Once you've read them all, you can finally take part in the "What's better: the books, Netflix series or games?" discourse. They aren't just for fantasy nerds, either they are accessible to lovers of all genres who just want a good series to read. They are wonderful books to read with complex political narratives, plenty of backstabbing, magic and love. I could hear Doug Cockle's dulcet tone every time Geralt spoke, which adds a greater depth to the stories. Why should I read them if I’ve played the games?īecause you are obviously desperate for more Witcher content, that's why! One joy I took from rereading the series was reading them with the voices of the games' characters in mind. And to finish the art side of things off, there's a Witcher Adult Coloring Book (opens in new tab) that will keep you occupied long into the night, giving your favourite characters unique outfits and painting your own Witcher pictures. And there's yet more artwork available now following the release of the Gwent game, as it too now has its own art book: The Art of the Witcher: Gwent Gallery Collection (opens in new tab). One to look out for though I know I always do. There is a designated Witcher 3: Wild Hunt art book but it is pretty rare as it was released only with collector's editions. Read it, and you too can call yourself Geralt of Trivia. Be warned, though, it does feature spoilers for the games and the books. It's a beautifully illustrated addition to the series that contains everything you'll want to know about monsters, weapons, people and places. It's in Sword of Destiny that we get to know Ciri, and each story takes place directly before the main novels.Īway from the novels, it's also worth reading The World of the Witcher (opens in new tab), which is a compendium of information created directly by CD Projekt Red. The rest of the stories in The Last Wish make up most of the show's first season, though it also draws from the book you should read second: Sword of Destiny (opens in new tab). The story, A Grain of Truth, which features in this collection kicks off the second season of the Netflix show, telling the story of Nivellen. These include Dandelion (aka Jaskier), a poet friend of Geralt who is hearing these tales we’re experiencing, and Yennefer, a sorceress with whom Geralt begins a turbulent relationship. He also depicts the often-corrupt governments that reside throughout the world, and we meet an ensemble of colourful characters many of us have come to know and love. Sapkowski sets the scene beginning with the importance of Geralt's silver sword with which he kills the monsters. The Last Wish introduces everything you'll see in the games. While it was published second, it's the start of the series, introducing Geralt and establishing the Continent as a backdrop. You'll want to start with The Last Wish (opens in new tab). Season of Storms (opens in new tab) (optional explained below).The Lady of the Lake (opens in new tab).The Tower of the Swallow (opens in new tab).Many stories have been told in the Witcher universe, but the central arc follows Geralt as he protects Ciri, a princess whose country has been conquered and his child surprise. If you want sword-wielding action, romance, family ties and grotesque monsters, you're in the right place. A Witcher is a mutated human-most certainly a man-who possess supernatural abilities and has trained from childhood to battle monsters that emerged during the Conjunction of the Spheres. The Witcher books follow the story of the titular Witcher, Geralt of Rivia. The books were released in English in 2007, with Danusia Stok translating the first two and David French taking over duties from the third book.
In the '90s, the stories were published in two collections, which were followed by five novels, all published throughout the same decade.
The Witcher started in the '80s as a series of short stories written by Sapkowski for a fantasy magazine.
It's not the most complicated fantasy series ever, but the release date isn't the proper order to read them in-that is, they haven't been released in chronological order. If you want to read the story that The Witcher season 2's first episode is based on, for instance, you'll find it in The Last Wish (opens in new tab), the Witcher book we recommend you start with. Generally speaking, the show changes some details but takes the broad strokes of its plots directly from the Witcher stories written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, which were also the basis for the CD Projekt Red The Witcher games.