Review: The Time of Contempt

The Time of Contempt by Andrzej Sapkowski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Normally I consider comparing two different books to be unfair. As if one piece of work can't be considered valid without another. However, in a series, it's hard not to. Nay, impossible even. Especially when a series continues to insists on being one long story split up into separate volumes. leaving me with the simple review that it's gradually better than the first one as the stakes increase.

The book begins with a fairly large exposition dump, which is never a good sign. It continues the same narrative from before of inconsistent pacing and seemingly random danger. However, the book gets much better in its second half as the war ramps up and things that matter actually happen. It still suffers from the main characters being told about what's happening, but the book does a better job of telling the reader this by giving us the perspective instead of a current affairs exposition dump.

The plot isn't strongly multi-layered, which might be good or bad depending on your preferences. The characters are strong and well-told, but they aren't really given anything to do beyond servicing the main plot. Even the main character, Geralt, straight up disappears when the plot doesn't need him. This can be good if you are just wanting a singular story without any subplots, but bad if you want a more well-rounded story with characters you can attach yourself to.

The book, as the others in the series, remains strong in its prose despite its structural problems. An entertaining fantasy series that doesn't spend twenty pages describing a sunset. The lore is also rather rich even though and this volume, in particular, draws more from creativity and not old fairy tales. I'm already in this far, so I might as well finish it.

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