The Witcher's Most Underrated Story Is Also One Of Its Best Horror Stories

Andrzej Sapkowski’s The Witcher books may not explicitly fall into the horror genre, but the series has always incorporated plenty of dark fantasy and horror elements throughout Geralt of Rivia‘s adventures. From terrifying monsters inspired by Slavic folklore to disturbing curses, gruesome deaths, and twisted or corrupt characters, the books frequently venture into territory that would feel right at home in a traditional horror story.

While several of Sapkowski’s most famous tales embrace these darker themes, one of his most compelling horror stories remains surprisingly overlooked, particularly among English-speaking fans due to the lack of a solid translation. Originally published before The Witcher became an international phenomenon, the story explores a dangerous corner of the Continent and doesn’t even feature Geralt himself at the center.

Instead, it follows two characters with a fascinating connection to the White Wolf’s origins, introducing a nightmarish threat and some truly sinister magic. It’s an obscure piece of Witcher history that is well worth digging around for, and it’s one of Sapkowski’s best horror stories to boot.

The Witcher: A Road With No Return Is An Excellent Horror Story

Originally published in 1988, A Road with No Return (also known as The Road of No Return) occupies a frequently overlooked corner of The Witcher universe. Written by Andrzej Sapkowski before the franchise had fully taken shape, the story doesn’t feature Geralt himself, instead following Visenna, who is later established as Geralt’s mother, and Korin, a wandering mercenary widely believed to be his father. Their adventure offers a rare glimpse into the White Wolf’s family history, making it particularly interesting for longtime fans.

However, what makes A Road with No Return especially noteworthy is its surprisingly effective use of horror. The story begins with a disturbing encounter involving a seemingly helpless old woman who viciously attacks Korin, followed by Visenna using magic to interrogate her corpse. The opening establishes a sinister atmosphere that persists throughout the adventure, as the pair investigate a series of violent incidents surrounding a remote mountain pass.

The story’s most terrifying element is undoubtedly the koshchey, a nightmarish, spiderlike monster created through forbidden magic by a former druid named Fregenal. The creature is almost impossible to kill, and its horrifying appearance, combined with the circumstances surrounding its discovery, makes for some genuinely frightening moments.

Beyond the supernatural horror, Sapkowski also explores familiar themes of human cruelty, corruption, and the abuse of power. It’s an excellent example of the author’s early storytelling abilities, combining monster horror with the moral complexity that would eventually define The Witcher. Its relative obscurity, particularly among English-speaking readers, makes it one of the franchise’s more underappreciated stories.

A Road With No Return Needs An Official English Adaptation

While the story has been adapted into comic book form thanks to Dark Horse’s The Witcher: Classic Collection, released in March 2025, Sapkowski’s original prose version of A Road with No Return has still never received an official English translation. This makes it particularly difficult for English-speaking fans to experience the story as the author originally wrote it, although unofficial fan translations have circulated online for years.

One of the most widely shared versions was translated from the official German-language edition, “Etwas endet, etwas beginnt,” rather than directly from the original Polish text. The fan translation, completed in 2015, offers an accessible alternative for curious readers, although its unofficial nature means some of Sapkowski’s original prose and subtleties may have been lost in translation. Hopefully, the story will eventually receive a proper English-language publication, particularly given its fascinating connections to Geralt’s origins.

You can read the comic version of A Road With No Return in The Witcher: Classic Collection, available The Witcher's Most Underrated Story Is.

Either way, the German-adapted translation is well worth seeking out, especially if you’re looking for a terrifying and underrated The Witcher story to read over the Halloween weekend.