The Wise Man's Fear
Ratings1,136
Average rating4.4
Entertaining and meandering second book in the Kingkiller Chronicles. The adventures of Kvothe range far and wide, and leave him with more questions than answers. Funny, exciting, and always full of the unexpected, this volume will not disappoint lovers of The Name of the Wind. I am very much looking forward to the final volume, which is due sometime before the end of the decade.
This was what I was looking for after the highly praised but personally imperfect Name of the Wind. Don't get me wrong, The Wise Man's Fear is a long book that lets you feel its weight in detailed and nearly poetic descriptions as the plot meanders into new territory - not all of which will please its reader base, particularly in the tonally different second half. The opening third set in the University seemed to be a lot more enjoyable than the previous book's efforts, perhaps because I was familiar with all the characters and they now had an established dynamic, and likely due to the more novel challenges Kvothe had to face there in this entry. But then the series finally leaves the University, and it was like a breath of fresh air for Kvothe to explore new places and cultures on the map. His combination of ignorance and innocence makes for an entertaining journey as the reader learns as much as him, and we see the true origins of his great stories as they begin to circulate. The backstory is interesting and the world feels much better developed this time around, as Rothfuss gives more than just the sneak peek of TNOTW. Similarly, the plot seemed to come full-circle much better this time around, with a clear conclusion and most necessary subplots resolved satisfyingly. The story's fantasy trope ignorance and long-way-round method of progressing Kvothe creates some frustrating (in a good way) and truly rewarding moments that kept me invested. I am so excited for the trilogy's conclusion, but it's been 9 years and Rothfuss still hasn't released a publication date! Bring me the conclusion of the Kingkiller Chronicles ASAP
I liked it. It was super easy to read, and quite a lot happens. However I didn't like what Kvothe ended up becoming after the Felurian - the book's pacing just seems to slow down for this part, probably intentionally to simulate the weird shifting of time in the Fae world - but I couldn't help but feel like my smart Uni boi became... well a literal fuckboi. Lol. I wanted him to be better than that. I wanted him to be loyal to Denna - even though like some readers I don't particularly like her. I'd much rather he was into Fela or Devi who are actually interesting characters.
Since I've read this book something like a decade after its publishing, hopefully that means I won't have as much time to wait as others before the final book comes out. If it ever does...
Well, now I've finally read the 2nd book and I'm going to have to wait who knows how long (but definitely enough time to forget small details) to finish this trilogy. I'm almost disappointed in myself for not holding out longer but this book was borrowed from a friend who has since MOVED OUT OF THE COUNTRY and it's been giving me the evil eye every time I walk past the shelf, so yes, it was time.
Slow in some places as an 1100+ page book tends to be, I still found the storytelling to be wonderful. I just want to know how it ends!!!
The hunt continues
The expanding world kvoth travels gets darker and more dangerous. New knowledge leads him closer to his goal. Many more new unanswered questions emerge. Some clues seem to point to larger mysteries. Can't wait to read the next one to see how the pieces come together.
10 hours of “I got sex”. Everything else of the 45 hour book was good and kept me going.
“Las preguntas que no podemos contestar son las que más nos enseñan. Nos enseñan a pensar. Si le das a alguien una respuesta, lo único que obtiene es cierta información. Pero si le das una pregunta, él buscará sus propias respuestas.”
El segundo día de la historia de Kvothe. Otro día más en Roca de Guía. Las tinieblas siguen invadiendo los rincones del mundo pero él todavía no está dispuesto a regresar. ¿Hay algo o alguien que se lo impide? Todavía quedan tantas preguntas que no sabría ni por donde empezar.
Más de dos mil paginas después y no dejo de sorprenderme de la tremenda habilidad de Rothfuss para no desperdiciar una maldita palabra en toda la historia. Es una genialidad, una obra maestra. ¡Gracias, Pat!
At the Waystone Inn by poisonmilow
Kingkiller Chronicle - Severen by bchart
Felurian and Kvothe by WilhelmBlack
Kingkiller Chronicles - Penthe by bchart
Going back home by Xelgot
4 stars Amazing sequel to “The Name of the Wind”. I found this one to be a little slow towards the middle, but still very entertaining.
I enjoyed this a lot, but do understand a lot of the frustration that other reviewers have mentioned. It's long though, especially in the Fae realm and even more so in Adem (I don't know how things are spelled because Audible). The worst is that Kvothe seems to be able to do anything better than anyone else. Even when he gets beaten up by two soldiers, it's a ruse. “I almost forgot who I was there for a minute,” he says. Ha!
