The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)

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The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1)

by Patrick Rothfuss (Goodreads Author)

4.54 · rating details · 34,284 ratings · 5,317 reviews

Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as ...more

Hardcover, 662 pages

Published March 27th 2007 by DAW Hardcover (first published January 1st 2007)

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The Best Epic Fantasy

6th out of 1,109 books — 5,820 voters

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Best Fantasy Books of the 21st Century

2nd out of 762 books — 1,860 voters

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Jul 25, 2008

Shannon rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: everyone!

Shelves: fantasy, 2008, favourite

This is why I love fantasy so much. After a recent string of okay fantasy novels, a couple of good ones but nothing to get really excited about, I've rediscovered my passion thanks to this book. I'm so impressed, and so in love, I can't begin to describe it. But I can try to give you a feel for the book, if I can figure out where to start and how to do justice to this masterpiece.

Kvothe (pronounced like "Quothe") is a world-renowned figure of mystery with a disreputable rep...moreThis is why I love fantasy so much. After a recent string of okay fantasy novels, a couple of good ones but nothing to get really excited about, I've rediscovered my passion thanks to this book. I'm so impressed, and so in love, I can't begin to describe it. But I can try to give you a feel for the book, if I can figure out where to start and how to do justice to this masterpiece.

Kvothe (pronounced like "Quothe") is a world-renowned figure of mystery with a disreputable reputation - a hero or a demon depending on which stories you hear. The real man has hidden himself away at an inn in the middle of nowhere with his apprentice Bast - we know not why - and it's not until the Chronicler discovers him there that he shows any interest in reliving his past life. Insisting that his story will take three days to tell, and that the famous chronicler must write it down exactly as he tells it, he begins to share his story: a child genius growing up with his parents' troupe, performing plays and tricks across the land while being taught "sympathy" (magic), history, chemistry etc. by a tinker, Abenthy, who had been to the University; to ending up homeless and penniless on the streets of Treban, a big port city. It's not until he's fifteen that he makes it to the University, and is accepted, though he's three years younger than is usual. Abenthy has taught him well, and combined with his impressive memory, natural talent, quick intelligence and training, he moves quickly up the ranks of the university.

There are many adventures and mishaps along the way, and while some plotlines come to a tidy end at the close of this novel, over-arching plotlines and themes have been given a solid foundation to continue on into the next books. It took a surprisingly long time for me to realise the connection between the number of days he will take to tell his story, and that this is "Day One" in the trilogy - it's told over the course of the first day. The only thing is, he's young yet (Chronicler judges him to be about 25, though at times he looks infintely older), and there are things happening in "real time" that intrude upon the story, that will need to be resolved I think - so while I have every confidence Rothfuss has excellent control over his creation, I would love more than three books :)

I can't think of the last time I was this impressed by any story, let alone a fantasy novel. I won't compare it to bloody George R.R. Martin like everyone else is doing because I don't see that they have anything in common, really - one is a work of pure genius and the other is utter crap. Comparing them only heightens my dislike of A Game of Thrones. In truth, it's simply a marketing strategy to compare new books to ones that are already really popular, in order to draw in a well-established audience.

This is an epic fantasy - epic in scope - but it's also a bildungsroman, a story of a person's life, a life journey (including the quiet moments), which I love. The character development is ludicrously good. The world-building is solid, believable and original - there're enough new elements to keep your interest, but not so many that you get confused and overwhelmed: a perfect balance. The design of "sympathy" is original and unique, and makes so much sense that I'm half-surprised it doesn't really work. It's complicated enough to not be trite, but one basic premise is the connection between things, the sympathy they have with each other - if you broke a branch in two, the two halves would still have a connection, like sharing the exact same DNA, and so if you control one half you affect the other half. Same with two pennies of the same metal, so that, if you were holding one and someone holding the other and they worked a "binding" on their half, and, say, lifted it in the air, then your penny would also lift. It's fabulous! It's an intellectual kind of magic, not a "wave the wand" type. It takes knowledge, concentration and effort, so in effect, anyone could learn.

As for the characters and their growth, I am so impressed and so in love I will no doubt do a bad job of expressing it. While Kvothe's story is told in his voice, first person, the present day interludes are told in third person omniscient, but usually from certain characters' points of view. You get a mix of other people's impressions of characters, and a gentle showing that tells us even more. The genius is in how Kvothe is portrayed: while telling the story, himself as a young boy, already having experienced tragedy and sorrow and despair, and already feeling the weight of worldly concerns, but still with a lot to learn, comes across strongly. This is counter-balanced with Kvothe as a man, having been through all that and more and had it shape him into something subtly different, yet still very much the same person. If it had been written poorly, there would have been discord between the two Kvothes, but there isn't. He has so much charisma, and is such a complex sort, that I really felt for him. I may even have a bit of crush, actually. He's not good or evil, but he's suffering from a conscience: he's very human, and lonely, despite the friendship of Bast. At the same time, he's a god-like figure, an amazing musician, a skilled fighter, and a powerful magician. One moment he's commanding and chillingly masterful, the next he's doing Bast's bidding and fetching food and cutting wood for others. I expect it's his contradictions and complexities that draw me to him.

