An Imperfectly Good Sequel to The Name of the Wind

Reviewing The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicles #2) by Patrick Rothfuss by J. Tayler Smith

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The Worldbuilding is Good, The Pacing is ‘Iffy’

The Wise Man’s Fear is the second book in Rothfuss’s highly praised Kingkiller Chronicle series that was released in 2011 four years after the first, to both praise and criticism. The third book that will round out the trilogy is also highly anticipated. However, as of July 2023, little information still exists about this final chapter, leading to much frustration by fans.

The books are built around the premise of the protagonist, Kvothe (it rhymes with quothe), telling his life story over the course of three days – book one is day one, and book two is day two. The Kingkiller Chronicle is a story within a story - Kvothe’s story within Rothfuss’s story. This format works in the books' favour, allowing the adventure to be told from a compelling first-person perspective while providing narrative breaks where characters may ask questions or provide commentary. For example, there is a brief chapter where Kvothe quickly glosses over what seems to be an exciting adventure, his audience interrupts to ask why he didn’t go into more detail (a question the reader has too). The format allows Rothfuss to respond and defend his narrative choice to both his audience and the reader. (Whether the answer is satisfying is a different question.)

Day two picks up where the first book ends, with Kvothe going through his second year/term at the university where he studies various forms of magic and has a few significant run-ins with his rival. This section is a fun conclusion to the first book, but it leaves the reader wondering why this isn’t included in book one to begin with. We are nearly halfway through the second book before Kvothe sets off to a new location and it feels like the true beginning of book two. It is unclear why Rothfuss splits the story this way, though one could argue that book one would have been far too long if it had included the complete university section.

The book continues with Kvothe’s journeys into new lands, living among a wealthy benefactor’s court, training as a mercenary, and exploring the faerie realm. There are certainly some highlights, though none compare to the university segment as a whole. Nevertheless, Kvothe’s time in the benefactor’s court and his chapter with the mercenaries contains some of the best worldbuilding yet.

Rothfuss remains true in style to the first book and excels at worldbuilding. The City of Severen, the faerie realm, and the mercenary community of Haert are all expertly developed. However, the reader does not spend enough time in these locations. The Wise Man’s Fear is ‘jumpy’ compared to The Name of the Wind. In The Name of the Wind, Rothfuss takes several chapters to describe how Kvothe travels from one locale to another; in The Wise Man’s Fear, Rothfuss often describes Kvothe’s journey across a whole country in the span of a few sentences. It feels too quick.

For all of this, the book is still an enjoyable read. It just feels a little different.

The Creativity is Endlessly Entertaining

Despite any criticism I have, I find this book worthy of recommendation and think it is an excellent modern and refreshing addition to the fantasy genre. Unlike Lord of the Rings, or Chronicles of Narnia, which feel more like classical literature, the Kingkiller Chronicle reads like a contemporary novel set in a fantasy world. It is more akin to the styling of Harry Potter but in a Lord of the Rings-esque world.

Rothfuss shines in his world-building. He showcases his creativity in numerous ways such as when he introduces the high-class customs of Vintas or the culture of the Adem. For example, regarding the practice of exchanging rings among the nobles of Severen, Rothfuss writes,

“Gold rings imply those below you are working to curry your favor. Silver indicates a healthy working relationship with your peers.” He laid the rings in a row on the table. “However, iron means you have the attention of your betters. It indicates that you are desirable.”

This ring system the aristocrats use to show favour feels realistic and plausible despite not existing in the real world.

Regarding the Adem culture and way of communication, Rothfuss develops an elaborate system of hand gestures that serve as an alternative to facial expressions. At first, Kvothe does not know what to make of the seemingly expressionless man who constantly fidgets. But later he learns that the man expresses his thoughts and emotions through his body language and gestures rather than through his face or words. This revelation causes both the protagonist and the reader, to see the man in a whole other light.

Rothfuss excels at developing new and creative ideas within the fantasy genre and is pushing it to grow.

The Protagonist is Getting Worse

The Wise Man’s Fear continues to put its reader in the shoes of a young man trying to make his way in the world by any means necessary. However, I find that Kvothe is becoming a less likeable protagonist as the book goes on. He is still interesting, but he is no longer the underdog the reader roots for. Kvothe is growing more skilled, but rarely admits and understands his own faults and failures. Simply put, Rothfuss has written a very prideful character.

It is also worth mentioning that the book shies away from unnecessary sexual tropes that easily trip up other novels until about halfway through the read when Kvothe has repeated intimate encounters with a very promiscuous fae. After this, Kvothe’s intimate encounters become significantly more frequent and it appears they will become a regular part of Kvothe’s story going forward. Now, Rothfuss doesn’t describe these events in vivid detail, but they tend to interrupt the story rather than add to it. These moments feel like they exist for the sake of having a sex scene rather than for the sake of the plot.

A Worthy Sequel - Better in Some Ways, Worse In Others

The Wise Man’s Fear is a good sequel to a highly praised book. It is engaging, and interesting, and features some fantastic world-building. However, its pacing is ‘jumpy’ at times, and Kvothe’s character worsens rather than improves (although perhaps the point of the series is for Kvothe to become a tragic hero). Lastly, book two does not answer most mysteries that were encountered in book one. The archives and what exists below the university are left with a question mark, and little progress is made toward Kvothe’s ultimate goal. I don’t think this silence detracts from the series, but I fear Rothfuss has bitten off more than he can chew. It will be hard to tie all the loose ends in one final book. For all these reasons, I give The Wise Man’s Fear six out of nine stars.

Reference

Rothfuss, Patrick. 2012. The Wise Man's Fear: The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two. United States: Astra Publishing House.