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amelia_d's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I'm quite disappointed to be honest, but my feelings about the book are very mixed so it's quite hard to give it a star rating that feels right.
The main positive for me is the incredible, detailed and original world building. I felt really engrossed in the world and loved learning more about how this world works.
For the most part I also found the story very compelling and intriguing, although it is quite scattered in a real-worldy kind of way which I'm aware some people didn't like.
Despite all that, the negatives for me almost made it unreadable at times. The main issue for me was that I found Kvothe thoroughly unlikeable, for most of the book he's constantly bragging about everything he does and how brilliant he is at everything he tries. I found this very grating. However it was almost unreadable due to the way Kvothe talks about women. I won't get into the details so this can remain spoiler free but at times I felt like I was reading a fanfic written by a 14 year old boy or an incel. I was cringing and sending pics to my friends/boyfriend of some paragraphs because I actually couldn't believe what I was reading. It felt very much like reading an incel's sexual fantasy who wishes that they could be Kvothe and I absolutely hated it. (also mild spoiler, there's a bit where Kvothe almost literally says "not all men" to a SA victim, seriously.)
So I am very torn. As I say, the story is compelling and intriguing and the world building is very impressive but at times the writing got so bad in terms of female characters in particular that I really don't know that I could bring nyself to read the 3rd book if it's ever completed.
The main positive for me is the incredible, detailed and original world building. I felt really engrossed in the world and loved learning more about how this world works.
For the most part I also found the story very compelling and intriguing, although it is quite scattered in a real-worldy kind of way which I'm aware some people didn't like.
Despite all that, the negatives for me almost made it unreadable at times. The main issue for me was that I found Kvothe thoroughly unlikeable, for most of the book he's constantly bragging about everything he does and how brilliant he is at everything he tries. I found this very grating. However it was almost unreadable due to the way Kvothe talks about women. I won't get into the details so this can remain spoiler free but at times I felt like I was reading a fanfic written by a 14 year old boy or an incel. I was cringing and sending pics to my friends/boyfriend of some paragraphs because I actually couldn't believe what I was reading. It felt very much like reading an incel's sexual fantasy who wishes that they could be Kvothe and I absolutely hated it. (also mild spoiler, there's a bit where Kvothe almost literally says "not all men" to a SA victim, seriously.)
So I am very torn. As I say, the story is compelling and intriguing and the world building is very impressive but at times the writing got so bad in terms of female characters in particular that I really don't know that I could bring nyself to read the 3rd book if it's ever completed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Kidnapping, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Physical abuse
xjr's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
While in general I enjoyed the plot more of the second book, it being slightly more witty and answering a lot of the first book's questions, I also had more gripes with it.
It is the consequence of the way Kvothe decides to tell his story. Some adventures relevant to the plot were skimmed over leaving only an interesting and at the same time infuriating synopsis. Worse, Kvothe argues in one of the chapters why this is the case and let's just say I did not personally appreciate it. At the same time, other chapters are long-winded while providing little more than charming writing and showing what's been already established. Admittedly, it for the most part makes sense within the universe and framing of the story, it's just not my preference.
What I did appreciate was how this book delved deeper into the multifaceted layers of culture, language, court society, and at last tangible exposition on the mysterious realm of the Fae!
As always it ends with a cliffhanger and many things are still up in the air so I'm hoping this series gets finished properly before the end of my life time.
It is the consequence of the way Kvothe decides to tell his story. Some adventures relevant to the plot were skimmed over leaving only an interesting and at the same time infuriating synopsis. Worse, Kvothe argues in one of the chapters why this is the case and let's just say I did not personally appreciate it. At the same time, other chapters are long-winded while providing little more than charming writing and showing what's been already established. Admittedly, it for the most part makes sense within the universe and framing of the story, it's just not my preference.
What I did appreciate was how this book delved deeper into the multifaceted layers of culture, language, court society, and at last tangible exposition on the mysterious realm of the Fae!
As always it ends with a cliffhanger and many things are still up in the air so I'm hoping this series gets finished properly before the end of my life time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Physical abuse
Minor: Kidnapping, Rape, Stalking, and Xenophobia
darkefyres's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Torture
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Death of parent, Classism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, and Gore
navya12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Classism, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
acasiamae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
jennalve's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Rape and Physical abuse
piplodocus's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
While I enjoyed reading each of the components of this book, ultimately that is what they were: components. It felt like this book was made of several story arcs, which didn't ultimately propel the main narrative of this series forwards. There are some great concepts, beautiful writing, and some genuinely funny lines which made me chuckle However, this was bogged down by a poor structure, as well as truly awful writing concerning the female characters - perhaps I'm just too far flung on the asexuality spectrum, but I felt so frustrated by how almost every female character in the book was objectified, and I certainly felt that a whole arc on Kvothe learning sexual techniques from a mystical Fae was unnecessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Rape and Physical abuse
artemisg's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Super late review but I'm trying to review everything I read this year so I'm getting to my backlog. I loved this book a lot, as you can see. I am such a sucker for fantasy, and I stand by this world having one of the best practical magic systems in fiction. I loved seeing more magic, and the concept of naming is so interesting.
