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claire_bear26's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
akirma's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
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: Death, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Kidnapping
Minor: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
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: Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Misogyny and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Stalking
laurenleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Only took me a million years, but I finally finished the second book in this series! Now I get to wait around for #3 with everyone else. I don’t think this installment was as successful as the first, but it was still great. I loved getting to jump right into Kvothe’s world, not having to wait through all the exposition. It feels like seeing a good friend after a long absence, picking up where you left off. This novel was quite episodic, so of course some are better than others. I generally love Kvothe’s time at University, though his childish antics with his rival are increasingly frustrating. I was most interested with Kvothe’s adventures at court, with all the subtle politics and social games. Those sections flew by, whereas the chapters with Felurian really dragged on. I’m glad there’s at least a #2.5 to tide me over in the meantime!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual content and Torture
jennalve's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Physical abuse and Rape
laceylollipop's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Murder
mformato's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
4.75
I'm not sure what I can added that hasn't been said in the past decade about this book. Alls I know is despite its slow pace, the book did have my heart palpitating with curiosity of what would come next. So much happened in this story that I cannot imagine just how all the lose ends will come together in the third. I will now patiently wait alongside everyone else for whenever the final book is released.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, Sexual content, and Murder
maggieereads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Rape
mikki_9's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It feels so melancholy to finish this book and know we’ll never find out the end of these characters. Even if the final book were written, and it had a tragic ending, it would feel different (better?) than the story dying before it’s time.
I enjoyed this book a lot, although a couple parts of Kvothe’s adventures seemed a bit out-of-the-blue and poorly built? Idk how to explain it, but they seemed unrealistic, which is silly to say for a fantasy novel lol I suppose there are plenty of people in the book who also thought some of Kvothe’s adventures were unrealistic as well, so I’m in good company
I enjoyed this book a lot, although a couple parts of Kvothe’s adventures seemed a bit out-of-the-blue and poorly built? Idk how to explain it, but they seemed unrealistic, which is silly to say for a fantasy novel lol I suppose there are plenty of people in the book who also thought some of Kvothe’s adventures were unrealistic as well, so I’m in good company
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Trafficking