The Wise Man's Fear

It took me 3 months to read this book. Rothfuss' prose is fun and witty and suspenseful when he wants, and I really dig the layered storytelling. We've got Kote the Innkeeper telling the major story about Kvothe, and Kvothe himself hearing and telling stories within the bigger story. I enjoy the little poems interspersed throughout, and I love the magic school (although I did notice a lack of female professors, I don't usually notice that type of thing, but I did this time). There are several female characters, all of whom have a unique characterization, and that's wonderful.

But overall, the pacing was so ... boring, I just didn't look forward to reading this book during my allotted “reading time”. And it took me 3 months because I would rather read other books. The whole Ferulian and martial arts training sections just absolutely dragged on and on for me. I found Kvothe's time with the Maer to be unintriguing, and mostly pointless. Obviously, there are some very important pieces of the plot happening in these 3 sections, but there was too much fluff and filler.

I'm glad I finished the book, I'll definitely be reading the 3rd installment. The ending leaves me wanting so much more.