkowski wrote the series; book 1 were translated by Danusia Stok; books 2-6 were translated by David French.
How many books are in The Witcher series?
Eight: two short-story collections (The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny), the five-book Blood of Elves saga (Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, The Lady of the Lake), and the standalone novel Season of Storms.
What order should I read The Witcher books in?
Story order: The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, then the five-book saga (Blood of Elves through The Lady of the Lake). Season of Storms fits chronologically after Sword of Destiny and before Blood of Elves, though it was written and published much later.
Should I play the games or watch the show before reading the books?
No, and it isn't required either way. CD Projekt Red's video game trilogy and Netflix's TV series both draw on the books' world and characters but tell different, mostly non-overlapping stories, so there's no plot to spoil in either direction.
Is The Witcher series finished?
Yes as a complete saga: the core story concludes in The Lady of the Lake (1999), and Season of Storms (2013) is a self-contained side novel Sapkowski added afterward. No further Witcher novel has been announced.
Why was Sword of Destiny published before The Last Wish in Poland but after it in English?
Sapkowski wrote and published the stories that became Sword of Destiny (1992) before compiling The Last Wish as a book (1993) in the original Polish. English-language publishers reordered them so The Last Wish comes first, since its stories introduce Geralt and work better as an opening volume.
If you like The Witcher
Reading order last verified .