Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski

30 reviews

timmytunter's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

As the second book in The Witcher saga, “Time of Contempt” picks up where “Blood of Elves” left off, continuing the complex and riveting story of Geralt of Rivia, Yennefer, and Ciri. Although central to the plot, Geralt takes a bit of a backseat in this installment. We get some quality Geralt/Yennefer moments, but Geralt is soon grievously wounded in battle. Consequently, he misses out on much of the action, which is later recounted to him by the bard Dandelion.

The final third of the book shifts focus to Ciri, who is now isolated from her protective guardians. Her struggle for survival in the wilderness is a gripping narrative that highlights her growth and resilience. The early parts of the story also add depth to Ciri’s relationship with Yennefer, which I found particularly enjoyable.

The story is rich with politics and intrigue, faction infighting, and a monstrous plot for power. Our protagonists, largely unaware of the machinations around them, navigate through the chaos, leading to a cliffhanger that left me anxiously anticipating the next book.

While the dense political discussions and time jumps can be challenging to follow, the intricacy of the plot becomes clearer as the story progresses. By the time I finished the book, I had a firm handle of the plot and was eager to continue with the series. Without hesitation, I promptly moved on to book 3, “Baptism of Fire.”

Overall, “Time of Contempt” is a compelling continuation of The Witcher saga, filled with rich character development and intricate plotting that keeps you hooked until the very end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, War, and Injury/Injury detail

luigimamizer's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Blood

thenoboshow's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

mcmeiss's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Genocide, Gore, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and War

Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cursing, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Kidnapping, and Alcohol

Minor: Slavery, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Vomit, and Toxic friendship

shiveryteacup's review against another edition

adventurous reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

rainycraze's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

At the end Ciri very nearly gets raped, is saved, then immediately gets non-consensual lesbian violated. And then Ciri is apparently totally fine when she wakes up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, Trafficking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

opinkb's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail

zams's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.25

This book was giving me nothing but a reading slump.
It dragged on over things that used to come to a clever twist later in the book in the previous parts, but simply usually didn't in this one.
It also had almost no cuktivation of any relationships, you're just fed dry passages instead of actual interactions that would lead up to the situations between the charcter, the most annoying one is Yennefer and Geralt's, but Ciri and Geralts was very weak too this time.
All in all I was just bored for about 90% of the book, the usual was nowhere to be found and the great action scenes and twists and details were more than lacking as well, but weird remarks and small things that almost feel like plot holes were sprinkled throughout.
I would have DNFed it if I didn't already own the next book, absolutely boring and disappointing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

halfacenturyreader's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault

Minor: Domestic abuse and Rape

belladonnashrike's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

this is definitely my favorite one so far, but I wish there was more written about geralt & ciri’s relationship. I know these characters so well because of the show & what I know about the game, but I feel that their relationship isn’t very fleshed out in what I’ve read so far, even though it’s obvious they care for each other and are a family (including yennefer. yen & geralt’s and yen & ciri’s relationships are clearly defined and have been a focus so far, but I don’t feel the same has happened for geralt & ciri.) perhaps I’ve missed it but I just find it a bit odd. hopefully there’s more with those two in particular in the following books. I still loved this though 

also… why there isn’t a single map in any of these books is BEYOND me. smh 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Vomit, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cursing, Slavery, and Torture