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archiegitdog's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely brilliant - my most recent five book have been average at best but this is simply excellent. I recommend it to anyone who likes this type of genre. It was difficult for me to put the book down and I cant wait to start the follow up.
mssarahdee's review against another edition
1.0
This book was like a conversation between two people with ADD. Lots of words are said, but no thoughts were actually complete.
I hated this story. I hated it so much I switched to the audio version and even that took me months to get through.
The author is overly verbose, spends way too much time on details that don’t add any value to the story, and he never actually gets to the point. Can anyone actually say what this book is about? What’s the main story being told here? This is a collection of tales about a man’s life in which you never get the completed story. Instead you get the start of a new story. There’s no sense closure about anything, and yet it’s not a cliff hanger, and certainly not enough interest to read any of the other books on this series.
I am shocked to se so many good reviews because this was by far the WORST book I’ve ever read (listened to).
I hated this story. I hated it so much I switched to the audio version and even that took me months to get through.
The author is overly verbose, spends way too much time on details that don’t add any value to the story, and he never actually gets to the point. Can anyone actually say what this book is about? What’s the main story being told here? This is a collection of tales about a man’s life in which you never get the completed story. Instead you get the start of a new story. There’s no sense closure about anything, and yet it’s not a cliff hanger, and certainly not enough interest to read any of the other books on this series.
I am shocked to se so many good reviews because this was by far the WORST book I’ve ever read (listened to).
fin_pilot's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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
4.75
nicperlman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
feifsgambit's review against another edition
2.0
TLDR
Do you enjoy a story with an adventure, suspense, battle scenes, mystical artifacts, mages throwing fireballs left and right, the chosen one coming to gain knowledge of his/her new found power, intrigue, betrayal, and/or mystery...this isn't the book for you. I'd wager to say that if you removed the magic system from this book (what little there is to begin with), this book might end up being passable as a non-fiction biography of a time long lost in the past.
If you're not one to waist your time, that's all you need to know of my review. I won't do you wrong and hope that you read my lengthy review to get my point across...unlike Rothfuss did with this book. Feel free to stop reading the review and save yourself some time. :)
End TLDR
I almost gave up on this book, twice. The first time I was around 100 or so pages in and felt like the story was going nowhere. So I came here and checked some reviews. I must say, a lot of the 1-2 star reviews I don't completely agree with. Here is my take on the lot of it.
Kvothe- the most arrogant, self indulgent, master of all, brilliant and all knowing character who can never lose.....is by far the most prevalent comment I have seen about how Rothfuss wrote about this character. I have to say, for the most part, I can't agree with this and I don't see why people keep saying this. Throughout this entire story I never felt like anything this boy did came out of nowhere or was a product of him just being "brilliant". Rothfuss, I feel, did an amazing job making this apparent "brilliance" well developed and deserved (if it's even there to begin with). Despite the character actually calling himself brilliant and boasting about it, I felt it was all earned through his experiences. What he goes through, gives credence to his actions.
Worldbuilding-
After 700+ pages I could really only tell you about 3 locations that stuck out...and that is stretching it. There is a map on the first couple pages of the book, and I have no idea why. It's extremely barren and devoid of more than a few locations. If the story isn't in one of the 3 "main" locations, you get a few lines describing or mentioning of the places. Never have I read a fantasy book with a map and completely forgot it was there...I never once looked back at it because I didn't feel the need to. Of the main locations they did spend an extensive amount of time in, the author did well of describing it and the specific locations did feel fleshed out. But worldbuilding? More like townbuilding! As for things like society and cultures, the only thing I really felt here is the social divide between the rich and the poor. The entirety of the "social" structure in here is all the typical tropes we are used to but the dominant one is the social status of the "have nots" with the "haves".
Story-
This is very strange to try and review. I'm torn and the best way I can summarize is that the story itself is not what I typically want from a fantasy story. When I am browsing for a fantasy read, I expect intrigue, mystery, some sort of struggle, a beginning, a middle, and an end...you know, the basics of what I thought most fantasy stories should have. I feel cheated after reading the back of the book and the name of the very first chapter. This was simply a collection of short stories that happened to a gifted but unfortunate boy that went nowhere at at extremely slow pace.
That all being said, it was written extremely well. If it wasn't for the great writing and getting caught up in what was happening to Kvothe as Rothfuss was building the character, I would have stopped way sooner. It takes a lot for me to get sucked into a story that I ultimately would never read on my own had I known the subject matter but Rothfuss can tell a story that keeps the pages turning. It just felt like what I was reading, wasn't what I wanted from a book that I bought in the fiction section. I was expecting Tolkien, Jordan or even a Sanderson like read....instead I get more of a "realistic fiction" read with magic sprinkled into it. Like, no doubt, Rothfuss can write like the best of them, I just wish he wrote a better story!
I truly feel like there is an epic story here waiting to be told. Why Rothfuss has removed all of what makes a fantasy story a fantasy (to me anyways) and written over 700 pages of mostly useless drivel, I will never know. How long does it take to build a character? I feel like, for Rothfuss, its 700+ pages and he's probably not done (based on what I have read on reviews of book 2 and book 3 still in limbo). I feel like the story here is much like my review...subpar and lengthy, without much forward progress.
Conclusion
I don't know why or how I finished the book. Never have I spent so long reading a book and left with such a feeling of, "wtf did I just read?" and "why did I finish this book?". There were times when it was a page turner but the bulk of the book was just such a slog. I think I kept reading it to get some sort of reward, sunk cost (both time and money) fallacy maybe?!?
Do you enjoy a story with an adventure, suspense, battle scenes, mystical artifacts, mages throwing fireballs left and right, the chosen one coming to gain knowledge of his/her new found power, intrigue, betrayal, and/or mystery...this isn't the book for you. I'd wager to say that if you removed the magic system from this book (what little there is to begin with), this book might end up being passable as a non-fiction biography of a time long lost in the past.
If you're not one to waist your time, that's all you need to know of my review. I won't do you wrong and hope that you read my lengthy review to get my point across...unlike Rothfuss did with this book. Feel free to stop reading the review and save yourself some time. :)
End TLDR
I almost gave up on this book, twice. The first time I was around 100 or so pages in and felt like the story was going nowhere. So I came here and checked some reviews. I must say, a lot of the 1-2 star reviews I don't completely agree with. Here is my take on the lot of it.
Kvothe- the most arrogant, self indulgent, master of all, brilliant and all knowing character who can never lose.....is by far the most prevalent comment I have seen about how Rothfuss wrote about this character. I have to say, for the most part, I can't agree with this and I don't see why people keep saying this. Throughout this entire story I never felt like anything this boy did came out of nowhere or was a product of him just being "brilliant". Rothfuss, I feel, did an amazing job making this apparent "brilliance" well developed and deserved (if it's even there to begin with). Despite the character actually calling himself brilliant and boasting about it, I felt it was all earned through his experiences. What he goes through, gives credence to his actions.
Worldbuilding-
After 700+ pages I could really only tell you about 3 locations that stuck out...and that is stretching it. There is a map on the first couple pages of the book, and I have no idea why. It's extremely barren and devoid of more than a few locations. If the story isn't in one of the 3 "main" locations, you get a few lines describing or mentioning of the places. Never have I read a fantasy book with a map and completely forgot it was there...I never once looked back at it because I didn't feel the need to. Of the main locations they did spend an extensive amount of time in, the author did well of describing it and the specific locations did feel fleshed out. But worldbuilding? More like townbuilding! As for things like society and cultures, the only thing I really felt here is the social divide between the rich and the poor. The entirety of the "social" structure in here is all the typical tropes we are used to but the dominant one is the social status of the "have nots" with the "haves".
Story-
This is very strange to try and review. I'm torn and the best way I can summarize is that the story itself is not what I typically want from a fantasy story. When I am browsing for a fantasy read, I expect intrigue, mystery, some sort of struggle, a beginning, a middle, and an end...you know, the basics of what I thought most fantasy stories should have. I feel cheated after reading the back of the book and the name of the very first chapter. This was simply a collection of short stories that happened to a gifted but unfortunate boy that went nowhere at at extremely slow pace.