Originally, I preferred this to the first novel in the series, I loved to see the characters at the University become more fleshed out and I am now a Wil and Sim stan. I genuinely really enjoyed the majority of the University chapters, mainly due to the dynamics between characters. But as the novel wore on, I became less invested, this 900 page book covers about a year of Kvothe's life (something like that I'm not 100% sure), and as exciting as that year was, I would have loved to hear about more. This is not to say I didn't thoroughly enjoy the book, this book is great. The first novel covered birth to age 16 - with particular ages having more detail, obviously - and I just have no idea how Rothfuss can write another book covering ages 16 to the ambiguous age Kvothe is now.
A second gripe I have with this book is the weird sex escape Kvothe goes on with a magical sex fairy, where he impresses her with his sex despite it being his first time? Just let him impress her with his ability to name the wind and do magic? Like, the boy doesn't need to be good at everything, and he already proved his prowess when he literally almost killed her. Also, Denna kind of sucks. Initially I thought maybe Rothfuss is just bad at writing women, but Auri, Fela, Mola, Devi, and Vashet are dope. Although, they are just there to advance Kvothe's story, and the majority of them are a little bit in love with him so.... I digress. Denna still kind of sucks, which is a shame because I adored her in the first book.
When the story picked up, I was absolutely taken, as much as I would have loved to hear about the dangerous trip to Vintas, I appreciated the humour in skipping it. And once we got to Vintas the political intrigue was so great, and I loved how morally grey the Maer was. I loved seeing Kvothe somehow both in his element and out of his depth. Also, his badassery with the bandits was great, despite how drawn out the trip was. Going with the theme of badassery, I loved his training with the Adem, although it was so unrealistic within the timeline, I really hoped he would stay there for a bit longer. Loved his defence of his identity as Edema Ruh, and how it didn't get him a patron but the next best thing, it just would've been too simple for him to get a patron, and he ended up on top anyway, absolutely finessing the system.
Overall, a great book, and as much as I want the next one right now, it was satisfying enough that I can live with a long wait - thank god I didn't read it when it came out I wouldn't have had that patience (also I was 9).
P.S. Kvothe selling his arrowcatch for like 8 talents when it should've gone for 25 - socialist king <33
Originally, I preferred this to the first novel in the series, I loved to see the characters at the University become more fleshed out and I am now a Wil and Sim stan. I genuinely really enjoyed the majority of the University chapters, mainly due to the dynamics between characters. But as the novel wore on, I became less invested, this 900 page book covers about a year of Kvothe's life (something like that I'm not 100% sure), and as exciting as that year was, I would have loved to hear about more. This is not to say I didn't thoroughly enjoy the book, this book is great. The first novel covered birth to age 16 - with particular ages having more detail, obviously - and I just have no idea how Rothfuss can write another book covering ages 16 to the ambiguous age Kvothe is now.
When the story picked up, I was absolutely taken, as much as I would have loved to hear about the dangerous trip to Vintas, I appreciated the humour in skipping it. And once we got to Vintas the political intrigue was so great, and I loved how morally grey the Maer was. I loved seeing Kvothe somehow both in his element and out of his depth.
Overall, a great book, and as much as I want the next one right now, it was satisfying enough that I can live with a long wait - thank god I didn't read it when it came out I wouldn't have had that patience (also I was 9).
P.S. Kvothe selling his arrowcatch for like 8 talents when it should've gone for 25 - socialist king <33
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
katiequack's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
downtownhal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am rating this book 5 stars but only because that is the highest it will let me go. This sequel definitely did not disappoint and I enjoyed just as much as the first book. I cannot possibly fathom how Patrick Rothfuss comes up with the ideas that he does for his books. He breaks down the complex ideas of science, magic, faith, and politics and then intertwines again them so well that every chapter had me in awe. I laughed, cried, and yelled at the audiobook alone in my car every morning/evening on my way to and from work and I had so much fun doing it! I have never physically ached for a next book in a series the way I do now. PLEASE PATRICK GIVE US SOME NEWS ABOUT THE NEXT ONE, I NEED IT!!!
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape