The Witcher books in order

The Witcher reading order question has one answer that matters: begin with the short stories. The Last Wish, current Orbit paperback 9780316452465, introduces Geralt, Yennefer and the world through linked stories, and Sword of Destiny, 9780316452564, introduces Ciri and sets the saga's emotional terms. Starting with Blood of Elves, the first novel, is the most common beginner mistake in the series.

The saga proper is five novels in strict sequence: Blood of Elves 9780316452663, The Time of Contempt 9780316452762, Baptism of Fire 9780316452861, The Tower of Swallows 9780316452960 and The Lady of the Lake 9780316453066. These are one continuous story and should not be sampled out of order. All ISBNs given here are the Orbit new edition trade paperbacks of July 5, 2022, the current standard US editions.

Two standalone novels follow. Season of Storms, 9780316453165, is set between the stories of The Last Wish and works best read after the saga it quietly comments on. Crossroads of Ravens, hardcover 9780316597739, published September 30, 2025, is a prequel following a young Geralt, and reads best last of all, when its early world details land against everything the later books built.

Publication order and this reading order differ mainly in the standalones, and the difference is deliberate: Season of Storms was published after The Lady of the Lake despite its early setting, and Crossroads of Ravens was published last of all. Reading in story order for the collections and saga, then publication order for the standalones, gives both chronology and intent.

Comics are optional in any order position. Dark Horse's adaptations retell stories from The Last Wish in panels, and its original series tells new stories; both are covered on the comics pages and neither is required between the prose books.