That all being said, it was written extremely well. If it wasn't for the great writing and getting caught up in what was happening to Kvothe as Rothfuss was building the character, I would have stopped way sooner. It takes a lot for me to get sucked into a story that I ultimately would never read on my own had I known the subject matter but Rothfuss can tell a story that keeps the pages turning. It just felt like what I was reading, wasn't what I wanted from a book that I bought in the fiction section. I was expecting Tolkien, Jordan or even a Sanderson like read....instead I get more of a "realistic fiction" read with magic sprinkled into it. Like, no doubt, Rothfuss can write like the best of them, I just wish he wrote a better story!
I truly feel like there is an epic story here waiting to be told. Why Rothfuss has removed all of what makes a fantasy story a fantasy (to me anyways) and written over 700 pages of mostly useless drivel, I will never know. How long does it take to build a character? I feel like, for Rothfuss, its 700+ pages and he's probably not done (based on what I have read on reviews of book 2 and book 3 still in limbo). I feel like the story here is much like my review...subpar and lengthy, without much forward progress.
Conclusion
I don't know why or how I finished the book. Never have I spent so long reading a book and left with such a feeling of, "wtf did I just read?" and "why did I finish this book?". There were times when it was a page turner but the bulk of the book was just such a slog. I think I kept reading it to get some sort of reward, sunk cost (both time and money) fallacy maybe?!?
tinkerlinn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
jessekramer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wonderfully written. Amazing prose. I didn’t find myself drawn to the characters unfortunately, and at times the events of the story felt forced and clumsy. The enjoyment I did have reading this was tainted by the knowledge that the story will very likely never see its conclusion. Which makes reading Kvothes tale feel like a pointless task.
I believe authors have a certain obligation to finish the stories they start if they are capable. This is especially true when said authors have numerous completed manuscripts for their trilogies finale and have publicly claimed that they’ve completed the series 👀
Despite those complaints, I am — if not a little begrudgingly — looking forward to reading The Wise Man’s Fear.
I believe authors have a certain obligation to finish the stories they start if they are capable. This is especially true when said authors have numerous completed manuscripts for their trilogies finale and have publicly claimed that they’ve completed the series 👀
Despite those complaints, I am — if not a little begrudgingly — looking forward to reading The Wise Man’s Fear.
secretmagic's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much. It wasn't the story of fantasy story I was expecting, in that it read like a story, mixed with a memoir, mixed with I-Don't-Know-What-Will-Happen-Next-But-I'm-Excited feelings!!!
Can't wait to read The Wise Man's Fear
Can't wait to read The Wise Man's Fear
tinlizzyd08's review against another edition
5.0
An epic yarn that’s only just beginning!
Man, I love a good long saga. These are the kind of books I spend a cozy day with, lost in another world, eating soup and sipping coffee, while never taking my eyes off the page.
Rothfuss gives us an improbable and flawed hero, honestly my favorite kind. Kothe makes mistakes, he’s impetuous, he’s overbold yet poor as a church mouse. I can’t help but cheer him on.
What are his secrets? When a scribe/historian wanders into his tavern, Kothe is sweet talked into spilling his story…or stories, as it were. Many, many stories, all the years in the making of a hero.
We follow young Kothe from his younger years to his mid/late teen years in this first of The Kingkiller Chrinicles. Mysteries are opened and peered into, but this is a saga so I imagine answers will come bit by tantalizing bit. It’s like an advent gift where you only get to open one day at a time until the big day!
Can’t wait to unravel what’s next and see how Rothfuss begins weaving it all together!
Man, I love a good long saga. These are the kind of books I spend a cozy day with, lost in another world, eating soup and sipping coffee, while never taking my eyes off the page.
Rothfuss gives us an improbable and flawed hero, honestly my favorite kind. Kothe makes mistakes, he’s impetuous, he’s overbold yet poor as a church mouse. I can’t help but cheer him on.
What are his secrets? When a scribe/historian wanders into his tavern, Kothe is sweet talked into spilling his story…or stories, as it were. Many, many stories, all the years in the making of a hero.
We follow young Kothe from his younger years to his mid/late teen years in this first of The Kingkiller Chrinicles. Mysteries are opened and peered into, but this is a saga so I imagine answers will come bit by tantalizing bit. It’s like an advent gift where you only get to open one day at a time until the big day!
Can’t wait to unravel what’s next and see how Rothfuss begins weaving it all together!