I started listening to this book five years ago. Five. 5. FIVE. YEARS. I took a multi-year break because I could not handle the misery of the chapters about Kvoth’s first year or so in Tarbean. And then I started listening again, because this should be both in my wheel house and up my alley. But the truth is, I just don’t know. I don’t know if I like it. I know I wish it were a lot shorter, which means I didn’t love it. But once I started again I kept listening, so I didn’t hate it.
Things I liked – the Chandrian, Skarpi’s story about Lanre, and the stuff happening in the present. Things I got tired of – Kvoth being clever, being smart, being discriminated against, being misunderstood, most of the University stuff, the way the story didn’t seem to ever end. Things I came to hate – the characters, Denna, and knowing that at some point in the future not knowing what happens next is going to bother me enough to read or listen to the next book. The last book isn’t even out yet. I’m annoyed by that too.
I do think Rothfuss did a great job building the world of his story. I like the plot. I do not think he did a great job creating characters. I can barely remember the names of the characters because there was so little to them. Denna was a bit of a manic pixie and a bit of a femme fatale, and other than her hair color and singing voice I can’t tell you much about her. I didn’t think Kvoth was that well drawn either, but he had the advantage of being at the center of the action. They all felt like stock characters. I resent having cardboard cutouts populate such an interesting landscape.
So that was my half Cannonball.
HALF CANNONBALL!!!!
It’s been a while since I read this but I shared most of your feelings about it – too much time spent on meandering dead-ends and excruciating details of his life in University. At some point he’s running about having grand adventures and while “young orphan becomes grandmaster mage” is a common fantasy theme, usually the emphasis is on what happens AFTER the grandmastery. Book #2 is a bit more zippy and is definitely worth picking up at the library. I finished it feeling far more enthusiastic about where Rothfuss is going. I don’t follow Rothfuss but I have a hard time believing that book #3 will be the last book, as he’s got an enormous amount of territory to get Kvoth from University (end of book #2) to the tavern where he’s relating the story.
OT – I hate it when authors give protagonists names that are impossible to pronounce (gives Kvoth serious side-eye)
I read this about a month ago. I read it pretty quick for the size. I enjoyed it but when I sat down to write about it I have struggled mightily to come up with a review. I have a lot of the same problems you do. I hated the irritating rich-boy villain, I was annoyed that Kvothe kept losing his station repeatedly despite being great at pretty much everything, it just got repetitive. I get that Kvothe is at least somewhat of an unreliable narrator based on Bast commenting that according to Kvothe every woman he met was beautiful, including Denna, which wasn’t exactly true. I bought the second book but haven’t started it yet. Some interesting world building but way too much Harry Potter-lite for me, at least in this book. I really hope Wise Man’s Fear takes the action outside of the University.
Happy half Cannonball! I love Rothfuss’ writing, to the point where I actually frequently read it out loud to myself, because it’s so beautiful, but I will agree that the bit with Kvothe at university dragged quite a bit. He goes off and has more adventures elsewhere in the next book, much of it’s set in other locations.
I love everything about this book, but I can definitely see where you’re coming from. I have no experience with the audiobooks. Is the narrator any good?
I liked the narrator. He brought a lot of energy to the reading.
Happy half cannonball!!
I am feeling you.
I started this a while ago and I really want to love it. But I keep putting it down and picking up other books. I’m going to keep at it, as the writing is gorgeous.
Happy Half!
The writing is gorgeous. Rothfuss is a very good writer.