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Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand |
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The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss Gollancz Supplied for review by Hachette New Zealand |
Reviewed By: Cassie Craig |
| The Wise Man’s Fearis the second book of
the series The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two. I found this book very easy to read
despite not reading the preceding novel. The reader goes on a magical journey with the
main character Kvothe who is in disguise as a non-descript tavern owner and then he
relates his life story to a passing scribe. The story starts at a slow pace in the university which Kvothe attends and this takes up the first half of the story. The reader is able to follow quite easy as each new person is introduced to the story line. I felt the story was a little slow getting to the main plot where Kvothe leaves the university and travels the countryside. Quite a bit of the story is at the university where Kvothe is not the most popular person and has to work hard to even have a place there. He does have outstanding magical abilities but these are unrealised so he comes across as an average person. His parentage and love of music influences the story and his reaction to different circumstances. As Kvothe travels around the countryside he uses his unrealised magical abilities to bamboozle not only himself but his opponents. He meets a fairy-tale creature who is similar to an ancient mariner’s siren, which lures men to their death. She introduces and teaches him many forms of lovemaking and fortunately for Kvothe he is able to resist her charms and makes a deal so he can escape. Adding another myth to his magical abilities under his cap of achievements because his companions thought he would surely be dead after being lured by Felurian. Kvothe travels to the land of Ademre where he becomes a student in the art of self-defence and swordsmanship. He is a barbarian in this land of discreetness and quiet. Most of the language is conveyed by hand signals. Kvothe expertly plays the lute but music is a loud outward show of emotion that Ademre do not use so Kvothe has to hide his love of music. The story ends quite abruptly and which seems quite peculiar seeing as so much detail was introduced in the beginning and throughout the story. I enjoyed this fantasy and eagerly await the next novel. |
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