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Andrzej Sapkowski's iconic book series, The Witcher, has always been a classic for fantasy readers but has recently become a crossover hit thanks to the Netflix series of the same name. The story follows Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher or monster hunter who has incredible strength and skill that makes it possible for him to defeat the evil creatures that plague the land. Sapkowski's stories are in conversation with the larger themes and trends of fantasy. However, he also imbues much of his Polish heritage and Eastern European influence into the books, which sets them apart.
The Witcher is a long fantasy book saga worth reading and has much in common with some of the best speculative fiction works of all time. There are obvious choices that easily compare to The Witcher, like The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, that incorporate the violence and magic systems that are characteristic of high fantasy. However, these are far from the only works that are similar to Sapkowski's seminal series. Any novel that takes on the thrilling subject matter and complex character development of The Witcher is worth reading.
Liam Hemsworth will play the role of Geralt in The Witcher TV series starting in season 4.
10 Discworld (1983–2015)
Written by Terry Pratchett
Discworld is one of the most iconic fantasy series of all time and has been highly influential in demonstrating how both the serious and comedic sides of speculative fiction can work together. While Discworld takes on a much more satirical tone at times than The Witcher, it's comparable in the scope and quality of its world-building. The many intersecting storylines and facets of the Discworld universe are also similar to how Sapkowski fleshes out The Witcher with each installment of the series and develops the new characters that Geralt encounters.
Both series take on real-world subjects through metaphor and allusions to great results.
Terry Pratchett abandoning his parody premise saved Discworld, as it allowed him to take the world seriously and made it possible for the series to evolve. While The Witcher maintains its tone throughout the novels, it still grows and becomes more complex throughout the story and incorporates different arcs within the larger narrative. Discworld does this to an even larger extent, with specific books focusing on one group or plot line. Both series take on real-world subjects through metaphor and allusions to great results.
9 Gideon The Ninth (2019)
Written by Tamsyn Muir
Gideon the Ninth is closer to the young adult genre than The Witcher, but that doesn't mean the book doesn't have serious or violent moments. The horror aspects of Gideon the Ninth are similar to the gore and mysticism of The Witcher books, and the main character, Gideon, is a force of nature like Geralt. A master of her craft and formidable warrior, Gideon is just as imposing as Geralt in her own way and also feels trapped by her circumstances.
There are also larger political powers at play in Gideon the Ninth that Gideon attempts to thwart but is caught up in despite her desire to have a normal life. Like Geralt, Gideon is bound to another person by destiny and circumstance but soon grows to care for Harrowhawk, her companion. This is similar to the relationship between Geralt and Ciri, though Gideon and Harrow have a closer relationship that grows romantic, unlike the father-daughter dynamic of Geralt and Ciri.
8 The Name Of The Wind (2007)
Written by Patrick Rothfuss
The epic Kingkiller Chronicle begins with The Name of the Wind and tells the sweeping story of how Kvothe, the protagonist, became the feared and revered hero of legend. However, the Kvothe that the audience meets is far from a fearsome warrior, as he's a mild-mannered innkeeper, keeping a low profile and seemingly hiding from his destiny. This hesitance to take up the mantle of his heroism after mysterious events from his dark past is reminiscent of Geralt's characterization.
Readers are still waiting for the final installment of Rothfuss' story, and it's sure to take the audience's breath away after the many adventures Kvothe has been on so far.
Readers are still waiting for the final installment of Rothfuss' story, and it's sure to take the audience's breath away after the many adventures Kvothe has been on so far. Like The Witcher, The Name of the Wind, and the sequel, The Wise Man's Fear, touch upon many different cultures, mythologies, and events across the realm Kvothe inhabits. However, even as he grows up and starts to become an icon, Kvothe grows fearful of both his growing power and whether it will be enough to stop his greatest enemy.
7 Uprooted (2015)
Written by Naomi Novik
Like The Witcher, Uprooted draws upon Polish and other Eastern European folktales and myths to flesh out its story, which follows Agnieszka, a young girl with immense power. However, Agnieszka doesn't know that she's a witch until she's chosen to be the apprentice of the mysterious wizard, the Dragon, who recruits her in the fight against the terrifying Wood. Uprooted is deeply entrenched in naturalistic imagery and connections to the Earth, which makes for beautiful storytelling and language from the author, Naomi Novik.
Agnieszka is a fantastic protagonist for readers who connect with Ciri and Yennefer in The Witcher and love books with strong female protagonists. Uprooted received great acclaim and was awarded several accolades, like the Nebula Award and Locus Award. Like The Witcher, Uprooted is much deeper than it seems on the outside, with messages and themes about politics, tolerance, and community all playing a large role in the story, as well as self-acceptance.
6 A Wizard Of Earthsea (1968)
Written by Ursula K. Le Guin
Of all of Ursula K. Le Guin's novels, A Wizard of Earthsea is one of the most universal and is the start of the brilliant Earthsea Cycle, which followed the central character, Ged, as well as many others. However, the first book, A Wizard of Earthsea, is one of the most classic examples of a coming-of-age tale. This is interesting because there are always questions about how powerful figures like Ged or Geralt come to be, and A Wizard of Earthsea attempts to answer this.
