Rate: 3.5/5
Medium: Kindle
Overview (No Spoilers): The first thing you should know about The Slow Regard for Silent Things is that it is a fantasy companion novella to my beloved, The Kingkiller Chronicle. It must be said that I missed the memo regarding the nature of this book, as such when I finished The Wise Man’s Fear, I eagerly picked up this next book believing the series was continued, but alas I failed to read the fine print. The only character detailed in this story is mysterious Auri. While we glimpse the strange OCDish patterns that swirl in an organized, haphazard manner, throughout her day, she remains an enigmatic character to be puzzled out another tale, another book. It took me longer than I anticipated to fall back into this world that I am already deeply comfortable in and a writing style I am familiar with, due in part to Auri’s short attention span. Overall, The Slow Regard for Silent Things is well worth the read to get a peak into the deliberate mind of the perplexing Auri, as well as the art of Naming, and setting up for what I believe are bigger things to come.
Additional Insight:
- Who is Auri and how did she end up in the Underthing?
- How did Auri learn the names of thing so well?
- How does she keep finding new places/rooms? What is behind the door she is so scared of?
- How does she know Kvothe will need a safe place to stay?
- I kept finding myself wanting to know the story of each little place she visited. Key example: Who’s vanity did she find? Where did this person go? Why did they leave everything a mess? Why didn’t they take their belongings with them?
- Will Auri ever be able to leave? Where is her family? Where is she in the current story?
PS. Go Green! MSU has a big game against ND today!
Just curious, as a fellow huge fan of this series, did part of you not think, “Jesus, Patrick, let’s not spin out little tales WRITE THE NEXT BOOK PLEASE?” I loved it, but I also don’t want him fiddle-faddling away time he should be using to finish the next one. I am apparently needing to be his writing dominatrix.
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Hahaha! Honestly, I’m not impatient at all. Same with George R. R. Martin. I would never rush an author for fear that the final product would end up subpar. All in due time. 😀
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book though it, too, took me longer than I’d expect for what I’d consider a “half novel” (I suppose novella is the operative word, but Slow Regard was around 150 pages, which is about half a short novel). I can’t wait for Doors of Stone to come out. Rothfuss and Martin are my two most anticipated writers for 2017. I really hope to see both their new books come out.
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Agreed! It was a very long novella. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that both of this series will come out next year! So excited!
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I, too, ordered this book thinking it was the end of the series. I haven’t read it yet, so glad to read that you liked it. Not sure what I think about so many series throwing a novella out there when we just want to finish the series. I’m more careful about reading that “fine print” now.
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I’m glad I wasn’t the only one! I’m torn about the novella too. Sometimes I find it worth while, others it just seems like the authors just want to publish something, anything in a realm that readers seem to like.
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Interesting. I wonder if that was publish or perish mentality or an artistic choice.
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I bet it was an artistic choice because Auri is so unique it would be difficult to convey it from the unique perspective that the main series is written in.
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I’ve been looking at it, but I was too worried if I picked it up – the long wait for Doors of Stone would infuriate me!
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I would rather wait for a book and have it be amazing than feel like the author was rushed! This is the perfect sampler to hold us over! 😀
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This definitely isn’t a book for all Kingkiller fans but I absolutely adored it. Rothfuss’ magnificent prose and Auri’s unique quirkiness made this book one of my favourite reads this year.
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I loved finally getting a brief glimpse into who Auri is! I can’t wait to find out more!
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I loved this book. I felt it was like a perfect little jewel. Amazing portrait of mental illness the effect of isolation.
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Agreed! In the context of the book I we find out at the end that she is just more in tune to the names of everything making her different, however it is so relatable from the perspective of someone suffering from a mental illness.
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I love this series, I’m so excited for the final book. I really enjoyed this book even though a lot of my friends did not but I also really like Auri’s character as well.
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I loved the insight into Auri! I can’t wait to find out more about her curious little character!
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I just recently finished Name of the Wind, so I’m pretty new to this world. Auri was one of my favorite characters, so I’m glad to hear she got her own book!
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Have you read this one yet? 😀
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No. Should I read it before Wise Man’s Fear?
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Honestly, it probably doesn’t matter but I would read the Wise Man’s Fear first. You get more insight into naming that way.
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Loved this book to the moon and back! (the long way round!)
Such writing and a story with no story that far outshines many storied stories!!
Haven’t read any of Pat’s other books, but managed to get completely submerged without even a bubble of confusion popping up! If he does more about Auri, I will be there with me reading slippers and marshmallows, eyes ready for a feast!
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