The Wise Man's Fear

The story of Kvothe—a hero recounting his own life from the quiet of the Waystone Inn—continues in this second chapter of his chronicle. An escalating rivalry with a powerful member of the nobility forces Kvothe to leave the University and seek his fortune abroad. Adrift, penniless, and alone, he travels to the distant court of Vintas, where he quickly becomes entangled in the politics of the wealthy and powerful. His search for answers about the mysterious Chandrian, the beings who murdered his family, pushes him ever forward into a world of danger and legend. While attempting to curry favor with a powerful noble, Kvothe's journey takes him from the intrigues of courtly society to the wilds, where he must hunt a group of mysterious bandits. His travels lead him into the mythical Fae realm, where he meets the alluring and deadly Felurian, and to the legendary Adem mercenaries to learn their ways of combat and philosophy. This is the tale of Kvothe taking his first steps on the hero's path, a journey that reveals how difficult life can be when a man becomes a legend in his own time.