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Quick answer: If you loved The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski, try The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie, The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames, The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch and Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse.
The Witcher began as Polish short stories and became a global franchise through video games and a Netflix series. If you’ve finished the books, or want something like them, the picks below share their monster-hunting, Slavic folklore, morally complex heroes and dark humor. Many include violence and sexual content.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love The Witcher
The Witcher books follow Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter who tries to stay neutral in a world that keeps dragging him into its wars. Andrzej Sapkowski mixes Slavic folklore, dark fairy tales, sharp dialogue and moral dilemmas where the monsters are often less dangerous than the humans. At the heart of it is Geralt’s bond with his adopted daughter, Ciri. If you loved the gray morality, the folklore or the found family, these picks fit.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about The Witcher: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Last Wish | Andrzej Sapkowski | Fantasy | Where to start |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Grimdark fantasy | Gray morality and dark humor |
| The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden | Fantasy | Slavic folklore |
| Spinning Silver | Naomi Novik | Fantasy | Dark fairy tales |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | Fantasy | Corrupted forests |
| Kings of the Wyld | Nicholas Eames | Fantasy | Monster-hunting crews |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Fantasy | Witty dialogue |
| Black Sun | Rebecca Roanhorse | Fantasy | Unique folklore |
| Gardens of the Moon | Steven Erikson | Epic fantasy | Vast worlds |
| The Shadow of the Gods | John Gwynne | Fantasy | Norse-inspired monsters |
| Prince of Thorns | Mark Lawrence | Grimdark fantasy | Antiheroes |
| The Hollow Places | T. Kingfisher | Horror fantasy | Creepy monsters |
| Deathless | Catherynne M. Valente | Fantasy | Russian folklore |
| The Black Company | Glen Cook | Military fantasy | Mercenaries |
| Sword of Destiny | Andrzej Sapkowski | Fantasy | More Geralt stories |
1. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
If you haven’t read it, this story collection introduces Geralt and twisted fairy tales. Read it before Blood of Elves.
2. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A barbarian, a torturer and a nobleman are caught up in war. It’s funny and brutal.
3. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
A girl in medieval Russia protects her village with help from household spirits.
4. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
A moneylender’s daughter bargains with a cold fae king in a Slavic-inspired world.
5. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
A village girl serves a wizard and battles the evil Wood.
6. Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
Retired mercenaries reunite to rescue a friend’s daughter. It’s hilarious.
7. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Con artists scheme in a dangerous city.
8. Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
A pre-Columbian-inspired epic of gods, prophecy and a cursed avatar.
9. Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
The first Malazan book is complex, dark and epic.
10. The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne
Warriors hunt dangerous creatures in a land where gods are dead.
11. Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence
A ruthless young prince leads a band of brigands. It’s very dark.
12. The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
A woman finds a portal to a terrifying world in her uncle’s museum.
13. Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
The story of Koschei the Deathless retold in Soviet Russia. It’s lyrical.
14. The Black Company by Glen Cook
A company of mercenaries serves a dark sorceress. It’s a gritty classic.
15. Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
The second collection introduces Ciri and deepens Geralt’s story.
How to Pick Your Next Read After The Witcher
- New to the books? Read The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny first.
- Love folklore? The Bear and the Nightingale and Spinning Silver.
- Love gray morality? The Blade Itself.
- Want humor? Kings of the Wyld.
- Check content. Many grimdark books are violent.
- Play the games. The Witcher 3 is beloved by readers too.
Where to Start With the Witcher Books
The Witcher saga is best read in order: the two short story collections, The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, come first and introduce Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri. Then the five-novel saga begins with Blood of Elves. Season of Storms is a standalone that can be read anytime after the stories. If you know the characters from the Netflix show or the games, you’ll still find plenty of new depth in the books, especially in the humor and the folklore that the adaptations often trim.
Related: books like A Game of Thrones and books like Mistborn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I read after The Witcher?
Try The Blade Itself, The Bear and the Nightingale, Spinning Silver or Kings of the Wyld.
What order should I read The Witcher books?
Start with The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, then Blood of Elves and the rest of the saga.
What fantasy uses Slavic folklore?
The Bear and the Nightingale, Spinning Silver and Deathless all draw on Slavic folklore.