The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2) in Building a SciFi/Fantasy Library

Apr 08, 2011 Bryce rated it it was amazing

The Name of the Wind was one of the biggest things to happen in fantasy in recent years, making a huge splash on the scene, and propelling Patrick Rothfuss from newcomer to fantasy star. But you have to sort of wonder anytime an author has a breakout book--will he be able to do it again? After all, often with first books, the author has had years (sometimes even decades) to work on that one book. There are such things as one hit wonders, and I always worry that the first book in a series will th ...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Keith rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This book would get a five for the first 700 pages or so and probably 3 stars for the rest. Enjoyed the book very much, although Kvothe is sure stupid sometimes for being a genius. The last couple hundred pages were like soft-core porn, pretty weird.

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Dec 07, 2010 E.J. rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. IN THE NAME OF THE WIND was my favorite novel the year I read it and I fell in love with Rothfuss’ world and writing. I grew to care about his character, Kvothe, and eagerly awaited the second and third book chronicling the adventures of his youth.

This second book in the trilogy, THE WISE MAN’S FEAR, took a little over three years to publish, which made expectations very high, not only for me, but for most readers that enjoyed the maiden title.

I knew going in, ITNOTW would be a difficult book t IN THE NAME OF THE WIND was my favorite novel the year I read it and I fell in love with Rothfuss’ world and writing. I grew to care about his character, Kvothe, and eagerly awaited the second and third book chronicling the adventures of his youth.

This second book in the trilogy, THE WISE MAN’S FEAR, took a little over three years to publish, which made expectations very high, not only for me, but for most readers that enjoyed the maiden title.

I knew going in, ITNOTW would be a difficult book to follow up. Any time you introduce a new world and new characters to an audience, there’s a sense of wonder. Where will the characters go? How much of the world will we see? What are the stakes? What are the rules? How does the magic operate? The politics of the civilization? The nature of the people? I had so many questions, which I hoped would be answered in the second book. Unfortunately, few of those questions were resolved.

It’s difficult to gauge the second installment in a trilogy because usually it’s a bridge meant to foster you from the beginning of a story to its resolution, but in recent fiction, we’ve seen some great authors write multi-title books in a series and populate each with its own story as well as address the main storyline of the series. Sadly that’s where I feel TWMF doesn’t live up to its predecessor.

Rothfuss seems to have two genuinely prodigious strengths as a writer. He writes prose like the devil and he enjoys creating situations where characters banter wit. Usually it’s between two people and usually it features his young protagonist coming out ahead. What Rothfuss doesn’t seem to do that well is plot. In fact, there’s very little plot in TWMF at all. Instead, we’re reintroduced to Kvothe at the beginning of a fresh term at the University where he spends 300 pages doing pretty much the same things he did in the first novel. Then, he seems to arbitrarily be sent on an adventure trip. Clearly Rothfuss wants to showcase the adventures that made Kvothe into the legend he’s become, but there is no narrative throughline through this second book. There’s nothing driving him. Most stories have your hero set out on a quest and then do everything he/she can to achieve it. But here, Kvothe wanders around the country, gets caught up in some strange situations with eccentric or fantastic characters that spread his renown, but none that move the main storyline forward. In film this latter 700 pages of TWMF would be considered the “montage phase” where we see our hero training with the mystical experts, earning skills, magical gifts, and stories to further his reputation. While they’re fun and exciting and visceral, they’re surprisingly episodic and that’s something of a disappointment.

Throughout this 997 page novel, there’s barely 5% of the tale dedicated to Kvothe’s true pursuit: finding the Chandrain and seeking revenge for his family. Outside of those rather random moments of inquiry, he traipses around without much motivation. There is no other plotline to this book. There is no new antagonist. The adventures he gets involved in usually take his sharp mind or a little luck to overcome, but he does it quietly easily. As a result, there is scant conflict, which means there’s scant drama, which means there’s a lack of stakes. And with too few of those things, you never really get drawn deeply in.

I did, however, plow through this novel as I did the first one. Not with an overwhelming sense of disappointment, but a melancholy of what could have been. With some of these missing elements (and a little more focus on the Chandrian), this title and this series could have been epic. Had anyone other than Rothfuss written it, I would have given it three stars, but his ability to create beauty with words is inspiring.

And I still love Kvothe and his world.

Now I have to wait at least three more years for the third and final installment in this series, but right now I feel like I’m waiting for the exact same thing I was hoping would be in this one.

Still, I’ll be there, eager to make the pre-order, and willing to read through the night to finish every delicious word. I have a good feeling THE DOORS OF STONE (the early title of book 3) will be more fulfilling as Rothfuss ties up his strings, but, man, what could have been….
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Jul 01, 2012 Anthony rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, fantasy

Never thought close to 1000 pages would go by so fast! Great continuation of the story of Kwothe. Patrick does a great job of packing in a lot of adventure and intrigue. There is not a wasted page in the book. I just hope we don't have to wait as long for next book. ...more

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