Crossroads of Ravens, a novel by A. Sapkowski (Book review)

 Hello dear readers and fellow bloggers! Today I shall review Crossroads of Ravens by Andrzej Sapkowski. I read this novel a few months ago, but only got to reviewing it now. If you follow my blog regularly, you might remember that I reviewed ‘the last Witcher’ book more than once. In fact, I reviewed what I falsely believed to be the last Witcher book twice. Both times I was proven wrong, as a new Witcher book was published. My mistake is understandable, as writers sometimes have a change of heart and continue their series even after announcing the end. 

So, Andrzej Sapkowski keeps coming back to his Witcher Universe and publishing more works. The same thing happened with Ursula K. Le Guin and her Earthsea Cycle. Le Guin decided to continue the series years after the ‘last Earthsea’ novel was published. As long as a writer is live and willing to write, a new sequel or prequel can appear in the series. That’s actually wonderful and something to be celebrated. This book labeling might cause publishers headache, but the readers will (more often than not) be genuinely happy to get their hands on the new stuff. I'm certainly glad there are more Witcher books.

This is the second Witcher book that was published following The Lady of Lake, the novel that chronologically ended the saga.  In a way, Sapkowski did keep his promise of not continuing his story. Both Witcher books published after The Lady of Lake are prequels, and they do not continue the traditional Witcher narrative but precede it. The Lady of the Lake is still the last Witcher book chronologically. However, there are two new prequels. I already reviewed Season of Swords back in 2025. So, today it is time for me to review Crossroads of Ravens, the latest Witcher publication and the earliest Witcher prequel. There is one short story that chronologically precedes it (more about it later), but generally speaking this is the earliest prequel.

Can we expect more prequels? Absolutely. Sapkowski himself said the possibilities are endless when it comes to Witcher Universe when asked about his plans to write more. Sapkowski practically promised new Witcher books. Sapkowski could write a number of prequels to his works, focusing on Geralt’s work as a Witcher. The way he framed the whole Witcher Universe, especially the monster fighting and mythological aspect of it, leaves plenty of room to explore numerous aspects of it. In particular, the short story potential will always be there. The way the stories originated, as reinterpretations of fairy tales and mythological stories, makes it very easy for the author just to keep writing. If you think about it, there could be hundreds of episodes or stories with Geralt fighting different kind of monsters (both human and mythological). I imagine there will be at least one more book (perhaps another short story book collection coming up), if not more.

One of the advantages of the popularity of the Witcher books is that they are widely translated. So, whatever your mother tongue is there is a good chance you'll be able to find a matching copy. Speaking of translation, I recently learnt that Sapkowski speaks around fifteen languages (with varying degrees of fluency but still), how impressive! I only speak around four myself, but I can read in more. I should have some free time this Summer so I might use it for language studying. Yes, even language teachers need to study languages. Anyhow, I read most of the Witcher books in Croatian translation. I've read some of them in English as well. I read this novel in Croatian, I borrowed it from a library because I do like to read 'real' books. However, before writing this review I opened an English version of this book on my Kindle (and got some of my quotes there). This book review (and the quotes) will be in English. I hope that some day I'll be able to turn my blog bilingual again. I love multilingual and bilingual blogs. However, at the moment time permits me to write only in one language. Again, the usual disclaimer. This post was written in English, if you're reading it in another language, I'm not responsible for any mistakes in translation. 

'The vast majority of people, claiming that violence and savagery are egregious and morally unacceptable to them, are plainly and simply unable to use violence even in self-defence, in the defence of their nearest and dearest—or when it is necessary. That is called: making a virtue out of inaction.' Crossroads of Raven

Witcher books are often described as based on Polish folklore and mythology. That is an oversimplification, but you’ll find it everyone because everyone copies this phrase one from another, English publishers and reviewers in particular. In reality, Andrzej didn’t limit himself to a certain folklore or oral tradition. Sapkowski based his Witcher stories on more than just European folklore and mythology. There are literally mythological figures from Latin American mythology in the Witcher novels. So, it could be said he draws on myths, legends and stories in general.  Many of the original Witcher short stories were based on European fairy-tales, oral literature and folklore, some direct interpretations of it.  

