Title: The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle #2)
by Patrick RothfussPublishing Info: March 1, 2011 by Penguin
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
Find it on the web: Buy from Amazon // GoodreadsDate Completed: June 12, 2015
Related Posts: The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1)
My name is Kvothe.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trehon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
You may have heard of me.
So begins the tale of a hero told from his own point of view — a story unequaled in fantasy literature. Now in The Wise Man's Fear, an escalating rivalry with a powerful member of the nobility forces Kvothe to leave the University and seek his fortune abroad. Adrift, penniless, and alone, he travels to Vintas, where he quickly becomes entangled in the politics of courtly society. While attempting to curry favor with a powerful noble, Kvothe uncovers an assassination attempt, comes into conflict with a rival arcanist, and leads a group of mercenaries into the wild, in an attempt to solve the mystery of who (or what) is waylaying travelers on the King's Road.
All the while, Kvothe searches for answers, attempting to uncover the truth about the mysterious Amyr, the Chandrian, and the death of his parents. Along the way, Kvothe is put on trial by the legendary Adem mercenaries, is forced to reclaim the honor of the Edema Ruh, and travels into the Fae realm. There he meets Felurian, the faerie woman no man can resist, and who no man has ever survived...until Kvothe.
In The Wise Man's Fear, Kvothe takes his first steps on the path of the hero and learns how difficult life can be when a man becomes a legend in his own time.
I fell in love with THE NAME OF THE WIND earlier this year and quickly fell down the rabbit hole that is this fandom and I am totally okay with not surfacing any time soon. I knew I wanted to inhale THE WISE MAN’S FEAR shortly thereafter but knew the wait for the third book would be excruciating… but decided to forge ahead anyway!
THE WISE MAN’S FEAR pulled me even deeper into Kvothe’s story and I’ve gotta say, these characters are just amazing. I said it in my review for THE NAME OF THE WIND too but Patrick Rothfuss is so amazing at getting the reader invested in a character. I quickly grew to care deeply for Kvothe and the story that he’s telling makes me extremely uneasy because we keep popping back to the “present day” story where Kvothe has ended up (unknown how to the reader still) and is (no spoilers — this is literally how the first chapter of the first book ends) waiting to die. So… this still hasn’t changed yet? Kvothe isn’t magically going to live now? This is the conundrum I feel with Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle (also not a spoiler — it’s the first chapters as well). I’m so invested in these characters and the author tells the reader up front that X character WILL die. And despite it all, I still try to believe things will be okay. I’m a constant emotional wreck.
Listening to Kvothe has made me believe that he can get himself out of anything — even the most terrible situation, although he may not come out unscathed — so I have hope for the future and yet I know that Patrick Rothfuss will still destroy us. Any which way you slice it, I’ve really enjoyed listening to Kvothe’s story and I just love his narration as well (he is Edema Ruh, so naturally). I will say that I thought the story flowed a bit better in THE NAME OF THE WIND than in THE WISE MAN’S FEAR, though. I was wanted about Felurian and while I didn’t severely dislike her, she still was far from likeable for me and the section of Kvothe’s story with Felurian did feel like it started to drag after a while. It definitely had its importance (like, a reall, really big thing happened) and I wasn’t really bothered by it (though Felurian herself is a bit much to handle sometimes. It’s the “child-like” aspects. True immaturity really gets me), I did think it carried on too long and could have been condense. I think I also liked the story line of THE NAME OF THE WIND a bit more because it felt a bit more localized. It took place mostly at the University (once Kvothe arrived) but Kvothe actually has a few travels throughout THE WISE MAN’S FEAR. I did like exploring this world a bit more but sometimes I’m not ready for that leap from the setting I’ve grown to know and love!
There’s too much of this book to get into the plot bit by bit but really just love how everything comes together. I still love that there are so many things that we DON’T know and how much we discover in each book. The world is so solid and alive and cohesive that it makes me wish I could just jump right in and yet there’s still so much to discover about Kvothe, his life, and how he ended up at the inn, waiting to die. (Honestly. My heart drops having to keep saying that.)
These books are truly wonderful and I love the time I’ve spent with them so far! I hope no one minds how into this fandom I am now (since I’m a late-comer) but I am so incredibly invested in this story and these characters! Now the hardest part will be waiting for the next book…
“The View from Goodreads” is a featured section in my reviews that I decided to incorporate! I tend to update my Goodreads status a LOT when I read — reactions, feelings, notes — so I thought it would be fun to share the sort of “reading process”! All status updates are spoiler-free (no specific plot points will be revealed) but will contain reactions to certain pages and/or characters!
Kvothe // Character Obsessions: Learning, music, debts, Denna, knowledge, the Chandrian.
I feel dangerous just writing about the Chandrian! Honestly, this book really gets into you. It feels so real! Anyway. I just love Kvothe. So much. He’s far from perfect but I love his wit and brains and humor. I’m utterly invested, especially after two books!
Elodin // Character Obsessions: Naming, confidence, himself, unconventional ways.
Elodin has really creeped up on my character radar in THE WISE MAN’S FEAR! His teaching methods are totally and utterly insane… until Kvothe finally realizes (at a completely random moment) what exactly he was getting at and that light bulb moment was so cool! Elodin is also kind of awesome and totally weird but he’s quickly becoming a favorite!
Kept Me Hooked On: Adult fantasy. I’ve really been getting into adult fantasy lately — though this is almost kind of a crossover since we get a lot of Kvothe’s adolescent life — and these books do not disappoint. I’m ready to gobble up any amazing fantasy anytime!
Left Me Wanting More: Of the University. I really enjoyed exploring more places and legends of this world but I just LOVE the time at the University and Kvothe’s friendships there!
Addiction Rating
BUY IT
Yes yes yes. Read this book. Read this series. Inhale them like I did!
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6 thoughts on “The Wise Man’s Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle #2) – Patrick Rothfuss”
I totally agree with you that the whole section on Felurian carried on way too long. It’s the only time in reading both books that I actually looked ahead to see how long this part would last. I had to lay the book aside for a bit (okay, only a couple of hours). When I realized how long it lasts, I tried to hurry through, but of course, then I was afraid I would miss something critical, so I had to read it even though I wanted it to be over. I read this book in four days, and The Name of the Wind in two days. Now I’m hungry for the third. I wish Patrick Rothfuss would quit toying with his readers and publish the third book. He’s got his fingers in too many other things that require his time, and I don’t think he really cares what his readers think, and he is wealthy enough now to not be bothered. Sigh.
I just stumbled upon your blog, and I’m so glad I did. I love the way that you format your reviews!
Thank you so much!! And thanks for visiting! 🙂 🙂
Great review! I have had this series on my TBR forever. I really like to marathon a series, especially high fantasy. I hope the novel is released soon!
I love these books so much! I am going to DM you on Twitter so we can theorize because I don’t know that many people who have read them and I need to gush! I wish the third book had a pub date. The wait is KILLING me!
Great review! I’m such a fan of this series as well. I did think the plot dragged a bit as well. Yes, the stuff with Elodin but also the stuff with the Adem. But the world is fantastic and the characters are amazing. My personal favorite is Auri. I still need to read The Slow Regard of Silent Things but I’m really excited because I adore Auri so much! And this series.