Fans of The Witcher have something to look forward to this year – and something to mourn. Let’s start with the good news.
Andrzej Sapkowski is bringing us back to The Continent with a new Witcher book, Crossroads of Ravens (Rozdroże Kruków in Polish), set to release on September 30. Yep, the guy who swore he was done with Geralt’s story back in ‘99 (and then again in 2013) is back with another novel. This one’s a prequel, and it follows an 18-year-old Geralt as he embarks on his first mission after leaving Kaer Morhen. Along the way, he’ll encounter “monsters, traitors, some new friends and some familiar faces, and just how deeply feared and despised Witchers can be.”
Sapkowski describes it as a story about youth, experience, and realizing the world isn’t as simple as you thought. It’ll show us a younger, more idealistic Geralt before all the scars, both literal and emotional. The book is getting an English translation from David French (who’s handled most of the series) and will be released in 19 other languages.
It’s been over a decade since Season of Storms, so it’ll be interesting to see what Sapkowski does with this earlier chapter of Geralt’s life. For fans eager to see another side of Geralt – one still learning, still growing, and maybe still thinking he knows better – this new Witcher book is shaping up to be an exciting new chapter. If nothing else, it’s another excuse to revisit The Continent.
RIP Hector, The Second Roach
But with good news also comes sadness. Hector, the beautiful black Friesian horse who played Roach in The Witcher Seasons 2 and 3, has passed away at just 12 years old. Laca Juhasz, whose company provided horses for The Witcher, confirmed Hector’s passing on his Instagram story, and it’s hitting fans especially hard.
If you’ve watched the show, you probably remember the emotional moment in Season 2 when Geralt’s first Roach – played by Zeus, a brown horse – was killed by a monster. By the end of the season, Geralt was given a new Roach, played by Hector, who continued the role throughout Season 3.
It feels only fitting to send him off with Geralt’s own words from the show:
“Enjoy your last walk across the meadow and through the mist. Be not afraid of her, for she is your friend.”
RIP, Roach. You’ll always be part of The Path.
Dive into the world of The Witcher with our curated collection of Witcher books, games, and merch. Every purchase supports The Path’s mission to bring these epic stories to more readers.
The Path/パス is an online bilingual journal of arts, culture, and entertainment bringing you in-depth reviews, news, and analysis on the hottest properties in sci-fi fantasy film, television, and gaming.
Through in-depth research on intellectual properties and major franchises, we develop content covering your favorite books, series, films, games, and shows, such as The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077, Lord of the Rings, House of the Dragon, Fallout, and Shogun.
If you enjoy our takes, consider buying us a coffee! Your support will help us continue producing excellent pop culture writing in English and Japanese for a true East-meets-West entertainment experience! Arigatō gozaimasu!