Geralt’s Origin Story: Exclusive Excerpt Reveals His First Monster Hunt in The Witcher Prequel Crossroads of Ravens
Andrzej Sapkowski is returning to the Continent with a prequel novel called Crossroads of Ravens, which follows Geralt of Rivia’s first time leaving Kaer Morhen to hunt monsters. The book is billed as an earlier prequel than 2018’s Season of Storms, and it arrives on Sept. 30 from Orbit in English. Ahead of release, the publisher shared an excerpt that shows Geralt meeting an older witcher named Holt at a symbolic crossroads where ravens gather.
- Author: Andrzej Sapkowski.
- Title: Crossroads of Ravens.
- Setting: Geralt’s early days leaving Kaer Morhen; an earlier prequel than Season of Storms.
- Release date: Sept. 30 (Orbit, English edition).
- Excerpt highlights: a crossroads filled with ravens, Holt’s offer of partnership to Geralt.
What Crossroads of Ravens is about
The novel is a prequel that chronicles Geralt’s first big adventure outside Kaer Morhen. Sapkowski previously finished the main saga with The Lady of the Lake, and later published Season of Storms (2018), which took place around the time of The Last Wish. By contrast, Crossroads of Ravens goes even earlier in Geralt’s timeline.
The excerpt: ravens, a crossroads, and an offer
The excerpt opens at dawn with Geralt preparing to leave and an older witcher, Holt, interrupting him. Then birds gather at a four-way crossroads and Holt uses the moment to present Geralt with a concrete proposal: join him as a successor and profit from Holt’s reputation in Kaedwen.
The excerpt includes dialogue that illustrates the scene and Holt’s pitch. For example:
“Ravens,” gasped Geralt. “So many ravens! Impossible! Ravens don’t fly in flocks! Never!”
And later, Holt plainly says:
“I offer you a partnership. I was well-known here in Kaedwen and still am. I never complained of a shortage of customers, but now people ask me for help which I can no longer give them. But you can. I’ve taken a good look at you and say: be my successor, Geralt.”
Why the excerpt matters
First, it establishes that this book will explore Geralt at an earlier point in his career, when he’s still making critical choices about his path. Second, the scene shows Sapkowski returning to the series’ mix of quiet moments and symbolic imagery—the ravens and crossroads serve as both atmosphere and plot device. Finally, the Holt sequence hints at how Geralt’s path might be shaped by mentorship and practical choices, not just fate.
Release and availability
Crossroads of Ravens is scheduled to release on Sept. 30 in the English market via Orbit. The excerpt circulated in advance through press channels and highlights the book’s tone and setup without revealing the full plot.
