In the show, most of these events still happen, but with a twist: Geralt’s motivations are altered, painting him as a more highly capable father figure where the books portray him a little ignorant and bumbling, something he has to grow beyond. Throughout the story, Geralt realizes Ciri cannot simply slot into the role he was given as a child, and starts turning to every woman he can think of in the hopes one of them can figure out what she should be doing. Then it’s off to the Temple of Melitele and Mother Nenneke, a priestess and herbalist.

As it becomes clear that she needs more than swordsmanship, he invites the sorceress Triss Merigold to help with her magical abilities, but she too finds herself not entirely capable of tutoring Ciri.

It’s not part of a grand logistical plan - that’s all he knows to do with a child. After finding Ciri in the short story, “Something More” from The Sword of Destiny, he takes her to Kaer Morhen and trains her as a Witcher. The Blood of Elves, the third Witcher book (and the first novel, following the two short story collections, The Last Wish and The Sword of Destiny) is largely about Geralt’s struggles in parenting. It’s a big departure (both the lost magic subplot and Voleth Meir were created exclusively for the show) and it sacrifices a maternal relationship for an antagonistic one. The Netflix show immediately puts them at odds, with Yennefer appearing there by coincidence but secretly intending to take Ciri as a sacrifice to Voleth Meir in hopes of regaining her lost magic. But that’s where the similarities between the adaptation and author Andrzej Sapkowski’s source material end. Geralt has taken Ciri there to supposedly receive an education from Mother Nenneke in how to control the dangerous power she possesses. Whether you’ve read the books or not, it seemed apparent that the series’ other main character, Yennefer, was also fated to meet Ciri - and in the second season they finally do, at the Temple of Melitele. The Witcher season 1 spent a great deal of time talking about the power of destiny, with Geralt and Ciri finding each other against all odds in the woods near Sodden where neither was supposed to be.

The witcher book blood of elves