The Witcher · #5 / 9

Baptism of Fire

Andrzej Sapkowski

8.5 / 10
114 ratings

The Witcher returns in this action-packed sequel to The Time of Contempt, in the series that inspired The Witcher video games.

The Wizards Guild has been shattered by a coup and, in the uproar, Geralt was seriously injured. The Witcher is supposed to be a guardian of the innocent, a protector of those in need, a defender against powerful and dangerous monsters that prey on men in dark times.

But now that dark times have fallen upon the world, Geralt is helpless until he has recovered from his injuries.

While war rages across all of the lands, the future of magic is under threat and those sorcerers who survive are determined to protect it. It's an impossible situation in which to find one girl - Ciri, the heiress to the throne of Cintra, has vanished - until a rumor places her in the Niflgaard court, preparing to marry the Emperor.

Injured or not, Geralt has a rescue mission on his hands.

This is the third of the Witcher novels by Andrzej Sapkowski.

Published
March 6, 2014
Original title
Chrzest ognia
Where to find this book
External links open a book search at the selected retailer. Availability may vary.

Additional book details

Author

Andrzej Sapkowski

Few writers have reshaped the fantasy landscape like Andrzej Sapkowski—though he never set out to become a legend. Long before The Witcher earned its place in gaming lore and Netflix queues, Sapkowski was a Polish economist with a love for stories that didn't flinch. In the late 1980s, he entered a short story competition with a sharp-edged tale about a monster hunter named Geralt. He didn’t just win; he kicked open the doors to an entirely new world—one filled with political tension, moral ambiguity, and beasts that often looked a lot like men. What sets his fantasy apart isn’t just the swords or sorcery—it’s the bite. Sapkowski’s writing…