The Wise Man's Fear

Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 2

By: Patrick Rothfuss

Narrated by: Nick Podehl

Length: 42 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Discover #1 New York Times-bestselling Patrick Rothfuss’ epic fantasy series, The Kingkiller Chronicle.

“I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” -Lin-Manuel Miranda

“He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.” -George R. R. Martin

“Rothfuss has real talent.” -Terry Brooks

Day two: the wise man’s fear

“There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”

My name is Kvothe. You may have heard of me.

So begins a tale told from his own point of view - a story unequaled in fantasy literature. Now in The Wise Man’s Fear, Day Two of The Kingkiller Chronicle, Kvothe takes his first steps on the path of the hero and learns how difficult life can be when a man becomes a legend in his own time.

Not just another day: listen to more in the Kingkiller Chronicles.

©2011 by Patrick Rothfuss. (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Narrator Nick Podehl arrives at the end of this long audiobook, the second in the Kingkiller series, as engaged and fresh as he was at the start.... Podehl adeptly presents the broad cast of characters - from moneylenders and courtesans to kings. One of the most fascinating portrayals by Podehl begins with a young mercenary from the Adem who says little. And when he does speak, he has a flat voice, mostly devoid of expression. Podehl builds on this when Kvothe returns with him to study among the Adem, where the mercenary develops a recognizable pattern of speech reflecting many of the culture's characteristics." ( AudioFile)

“The best epic fantasy I read last year.... He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.”
(George R. R. Martin, New York Times-bestselling author of A Song of Ice and Fire)

“Rothfuss has real talent, and his tale of Kvothe is deep and intricate and wondrous.” (Terry Brooks, New York Times-bestselling author of Shannara)

"It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing...with true music in the words." (Ursula K. Le Guin, award-winning author of Earthsea)

There is no equal...

...at least until book 3 comes out.


Word minimums are dumb. You should know better, audible.

fantastic world building and story telling

great narrator and overall, a slow, yet Action packed book full of wit. you ant help but to feel like you really know the characters in the book. Can't wait for #3! (release it already, damnit!)

Disappointed to not see book 3.

The first 2 books are awesome. I could read a dozen more. I’m disappointed that boo 3 isn’t available and I have no interest in book 2.5 at least not for a credit.

Different pieces start to fit together in book 2

It is an interesting story, and we care about the characters. There are laughs and surprises here and there. It is rich in interesting female characters. As a female I especially appreciate this. It has a good stopping point with Kvothe being in a place of considerably less stress than book 1 and the first part of book 2. The narrator Nick Podehl is excellent in both books. We see a reason for Denna’s running. She is being abused by her patron behind the scenes. Since it has been almost 10 years since book 2, I will organize some notes to quick recall should there ever be book 3.


Creation War--Started by Shaper Jax who stole the moon for his new Shaper World--the Fae Realm. In the beginning Namers were divided into two groups: Knowers and Shapers. Knowers disagreed with Shaper activities. Shapers create their own realm, the Faen realm, to be free from Knowers. The Creation War ended when Lanre was killed

Lanre (renamed Haliax after he went dark upon meeting with the Ctheah)--originally the hero whose death ended the creation war. His wife revived him from death. She died; and he was not able to revive her. He could not die himself or even sleep. He ruined 6 cities. He joined with 6 others in forming the Chandrian

Ctheah -- Narrator pronounces Cafe (the Split Tree--proposed original name of the series instead of King Killer Chronicles)
Evil
* the Ctheah (thing in ree)enjoys butterflies dying
* he enjoys people’s pain
* Lanre, Fae peasant(Fallingway civil war), and Kvothe experience disaster after talking to Ctheah in the tree
* The sithe seek to minimize Ctheah's influence by killing anybody who talks to the Ctheah and killing birds who touch the corpse of dead things who had talked to the Ctheah

Not Evil
* formed the good guys--Amyr
* endeavoured with Bast in current time to get Kvothe to wake up and regain his talents
* knows all current and some future things
* always tells the truth
* perhaps Lanre’s inability to deal with the truth makes Lanre turn into evil Haliax

Speculation
* Denna’s secretive patron is really Haliax/Lanre. Her patron had her write a song about Lanre’s heroism
* Elodin is one of the Amyr

Third Book expectations
* I do not believe the Chandrian has been dealt with since Ctheah is seeking to get
Kvothe to regain his magical and fighting talents. I expect that Kvothe will unify with the
Amyr to end the Chandrian
* Why does the evil Ctheah hate the evil Chandrian?
* Find out why Kvothe is the key ending the Chandrian
*See what Denna was talking about when she talked about magic created by writing things down
*I expect to see Kvothe using his Ketan fighting skills
*I expect to see powerful use of naming skills by both Kvothe and Elodin
* I expect Ambrose to get just desserts
* I expect Denna to find happiness. The Ctheah said that her patrons beatings force her into running.
* I hope Ari has a good ending
*Expect commercialization of some Dame Fine Pie (less)

Some of the best story telling.

Kovthe is one of my favorite fantasy characters. The book has reconfirmed that with its brilliant story telling.

A book you must listen to

Definatelt an amazing story, setting and an excellent narrator. A book you must listen too!

The best book I have read in years

I hate that the third book is not available. The descriptions are so vivid I can hear, smell, and feel everything. But it will be wonderful to read the first two again when the third finally (hopefully) arrives

The story continues... until it doesnt...

An excellent journey as Patrick Rothfuss continues to tell the story of Kvoth, and the many adventures he gets himself in to.

My gripe would be that it feels like there is so much still left untold, and no sight of when the next book will be out.

Rich story and well read by Nick Podehl

Great book, very rich story, can feel a bit long at times and ends without really an end. Nick Pofehl is a fantastic narrator.

Loved it

So good! No words to describe how perfect this book is. Completely worth the money.