The Time of Contempt is the second book in the main series of The Witcher. It centers around a meeting of the main sorcerers, a much ballyhooed event. Geralt, the Witcher, attends as the sorceress Yennefer’s guest. What is supposed to be a boring play of politics turns into anything but, with Geralt unwillingly stuck in the thick of it.

Honestly, I found the fete surrounding the council to be rather trying, tedious and a bit boring. So many names are deployed, that the intrigue becomes a muddled mess. After a few chapters of this, we are rewarded with some exciting battles, including one where Geralt is gravely injured.

One story line that disappointed me was with Codringher and Fenn. These lawyers are interesting and provided a bit of dark humor but rather quickly exited the story. Other disappointments are continually Yennefer. I can’t seem to find a way to like her or trust her.

The most crucial part of The Time of Contempt revolves around Ciri. She is being sent a way to school to learn to be a proper enchantress but let’s say, this never happens. Instead, we follow Ciri on an incredible journey in a inhabitable desert where she eventually finds her way into a nest of Rats.

The end, without spoiling too much, really provided an interesting new path. Ciri is far from helpless, but she is damaged by all that has happened to her. And the youthful group she falls into is equally damaged. They are all victims of “the time of contempt” and I’m excited to see where the next book leads.