Okay, let's be real. Trying to figure out the Witcher book order feels harder than fighting a pack of drowners on Death March difficulty. You search online, and bam! You get hit with like five different lists. Polish order? English release order? "Chronological" order that skips stuff? My head hurt trying to figure this out years ago when I first grabbed The Last Wish on a whim. I accidentally read the novels BEFORE the short stories. Big mistake. Got spoiled for some awesome reveals and missed crucial character setup. Oops.

Why is it such a mess? Well, Andrzej Sapkowski started writing these stories in Polish way back in the 80s. The short stories came first in magazines, then got collected into books. Then came the five-part saga. When they finally got translated into English... well, the publishers didn't exactly follow Sapko's original order. They kinda did their own thing, leading to decades of reader confusion. Frustrating, right?

This guide cuts through the noise. We'll break down ALL the orders you'll find out there (including the controversial ones), explain WHY the recommended order matters, and give you the clearest path to experiencing Geralt's story the way Sapkowski intended.

The Core Problem: Why "The Witcher Book Order" is Such a Headache

Picture this: You finish playing The Witcher 3. You're hooked. You NEED more lore about Yennefer, Ciri, Geralt's origins, the whole Conjunction of the Spheres thing. You google "Witcher books reading order." Chaos ensues. Here's why:

• The "Original" Polish Order Isn't the Release Order: Stories debuted in magazines, then got bundled. The saga novels came later.
• English Publishers Dropped the Ball: They translated and released the books out of sequence relative to Sapkowski's narrative flow. Blood of Elves (the first novel) came out in English BEFORE the crucial short story collections that set everything up!
• Misleading Titles & Series Names: "The Witcher" series? "Saga?" Publishers slapped different labels on different sets, adding to the fog.
• That Pesky "Season of Storms": Sapkowski wrote this prequel/story collection LAST, decades after finishing the main saga. Where does it REALLY fit? (Spoiler: Not first!).

I remember seeing lists putting Season of Storms first. Tried it. It was... jarring. It assumes you already know the world and characters. References flew over my head. Not ideal for a first-timer.

Andrzej Sapkowski's Actual Narrative Order (The Author's Way)

Forget publication dates for a sec. Sapkowski wrote the stories composing these books to be experienced in a specific narrative sequence. The Witcher book order that respects his storytelling arc looks like this:

Why This Order Beats the English Release Order (Hands Down)

The official English publishers (Orbit in US, Gollancz in UK) released them like this: Blood of Elves (2008), Time of Contempt (2013), Baptism of Fire (2014), The Last Wish (2007/2008), Sword of Destiny (2015!), Tower of the Swallow (2016), Lady of the Lake (2017), Season of Storms (2018).

Imagine starting a story at Chapter 4. That's what reading Blood of Elves first felt like. Characters like Ciri and Yen are just *there*, with established relationships you know nothing about. Key events from the short stories (Brokilon Forest, the dragon hunt, the pivotal wish binding Geralt and Yen) are constantly referenced. It felt disjointed and confusing. Publishers basically screwed up by prioritizing the novels before the essential groundwork was available in English. Thankfully, now you have a choice. Choose wisely.

Where "Season of Storms" Fits (And Why First is Wrong)

Let's settle this. Season of Storms is set relatively early in Geralt's timeline, sometime after the short stories but before the saga novels. Technically, you *could* slot it after the first two short story collections. Don't.

• Written Last: Sapkowski wrote this 14 years after finishing the main saga. His style evolved.
• Metacommentary: It contains subtle references, nods, and even meta-jokes that land ONLY if you know the entire saga's conclusion.
• Epilogue Feel: It functions beautifully as a return to a younger Geralt after the emotional weight of the saga. Reading it first robs it of that resonance.
• Minor Saga Spoilers: Some world-state details and references subtly assume knowledge of later events.

Honestly, it's also a bit... uneven? Some cool moments, but also feels like Sapkowski playing in his sandbox one more time rather than a crucial piece. Best enjoyed as dessert, not the appetizer in your Witcher book order.

What About the Games? Where Do They Fit In?

CD Projekt Red's fantastic games (The Witcher 1, 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt) are non-canon sequels to Sapkowski's book series. They pick up the story years after the final novel, The Lady of the Lake.

• Games = What Happens AFTER the Books: Geralt's back from... events (no spoilers!), amnesia kicks in at the start of the first game.
• Massive Spoilers: Playing the games first WILL ruin major plot twists, character fates, and the entire ending of the book saga. Seriously.
• Enhanced Appreciation: Reading the books first makes the games exponentially richer. You understand the depth of Geralt and Yen's bond, Ciri's significance, the politics, the jokes, the character cameos. Game Geralt feels more layered when you know his book history.

If you came from the games, resist the urge to look up book spoilers related to game characters! The books provide the crucial "why" behind everything.

Skipping the Short Stories? Bad Idea, Bucko.

