Listen free for 30 days

  • The Wise Man's Fear

  • Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 2
  • Written by: Patrick Rothfuss
  • Narrated by: Nick Podehl
  • Length: 42 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (2,908 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Wise Man's Fear cover art

The Wise Man's Fear

Written by: Patrick Rothfuss
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $44.73

Buy Now for $44.73

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

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.

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

What the critics say

"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)

What listeners say about The Wise Man's Fear

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,494
  • 4 Stars
    327
  • 3 Stars
    53
  • 2 Stars
    27
  • 1 Stars
    7
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,294
  • 4 Stars
    243
  • 3 Stars
    42
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,206
  • 4 Stars
    270
  • 3 Stars
    80
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    15

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Incredible narrator but Book 1 is better.

This book is certainly a commitment to listen to in terms of its length but the narrator is absolutely incredible. The book is read at the perfect pace with stunning enthusiasm. I am strongly considering my next choices in audiobooks to be based purely on it being read by this narrator!

Now as for the story, it's not quite what the first one was. I still loved it - it's well-written and has that beautiful musicality and emotion I love Kvothe for. The downfall is the jumpiness of the story. It seems like this book is really three or four separate stories that don't naturally flow into each other. Just as things get really exciting in one setting, we are brought to another place with more mysteries that aren't solved. I'm giving the story 4/5 stars in the hopes that third and final book (should it ever be released, that is) answers the several burning questions I have.

One more thing: The end is abrupt. That's all I'll say. Just enjoy this story for the ride that it is.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Even better than the first one. Strongly recommend. You can tell the reader loves the books.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must for fantasy lovers

These books have been among my favorite fantasy novels for nearly a decade. I regularly recommend them and have found many of my friends grow to love them for their own reasons.

Patrick's writing is deliberate and rich. He develops his characters with compelling realism and he paces the tale well

Nick Podehl does a phenomenal job with the audio. I felt truly immersed and even as I finish the recording I consider starting again this evening. Kudos to everyone involved.

Experience this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A wonder

From when the moment you open the cover you will be fully engrossed in this fantastic fantasy tale.

A story to rival Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

absolutely loved every bit

When I first started this series I was skeptical, but it wasn't long before I was completely immersed in a world I had no desire to leave. Highly recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Ben
  • 2020-03-04

Excellent reader!

I really enjoyed the voice acting. The reader is very relaxing and satisfying to hear.

The book is very good as well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved it

sat on the last 20 min for weeks not wanting it to end. cant wait for the third book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

masterpiece!

I loved this book!! this is the first time a book has actually made me cry and cheer for the twists and turns!! I never knew where this was going and it was phenomenal!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

My favorite author and narrator!

Patrick Rothfuss has built an amazing universe with so much depth that it feels real. The characters are as familiar to me as old friends. When Kvothe tells the tale of his life it feels as though I'm sitting in the inn listening to every word and I'm enthralled! I especially love the stories within the story.

I've listened and read these books eight times now. Each time I pick up new details and subtleties I never noticed before. The author has a knack for foreshadowing. I can't wait to find out what the hell happened in the third book!!!

Nick Podehl has set the bar high for the standard by which I rate narrators. His character voices and accents are unique and believable. During conversations with a group of characters I always know who is talking just by their voice. He is able to voice a man or woman, child or adult, old or young, shy or brave, excited or scared (and a whole plethora of emotions) with perfection. He makes the story come to life!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing

I was reluctant to try part2 of the kingkiller chronicles, as I found book 1 reasonably enjoyable, but I wasn’t left ecstatic.
Wise Man’s Fear, on the the other hand is a complete masterpiece, with numerous clues and cliff hangers, and leaving a feeling of desperation for a 3rd book.
Wise Man’s Fear, also had a more mature feel and is wildly entertaining. The narration is excellent, but the story is just magic. It took me days to recover from the heartache I felt at the completion of this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful