Andrzej Sapkowski’s next Witcher novel gets a title and release date — and it’s even sooner than expected

Andrzej Sapkowski's next Witcher novel gets a title and release date — and it's even sooner than expected

As a long-time fan of The Witcher series, I must say that this latest announcement has me absolutely thrilled! Having followed Geralt’s adventures since the early days, the prospect of delving into his youthful years is an intriguing one.

Enthusiasts of “The Witcher” series, mark your calendars! Soon, Polish literature enthusiasts will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a fresh novel from author Andrzej Sapkowski, who is well-known for his work on the original series. While we’ve been anticipating this book for some time, the imminent release has brought us more details about the upcoming story. We now know its Polish title, publication date, a brief synopsis, and even some stunning new artwork. It’s an exciting day in the world of The Continent!

This news comes from a few different places, which means it’s almost certainly legitimate. First is Redanian Intelligence, a reliable Witcher scoop site which sniffed out this news as soon as it went online. RI has a cover of the upcoming issue of Nowa Fantastyka, Poland’s longest running fantasy and sci-fi magazine, which is releasing an excerpt of Sapkowski’s upcoming Witcher novel tomorrow in its November 22 issue.

In conjunction with the latest “Nowa Fantastyka” release, an unofficial Andrzej Sapkowski fan page on Facebook has disclosed additional information about the novel, such as its cover art. Although I’m taking the cover with a pinch of salt at this point, it shares the same artwork as the “Nowa Fantastyka” issue. Therefore, we can confirm that this is official “Witcher” artwork, and it seems highly probable that it will be the cover of the upcoming book.

The Witcher: Crossroads of Ravens is about Geralt of Rivia’s teenage years

The title of the upcoming Witcher book has been confirmed as “WIEDŹMIN – ROZDROŻE KRUKÓW,” which can be roughly translated to “The Witcher — Crossroads of Ravens” or simply “Raven’s Crossing” or “Crow’s Trail.” Since translation can sometimes offer multiple interpretations, I’ve chosen to call it “Raven’s Crossing” for now. However, the English version’s final title may vary based on localization decisions, which won’t be revealed until next year. Enjoy the anticipation!

On the fan page dedicated to Sapkowski’s works, you’ll find additional information, such as an eagerly anticipated summary of the storyline contained within this book.

“Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are pleased to inform you that Andrzej Sapkowski’s new novel THE WITCHER – CROSSROADS OF RAVENS will hit bookstores on 29.11.

This time, the grandmaster of Polish fantasy goes back to the youthful years of Geralt, who is just taking his first steps in the witcher’s profession and must face numerous challenges. Armed with two runic swords, he fights monsters, saves innocent maidens and helps unhappy lovers. Always and everywhere, he tries to follow the unwritten code that he took from his teachers and mentors. As is usually the case, life does not spare him disappointments – youthful idealism clashes with reality time and again.

The saga continues. The story never ends…”

It’s intriguing that the Polish for those final lines uses the word “historia,” which can be translated as either “history” or “story.” I don’t speak Polish, but I find these subtle differences in translation truly captivating, and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together in English once it’s translated. If you’re curious, you can take a look at the original Polish post in the Facebook embed above.

Andrzej Sapkowski's next Witcher novel gets a title and release date — and it's even sooner than expected

This synopsis sheds light on crucial aspects of the forthcoming “Witcher” novel. Given that it unfolds during Geralt’s adolescence, it is plausible that main series characters such as Dandelion (Jaskier), Yennefer of Vengerberg, and Princess Ciri will not make an appearance. These characters are introduced into Geralt’s life at a much later stage.

I strongly believe this is an excellent decision. Although I’m looking forward to encountering more characters from The Witcher series, it’s intriguing that Sapkowski hasn’t written a story about Geralt’s youth like this before. Initially, when I learned he was penning another Witcher novel, like many other fans, I questioned if it would be another spin-off story similar to The Season of Storms, which is set around the same period as the short stories. However, we know Geralt in his prime, before his life became incredibly challenging in the main Witcher series. He’s a hardened monster hunter with a kind heart, but what turned him into such a cynical individual towards humans? This untold tale promises to be fascinating, and I can’t wait to see how Sapkowski develops it.

The new Witcher novel releases in Poland next week?!

Additionally, I want to share the anticipated release date for Sapkowski’s next Witcher novel. Earlier reports suggested that it would be available this winter. However, Redanian Intelligence recently reported December 1st, following a statement from Nowa Fantastyka confirming the date. Now, an unofficial fan page claims the book will come out on November 29th. This information might have originated from an upcoming Nowa Fantastyka release or another reliable source.

If the November 29th announcement is accurate, it indicates that the next Witcher novel will be published in just a few days from now, which is surprisingly quick following this title reveal. Given my involvement with the US and UK fantasy and sci-fi book world, I’m quite astonished by such a rapid release timeline. Typically, major book releases in western markets have significant lead times, often spanning several months – for instance, I’ve received an advanced copy of Joe Abercrombie’s upcoming novel The Devils, and it won’t hit the shelves until May 2025, a full six months from now. We learned about its title and release month as far back as May 2024, an entire year in advance.

At the Lódź Freedom Games convention last month, Sapkowski revealed that the title of his upcoming book was a strategic marketing decision. When asked about it, he explained, “I can’t reveal too much as my publisher wants to keep things under wraps for promotional purposes. So unfortunately, I can only share what I am allowed to due to an embargo.” This suggests that they are releasing the title details near the book’s release date.

It appears the Polish publishing sector operates uniquely, allowing large-scale releases such as Sapkowski’s “Witcher” books to swiftly move from announcement to store shelves within a short span of time. I must admit, this rapid pace is seldom observed in the US or UK except for independent publishers. It’s quite invigorating to conceive a major series like “The Witcher” being released so quickly. Given the enthusiasm of fans, why prolong the wait?

2024-11-21 22:41