Geralt the Witcher battles monsters, demons and prejudices alike in Sword of Destiny, the second collection of adventures in Andrzej Sapkowski’s groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the Netflix show and the hit video games.
With the Netflix show hitting our screens 20 December 2019, it catapulted the series into the spotlight. Even moreso than the game, which were hugely popular in and of itself. So here’s all you need to know about Sword of Destiny, the last ‘prequel’ novel to get you fully set up for the novel series.
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Sword of Destiny
Geralt is a Witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless hunter. Yet he is no ordinary killer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent.
Sword of Destiny is the follow up to The Last Wish, and together they are the perfect introduction to a one of a kind fantasy world.
It’s really hard for me to convey the depth of these collection of stories. They have a range of tone — humor, romance, adventure, intrigue — that is amazing. The writing is contemporary and yet has a resonance that feels timeless.
Michelle, Goodreads user
Our Overview
“Sword of Destiny” is a short story collection by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski (translated by David French), set in the same world as his “Witcher” series of novels. The stories follow our favorite heartthrob Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster hunter.
One of the main stories in “Sword of Destiny” is “The Bounds of Reason,” in which the king of a neighboring kingdom hires Geralt to protect his daughter from a monster. The princess, Cirilla, is being pursued by the Nilfgaardian Empire, which believes she has magical powers that could help them conquer the world. Geralt must help Cirilla evade the Nilfgaardians and uncover the true nature of her powers. All the while, love is blooming.
Another key story in the collection is “A Shard of Ice,” in which Geralt is hired by a group of dwarves to investigate a mysterious creature that has been attacking their mine.
Other stories in “Sword of Destiny” include “Eternal Flame,” in which Geralt must deal with the consequences of a pact he made with a powerful sorceress.”The Sword of Destiny,” in which Geralt is tasked with finding and wielding the eponymous weapon. We also see “Something More,” in which Geralt must confront the ghost of a knight who was cursed by a vengeful sorceress.
Our Review
We recently had the pleasure of reading “Sword of Destiny” and were happy to return to Sapkowski’s exceptional writing and world-building skills. The collection of short stories follows the witcher Geralt of Rivia as he travels through the continent of The Witcher.
One of the things we particularly appreciated about “Sword of Destiny” was the way it explored themes of love, loyalty, and the consequences of our actions in a thought-provoking and meaningful way. Geralt is more than just the pretty face we see in the Netflix adaption. He is a deeply complex and flawed character. His struggles to reconcile his own desires with his duties as a witcher made for a highly satisfying read.
Overall, we highly recommend “Sword of Destiny” to fans of fantasy literature. It is a superbly written and engaging collection of stories that will keep you thoroughly captivated until the very end. This book is a must-read for all fantasy enthusiasts, especially those wanting to delve into The Witcher series with a little build-up.
Our rating: ★★★★★
Check it out on Netflix
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Sword of Destiny in chronological order?
The stories of Sword of Destiny take place right before the main saga and introduce the key character of Ciri. Season of Storms is technically the last book to be published, but is set around this time as well.
Is Ciri in Sword of Destiny?
The titular story, “The Sword of Destiny”, introduces the character of Ciri.
How old is Geralt?
In the books, Geralt is roughly 75, then aging onto 80-85 by their conclusion