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Additionally, a recurring theme in A Wizard of Earthsea is that the greatest threat Ged has to face is himself. The darkness that he fights throughout the novel is of his own making, and it's when he confronts this that he can prevail. This draws comparisons to Geralt's struggle with his morality and duty. Though A Wizard of Earthsea is meant for younger readers, it connects with anyone who picks it up and is a great introduction to high fantasy.
5 The Black Prism (2010)
Written by Brent Weeks
Gavin Guile is the titular Prism in The Black Prism, the first of the Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks. As the most powerful man in the world, Gavin battles his brother for power and uses a form of magic that revolves around light. This means Gavin is able to control magic from every color and has a higher threshold of ability than typical magicians. However, his world is turned upside down by the news that he has a secret son in a faraway realm, which could change his fate forever.
The twist revealed in The Black Prism throws the entire story on its head and sets the characters on an unbelievable path. Though The Black Prism follows many of the same beats as a typical fantasy story, it has many innovative moments and is propelled by its interesting characters. While Gavin doesn't have the brute strength of Geralt, he has his own form of power and refuses to give it up.
4 The Poppy War (2018)
Written by R.F. Kuang
The Poppy War is the first book in the trilogy of the same name by R.F. Kuang but is far from the prolific author's only great work of fantasy. However, The Poppy War and its two sequels have quickly become highlights of fantasy over the past several years, and a large part of this is thanks to the protagonist, Rin. Brimming with power, stubbornness, and an innate sense of justice, Rin isn't afraid to go outside the societal expectations and rules to do what she thinks is right.
Since writing The Poppy War , Kuang has also penned great historical fantasy that will be remembered for years to come.
Rin's adventures take her all across her homeland and introduce her to many distinct characters, much like Geralt. The Poppy War is a great fantasy book not based on Western European mythologies and settings, which is always a refreshing change in the speculative fiction realm. Kuang has a similar interest in Chinese history and mythology as Sapkowski does with Polish tales. Since writing The Poppy War, Kuang has also penned great historical fantasy that will be remembered for years to come.
3 The Tower Of Fools (2002)
Written by Andrzej Sapkowski
The Tower of Fools is a clear companion to The Witcher series, as it was also written by Sapkowski. Published in 2002, after the second to last book in The Witcher series came out, The Tower of Fools still has Sapkowski's characteristic writing style, but the novel distinguishes itself from The Witcher. The book is the first of the Hussite Trilogy, which follows the story of Reinmar of Bielawa, another complex protagonist who uses his wits to escape the many sticky situations he finds himself in.
Like The Witcher, The Tower of Fools is a historical fantasy, but instead of the imagined medieval world, it is rooted in real historical facts and events. While The Tower of Fools hasn't reached the same heights of popularity as The Witcher, it's still a great addition to Sapkowski's oeuvre and shows that the author has many stories yet to be told. Rooting the series in a historical setting and period also allowed Sapkowski to explore more explicit themes about politics and religion.
2 Empire Of The Vampire (2021)
Written by Jay Kristoff
Vampires might be real in The Witcher, but they're the antagonists and rulers of the universe in Empire of the Vampire. Though Empire of the Vampire is more gothic than The Witcher, it still focuses on the singular hero, Gabriel de Leon, a vampire hunter, much like Geralt, who recounts the events that lead to his imprisonment by the vampires. However, Gabe is far from an ordinary human and is embroiled in a plot to stop the vampires forever.
Gabriel encounters just as much pain and heartache as Geralt and refuses to give up no matter what, making him a compelling protagonist.
Gabriel encounters just as much pain and heartache as Geralt and refuses to give up no matter what, making him a compelling protagonist. Additionally, the gory and violent tone of Empire of the Vampire is similar to that of The Witcher, as Gabriel is pushed to do things he never thought possible in the wake of grief and violence. It's a memorable dark fantasy book that borders on being horror but is anchored by a classic monster hunter.
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1 The Legend Of Drizzt (1988–Present)
Written by R.A. Salvatore
Custom image by Yailin Chacon Geralt is a stellar fantasy book hero like Drizzt, making the long-running D&D-inspired series the perfect follow-up to The Witcher. The protagonist of R.A. Salvatore's series, Drizzt Do'Urden, is a drow who is part of the Forgotten Realms campaign of Dungeons and Dragons but is unlike a typical dark elf. Like Geralt, Drizzt refuses to be limited by his heritage and refuses to follow tradition, using his strength and skill for good and slowly opening up to his friends along the way.
Throughout The Witcher, Geralt struggles with his growing instinct to intervene and do good and the ideals he thought he clung to, creating a compelling character arc. This parallels Drizzt's journey, which goes on for many installments in Salvatore's series. The Legend of Drizzt is the ideal choice for readers who want to get lost in a fantasy series and pay attention to complex world-building and magic systems. This style of writing is similar to The Witcher and makes for a story that's easy to get lost in.
The Witcher
The Witcher is a dark fantasy franchise that spans books, video games, and a successful Netflix series. It follows Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter with supernatural abilities, as he navigates a world rife with political intrigue, magical creatures, and moral ambiguity. The franchise is celebrated for its deep lore, complex characters, and exploration of the gray areas between good and evil.
Created by Andrzej Sapkowski
English (US) ·