Discover #1 New York Times-bestselling Patrick Rothfuss’ epic fantasy series, The Kingkiller Chronicle. “I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda • “He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.” —George R. R. Martin • “Rothfuss has real talent.” —Terry Brooks DAY TWO: THE WISE MAN’S FEAR “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and … wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”
My name is Kvothe. You may have heard of me.
So begins a tale told from his own point of view—a story unequaled in fantasy literature. Now in The Wise Man’s Fear, Day Two of The Kingkiller Chronicle, 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.
Praise for The Kingkiller Chronicle:
“The best epic fantasy I read last year…. He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.”
—George R. R. Martin, New York Times-bestselling author of A Song of Ice and Fire
“Rothfuss has real talent, and his tale of Kvothe is deep and intricate and wondrous.”
—Terry Brooks, New York Times-bestselling author of Shannara
“It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing…with true music in the words.”
—Ursula K. Le Guin, award-winning author of Earthsea
“The characters are real and the magic is true.”
—Robin Hobb, New York Times-bestselling author of Assassin’s Apprentice
“Masterful…. There is a beauty to Pat’s writing that defies description.”
—Brandon Sanderson, New York Times-bestselling author of Mistborn
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Just like the first book in this series, “The Wise Man’s Fear” is immensely appealing and entertaining. Great characters and imaginative writing. A good-time read! I can’t wait for Patrick’s next book.
If you liked Harry Potter, and have since reached adulthood, it’s time to graduate to The Kingkiller Chronicle.
Poor boy is orphaned by GREAT EVIL. He goes to magic school where he has a classmate adversary, a professor that seems not to like him, smart friends of both genders, ends up doing some shady deeds for good reasons, likes a girl, has a renowned reputation, has an interesting past time that he excels at, and ends up trekking off on a huge adventure.
Even people who don’t normally read fantasy will be sucked in by this story. And this amazing author, in the dedication, thanks his clever beta readers for their “invaluable help and toleration of my paranoid secrecy,” which made me love him all the more.
This book is less conservative than the first one, as Kvothe grows to adulthood. But he knows who he is, and he doesn’t forget that. He’s the most realistic hero I’ve encountered in a long time. Everything about him, about his world, about all of this– it’s written so well that it doesn’t feel like fiction, much less like fantasy. And yet, there’s enough actual fantasy (including a whole fae realm) to keep fantasy lovers salivating for more. Pure genius.
It’s more than that though. This whole story line is ridiculously easy to draw parallels to real world issues. You probably know someone who’s lived a life like Kvothe, and now you’ll realize why you never noticed it before.
“The vast majority of students were nobility or members of wealthy merchant families. For them, a high tuition was an inconvenience, leaving them less pocket money to spend on horses and whores.
The stakes were higher for me. Once the masters set a tuition, it couldn’t be changed. So if my tuition was set too high, I’d be barred from the University until I could pay.” (This should impact your life in two ways. One, it speaks to how higher education is restricted in America– even though this book does not take place in America or even on Earth, near as I can tell– and how that feels. Two, it’s the opening hint to the idea of charging for tuition based on how much educating the student is going to need. With exception to those with special needs and disabilities, it’s an idea worth exploring. Students who are eager to learn, who will put effort into classes and studies, perhaps shouldn’t be charged the same high price as students who are attending out of obligation or other non-educational desires. It’s also the basis for academic scholarships, though there are only so many of those to go around. If you’ve ever been stuck in a class with someone who didn’t want to be there, and you worked your tail off and sacrificed TO be there, you’ll understand why this hits home for me.)
With the exception of his conversation with Penthe on where babies come from (my brain is still questioning that one), the Adem remind me of my Lenni-Lenape people. Perhaps better warriors though. But it’s the culture, the way of being, the sword history knowledge and the test below the tree– these things remind me of my tribe. “If you managed to catch hold of even just a piece of my name, you’d have all manner of power over me.” THAT. Right there.
May be one of the best first novels in a trilogy ever. Rothfus can flat out write.
This is my favorite. Book. Of all time. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who ever mentions that they enjoy reading. Many people comment on Patrick Rothfuss’s way with words and world-building — they are correct; this is a very entrancing universe full of possibilities. But what sets this book and this author apart, for me at least, is his thoughtfulness and introspection when it comes to the world around us, both in the book and after you’ve turned the last page. I have re-read this book at least a dozen times, I have a paperback copy full of dog-ears and highlighted passages. I find something new out of it each time. Please read it.
Ah Patrick! This didn’t disappoint, and how sad that I have to wait for the next one! The hero continues to mature, to show his virtues and faults, both of which you love him for, and the developing romances (including with his first), intrigue, friendships and enemies really add suspense to the story. This is a world that is brilliant in its depth, and for me is the equivalent of a new LOTR, but an easier read, despite its length. Don’t miss this sequel!
The Wise Man’s Fear, by Patrick Rothfuss, is seven parts fascinating and three parts frustrating (give or take).
