About six months ago I reviewed "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss on this blog. I never reviewed the sequel "Wise Man's Fear" on this blog because I was afraid of spoiling anything. This is such a fun series to read going in knowing absolutely nothing. I'm currently re-reading the series. I'm on Wise Man's Fear and I thought why not give an overview of the whole series? Because I don't feel it gets enough love that it deserves. Imagine the dark elements of Game of Thrones, add in some of the charm of Harry Potter. You get the Kingkiller Chronicle.
Last August I was at my local Barnes and Noble wearing my Game of Thrones t-shirt and the individual working the counter saw my shirt and told me that because I was a Game of Thrones fan, I would enjoy Name of the Wind. I picked it up shortly afterwards and was immediately enthralled by it. Since I don't want to give too much away I'll just give a brief overview of the series. It chronicles the rise and fall of a man named Kvothe who would become the greatest wizard of all time. He gives up on his life of adventures, fakes his own death, and opens a tavern. His patrons will come in and tell stories about him, not knowing the man they're talking about is the man who is serving them drinks. One thing leads to another and he ends up getting the opportunity to tell his whole story over a span of three days. The first book Name of the Wind is the first day he tells his story, A Wise Man's Fear is day two, Doors of Stone which is not yet out will be day 3. We get to see everything that happens to Kvothe, all his successes and his failures.
A Wise Man's fear picks up where Name of the Wind leaves off. It has more adult themes to it. It expands this universe that Rothfuss created in a really nice way. For most of the first book Kvothe mainly stays in one region of the world that this takes place in. In A Wise Man's Fear he goes on the other side of the world and has some adventures there. This book does what a second installment in any franchise should do. Develop old characters and add in new ones. Rothfuss did both like a master.
I feel I should also mention The Slow Regard of Silent Things in this review as well which is a novella about another character in the series. There's no action and very little dialougue in the book, but it's so wonderfully written I was able to really enjoy it.
What I love about these three books is that it's not your typical fantasy story. There are no armies of elves and orcs fighting. It's not about a hero in shining armor who defeats a dragon and saves a princess. This is a more character driven story. The characters in this story I can easily imagine them living in our world today. I think that's why the people I talk to who have read it love it so much.
Patrick Rothfuss is an up and coming star in the literary world. I give this series as a whole 5 out of five stars. I love it just as much if not more than Game of Thrones. I'm eagerly awaiting Doors of Stone. Hopefully it will be out next year. If you love Game of Thrones pick up these books.
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