I can easily overlook the flaws though because, as a yarn, it's just flat out ripping good. It doesn't require my undivided attention like Thomas Covenant in places, so it's an ideal winter dog walking audiobook, and Rupert Degas is perhaps the best narrator I've ever heard, besides Simon Callow of course.
And now I play the waiting game that GRRM has taught me how to play. I learned that game young when David Eddings was so long with the last book of the Mallereon, but GRRM is the master. I just hope that the next one comes out soon enough that I don't have to read them all again.
An excellent follow up to the Name of the Wind. The only downside to finishing this book is that Book 3 is not written yet (or at least not published). Kvothe continues recounting his tale to the Chronicler, as events in the little town unfold slowly. Like in the first book, there's intrigue, danger, magic, and, of course, lots of learning. I love the world that has been created here; the mythologies of the different peoples are fascinating.
Definitely read The Name of the Wind and then The Wise Man's Fear. I have to limit my recommendation to adults because there is some sexual content - it's not super graphic, but I most youth would squirm a bit at the reading.
Rothfuss is a fantastic storyteller, but is this tale getting anywhere? Gets the feeling the author has so many things to tell he tends to forget the main story. On the other hand this may very well be one of the best world-magic-creations in fantasy history
This book is simply fantastic.
Yet frustrating at the same time. The whole book begs the question “what has happened that Kvothe has lost his power?” Yet this is never touched upon. Obviously there will be a sequel or sequels (hopefully Rothfuss won't try to cram the entirety of the answer into a single tome!) But there is no other book that I can think of that leaves you hanging as sorely or as long.
This was one rare book i had to pause and read another one before continuing. Great stuff until the Felurian encounter and all that + the boasting about women and learning to be a heroic fighter. I really do not like when everything in the plot just keeps clicking for ONE person. He calls the wind, has awesome sex skills, kills shitloads of people because is a super magician + has luck on his side. Where the first book was 5/5+ stars, I would rate this one 3,5/5.
Like the first book it is a mixture of really good, mediocre and shit parts. In the overall view the good trumps the bad parts, but not enough to give to four stars. I still think some parts are just uselessly long and do not play any part in the overall story. The description of the relationship between the main character and one of the main women is still neckbeard level horrible. It could have been much more, or not.
But then, it is a story about a guy told by that guy as an old guy.
If the third book ever gets released, we might get a answer to all this why and ifs and whats.
Ainda estou muito “aturdida” com o final dese livro.
(sempre acontece isso aliás. Nunca entendo até que ponto o Bast sabe que, ele como criatura mágica é extremista e as vezes suas ações podem não gerar bons resultados (?) - na verdade, não sei de qual lado ele está).
Por mais que algumas partes me forcei a não pular parágrafos pois achei um tanto maluco e desnecessária as muitas histórias de roda de fogueira, pois poucas tiveram sua razão de ser contato esclarecidas - nem todas as histórias são apenas histórias -, ou as partes com feluriana (ninfetinha, inclusive. Não era necessária tantas páginas para dizer que Kvothe virou o pica das galáxias e o pegador com os dotes herdados de... uma cortesã dos encantados. Desculpe, foi essa a visão que tive dela), a questão do anel de Denna... para nada a favor do desenrolar desse aperreio dos dois.
...
tenho sentimentos confusos, porém ótimos a respeito do livro. A narrativa é fluida e impecável. Vezes incontáveis me vi sentindo o vendo, rindo com eles (Sim, Will e Kvothe, é claro, que a relação de amizade é tão sólida e divertidíssima! A lealdade deles é muito comparável aos três mosqueteiros - com apenas três) nas muitas tabernas, senti frio, calor, raiva e todos os sentimentos possíveis.
E quantas vezes ri sozinha no metrô lendo? INCONTÁVEIS! Muito muito divertido. Muito bem amarrado e traz um “humor negro” de um detalhe que passou despercebido, o sarcasmo em si que não deixa o leitor fora do contexto, por mais simples que fossem.
Porque também sou daquela laia, daqueles que comem a casca do queijinho!
É tão bem contado que muitas vezes deixei-me abater e duvidar se o hospedeiro e o nosso herói são a mesma pessoa. Pois, como pode alguém esquecer-se tanto de si mesmo?
Não quero delongar mais em texto sem sentido, espero ecrever algo melhor e mais racional sobre o sentimento do livro. Terei bastante tempo, aliás. Afinal, apenas em 2017 teremos finalmente o término de tudo?
this book what can i say i loved some of it, he is extremely long winded some of it could have been much shorter. just the same great book.