Patrick Rothfuss and the sex fairy

[devaed]

I don't know, I think I quite like a book with a main character that is 'annoyingly good at everything' sometimes... maybe I'm just a bit weird but it satisfies the perfectionist in me!

Not weird at all, I think it's something that a lot of people quite like... one of the reasons NOTW and WMF are bestsellers!

It's interesting how subjective these sort of things are, though. I was honestly surprised to see how many people seem to dislike these books on here - NOTW is amongst my favorite fantasies, and one of the few I've read that didn't feel like the story got bogged down at any point. But then, I loved Kvothe as a character, and I can see that for anyone who finds Kvothe annoying, the books are certainly going to drag.

 

[avalonimperium]

I have to totally agree. I cant wait for book three to be on sale these books are some of the best books i have ever read and and its important to remember that kvothe has made it clear ghat his life is a complete wreck he is in hiding disguised as an innkeeper so that everyone thinks hes dead so no one will come looking for him. He may be a great mage and musician which is what allowed him to survive felurian but he didnt outsex her or outdo her in anyway. These books are so good in my opinion when people ask me for recomendations for good books to get them into reading fantasy i consider these must have purchases of course you cant please all the people all the time so not everyone can e pext to enjoy these books but atleast give them a chance borrow them from your local library first before you buy themn

 

[Jibmonk]

I am kinda surprised by some of the people on this forums as well.

You might not like it, but it's obvious that Patrick Rothfuss really did a great job with this series. I don't mind peopl, who dislikes it: What I mind is narrow-minded people, that tries without reason to belittle this series.

I find a lot of people often miss the bigger picture writers and the industry is striving towards.

You find Kvothe too fantastic? Fine, but did you consider how the story is told? ( BY HIMSELF). That's what I find most intriguing about the trilogy. Also considering that Kvothe actually often point out when he's not in control, Felurian actually has the power most of the time, as he himself admits. But it's just not manifested in the same way, which you might conclude is because, HE HIMSELF IS TELLING THE STORY.
You are in your right not to like it even then, but not to consider those things is simply not that intelligent.

You find the Felurian part tiresome? Fine, but please don't embarrass yourself with talking about a sex fairy. I might have found it a bit slow going as well, but I appreciate what he's trying to do and I understand that's probably the most packed part of the story with small clues, foreshadowing and important knowledge.
If you don't notice that I'm not sure we have read the same book

I am not smart on this subject, many people probably understood it way better than me. Or know a lot more about writing and storytelling than me.

Doing rash critique like some of your guys just doesn't suit you.
Don't like it, fine. But try not to be delussional.

Sorry for bad english and first post on this forum. Have a great day you all!

 

[Brian G Turner]

Welcome to the forums, Jibmonk.

We're a very diverse place, and members have a very wide range of interests. Not all cross-over but that doesn't matter, as we can respect everyone has different tastes.

Therefore please don't suggest anyone may be delusional just because their tastes are different - the fantasy genre is big enough for everybody's tastes.

In the meantime, I'm glad you like Rothfuss's writing - I know there are plenty of fans here.

 

[stephen.samuels]

I think what I like about Rothfuss, is that is story is unconventional. We've had two books now and there doesn't seem to be a big evil dark lord or a noble but hopeless quest. There is Halliax but he keeps us guessing, teasing at something going on but we're still not sure what that is. Every book will have flaws but Rothfuss does that very well and he does have beautiful pose (if a little purple at times).

 

[Jibmonk]

Thank you I, Brian!

I don't want to insult you. That being said, I probably didn't go the best way around it and of course: People has different tastes and a subjective reality.

Often people confuses when something is not to their to taste or method of reading, with a fault of someone else. Even though people make faults.

There's a difference, when you say:

This is bad, meaningless, stupid, boring or ...

And saying:
This is not to my taste or my style of reading.


It's nothing personal with you I, Brian. I just felt some of the comments were a bit in that first direction


OT: I can only give you my opinion, but I don't feel that the Felurian part has much to do with: Outsexing a 1000 year old Goddess. The sex is not really even graphical, and the part is writing with a poetic prose to it, which is probably one of the reasons people find it boring. That's a taste. Saying it is bad is something else

It's not my favourite part, but I like the things it add to the plot, and I felt it was important to the story with foreshadowing, and development for Kvothe.

