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Quick answer: If you liked The Last Wish, read Sword of Destiny and Blood of Elves, then try The Black Company, The Blade Itself, The Lies of Locke Lamora and Elric of Melniboné. All offer dark, witty fantasy with morally gray heroes.
Andrzej Sapkowski's 1993 story collection introduces Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter called a witcher, and frames his tales with a healer's visits. It mixes fairy tales, humor and hard choices. The books below share its mix of dry wit, monsters and a gray moral world. Most are adult fantasy, and all are real, in-print books.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sword of Destiny | Andrzej Sapkowski | Adult | the next book |
| Blood of Elves | Andrzej Sapkowski | Adult | the saga's start |
| Time of Contempt | Andrzej Sapkowski | Adult | saga readers |
| Baptism of Fire | Andrzej Sapkowski | Adult | found-family quest |
| The Black Company | Glen Cook | Adult | grimdark roots |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Adult | grimdark fans |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Adult | heist fantasy |
| Prince of Thorns | Mark Lawrence | Adult | brutal protagonists |
| Elric of Melniboné | Michael Moorcock | Adult | sword and sorcery |
| Swords and Deviltry | Fritz Leiber | Adult | buddy adventures |
| Conan the Barbarian | Robert E. Howard | Adult | pulp fantasy |
| A Game of Thrones | George R.R. Martin | Adult | political intrigue |
| The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden | Adult | Slavic folklore |
| The Dragonbone Chair | Tad Williams | Adult | slow epics |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Adult | complex worlds |
1. Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
The second story collection continues Geralt's tales and introduces Ciri. Sharp and funny.
Best for: the next book.
2. Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski
The first novel in the main Witcher saga follows Geralt and Ciri as war grows. Slower, but rich.
Best for: the saga's start.
3. Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski
The second saga novel follows Ciri and Geralt through betrayal and chaos. Dark and political.
Best for: saga readers.
4. Baptism of Fire by Andrzej Sapkowski
Geralt gathers companions as war spreads. Gritty, with dry humor.
Best for: found-family quest.
5. The Black Company by Glen Cook
A band of mercenaries serves a sorceress. Gritty and darkly funny.
Best for: grimdark roots.
6. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
Grim humor, flawed heroes and brutal fights. Start of the First Law.
Best for: grimdark fans.
7. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A gang of thieves in a canal city plot elaborate cons. Funny and dark.
Best for: heist fantasy.
8. Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
A teenage warlord returns to his father's castle. Dark and bold.
Best for: brutal protagonists.
9. Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock
An albino emperor wields a soul-drinking sword. A key influence on dark fantasy.
Best for: sword and sorcery.
10. Swords and Deviltry by Fritz Leiber
The first Fafhrd and Gray Mouser stories, with a witty duo. Classic and funny.
Best for: buddy adventures.
11. Conan the Barbarian by Robert E. Howard
Stories of the sword-swinging Cimmerian. Pulp and fast.
Best for: pulp fantasy.
12. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Noble houses fight for the Iron Throne. Political and violent.
Best for: political intrigue.
13. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
A girl in medieval Russia sees household spirits and defends her village. Atmospheric.
Best for: Slavic folklore.
14. The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams
A kitchen boy at a castle is drawn into a war. Slow and rich.
Best for: slow epics.
15. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
The first Malazan book plunges into an empire at war. Dense and rewarding.
Best for: complex worlds.
How to Choose
For more Geralt, read Sword of Destiny and then Blood of Elves. For grimdark, The Blade Itself and The Black Company. For heists, The Lies of Locke Lamora. For classics, Elric and Conan. The Witcher stories are short and dry, so they suit readers who like wit alongside swords. Fantasy that mixes fairy tales with grim humor can be hard to find, so keep a list of similar authors. If you enjoy audiobooks, the narration for The Last Wish is well liked. Many readers also play the video games and then return to the books for the stories behind them.
Related: The Last Thing He Told Me Ending Explained · The Last Thing He Told Me Book Club Discussion Questions (With Summary and Themes)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Last Wish about?
It is a set of stories about Geralt, a witcher who hunts monsters for pay, framed by his recovery in a temple.
Do I need to read it before the Witcher video games?
No, but it helps explain the world.
What order should I read the Witcher books?
The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, then the saga from Blood of Elves to Lady of the Lake.
Is the Netflix series like the books?
It borrows many plots, but the books are more humorous and subtle.
Who is Sapkowski?
A Polish fantasy writer whose Witcher stories are among the best-known in Europe.
Who is Geralt of Rivia?
A witcher, a mutant monster hunter for hire, with white hair and a code of his own.
Who is Yennefer?
A powerful sorceress and one of the most important people in Geralt's life.
Is the Witcher series finished?
The main saga is complete, and Sapkowski has written additional novels and stories.
Is it suitable for teens?
It is aimed at adults, with violence and sexual content.
Is The Last Wish a novel?
No. It is a collection of linked short stories.
How long is The Last Wish?
About 360 pages in most editions.
Where should I start with the Witcher books?
The Last Wish is the standard entry point.