Time of Contempt
Ratings35
Average rating4
15
Ratings35
Average rating4
The adventures of Geralt the Witcher continue in this second novel in the bestselling Witcher series that inspired the Netflix show and video games. The kings and armies are manoeuvring for position, each fearing invasion from across the river, each fearing their neighbours more. Intrigue, dissent and rebellion fester on all sides. After decades of oppression, the elves and other races are fighting each other and attacking the humans - and with growing numbers preparing for battle, the threat of all-out war looms ever greater. Against this backdrop of fear, Geralt and Yennefer must protect Ciri, the orphaned heir who is sought by all sides. For the child of prophecy has the power to change the world - if she lives to use it.
Series
6 primary books13 released booksThe Witcher is a 13-book series with 6 primary works first released in 1986 with contributions by Andrzej Sapkowski, Raffaella Belletti, and 4 others.
Series
8 primary books11 released booksThe Witcher (Publication Order) is a 11-book series with 8 primary works first released in 1992 with contributions by Andrzej Sapkowski, Raffaella Belletti, and 4 others.
Reviews with the most likes.
I barely saw Geralt in this book. And he barely fought any monsters. It was mostly politics and other gang/army fighting.
Time of Contempt was a far less enjoyable read than its predecessor, Blood of Elves. The first half contains some adventure on all sides; Geralt makes a risky partnership, Yennifer is seen among her own kind and Ciri is given a taste of freedom with the chance to explore independently. Sapkowski's characters are fun to read about in almost any scenario, but at every moment of this book they are bogged down by rambling politics. For every spell cast, each exciting mis-adventure and all deadly foes slain, there are a barrage of political ramifications, and we get to read about them all in numbing detail. This is often par for the course with fantasy novels, however in this case there is a distinct lack of pay-off for drudging through it (at least in this instalment of the series!).
Ciri is placed in greater peril than ever before – she finds herself in some very dark situations, and while it was interesting to see her navigate these extremes, I'm not satisfied with how Sapkowski seemingly ‘resolves' these scenes. In fact, without divulging too much, the treatment of gender and toward the end, consent, is frequently uncomfortable here, and I'm not quite willing to write this off as it being a product of its time (original published in 1995). The ‘powerful' women in this story are cookie-cutter copies of each other – backstabbing, egotistical, women-hating sorceresses who I struggled to keep track of.
This said, I'm not ready to completely write this series off. I will more than likely continue on to Baptism of Fire, however I will need a little time before I'm ready to plunge back into the world of The Witcher.
Another phenomenal addition
I continue to enjoy this series. Now onto the fourth book (second in the official series) and I continue to enjoy the lore and the stories that are being told.
The characters are truly likeable and even the politics is interesting (and I'm not one for politics in books).
If you've read the first, this is a must as the story continues.
