After nearly a year since its Polish debut, Andrzej Sapkowski’s latest Witcher novel, “Crossroads of Ravens,” is finally available in English this week. Fans can currently find it on Amazon for $24.50 in the US (a generous 18% off the $30 MSRP) and £19.99 in the UK (a solid 20% off the £20 RRP).
“Crossroads of Ravens” is a brand new standalone prequel, set decades before both the beloved video games and the main novel series. It follows a young Geralt of Rivia, fresh out of Kaer Morhen, as he takes his very first steps into the daunting world of a Witcher.
According to Amazon’s official description, this prequel sees Geralt grappling with a world that neither understands nor welcomes his kind. A hasty act of heroism almost leads to his demise, but he’s unexpectedly saved by Preston Holt, a seasoned Witcher with a hidden past and his own agenda.
Under Holt’s guidance, Geralt begins to grasp the true meaning of “walking the Path”—a journey that involves not only battling terrifying monsters but also navigating the complex prejudices and political landscapes of the Continent. Sapkowski expertly frames this narrative as a profound exploration of how legends are forged and the heavy price they often demand.
It makes perfect sense for this new story to delve into the past rather than push forward. Geralt’s journey reaches a conclusive end in the primary saga, and the highly acclaimed CD Projekt Red games have already continued the timeline, picking up just a few years after the books conclude.
However, even as Sapkowski’s novels remain the foundational bedrock of the series, The Witcher universe has undeniably expanded into something far grander. Beyond the games and their upcoming sequels and spin-offs, the franchise now encompasses a popular Netflix adaptation, engaging comic books, a rich tabletop RPG, compelling manga series, and even a unique cookbook, all contributing to keep the vibrant world of the Continent alive in new and exciting ways.
Meanwhile, “The Witcher” Season 4 is set to premiere on Netflix on October 30, marking its penultimate season as the series prepares to conclude with Season 5. Recently, Liam Hemsworth also publicly addressed the significant recasting of Henry Cavill as Geralt for the Netflix series, revealing that the intense online reaction compelled him to step away from social media and the internet for much of 2024.