Editors Reads Verdict
Sword of Destiny is the more emotionally resonant of the two Witcher short story collections. It introduces Ciri and the concept of destiny that will drive the novels, and contains several of the series' finest individual stories. Read after The Last Wish.
What We Loved
- Introduction of Ciri makes this essential before the main novel saga
- The title story is one of the finest in the series
- Geralt and Yennefer's relationship is developed with real emotional weight
- The world-building deepens without losing the episodic quality of The Last Wish
Minor Drawbacks
- Some stories feel stronger than others — the collection is slightly uneven
- Requires The Last Wish to be read first for full context
Key Takeaways
- → Read after The Last Wish and before Blood of Elves
- → Introduces Ciri, the character who drives the entire novel saga
- → Essential for understanding the 'child of destiny' mythology
| Author | Andrzej Sapkowski |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Orbit |
| Pages | 336 |
| Published | May 19, 2015 |
| Language | en |
| Genre | Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Short Stories |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Best For | Readers who have completed The Last Wish and want to continue the Witcher before the novels |
Sword of Destiny is the second of the two Witcher short story collections that precede the main novel saga. It is slightly longer than The Last Wish and covers the period of Geralt’s life in which the series’ central concern — Ciri — first enters the picture.
The concept of destiny is the book’s recurring theme. In Sapkowski’s world, destiny is not metaphorical: it is a real force, binding people to one another through connections that cannot be predicted or explained but consistently prove accurate. Geralt is famously sceptical of destiny throughout his life, yet finds himself drawn repeatedly into its workings.
Ciri appears in the title story — a girl who, through a set of circumstances involving the Law of Surprise, Geralt has a claim on. He refuses to take her. The story ends. But the series is constructed around the fact that refusing a destiny does not extinguish it.
The collection also contains some of the most technically accomplished individual stories Sapkowski wrote. “A Little Sacrifice” examines romance through the lens of a mermaid and a human and is notably more tender than most of the series. “The Bounds of Reason” brings together a group of witchers in a scenario that functions as both monster hunt and meditation on cooperation between professionals who work alone.
Sword of Destiny is not optional reading before the novels. It establishes Ciri and the emotional groundwork that Blood of Elves builds on, and readers who skip it will find the novel’s opening less resonant than it should be.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Sword of Destiny" about?
The second Witcher short story collection introduces Ciri — the child of destiny whose fate becomes the central thread of the entire saga — and deepens the relationships between Geralt, Yennefer, and the world they inhabit.
Who should read "Sword of Destiny"?
Readers who have completed The Last Wish and want to continue the Witcher before the novels
What are the key takeaways from "Sword of Destiny"?
Read after The Last Wish and before Blood of Elves Introduces Ciri, the character who drives the entire novel saga Essential for understanding the 'child of destiny' mythology
Is "Sword of Destiny" worth reading?
Sword of Destiny is the more emotionally resonant of the two Witcher short story collections. It introduces Ciri and the concept of destiny that will drive the novels, and contains several of the series' finest individual stories. Read after The Last Wish.
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