Reviews with content warning for Rape - Die Zeit der Verachtung

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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dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Time of Contempt disappointed me and is my least favorite Witcher novel. Unlike season 3 of The Witcher, which heavily featured

Yennefer

and added intrigue to the storyline, this book felt lacking in her presence. While I understand she's not as prominent in the books as she is in the show, her absence was noticeable and detracted from the overall experience. What really soured my opinion of the book was the disturbing

Cirie rape scene towards the end. It felt entirely unnecessary to the plot and made me uncomfortable. Cirie could have simply been portrayed as friends with the Rats without introducing such a creepy and unsettling element.

The fact that she's still depicted as a baby in this context only made it worse. Overall, this made me scrutinize the entire book more closely than I otherwise would have. Despite this, I'm curious to see how the next few novels unfold, especially since they extend beyond the events depicted in the Netflix show.

Content Warnings