"The Wise Man's Fear" by Patrick Rothfuss

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It is rare that I have an entire week to curl up with a cup of cocoa and a book "just for me." The holidays provided such a treat in this delightful sequel to "The Name of the Wind." Another fan of the books dismissed this as an "expected second novel." I would disagree. Of course, you have the events one would assume in this bildungsroman (isn't it nice to use a big word now and then?) Without giving much away, I can tell you that Kvothe leaves the comfort of the University for the wide world, having adventures that help him grow from boy to man; but the tone was more personal and engaging for me. Since I now knew the context, I was able to just dive right in. The novel has the same rich storytelling that made the first book so gripping. There are stories within stories (within stories), all with a remarkably Irish feel (Mr. Rothfuss lives in Wisconsin) that draw me in as a reader and let me see a world so real I feel like I am inside it. There is also darkness and violence. Rothfuss doesn't gloss over the hard stuff but he doesn't revel in it, either, relating one battle in a dry, matter-of-fact tone almost more chilling than something told with brimming emotion. Despite its nearly 1,000 pages of teeny text, I was sad to see it end. I suspect the third book (not even hinted at for title or publishing date) will be even harder to read, as the portents are not good for all of this to end happily. On the other hand, this is a tale extremely well-told, and that makes it downright delectable.