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.

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

Hussite Trilogy:

• The Tower of Fools
• Warriors of God

Translated from original Polish by David French.