Listen free for 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Time of Contempt cover art

Time of Contempt

By: Andrzej Sapkowski,David French - Translator
Narrated by: Peter Kenny
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Last Wish cover art
Homeland cover art
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms cover art
The Solar War cover art
The Silmarillion cover art
New Spring cover art
The Tower of Fools cover art
Dune cover art
The Path of Anger cover art
Alien: Covenant Origins cover art
Eragon cover art
The Name of the Wind cover art
First and Only cover art
Ready Player One cover art
Prelude to Foundation cover art
Altered Carbon cover art

Summary

Introducing Geralt the Witcher - revered and hated - who holds the line against the monsters plaguing humanity in the best-selling series that inspired the Witcher video games and a major Netflix show.

Geralt the Witcher has fought monsters and demons across the land, but even he may not be prepared for what is happening to his world. The kings and armies are manoeuvring for position, each fearing invasion from across the river, each fearing their neighbours more. Intrigue, dissent and rebellion are on all sides.

The Elves and other non-humans are still suffering under decades of repression, and growing numbers join the commando units hidden deep in the forest, striking at will and then dissolving into the trees. The Magicians are fighting amongst themselves, some in the pay of the kings, some sympathetic to the elves.

And against this backdrop of fear and contempt Geralt and his lover Yennefer must protect Ciri, orphaned heir and sought by all sides. For the prophecy rests on her, and whether she lives or dies she has the power to save the world - or perhaps end it.

©1995 Andrzej Sapkowski (P)2014 Orion Publishing Group

What listeners say about Time of Contempt

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,486
  • 4 Stars
    690
  • 3 Stars
    169
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,472
  • 4 Stars
    373
  • 3 Stars
    59
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,086
  • 4 Stars
    605
  • 3 Stars
    180
  • 2 Stars
    30
  • 1 Stars
    8

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic

I am native polish speaker, this is brilliant translation, even better voice recording - Mr Kenny thank you! , The use of the wide variety of accents available in English facilities the story well and improves the experience. Choice of welsh accent for dwarves is a touch of genius - made me chuckle more than I expected. Can't wait to for Lady of the Lake. Bring it on!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

my favourite series strikes again

probably one of my favourites out of the series , it massively expands ones knowledge about names you've heard referenced in the previous books , chapter 4 is one of my favourite pieces of writing to date and combines the brutality of the Witcher series with a more light hearted and warm feel , with jests and new characters to fall in love with

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent audiobook

Stories about the Witcher are very close to my heart as I read them in original years ago. Sapkowski has an incredible ability to twist and turn the traditional tales and legends in order to provide very charming, emotionally engaging, full of cheeky humour and compelling stories.

I was curious whether the witty charm of these stories can be translated into English and the books can still be as absorbing as the Polish language ones. I was pleasantly surprised that Audible has the full set of the Witcher saga audiobooks, so I purchased and was not disappointed!

I think the job of a narrator is tremendously important in such fantasy story because of the abundance of characters in it . Peter Kenny did an exquisite job! I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this book. The characters were very strong and distinct and were portrayed with great deal of attention from the narrator (which means a lot to a reader who knows the characters well).

I would recommend this audiobook (and others in the Witcher saga) to all the readers/listeners who love fantasy, especially to those who don't yet know Andrzej Sapkowski, and these who know him well but read the books in his mother tongue - they will not be disappointed!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • aa
  • 23-09-15

Excellent

Great performance of a very enjoyable story. A very real feeling world and a great cast of characters with very believable motivations. surprisingly funny at times. Excellent narration makes it very easy to keep track of the characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Better than the first, but still not 100% there.

This is a weird book for me to review. I almost wish there was a 3 1/2 stars rating I could give it. As I've said in the past, there is no one better at dialogue in fantasy than Andrej give it and Peter Kenny give this so much life. It's a perfect combination. Nothing else needs to be said on that front. Geraldt is also one of the greatest protagonists in fantasy. He's a hero you automatically route for and love to hear when he's there. There's just something that hasn't clicked with these books yet. I loved the sequence with the sorcerers, but there's something I can't quite put my finger on which isn't hitting me with this series. Absolutely, it's worth reading and buying, Peter Kenny alone gives that a rubber stamp. Yet, there's just something not hitting it for me. I can't gel with Ciri, and this book kinda gives way to her by the end. I will be reading this series till the end, I love Geraldt and Dandelion too much not to. I guess it's perhaps because I expected more from this series as a whole. Perhaps it's slightly overhyped perhaps? I'm not sure, but it is worth investing for the characters alone, not so much the story driving them.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