The Witcher books really are rooted in Polish history, but I don’t the average reader will pick up on that, just because the average international reader probably does not know much about Polish history. For instance, there are numerous references to the Renaissance period in Poland in the Witcher novels. One could do a really detailed and interesting comparison of Polish history in context of the Witcher novels, but this review won’t go that deep. Instead, I’ll just focus on the novel in question, that is, the seventh novel and ninth overall book in this ultra popular series.  Published in 2024, Crossroads of Ravens is a prequel to all Witcher books and by that I mean both the novels and the short story collections. The novel opens with young Geralt. If we examine the full Witcher saga, there is one short story that features Gerlat’s mother titled The Road with No Return" that one could be said to proceed this novel but since it is only a story, this novel remains the first Witcher book chronologically and the last one in order of publication.

Speaking of this novel, I quite liked its title. It connects to the theme of the novel and the moral of the story the novel tells on overall. Geralt of this novel is around eighteen years old and he is at a crossroads. Raven and crows a bird that play. There are several moments in the book when ravens and crows are mentioned. I'll quote one episode below: 

'In spite of his sincerest intentions- or actually for important reasons- Geralt could not concentrate at all on the alderman's prattle. All his attention was being taken by the large stuffed crow on the table. The crow, glaring at the witcher with its glass eyes, was standing on a plinth of green-painted clay, with bots its feet stuck into it. Thus, the  crow, despite looking utterly alive, could in no way have been so; there was no doubt about that. Why the, Geralt couldn't help wondering, had the crow already winked its glass eye at him several times? Magic? Probably not, for his witcher medallion hadn't twitched or vibrated, not once and not in the slightest. Might it then be a hallucination? Was he seeing things? Perhaps because of being punched in the head several times? ' Crossroads of Ravens 

Throwback to 2015 and another way to style this dress

 

What was this novel like? I have to say that it was exactly how I imagined it would be. I knew what the novel is about going in and on overall, I got what I expected, more or less. I enjoyed reading it, but I also wasn’t too nostalgic when I finished it. It was nice going back into the Witcher world. It felt both familiar and credible. The atmosphere was there. The iconic protagonist was there, younger but still familiar. The writing style was easily recognizable and felt authentic. So, really there isn’t much to complain here.

Geralt did feel very young in this novel, and that is how it is supposed to be. It is not the same Geralt of the latter books, for sure. This is an unexperienced youth that is trying to find his place, a monster hunter with no experience of the world.  This novel tells the story of Geralt youth and his journey of becoming a witcher. For obviously, it takes more than training to make a witcher. At the end of the day, being witcher is more a calling, than a job, similar to being a teacher , a priest or a soldier.  It is not just any kind of job. At the very start of the novel, Geralt is almost hanged to death because he killed a man who was about to rape a girl. Not a fun first day at work, for sure. 

Geralt has literally just ‘graduated’ at Kaer Morhen (i.e the witcher school)  as he starts on his journey, seeing what it is like working as a witcher. Not as easy task at all, as witchers are not the most popular of folks. In fact, everyone seems eager to kill or attack them. This is something that was stressed across canon, and it is the same here in Geralt's younger years. Besides this stigma that comes with being a witcher, there is also the added difficulty of Geralt's youth and inexperience.  I like how that was not swept under the carpet. Geralt himself concludes that some of his first monster kills were more luck than anything. He has the training, but he hasn't got the experience, and he knows it. 

1) THE LAST WISH 

2) SWORD OF DESTINY 

  3) BLOOD OF ELVES

4) TIME OF CONTEMPT 5) BAPTISM OF FIRE  6) THE TOWER OF THE SWALLOW  7) THE LADY OF THE LAKE 8) SEASON OF STORMS 

What is the young Gerlat like? He is cautious, and somewhat aware of his youth and naivety.  Older Geralt is often silent as a protest or for self-protection, whereas young Geralt in this novel uses silence to listen and learn. Both are not a witcher of many words, but perhaps not for the same reasons. As I was reading, I kept thinking what an isolating place a world must be for a young witcher, all alone setting on his path.  This young Geralt seems to be open towards learning, accepting a mentor and/or someone who will show him how the world works. Still, it still feels like Geralt. His stubbornness and a sense of humour is already there.

