The Witcher Boxed Set 2024: The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire,

The Witcher Boxed Set 2024

Author: Andrzej Sapkowski

Series: The Witcher

Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Adventure

Publisher: Gollancz

Publication Date: 25 April 2024

Format: Paperback Box Set

ISBN: 9781399623087

Contents: 8 books

Translations: Danusia Stok and David French

Description

Enter the legendary world of The Witcher, the bestselling fantasy phenomenon created by Andrzej Sapkowski and the inspiration behind the hugely popular Witcher video games and Netflix series.

At the heart of the saga is Geralt of Rivia, a professional monster hunter known as a Witcher. Trained from childhood and transformed through dangerous magical processes, Geralt possesses extraordinary abilities that allow him to fight creatures ordinary humans cannot face. He travels from kingdom to kingdom, taking contracts to hunt monsters and protect those who cannot protect themselves.

But Geralt's world is far more complicated than simple battles between good and evil. Monsters are not always the true villains, humans can be more dangerous than beasts, and those who appear noble may conceal terrible intentions. Political ambition, war, prejudice, magic, destiny and personal loyalties all collide as Geralt becomes increasingly entangled in events far greater than his profession.

The Witcher saga begins with The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny, two collections of interconnected stories that introduce Geralt, his unusual relationships, his moral code and the strange world in which he lives. These stories establish many of the characters and events that become central to the larger saga.

The main narrative continues with Blood of Elves, where the political and magical forces surrounding Geralt and the young Ciri begin to converge. Ciri becomes increasingly important to the fate of the Continent, and Geralt finds himself drawn into a role far more significant than that of a solitary monster hunter.

In Time of Contempt, tensions between kingdoms and magical factions intensify. Political schemes, betrayal and violence push the characters into increasingly dangerous circumstances.

Baptism of Fire follows Geralt as he journeys through a continent torn apart by war. Along the way, he forms an unlikely group of companions, creating one of the series' most memorable travelling parties.

In The Tower of the Swallow, Ciri's story becomes darker and more dangerous as she struggles to survive while powerful enemies continue searching for her. Her fate is increasingly connected to the political and supernatural forces shaping the Continent.

The Lady of the Lake brings the central saga toward its dramatic conclusion, bringing together Geralt, Ciri and the other major characters while exploring the consequences of destiny, war, love and sacrifice.

Completing the collection is Season of Storms, a standalone Witcher adventure set during an earlier period of Geralt's life. It provides another glimpse into his dangerous career as a monster hunter while expanding the mythology and world of the series.

The eight books included

1. The Last Wish – Introduces Geralt through a series of interconnected adventures involving monsters, magic, sorcerers and complicated moral choices.
2. Sword of Destiny – Expands Geralt's story and deepens his connection with Ciri, destiny and the people who will shape his future.
3. Blood of Elves – Begins the main Witcher saga, with Ciri's importance becoming central as political and magical powers compete for control of the Continent.
4. Time of Contempt – Political tensions explode into conflict, forcing Geralt, Ciri and their allies into increasingly dangerous situations.
5. Baptism of Fire – Geralt journeys through a continent devastated by war, accompanied by an unconventional group of allies.
6. The Tower of the Swallow – Ciri faces some of her greatest dangers while enemies continue to pursue her across a war-torn world.
7. The Lady of the Lake – The central saga reaches its major conclusion as the characters confront the consequences of their choices and the forces surrounding them.
8. Season of Storms – A separate adventure featuring Geralt as he takes on monsters, contracts and unexpected complications during his earlier years.

Geralt of Rivia

Geralt is a Witcher: a highly trained monster hunter who has undergone magical mutations that give him enhanced strength, speed, reflexes and senses.

Although he is often viewed as a cold assassin, Geralt follows a complicated personal morality. His profession requires him to kill monsters, yet he repeatedly discovers that the distinction between human and monster is not as simple as it appears.

His dry humor, independence and unwillingness to accept conventional ideas of good and evil make him one of modern fantasy's most distinctive protagonists.

Ciri

Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, better known as Ciri, becomes one of the most important characters in the saga.

Her connection to Geralt, her royal heritage, her extraordinary abilities and the concept of destiny place her at the center of conflicts involving kingdoms, sorcerers and supernatural forces.

Her journey from a young princess to a hardened survivor forms one of the emotional cores of the series.

Yennefer

Yennefer of Vengerberg is a powerful sorceress whose complicated relationship with Geralt becomes another major thread running through the saga.

Intelligent, ambitious and fiercely independent, Yennefer plays an important role in both Geralt's personal life and the larger political and magical conflicts of the Continent.

A world where morality is complicated

One of the defining features of Sapkowski's Witcher books is their rejection of simple fantasy morality.

There are:

• Monsters that are not necessarily evil
• Humans who behave worse than monsters
• Kings who manipulate their subjects
• Sorcerers pursuing their own agendas
• Heroes forced to make morally difficult choices
• Characters whose loyalties constantly change

The books frequently challenge the idea that there is always a clearly correct choice.

Major themes

Destiny: The idea of destiny repeatedly brings Geralt and Ciri together and influences the direction of their lives.

Family: Geralt's relationship with Ciri becomes much more than a matter of prophecy or fate.

War: The Continent is repeatedly devastated by political conflicts, with ordinary people paying the highest price.

Prejudice: Witchers, elves, dwarves, sorcerers and other groups face discrimination and persecution.

Power: Kings, rulers and magical factions compete for influence over people and kingdoms.

Love and loyalty: Personal relationships often survive—or are destroyed by—the enormous political forces surrounding the characters.

Good and evil: The series repeatedly questions whether anyone or anything can truly be classified as completely good or completely evil.

Why read The Witcher Boxed Set?

This collection is ideal for readers who want to experience the complete eight-book English Witcher collection in one set. It combines monster-hunting adventures with political fantasy, romance, folklore, war, magic, dark humor and unforgettable characters.

The 2024 boxed set brings together the complete collection in the following order: The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, The Lady of the Lake, and Season of Storms.

In one paragraph

The Witcher Boxed Set 2024 brings together all eight books in Andrzej Sapkowski's legendary fantasy saga, following Geralt of Rivia, a magically enhanced monster hunter who travels across a war-torn continent where humans, monsters, sorcerers and kingdoms struggle for power. What begins as a series of dangerous monster-hunting adventures gradually develops into an epic story involving Geralt's extraordinary bond with the young Ciri, his complicated relationship with the sorceress Yennefer, political conspiracies, devastating wars, ancient magic and the mysterious power of destiny. Across The Last Wish, Sword of Destiny, Blood of Elves, Time of Contempt, Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, The Lady of the Lake and Season of Storms, Sapkowski creates a morally complex fantasy world in which monsters are not always monstrous and people are not always good. Filled with dark humor, folklore, action, romance, political intrigue and unforgettable characters, this complete boxed set is the definitive collection for readers wanting to explore the world of Geralt of Rivia.

The set is officially listed as a paperback box set with ISBN 9781399623087 and was published by Gollancz in 2024.