Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your overall reaction to the tone of The Time of Contempt? How did the escalation in stakes and violence from Blood of Elves affect your reading experience?

2. If you’ve read the previous book in the series, Blood of Elves, how did you feel this novel raised the stakes for Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer? Did the political intrigue and character development feel like a natural continuation or a sudden shift in direction for the saga? How does the novel compare to other fantasy series like Game of Thrones or The Poppy War?

3. The novel’s title comes from a phrase used by Codringher. How well do you think the idea of “contempt” captures the atmosphere of the story? Where do you see this idea most clearly reflected in characters or events?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Geralt’s belief in neutrality shatters after his defeat by Vilgefortz and the danger to Ciri. Have you ever felt that staying neutral in a difficult situation was no longer an option? What does Geralt’s journey suggest about the limits of personal conviction in the face of overwhelming events?

2. Ciri’s decision to adopt the name “Falka” marks a shift in her identity, born from trauma and a feeling of abandonment. Think about times when people take on new roles or identities to cope with major life changes. How does Ciri’s transformation into a member of the Rats resonate with the ways people redefine themselves to survive?

3. How did you react to Yennefer’s style of mentorship and mothering toward Ciri? What does her tough, pragmatic, yet deeply loving approach suggest about her character?

4. The Rats are a “found family” created by the shared trauma of war. What do you make of their violent, cynical, but fiercely loyal dynamic? What does the novel suggest about the powerful, and sometimes dangerous, bonds that can form when people feel abandoned by the rest of the world?

5. Tissaia de Vries’s faith in the Brotherhood’s ideals leads to a devastating outcome. Can you think of a time, perhaps in your own life or in the public sphere, where a commitment to a principle or an ideal had unintended and destructive consequences?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel’s political cynicism and ethnic persecution of non-humans reflects the atmosphere of post-Soviet Poland in the 1990s. In what ways does the story’s depiction of collapsing alliances, pogroms, and refugee crises reflect real-world historical or contemporary conflicts?

2. The Thanedd coup symbolizes the total collapse of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, a powerful institution meant to provide stability. How does this fictional collapse resonate with modern anxieties about the stability and integrity of our own political, social, or scientific institutions?

3. How does the novel use language to mask political aggression, such as when the Kaedweni invasion of Aedirn is framed as “fraternal help”? Where do you see similar uses of propaganda or political spin in today’s world to justify conflict or questionable actions?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What did you think of the novel’s opening chapter, which shifts between the perspectives of the messenger Aplegatt and Geralt? How did this contrast between a broad political view and a deeply personal one shape your understanding of the impending war?

2. Ciri’s trial in the Korath desert is a major turning point. In what ways does the desert strip away her past identities and force her to confront the destructive potential of her Elder Blood heritage?

3. Vilgefortz presents himself as a dark mirror to Geralt. What does their final confrontation at Tor Lara reveal about their conflicting philosophies on power, destiny, and the role of the individual in shaping the world?

4. How does Sapkowski’s portrayal of political power and moral ambiguity compare to high fantasy epics like J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings? What does this book’s realism suggest about the nature of heroism and evil in a world driven by self-interest?

5. How does the use of prophecy, especially through Ciri, connect to the theme of personal agency? Do you feel that the characters are victims of an inescapable destiny, or do their choices still matter?

6. The motif of illusion versus reality appears throughout the Thanedd sequence. Where else did you notice this motif at play, and what might the author be suggesting about the nature of power and truth?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine you’re creating a new member of the Rats gang who joins shortly after Ciri. What would their backstory be, and what gift would they give Ciri during the initiation ritual to represent their own story of survival in this “time of contempt”?

2. Tissaia leaves a final letter before taking her own life. If you were writing that letter from her perspective, what would she say to the surviving mages of the Brotherhood? What regrets, warnings, or final hopes for the future of magic would she express?

3. Codringher and Fenn’s office burned, but imagine that their secret files survived. If you could pull one character’s file to read, whose would it be, and why? What shocking secrets or hidden history do you think you would discover about them?