“I am Elena Fiachra de Mersault, commandant of the security service of the Upper March.” 

Geralt ought to have said something witty. In the style of “it seems to be the season for security services.” Or “you wait ages for the security service and then two turn up at once.”

 He didn’t say anything. He was simply tongue-tied.” Crossroads of Ravens

As it seems to be the case with all the witcher books, the narration is in third person but follows Geralt. The author often hints at things that Geralt does not know, reminding of his youth. Geralt is not simple, though. He is simply very young in this novel and the author captures that, his lack of experience and even vocabulary. There are some fun episodes that describe how contracts work in the witcher world, legal stuff and so on where it is clear that Geralt does not know the legal vocabulary, but also that he is a fast learner. I like how we got to see more details about the witcher world, the way banks and contracts work and so on. This is consistent with other witcher novels where we learn about such details. Yennefer in particular seems to know her banking stuff. Anyway, I feel like details like this one really add to the worldbuilding. Geralt learning about how contracts and getting paid work, signing documents and so on. 

Geralt remains at focus throughout the novel. Some characters from the previous novels make an appearance and are mentioned. However, as you might expect Yennefer is not there. For me personally, any book without Yennefer is a lesser book. I just think that the dynamics that these two have are what makes the books. Even when Yennefer was absent from large parts of some of the other latter books, her presence was still felt, and lingered in the air. However, when it comes to this prequel, Yennefer is completely absent because the two of them haven’t met yet. So, I guess fans of Yennefer will be somewhat disappointed, but it is what it is. Obviously, Dandelion and Ciri are not present either. Geralt’s witcher friends are mentioned, but don’t actually appear in the novel itself.

'You study bestiaries in order to acquire knowledge about what you will have to fight against. Remember, however, that knowledge is not everything. Books will teach you about known facts—about monsters that are familiar to us. Books will also permit you to understand that known unknowns exist—monsters which we know must exist, but which we do not know. But no bestiary and no book will prepare you for the unknown that we know not. For monsters about which we have no knowledge, nor any comprehension of their existence.

 Vesemir of Kaer Morhen'*

*  Crossroads of Ravens

You will hear the names of Vesemir or Eskel in this novel but you won’t see them. In fact, there is only one character that plays an active role and that appeared in earlier Witcher books and that is the priestess Nenneke. She is younger in this book obviously, but already quite wise and resourceful. You could say that the writer captured her personality.

Sapkowski also managed to incorporates Nenneke into the plot. She plays a significant role. She’s not just there for the show or to give Geralt a place to stay. Geralt actually cares about her and the other priestesses. This novel shows that their connection goes way back. That part was well handled and written. Geralt feels naturally protective towards Nenneke. 

I also feel like the whole priestess plot gives Sapkowski some room to express his views on a number of things. There are some themes that run through a lot of Witcher literature such as the relationship between the society and women, and women priestess or sorcerers in particular. Female mages are usually such interesting characters in Geralt's books. They were absent in this book. 

In some ways, this novel made me think of the first books in the series- the short stories about Geralt. Within Crossroads of Ravens, there are a lot of episodes, that can be seen as short stories as well. Still, there is enough of a connected plot to call it a novel. 

 There are, as I mentioned, monster hunting episodes. There is also a return to fairy tales of sorts. Geralt helps one young couple, a Romeo and Juliet of sorts. Moreover, their story does not end tragically, at least as far as we as readers know. This is because there is a good mage that helps them- and it's a lovely woman. Geralt does not have chemistry with this one, more a brotherly kind of relationship if anything. If you read Witcher books, you'll do that Geralt has a thing about sorceresses and they have a thing about him. In this book, Geralt does not get romantic. A visit to the brothel is mentioned, but that is about it.  

Considering how much space Sapkowski devoted to descriptions of Geralt's love making in his last novel, maybe he thought it would be best to keep it off page? Not that there is much reason for the writer to dwell on it. Young Geralt, at only about eighteen years old, is not exactly a ladies man yet. As much as I missed reading about a potential love interest of Geralt, I understand the writer's decision. If Sapkowski is going to respect the canon, he cannot have Geralt getting too involved with sorceresses. Yennefer was his first sorceress, if I recall well. There were many other sorceress in Geralt's love life across the books, but it was always clear that Yennefer is the one. Here Geralt is warned to stay away from sorceresses and for once he does what he is told. Geralt has to work on staying alive. Not that this ever stood in his way before. However, young Geralt perhaps has to work extra hard. 

