Patrick Rothfuss’s The Wise Man’s Fear is the second book in the Kingkiller Chronicles.
It is also known as Day Two of the series, for it is the second day Kvothe shares his story with the Chronicler. Both young Kvothe’s story and older Kote’s timeline pick up soon after the events of The Name of the Wind. On the second day of storytelling, Kvothe tells the Chronicler and Bast about the stories and adventures that made him famous. He spins a tale about how he left the academy, lost his virginity, and trained with fearsome warriors. The same story that was warped and repeated in rumors and songs from the lips of countless people.
Both the Kvothe and the older innkeeper seem develop in this latest installment. Young Kvothe, the genius protagonist is forced to leave the University and travel abroad. During this journey his knowledge of sympathy is put to the test in real and deadly environments. With each adventure his notoriety and fame grows as well as his maturity. In some ways, Kvothe seems to regress. He seemed more hot-tempered and impatient in this novel and he succumbs to the raging hormones of 16 year old boy after he lost his virginity. Old Kvothe, the mysterious storyteller, develops slightly as well. During the interludes Kvothe displays hints of what he used to be in his prime. With each adventure he tells, connections between the old Kvothe and the current Kvothe become stronger.
Once again, Patrick Rothfuss writes a fantastic book. It is full of wit, humor and exciting action. As with any book that approaches 1000 pages, it would be a lie to say that the book was impossible to put down, yet the book remains intriguing and keeps your interest. While the beginning of the book is a constant state of action and excitement, the book calms down towards the middle before kicking the pacing back up at seemingly random times throughout the story. The plot also becomes faster paced as the story approaches its end. The Wise Man’s Fear describes a series of adventures Kvothe has in about the time span of a year. Some adventures are more enjoyable than others, but choosing the best one is up to the discretion of the reader. Because this story is told through multiple adventures, anyone craving a straight-forward, linear plot will be disappointed. The plot can seem to wind around aimlessly, but at the same time, it helps Kvothe develop as a character. This book also includes explicitly describes and hints at the many times Kvothe made sweet love to many women in the latter half of the book. These scenes seemingly came out of nowhere and add value from the story, therefore detract from the story as a whole. Although this can be hinted by the fact that this is an adult series, the Kingkiller Chronicles is not a series for young readers. Despite this, The Wise Man’s Fear greatly expands on the world built by The Name of the Wind. Kvothe’s journeys allow him to meet new people, explore new lands, and learn about new cultures. I give the 995 page book 4.5 stars.
The Kingkiller Chronicles
This series takes place in expansive, medieval world. This world has its own gods, demons, legends and lore. Using Principles of science and magic, arcanists wield sympathy to manipulate elements of the world. Arcanists must train at the University, a prestigious school for intelligent people. There is also a mysterious group called the Chandarin that goes around killing people. (To all readers: stories and songs are important to the lore of this book.)