too many storylines, too many characters

impossible to keep track of all the new characters introduced, all the little snippets of backstory, all the alliances, old and new. also really annoying that the story jumps in between the main story - of which there is barely any in this book - and some completely obsolete action sequences, involving some characters which aren't mentioned at any point before or after. Might be doable on paper, when you can go back to look up who is who, but listing to the book, it's just a giant mess!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

If you like Iain M Banks you will enjoy this

What made the experience of listening to Time of Contempt the most enjoyable?

Peter Kenny superb as always

What other book might you compare Time of Contempt to, and why?

Any Iain Banks book. In fact I think this is Mr Banks (!)

What does Peter Kenny bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

If I see Peter is the narrator I am likely to buy the book. Simply the best.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good story, but suddenly ends

Guess there are follow-ups to the remainder of the story, but it took me by surprise when it abruptly ended. Decent listen up to that point.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Chapter length matter

Overall I vert much enjoyed this the story is entertaining and the voice acting is very good. However the length of chapter more often than not made features such as the sleep timer impossible to use as well as listing an extended and arduous task. Properly punctuated stopping points are needed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • L
  • 13-07-16

Brilliant narrator

This narrator is amazing and really brings the story to life. I would definitely recommend it if you're a fan of the Witcher books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Agnes Kuczewska
  • Agnes Kuczewska
  • 07-03-19

Amazing!

Fantastic reading and really pulling in to the story. The narration convinced few people to listen to the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Theodor Cristian Croitoru
  • Theodor Cristian Croitoru
  • 20-05-23

A delight

This collection impressed me a lot including the voice actimg and the immersion is quite nice

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 26-02-23

Dialect ruins it all

The dialect is terrible. You might aswell have gone with “ze pink panther” French. It would have been worse. Sadly because the narrator skill is decent. Back to the Kindle version :(.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for L. Ritchie
  • L. Ritchie
  • 30-11-22

Well spoken, wide range of vocal masks by narrator

Hats off to the narrator; able to cover a wide range of character voices, though I must admit that his Gerault is the least convincing I have heard... though it is well conveyed in the context of his accent repertoire. Brilliant stuff!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Dorothy
  • Dorothy
  • 13-02-22

Dragged out and dull

I had huge hopes for this series after watching the Witcher on Netflix and all the reviews. The performance is ok but the books are so dragged out and it feels like the author is dragging it out to get more sales. Couldn’t finish the series …

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for DGJ follower
  • DGJ follower
  • 21-01-22

Not entirely bad but tedious as hell

Every character has a plan and mno one succeeds in anything. On the other hand, ervery single failure, every minute of suffering is described in excrutiating detail. It is bit like the Empire Strikes Back, only that the Empire hits itself on the nose as well. Everyone is incompetent and weak. I like The Witcher better when it is the battle of able and competent characters.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Sandy Topzand
  • Sandy Topzand
  • 13-12-21

Best narrator ever!

Another wonderful Witcher book, this one with a bit more fictional politics, and we see more character depth developing in our main favourites. Peter Kenny's narration made the tedium of the politics a whole lot more palatable. He is a genius and perfect for this series!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Kunde
  • Amazon Kunde
  • 04-08-20

This series disappointed me

I was enjoying the series at first but started loosing interest. Too complicated to keep track of the number of characters and twists in the plot. The idea is good. The story is appealing if you like the genre and a more intricate and complex plot and characters

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 13-06-20

love this series

The narrator performs so well. Epic fantasy story. You learn a bit more about some characters back stories.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 29-01-20

A change from the previuous book.

This time the book holds more action, more important events that no doubt will highly influence future events. There are however a severe lack of satesfaction and the end... is horrible. It made me throw my phone more then once as i swore for blood ans murder. Ciri was correct as she said in the dark hours. She has been abandoned by everyone. And now... i only wish for her to rage.

Those of you who wanted a focus on Geralt will be disapointed for this is all about Ciri. Oh how I wish for her to grow a nice and spiky spine after these events.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!