 What is the plot about? Geralt goes and finds work, and then he finds a mentor. There is an enemy on his track, and someone wants to hurt his mentor as well. There are secrets to be found, evil magicians to defeat, politicians to scorn and monsters to fight. There are also women to charm. It seems that even very young Geralt holds some charm. In other words, this is a typical Witcher plot and novel.

2015, an alternative styling of this pink vintage dress

There is also some intextuality. There is much talk of one book in this book, and that book is basically a hate witcher book. A book so powerful it caused an attacked on Kaer Morhen where a lot of witchers were killed. Now, witchers are not generally popular, and despite the useful service they do, people fear them due to their mutations and strength.  However, this hate book titled Monstrum, or Description of the Witcher seems to have added insult to injury. 

The more we learn of this anti-witcher book, the more we realize that it was written with a sinister agenda and that there is a while movement or scheme behind it. Who write the book? It is an anonymous anti-witcher hate literature and this book actually drives the plot more often than not. It seems that the author of this book is to be blamed for the massacre of witchers. This book that keeps coming up was published several decades before the events of the novel–and before Geralt ever set foot into the plot. However, the book seems to be the key for one tragic event that resulted in the death of all witchers but one at Kaer Morhen. Who were the attackers? An angry mob, all of whom died. The book seems to have been behind the attack.

This novel mentioned again an event retold in the canon. Older Geralt (in the later books) often remember how the first monster he killed was a man who attacked a young girl. Crossroads of Ravens goes into a bit more detail and shows the young Geralt killing a deserter attempting to rape a young girl. For this, Geralt is to be hanged. As a witcher, he is not supposed to kill a human, and it seems everyone is only too glad to charge him with murder. However, Geralt is saved. An older witcher helps him and offers to mentor him. This older witcher is named Preston Holt. He proposes a companionship to Geralt. Hold is known and respected, so people are glad to hire him. However, Holt is old and not so strong on his feet anymore. Together, Geralt and Hold can kill monsters more effectively.  Geralt gets the chance to work, he is the one who does the killing, but it is Holt’s name that gets them the job.  Slowly but surely, Holt becomes Geralt’s mentor. Not that it seems to take that long in the book. The plot on overall moves pretty quickly. However, the mentoring is not something that happens instantly. 

Geralt and Holt are not just left alone to mind their own business and build their friendship. Of course, there are plots and subplots. Monster killing episodes included but not limited to. Holt wants something from Geralt, and that something is help in revenge. Holt and Geralt practice together, and Geralt learns a lot from him. Geralt is put under pressure to accuse Holt, but he resists. However, Geralt learns that Holt is the only survivor of the massacre at Kaer Morhen. This can only mean that Holt had abandoned other witchers at Kaer Morhen and ran for his life.  

Is Holt to be held responsible for this or forgiven? Personally, I think Holt should not be judged for this. Afterall, what good would he had done by getting himself killed? Even if Holt abandoned his companions when he shouldn't have had, is he really to be forever judged for it? And who would carry the news Holt didn’t survive? Who would devote himself to revenge?

In general, I found the relationship between Holt and Geralt interesting. Holt decides to send Geralt away at some point, refusing to be his mentor any longer.  Geralt leaves, but trouble always follows him. Still, Geralt manages to meet the sinister author of Monstrum and discover his identity. The plot tickets, and in the end there is some really solid writing and action. This novel had some really well written action scenes. 

All in all, it was a good read.

Below are the links with all my Witcher reviews. I reviewed all of them on my blog!

1) THE LAST WISH 

2) SWORD OF DESTINY 

  3) BLOOD OF ELVES

4) TIME OF CONTEMPT 5) BAPTISM OF FIRE  6) THE TOWER OF THE SWALLOW  7) THE LADY OF THE LAKE 8) SEASON OF STORMS 

Sustainable fashion files: The pink floral vintage dress (inherited from my mother), platform brown sandals (old), a red bag (gifted), a silver cropped long sleeved top (no name)

Thank you for reading and visiting!