"Can I just jump straight into the saga novels?" I hear this a lot. My answer is a hard no, and here's why:

1. Character Foundations: The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny establish the core dynamics: Geralt/Yennefer (including THAT wish!), Geralt/Dandelion, Geralt/Ciri (especially Sword of Destiny!), Geralt's moral code (the "lesser evil"). Skipping these makes the novel relationships feel unearned.
2. World-Building: The short stories introduce monsters, magic, politics, races (elves, dwarves), the Conjunction, Witcher rules, and the Continent's gritty tone organically through action and dialogue. The novels assume you know this stuff.
3. Essential Plot Seeds: The Law of Surprise origins, Ciri's destiny linking to Geralt, the importance of Brokilon Forest – all start here.
4. Best Writing? Honestly, some of Sapkowski's tightest, most impactful writing is in the short stories. "The Lesser Evil" and "A Question of Price" are absolute masterclasses.

Reading the saga without them is like watching Lord of the Rings starting at The Two Towers. You just miss too much soul.

Your Foolproof The Witcher Book Order Checklist

Forget scrolling back up. Print this, bookmark it, tattoo it (maybe not):

1. The Last Wish (Short Stories) - Start here!
2. Sword of Destiny (Short Stories) - Critically important!
3. Blood of Elves (Saga Novel 1)
4. Time of Contempt (Saga Novel 2)
5. Baptism of Fire (Saga Novel 3)
6. The Tower of the Swallow (Saga Novel 4)
7. The Lady of the Lake (Saga Novel 5)
8. Season of Storms (Standalone Prequel Novel) - Read this LAST

That's the golden path. Stick to it, and you'll avoid the confusion that plagued so many of us early readers.

Finding the Books: US vs UK Editions & Buying Tips

You'll encounter two main English editions:

Buying Tips:

• Look for Box Sets: Often the most cost-effective way to grab the core books (e.g., Saga Novels set, Short Story set).
• Ebooks: Frequently discounted. Great for travel/space. Check Kindle, Kobo, Google Play Books.
• Audiobooks: Peter Kenny's narration (UK editions) is phenomenal. Seriously, he *is* Geralt for many. Highly recommended if you commute. Available on Audible.
• Second-hand: Check AbeBooks, ThriftBooks, local used bookstores. Sword of Destiny used to be rare/pricey second-hand but is now readily available new.

The Witcher Book Order: Your Burning Questions Answered (FAQ)

Q: Netflix Order vs Book Order? Are they the same?

A: Nope, not at all. The Netflix show (Season 1 especially) heavily adapts stories from The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny but jumbles timelines, merges characters (looking at you, Yennefer/Ciri S1 timeline), and makes significant plot changes. It's a separate adaptation. Following the show's order for the books will lead to massive confusion. Stick to Sapkowski's order outlined above.

Q: How many books are in the main series?

A: It depends how you define "main series":

• Essential Core: 2 Short Story Collections + 5 Saga Novels = 7 books.
• Plus the Prequel: Adding Season of Storms makes 8.
• Avoid the "Saga" label confusion – sometimes it refers only to the 5 novels, sometimes includes the shorts.

Q: Do I need to read everything?

A: To fully grasp the story Sapkowski told? Yes, all 7 core books (2 shorts + 5 novels). Sword of Destiny is NOT optional. Season of Storms is skippable if you only care about the main Geralt/Ciri arc, but read it last if you do read it.

Q: Are the translations good?

A: Generally, yes. David French did most of the Orbit (US) translations. The earlier UK translations (before Gollancz reissued them aligning with Orbit) had mixed reviews, but the widely available versions now (using French's translations under Gollancz/Orbit imprints) are solid. Peter Kenny's audiobooks are based on these good translations.

Q: Should I read the fan translations?

A: Only if absolutely desperate and a book is unavailable *anywhere* legitimately. The official translations are now complete, easily accessible, and support the author. Fan translations vary wildly in quality.

Q: What about "Something Ends, Something Begins"?

A: This is a non-canon short story collection (not translated officially into English yet). It contains Sapkowski's original, very different wedding story for Geralt/Yen written for friends, plus other unrelated tales. It's NOT part of the core series continuity. Interesting for die-hard fans only after finishing everything else.

Q: Will there be more Witcher books from Sapkowski?

A: Unlikely. He stated The Lady of the Lake was the definite end of Geralt and Ciri's story. Season of Storms was a later addition, but not a continuation. He's moved onto other projects (The Hussite Trilogy).

Final Thoughts: Why Bother Getting The Witcher Book Order Right?

Because this story deserves it. Sapkowski crafted something unique – gritty fantasy blended with Slavic lore, dark humor, philosophical debates, and deeply flawed, relatable characters. Starting in the middle robs you of the emotional journey. Starting with the prequel robs you of context. Getting the order right means:

• You connect with Geralt, Yen, and Ciri from the ground up.
• Major reveals hit with their full weight.
• The world feels lived-in and coherent.
• You appreciate Sapkowski's narrative structure and foreshadowing.

It's worth the effort. Grab The Last Wish, settle in, and get ready for one of the most compelling fantasy journeys out there. Just remember – elves are dicks, humans are often worse, and sometimes the best choice is the lesser evil. Happy reading, Wolf!