Baptism of Fire (The Witcher, 5)

A deadly coup within the Wizard's Guild leaves the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia, gravely injured, and his ward Ciri missing in the third novel of Andrzej Sapkowski's groundbreaking epic fantasy series that inspired the hit Netflix show and the blockbuster video games -- in hardcover for the first time!

★ The New York Times bestselling series
★ Over Fifteen Million Copies Sold Worldwide
★ World Fantasy Award Winning Author
★ David Gemmell Legend Award Winning Author
★ Named One of the Greatest Book Series of All Time by Forbes

The Wizards Guild has been shattered by a coup, an uprising that has left Geralt 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.

While war rages across 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--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.

Witcher collections
The Last Wish
Sword of Destiny

Witcher novels
Blood of Elves
The Time of Contempt
Baptism of Fire
The Tower of Swallows
Lady of the Lake
Season of Storms
Crossroads of Ravens

Hussite Trilogy
The Tower of Fools
Warriors of God

Translated from original Polish by David French

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Published Oct 11, 2022

416 pages

Average rating: 7.83

30 RATINGS

Community Reviews

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hershyv

Dec 09, 2025

10/10 stars

I know I’ve loved every book in this series so far, but Baptism of Fire was hands down the most fun I’ve had. It’s a classic adventure in its purest form, Geralt on the road with his favourite poet and a delightfully mismatched, “how did we end up together?” crew that somehow suits him perfectly. The whole book feels like one long, chaotic road trip with mild monster encounters, questionable decisions, and surprisingly tender moments sprinkled in. What I loved most is how it balances everything: it’s a journey story, sure, but also one about growth, found family vibes, and the kind of dry humour only Sapkowski can pull off. And of course, there’s plenty of action thrown in whenever things get too emotional. I’m also constantly impressed by how Sapkowski manages to sneak sharp social commentary into a medieval magical world without ever breaking the flow. Environmental destruction, abortion rights, sexism, exploitation, capitalism - somehow it’s all in there, wrapped in wit, swordfights, and the occasional poetic complaint from Dandelion. It’s smart, entertaining, and far more relevant than a fantasy about witchers and dragons should reasonably be. Highly enjoyable, extremely Geralt-coded chaos.

Danielle Hart

May 17, 2024

8/10 stars

Loved the fun moments in this book. It's been so cool to see some more depth to Geralt's character and development.

Charmed Cat

Nov 22, 2023

8/10 stars

I really find the politics in the book unappealing. I’m here for Geralt. I appreciate the ways in which the author ties his theme in, if not less than subtly. I also LOVED the way it ended. I live for those kinds of moments in a story.

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More books by this author

The Last Wish: Introducing the Witcher

Blood of Elves (The Witcher, 3)

Sword of Destiny (The Witcher, 2)

The Time of Contempt (The Witcher, 4)