The sequel to The Name of the Wind is fascinating because it continues its predecessor’s tale-within-a-tale structure. Kvothe, the hero of the first book, spends a second day telling his life’s story to Bath, his assistant, and Chronicler, a traveling scribe. Kvothe’s adventures are still interesting, and the interludes in his inn—the site of the tale-telling—still add to the story.
But the new episodes aren’t conclusive, and herein lies most of the frustration. The Wise Man’s Fear barely progresses the series’ seeming endgame: the quest to confront the ancient demons that murdered Kvothe’s parents. There’s also little additional information about the books’ secondary conflict: the ongoing war and general chaos Kvothe somehow set in motion before retiring from the world. And like The Name of the Wind, The Wise Man’s Fear just kind of… ends. What passes for the climax—Kvothe’s rescue of two girls stolen from a small town—is unrelated to either of the larger storylines. I also could have done without the extended adolescent fantasy featuring Felurian, a Fae temptress. And some big events (Kvothe’s trial for using dangerous magic and his perilous journey to the city of Severen) were glossed over in unsatisfying fashion—why bring them up if they’re just going to be quickly narrated away?
I’m still in for the third book, though (whenever it’s available). Like the first two, I expect it will engross me while failing to stand alone. But as long as Rothfuss fulfills all the promises he’s made, I’m happy to judge the series as one extended—and extraordinary—story.
Even if I’ll always wish the stopping points had been more compelling than Kvothe basically saying, “It’s getting late; let’s hit the hay and pick things up tomorrow.”
(For more reviews like this one, see http://www.nickwisseman.com)
When I write, I can see a mountain range from my window. In January, of course, that range has its tops white some days … some days, not every day. So, when I saw the whiteness for the third day in 2021’s January, I said I wanted to go there. So, my partner for life, being just as a cool-YA-hero-kind-of man as he is, stopped whatever he was doing and said, ‘ok, let’s go’. So we went. I thought it will be 20 or max 30-min-drive there. Still, I took Wise Man’s Fear with me. And thank god I did.
On a good, traffic-free day, it’s a two-hour drive from where I live, says Google. And since snow in California is a miracle, everyone is going there. Overall, the 5hr drive for being in the snow for 10 minutes and get 100+ bad photoshoots to get those 5 perfect photos turned out more enjoyable because I remembered to take The Wise Man’s Fear. I couldn’t read it after the sunset, of course, so during the later 5-hr-drive back home, I had nothing to do–so there goes my 12 hours.
So basically, I read up to 60 pages in a single sitting without much interest to pause (watching mountains once a while doesn’t count). And everyone knows Rothfuss’s 60 page is actually most book’s 120 page.
Since I didn’t finish even a tenth of the book yet, (I never got to read it after that day), all I can say for now is, I got past the ‘proud cats’ and ‘horses meant in good sense’, and I’m still as much interested about Kvothe as I was in The Name of the Wind, and I can’t stop gleaming when he plays the lute.
I have to mention here, during my teenage years I read a thriller-series book written in Bengali where the scientist-archaeologist-vigilante hero/anti-hero while he does all the cool things he does, (I’ll say later what cool things he does) he also plays Sarod–a seventeen string instrument that has no note marks. I’m still not over him. No wonder Kvothe stole my heart too.
This book is a work of art. I loved it just as much as the first novel in the series. I will be re-reading again and again until the final book in the series is released. I could not recommend this enough!
I give very few books five stars. This one was perfect in every aspect. Loved the prose.
This is actually a re-read. I love this series. I fell in love with the first book and the second book does not disappoint, just as good as the first. As fans, we have been patiently waiting for book three for how many years now… Oh yeah, 8. Hopefully it’s true that book 3 will be out next year.
Such an amazing sequel! It takes everything from Name of the Wind and ups it to 100!
I love it. Now, where’s the next one?
The continuing story another fine book
Even better than the first in the series. The world is so thoroughly developed and clearly rendered, this book lives and breathes even as it changes settings, characters and stakes over and over. I kept reading, eagerly.
Great writing.
One of my favorite authors…epic story telling, great worldbuilding, characters to love, empathize with, and/or hate, depending on the situation. Fantastic sequel…waiting for the grand finale!
Do you know what I love about Patrick Rothfuss’ books? He writes to the very last page. His writing is pure magic. Pat’s ability to project Kvothe’s world into my brain is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. This is the best 994 pages I’ve ever read. Pat’s ability to build a world is astounding. This second book in the story of Kvothe was nothing short of brilliant. I enjoyed getting to know more about Kvothe and how he came to be the Inn keeper Kote. I am left with so many unanswered questions and fully expect another 200+ page increase in book 3!
WOW !!!! This story just keeps getting better!! WOW !!!!! I CAN NOT WAIT for #3!!!!
You need to read Name of the Wind before this book, but it is very good, and different. It may be a little hard to follow at times.
One of my all time favorite books! Now if he would just write the last book in the trilogy!