The Wise Man's Fear

Just a little bit of time to grow on me, but I'm really glad I stuck with it. I think I prefer this book to the name of the wind. It has a lot more adventure and plot lines than the first book, and it also has a number of more interesting characters. We get to learn about the Adem, the Fae folk, and a number of interesting places. The mystery surrounding our main character increase rather than decrease, and I fear it will still be a long time before we see the third installment. Bast still remains my favorite character although he's even more confusing now than before.

As, an English major, One of my favorite points is how Rothfuss deals with language. He understands that language both shapes and reflects the cultures to which it belongs. He even go so far as to invent subtle sign languages and discuss the differences body and facial expressions have on a conversation. The fact that he does this more than once is the most impressive part of his world building.

The Book remains as a slow of a burn as the first volume, and I don't recommend it for anyone looking for a quick, light fantasy. However, for those who want a truly epic adventure with regular surprises and truly unique World building, this series will not steer you wrong.