People often focus on the external great amount talent of Kvothes like fighting, magic, music etc. That's fair if you don't like it. Imo Kvothe is fun to read about because of his internal struggles and development. He might seem strong from a distance, but in a way I find him really human as he has a lot of personal weaknesses.

I find people with material faults and a beautiful mind more annoying to read about, than people with internal problems and strong abilities.

This is of course a question about taste. Sorry for the wall of text!

 

[Munch]

Gotta say the whole Felurian bit didn't really bother me. Kvothe had to become a man at some point and I have a feeling what the tree said is integral to at least part of the next book. Though part of my brain also wonders how much of what happened there has been exaggerated by Kvothe. For all we know he just met a woman in the woods (using some kinda trick mirage thing to create the whole Felurian appearance to entice men), shacked up with her for a few days and the talking tree bit was just his subconscious telling him stuff in a dream and he made up the whole Felurian bit to add to his status. We know from other parts of the books he's not adverse to outright lieing to impress people. This is the problem with first person narratives, you can never be entirely sure what actually happened (My brain works funny sometimes so apologies )

IMO the bit that really dragged was the learning to fight with the Adem (it has been a while but I think that's what they're called). To me that went on a bit long and could have done with a more severe edit.

 

[Westie]

Sorry to resurrect this thread.

The bit with Felurian wasn't really overstretched by my interpretation. It wasn't about Kvothe out-sexing the sex fairy, but the fact that she let him go. She obviously saw something in him that he would be a good advert for her, telling the story about how ravishingly beautiful she was to the entire world and therefore luring more prey to her.

I believe that just after that part of the story, he actually said so much to Bast and The Chronicler.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

Just read this bit.


I think, by this stage in the story, you'll either like Kvothe*, or decided his smugness is too much. And if you don't like Kvothe, you'd likely have given up reading it (or I'd wonder why on Earth not.) In that context, I was fine with the scene. Felurian is in keeping with the world, and the glimpses of the fae that Bast has given us. Kvothe's response is in keeping with what we know of him. It's not frivulous and any sex is illusional rather than graphic. (I read a review on Goodreads that led me to believe Kvothe had sex all the time. Sadly, 1500 pages in, he's had very little. )


* I like him in much the same way as Miles Vorkosigan - interesting to read about, entertaining, I'd murder him within an hour of meeting him....

 

[Boaz]

Kvothe was already the Merlin/Potter/Hendrix/Odysseus/Sherlock/Cyrano/Valjean/Elvis/Edison of his world. Why not Don Juan di Viagra as well? Who's left? Arthur, Achilles, Galileo, Shakespeare, Ali, Gagarin, Schweitzer, Salk, and Moses...

 

[Crowjack]

I liked the 2 books, enough for a second read - but Kvothe was getting bloody annoying second time round.
He's pretty much perfect at everything

• amazing wizard - check
• amaziing fighter - check
• amazing singer - check
• sex fairy conqueror - check

Really got on my nerves, but they are still very well written and I will get the third book...

Amazing wizard --- who can no longer access his power
Amazing wizard --- who gets his ass kicked
Amazing Singer --- Who lost his voice
Sex Fairy Conqueror --- who lives with a goat boy (Sorry Bash)

Kvothe isn't really a Gary Sue...everything he puts his had to eventually ends in ashes.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

But, but, but....

Spoiler: Can he not?

Who can no longer access his power? He can. He broke a bottle at the start of book one using magic. But he can't open the chest...

Who gets his ass kicked - and yet takes a single perfect step at the end of the book - thus has the Ketan?

And who wouldn't go for Bast....

sorry, but I think Mr Rothfuss is playing with us in some of this. In fact, my new theory might be what Kvothe is hiding from Bast, who wants his powers back so badly...

(and hi, welcome to the chrons!)

 

[Crowjack]

But, but, but....

Spoiler: Can he not?

Who can no longer access his power? He can. He broke a bottle at the start of book one using magic. But he can't open the chest...

Who gets his ass kicked - and yet takes a single perfect step at the end of the book - thus has the Ketan?

And who wouldn't go for Bast....

sorry, but I think Mr Rothfuss is playing with us in some of this. In fact, my new theory might be what Kvothe is hiding from Bast, who wants his powers back so badly...

(and hi, welcome to the chrons!)

Thanks...like the bar over in the corner.
I do like the idea about Bast...