Review by eleniphant - The Time of Contempt

adventurous dark sad slow-paced

3.5

I have such conflicted thoughts on this book and the series moving forward.

What I liked:

I loved the sequence of the banquet and the day that follows with the coup- these chapters with excellent and filled with intrigue, pieces came together for a larger picture and strongest part of this book so far
I loved the snippets we got of the Yennefer, Geralt, and Ciri family dynamic, I like the subversion of expectations and Ciri’s whole narrative.
His women aren’t the best written no idea how he managed Yennefer who is a favorite of all time to me- and Ciri because everyone else hahah yikes
But I love geralt and his philosophizing and the highlight about neutrality not really being an option.
I’m curious to see where the series goes but-

What I did not

So I don’t know if I should blame the translation but this book had chunks, far too many rambling descriptions easy to get lost in, and the politics at points got way too deep and unfocused from the heart of the narrative
Sometimes I wish the major events would be seen rather than casually monologued about.- second half of the book lost major speed
Ciri’s final plot points upset me. Greatly. I really don’t know what the intent was and if Sapkowski is commenting on the SA tropes in fantasy at the time- but it was disturbing, I don’t think I’m putting down the series but may need a little break- I know ciri is put through horrific things throughout and it deconstructs chosen one tropes and the costs but man… idk the was going from 4-5 stars to me kind of :/ at the last parts. May need to think on a bit- see where it leaves me in a few days

Content Warnings