Rothfuss is a master of storytelling, in all the most frustrating ways. The prose of The Wise Man's Fear is just as good, if not better than, The Name of the Wind. Kvothe is equal parts compelling and relatable. His adventures are intriguing and fresh in the kind of behind-the-scenes style that this series has innovated.
And yet, several things were frustrating about this book. Like NotW it remains unafraid to stray from the beaten path of conventional plot, but being almost twice as long as NotW, TWMF was at times dragged down by its own meandering. With two thirds of the story told (or so we're led to believe), this book covers surprisingly little ground, to the point that it feels like Rothfuss might be rambling over trivialities to hold back the inevitable. Kvothe's learned some new tricks by the end, but he's still seemingly a far cry from the man of the present "who is waiting to die."
This was also a more political book, and Rothfuss had a few things to say, especially in the Ademre subplot, which perhaps sit too close to his heart, and consequently too close to the surface of the plot. Preachy is a strong word, but parts of the book are just that. Not unforgivable, just distracting.
For all that, I enjoyed it immensely, and cannot wait for the final installment.
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