Enthusiasts of The Witcher universe can now explore the formative years of Geralt of Rivia through Crossroads of Ravens, the newest literary contribution to Andrzej Sapkowski`s renowned fantasy series. Originally released in Poland last November, the English rendition debuted in the United States earlier this week, on September 30. While it represents the ninth volume in the saga, newcomers needn`t worry about catching up; this prequel is chronologically set before the established Witcher novels and initial short story collections, making it an ideal entry point for individuals familiar with the acclaimed video games or television adaptations.
Crossroads of Ravens is accessible in several formats. The hardcover edition is currently being offered at a discounted price of $24.50, reduced from its standard $30. For those who prefer audio narration, the audiobook is available on Audible for $19.68, marked down from its usual $22.49. Members of Audible Premium Plus have the option to purchase it for $15.74 or by utilizing one of their monthly credits.
This substantial 400-page prequel chronicles Geralt`s journey shortly after his graduation from Kaer Morhen. During this period, Geralt is still naive regarding public perception of his kind, a misunderstanding that nearly proves fatal. The storyline subsequently details his training under the guidance of Preston Holt, the witcher responsible for saving his life.
The revelation of Geralt`s origin story in Crossroads of Ravens marks a significant moment for a character who has been a central figure in fantasy fiction since his 1986 introduction. Despite Geralt`s presence spanning nearly four decades, the English translations of Sapkowski`s literary works only began appearing in 2007, coinciding with the launch of CD Projekt Red`s inaugural Witcher video game.
Navigating The Witcher Book Collections
For readers eager to immerse themselves further in the rich literary world of The Witcher, various curated collections offer convenient avenues to experience Andrzej Sapkowski`s celebrated saga.
The Witcher 8-Book Box Set (Paperback)
This comprehensive paperback box set, published in 2020 by the UK`s Gollancz, presents an excellent value proposition for collecting the entire series. It encompasses all the essential narratives required to follow the Witcher storyline: two short story anthologies, five principal novels, and the prequel novel Season of Storms. Priced at $62.90, this set effectively brings the cost of each book to under $8. With a total of 3,002 pages, it guarantees an extensive reading experience for devoted fantasy readers. Each book in this collection features a unique colored cover embellished with a variant of the Witcher series logo, a design aesthetic consistently applied to the display box and the spines of individual volumes.
The Witcher Saga Novel Box Set (5 Books)
Released in 2022 by Orbit, this particular box set compiles the five main novels of the series. Currently listed at $50, this collection has previously been observed at prices as low as $33. It`s noteworthy that this set exclusively focuses on the central pentalogy, meaning that the short story collections and Season of Storms would need to be acquired separately. These paperback editions are distinguished by their more understated visual appeal, featuring white covers adorned with various symbolic elements from the series, with the accompanying display box mirroring this style. The five main novels included, presented in their narrative order, are:
- Blood of Elves
- The Time of Contempt
- Baptism of Fire
- The Tower of Swallows
- The Lady of the Lake
These Orbit paperback editions are more compact in physical size, resulting in higher page counts. Across these five titles, the set totals 2,208 pages, in contrast to the identical five novels comprising 1,965 pages within the 8-Book Box Set.
The Witcher Stories Box Set (2 Books)
Intended to complement the primary novel collection, this set features the initial two books of the series: The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny. While not strictly mandatory prior to reading Crossroads of Ravens, it is highly recommended that readers complete these two volumes before venturing into Blood of Elves, the first of the mainline novels. The Orbit editions of these story collections are also more compact than their Gollancz counterparts; for instance, The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny combined span 768 pages in this collection, whereas they total 678 pages in the 8-Book Box Set.
Individual Paperback Editions of Books 1-8
The Orbit editions serve as the standard paperback versions available for purchase in the US. All eight books comprising the core series (excluding the newest Crossroads of Ravens) can be acquired individually, featuring designs consistent with the novel and short story sets. These represent economical choices, with the first book in the series, The Last Wish: Introducing The Witcher, often available at a significant discount. Season of Storms, which was published nearly 15 years after the conclusion of the mainline series, is chronologically situated between specific stories found in The Last Wish. It held the distinction of being the earliest novel in The Witcher timeline until Crossroads of Ravens further rewound the narrative`s starting point.
Individually available paperback titles include:
- The Last Wish: Introducing The Witcher
- Sword of Destiny
- Blood of Elves
- The Time of Contempt
- Baptism of Fire
- The Tower of Swallows
- The Lady of the Lake
- Season of Storms
Illustrated & Hardcover Editions
Currently, Crossroads of Ravens is exclusively released in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats, with a paperback edition anticipated for release next year. For collectors desiring a visually cohesive library, the entire series remains available in hardcover. Notably, both The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny were given stunning Illustrated Editions several years ago, each typically priced around $23. The remaining hardcover editions of the novels generally retail for approximately $20 or less. These special Illustrated Editions boast fresh dust jacket artwork, a compelling quote from Geralt on the front cover, endpapers adorned with character sketches, and eight original illustrations crafted by a collective of talented artists. While only the two story collections have received these unique Illustrated Editions, all of The Witcher novels were rereleased in attractive hardcover formats in 2022.
Available hardcover titles include:
- The Last Wish: Illustrated Edition
- Sword of Destiny: Illustrated Edition
- Blood of Elves
- The Time of Contempt
- Baptism of Fire
- The Tower of Swallows
- The Lady of the Lake
- Season of Storms
- Crossroads of Ravens