Time of Contempt

Title: Time of Contempt

Author: Andrzej Sapkowski
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 1995 (2020 Gollancz)
Pages: 331
ISBN: 9781473231092
Series: The Witcher #2
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Time: 12 - 19 March
Binding: Paperback
Goodreads

Stars:
★★★★☆

Blurb:
 After decades of oppression, the elves and other races are fighting each other and attacking the humans in ever-growing numbers. The kings and armies fear invasion from across the river - but fear their neighbours more. Dissent and intrigue fester in this time of contempt.
 As Ciri learns to control her magic, Geralt and Yennefer must protect the orphaned heir who is soughts by all sides. For the child of prophecy has the power to change the world - if she lives to use it.

Review:
 If you've read my reviews of the previous work in The Witcher series you'll know I really enjoyed the short story collections that come before the main series and I found the first book a little slow. This is not a usual second book in a series that just feels like a bridge to the next book, I was not disappointed. I felt like so much more happened than in comparison to the first book.
 Again this book is split only in to seven chapters. The opening few chapters were excellent and then I got a bit confused with all the loyalties and kingdoms and who is employed by who. This started a small amount in Blood of Elves but it left me a little more lost in this one, thus one start missing.
 I'm glad of the page time we get for Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri in this one. Lots of it together as well which we didn't get as much of in prior books. I'm still trying to work out exactly what Ciri feels for the witcher in this one as I'm not sure she knows herself.
 We have a more interesting setting for this book and we are introduced to a whole load of sorcerers and sorceresses. The sorceresses are typically a little more exotic and there's a fair bit of Geralt trying not to ogle at some exposed breasts. Honestly? I wasn't offended, this is not as bad as it could get and I think it fits that these are supposed to be more exotic characters with many years of history and many efforts made to make them beautiful. There will be scheming and simple pleasures. Sure, you could get offended by the misogyny but I didn't think it was bad enough to cause any dislike of the book. Female readers are happy to fall head over heels for Geralt and complain about the fact he has less page time on this book but feel outrage over some exposed breasts? Get out of here.
 We get a whole load of action and mystery in this one. We get a real bit of a view in to Ciri and what her training has done for her. Another great closing chapter.
 Where you would usually expect the first book to set up for a large cliffhanger, this is where this book ends up instead and so I expect the third book, Baptism of Fire, to be more of a bridge as we'd expect of a sequel. Something about how the pacing in these are written makes me think this whole series may have been covered by other authors in only two books. We shall see.