A New Chapter in Geralt`s Tale
Witcher enthusiasts can now delve into Geralt of Rivia`s origins with “Crossroads of Ravens,” the latest novel in Andrzej Sapkowski`s acclaimed fantasy series. Originally published in Poland last November, the English translation launched in the US on September 30. Although it`s the ninth book in the series, “Crossroads of Ravens” serves as a prequel, taking place before the other Witcher novels and original short story collections. This makes it a perfect starting point for new readers, including fans of the video games and TV adaptations.
“Crossroads of Ravens” is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.
Exploring Geralt`s Early Years
This 400-page prequel novel picks up shortly after Geralt`s graduation from Kaer Morhen. At this point, he doesn`t fully grasp how the world perceives him, leading to a near-fatal encounter. The story subsequently explores Geralt`s training alongside Preston Holt, the witcher who saved his life.
“Crossroads of Ravens” offers fans Geralt`s long-awaited origin story, marking an exciting development for a character who has been a fantasy icon since his debut in 1986. Despite Geralt`s nearly 40-year existence, English translations of Sapkowski`s works only became widely available in 2007, the same year CD Projekt Red released its first Witcher video game.
The Complete Witcher Saga: Reading Order
For readers eager to explore the wider Witcher saga, the series includes two short story collections, five mainline novels, and the prequel “Season of Storms.”
“The Last Wish” and “Sword of Destiny” are the first two books in the series. While you don`t necessarily need to read them before “Crossroads of Ravens,” it`s highly recommended that you read them before diving into “Blood of Elves,” the first mainline novel.
Mainline Witcher Novels
Sapkowski`s pentalogy of mainline Witcher novels includes the following titles (in order):
- Blood of Elves
- The Time of Contempt
- Baptism of Fire
- The Tower of Swallows
- The Lady of the Lake
“Season of Storms” is set between a couple of stories in “The Last Wish.” Chronologically, it was the first novel in The Witcher timeline until “Crossroads of Ravens” rewound the clock even further back.