The Witcher books: reading order and where to start
The Witcher series began as a collection of short stories written for a Polish fantasy magazine in the 1980s, which evolved into video games and now a Netflix series. Season 2 is set to premiere near the end of this year, and we expect it to be available on Netflix soon.
Where to start with The Witcher books
The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny are two short story collections in which Geralt fights beasts, engages in barroom brawls, and indulges in bedroom shenanigans. Sapkowski tells of Geralt’s silver sword with which he kills magical monsters.
What’s the reading order of The Witcher books?
Following the short stories, you’d think it’d be best to read the rest of the series in order. The World of the Witcher is a collection of information put together by CD Projekt Red, and there’s even an art book for Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
The Witcher graphic novels
Dark Horse Comics has released graphic novels, which, while not written by Sapkowski, do a fantastic job of adding extras to previously published stories. A collated Library Edition has everything in one place for those who want all the books and graphic novels in one place.
Why should I read them if I’ve played the games?
Reading the books will give you a better sense of the world and flesh out more of the cast, even if much of the plot will be familiar if you played the games.
How faithful are The Witcher games to the books?
CD Projekt Red introduced players to Sapkowski’s witty, wry, and strong Geralt of Rivia in the games, which are “based” on the books rather than a direct retelling; however, everything you’ve seen in the games is featured in the series of novels.
How faithful to the books is the Netflix Witcher series?
Season 1’s story is a mash-up of short stories from The Last Wish and the start of Ciri’s arc in Sword of Destiny. WARNING: Spoilers for the books ahead.
Where can I get all these books?
The Witcher books are generally available from all major retailers, including Amazon; the only one that is difficult to come by is the collector’s edition Witcher 3 art book. For your convenience, we’ve listed the best prices on all of the books below.
What order should I read the Witcher books?
The following is the recommended reading order for The Witcher books and stories:
- Blood of Elves (1994)
- Time of Contempt (1995)
- Baptism of Fire (1996)
- The Tower of the Swallow (1997)
- The Lady of the Lake (1999)
- The Last Wish (1993)
- Sword of Destiny (1992)
- Season of Storms (2013)
Should I read the books before playing The Witcher 1?
And, if you do plan to read them, you should do so before playing because the books will not spoil the game, but the game contains a lot of book spoilers.
Are Witcher books worth reading?
It’s a quick read, and the plot, as well as the literary devices employed, keep you engaged; they’re excellent books. The books gained popularity as a result of the Witcher 3 video game; the books enhance the gaming experience, but the video game’s storytelling and character depth are far superior.
Is Lady of the Lake the last Witcher book?
The Lady of the Lake is the final book in the Witcher Saga, but the story is continued in the award-winning Witcher Video Game Series, which I appreciate even more after reading these books; if you’re not a gamer, this is the glorious end of an epic adventure.
Does Witcher 1 spoil the books?
Because the games take place after the books, they will spoil a significant portion of the books, including the ending; however, after playing all of the games, you can make certain inferences about what happens to characters in the books, because so many of the characters are in the games and obviously the dead ones will not.
Is the first Witcher game set after the books?
Season 1 of Netflix’s The Witcher is set around the same time as the short stories from The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, but before the novels themselves.
Is The Witcher 1 after the books?
No, the games all take place after the books are finished, and they are essentially fan fiction because the author considers the story to be finished when the Lady of the Lake concludes.
Are the Witcher books sexist?
It is not sexist; it includes strong female characters, and the books do not solely focus on the male characters, leaving the female characters to stand around and look pretty.
Are the Witcher books finished?
Do the Witcher books have a conclusion? The Witcher books do have a conclusion; the final book in the series, The Lady of the Lake, was published in 1999 and serves as the series’ conclusion.
How old is Geralt?
Geralt of Rivia has seen a lot, which could explain why he needs a nap. According to IGN, The Witcher showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich explained how old Geralt is in the first episode: u201cGeralt is almost 100 years old when the series starts, and we find him in the middle of a journey.u201d
Does Yennefer actually love Geralt?
While Yennefer has shown that she has genuine feelings for Geralt on several occasions, she isn’t afraid to manipulate him into doing things for her, as seen in The Witcher 3. Still, she’s probably known Geralt long enough to know how much the witcher can take.
Does Ciri become a Witcher in the books?
The Empire of Nilfgaard (led by Ciri’s father, Emhyr) attacks Ciri’s home kingdom of Cintra in the first novel in the Witcher series, causing her grandmother to commit suicide and the young girl to flee. Geralt rescues Ciri and takes her to Kaer Morhen, where she is trained to be a witcher as well.
Does Geralt end up with Yennefer in the books?
Ciri says she doesn’t want the story to end like that, and that the story ends with Yennefer and Geralt getting married, with a celebration involving all of the saga’s dead and living characters, and that they live happily ever after.