A review by shelbisreading
The Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski

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.
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