The Wise Man's Fear

(5 / 5)

Well, it took me long enough to get there, but I have finally finished The Wise Man’s Fear! What an EPIC audio book! 43 HOURS long!

It is day two at the Waystone Inn, and Kvothe is telling Bast and Chronicler the second part of his tale. Back at the university, a young Kvothe is just beginning his adventures. He leaves the university in search of a patron, trains with the Amyr and learns their secrets, gets taken by Felourian to have her way with him, continues on his quest to avenge his parents, and starts to make a name for himself.

The world that he has created in this series is just enchanting. I love how the story is told. The first book for those who have not read it, begins with the innkeeper agreeing to have his life story documented by a scribe. However it will take three days to tell his tale. The first book is day one, the second book is day two and the third book will be day three (when it is released… 2017 apparently! WAHHHH). In between the story there are interludes back to the present day at the Inn, starting to get glimpses of what Kvothe is like now, how he has changed, and how he has stayed the same.

I have read reviews of The Wise Man’s Fear and many reviewers found it to be slower than The Name of the Wind. I disagree. I actually enjoyed it much more than the first one. Maybe it was because of the ease of getting back into it. The first one took me a good 2 hours to really start enjoying the story. However this one was right back into it straight away. Like an old friend. I also began to feel like the story really moved along. It seemed to take him forever to venture out from the university, so I was utterly excited when he did! I enjoyed that he went into the Fae. At the time I thought it was a little strange, however I think it really helped Kvothes character mature, and became pivotal to the story.

There is something magical about Rothfuss’s words. Something amazing about the way he tells this tale… It sucks me right in. And with Nick Podehl as narrator, yet again I was listening to this book at every opportunity, trying to absorb as much of the story as I could, as quickly as I could!

Kvothe is really developing through the novels. In the first book I found him to be quite annoying, the younger version anyway. Arrogant and at times painfully stupid, despite his intelligence. The Wise Man’s Fear had me starting to like him and see glimpses of what he will be like as he grows older. His character was much more tolerable. I enjoyed his countless adventures. All the characters are engrossing to read about, both the new and the old ones. I really enjoy the relationship he has started to develop between his friends, and his romantic conquests. However one character I never warmed to and found in this one I began to dislike more and more, was Denna… I don’t understand his attraction to her, or her role in the whole saga. She is absolutely annoying and I would almost cringe whenever there was a scene with her in it. However, I am interested to see what happens with them in the next one.

I am very sad that the next one isn’t out yet, but you cant rush a good thing!

Would I recommend The Wise Man’s Fear?

Absolutely! A wonderful book! Just read The Name of the Wind first or you will be hopelessly and utterly lost!