The writing style is smooth, the pacing just right (though the first few chapters take a while to get you into the story, you still need to read them closely because there're a lot of details in them), and the prose isn't cluttered with boring, irrelevant descriptions or pointless details. It's a fat book and a long story, but it flies by. While it needed better proofreading - there were a lot of problems with dialogue punctuation; there were a few lazy typos; he never once used a semicolon when he should have; and he always used "lay" instead of "laid" (but hey, at least he was consistent) - the prose itself is engaging, often humorous, detailed but not overly so, and never boring. I also loved the little songs and ditties that are included, and the stories within Kvothe's story.

Likewise, the way he doles out the various plots, revealing and hinting at the right moments, building up tension and anticipation, giving clues that start to coalesce into a stunning picture, is, frankly, impressive. The supporting cast, while not as fully explored as Kvothe (it is his story, after all), are in their own ways vividly portrayed and gradually explored. There's no chunky exposition or a description of a character shoved at you all at once. It's more a show-not-tell kind of book, appreciating the intellect of its audience and our ability to figure things out for ourselves. Nicely done. There was a while there, when I was reading, that the prose gave me the same kind of thrill as reading a sex scene in a romance novel might - but it could have just been the excitment of the story.

One last thing (though I could go on forever): I loved what he did with dragons. I won't spoil it by saying more, just that it's original and delightful - this coming from someone who's been known to get a mite bored by dragons in fantasy.

I would easily recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, but also to people who enjoy great stories told wonderfully well. As many non-fantasy readers loved Harry Potter, they would also love this book.(less)

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Jul 28, 2011

Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: own-it, other-adult-fantasy, loved-it, 2009

Originally posted here.

This is definitely one of my new favorite books, so if you're a friend of mine, prepare to have me brutally push it on you until you give in and give it a go.

One of the reviews I read compared it to The Song of Ice and Fire and Lord of the Rings, saying that the book was equal to the best of fantasy written thus far. Well let me tell you, this doesn't stand alongside the fantasy greats, it knocks them off the shelves.

It isn't just some f...moreOriginally posted here.

This is definitely one of my new favorite books, so if you're a friend of mine, prepare to have me brutally push it on you until you give in and give it a go.

One of the reviews I read compared it to The Song of Ice and Fire and Lord of the Rings, saying that the book was equal to the best of fantasy written thus far. Well let me tell you, this doesn't stand alongside the fantasy greats, it knocks them off the shelves.

It isn't just some fantastic epic that you read for fun and adventure (although you'll get plenty of that too). It is story of a real life. Kvothe has known pain, despair, the feeling of being completely abandoned and alone, and he has also experienced joy, love, happiness and knowledge. One chapter he is beaten half to death, the next he is being shown some of the truest acts of kindness I could ever imagine.

I can't think of an emotion I didn't experience while reading. I snorted with laughter, gasped in outrage, choked back tears, shook with disbelief and trembled with anticipation. Seriously, the book has it all.

What a magnificent achievement to tell this story in a completely believable way-I mean sure there are dragons and magic (sympathy)...but I mean the "real life" stuff. Here you have a 15 year old boy, who early on, had fantastic parents and a happy life as a traveling performer. When that was taken away, he lived on the streets of a large city and raised himself to be tough and cunning. He knew how smart he was, and he got himself a place in the University. Now-before you start thinking that he is portrayed as being perfect-the author never hesitates to remind you that he is still a kid! He is constantly showing off and doing outrageously idiotic things that get him into heaps of trouble. I wanted to wring his neck more than once myself!

Anyway, I'm not going to try to summarize the book. I wouldn't be doing it any favors. I will say that the beginning was slow. It probably took me over a hundred pages to actually get really involved with the story. But, even that was all so mysterious and sinister that I knew sticking with it would pay off. I can't wait to read it again someday when I will be able to understand more of what was going on in the beginning.

The ending. I have read a ton of reviews and comments of people saying it ruined the book and so on. I don't get that. I thought Kvothe ended his story in a perfect place to set up anticipation for the next book, and the little scene with Bast and the Chronicler that closed the story was brilliant, set up interest in the current setting. Anyway...just my opinion.

Even after over 700 pages, I still don't "know" Kvothe. Isn't that the point? He isn't predictable, and he hardly ever did what I expected him to do. For that reason alone, I know the next installment will probably be even better then this one.

So...quit listening to me and go meet Kvothe for yourself.

Oh yeah--one more thing though. If you're a fan of the book...or really, even if you aren't, I recommend checking out Patrick Rothfuss' blog (it is posted on his website). He is hilarious, and regularly keeps me entertained. He is just the type of guy I would love hanging out with. Not in a creepy-I'm-looking-at-him-through-his-window way, more of a "hey lets eat something really unhealthy and talk about books."

Anyway, he comes off as a really nice, interesting guy. Its a pleasure to read such a fantastic book by a guy that actually seems to deserve the privilege of having come up with it.(less)

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Jul 25, 2007

Jim rated it

They say writers should write what they love, what they're passionate about, and Patrick Rothfuss loves stories. The Name of the Wind introduces us to Kvothe, a legendary figure now living a quiet life as an innkeeper. This is the first book in a trilogy, and takes us through the first day of Kvothe telling his story to The Chronicler, a wandering scribe and collector of stories. Rothfuss also shows us the power of stories. Kvothe is shaped both by the stories others tell about him as he gro...moreThey say writers should write what they love, what they're passionate about, and Patrick Rothfuss loves stories. The Name of the Wind introduces us to Kvothe, a legendary figure now living a quiet life as an innkeeper. This is the first book in a trilogy, and takes us through the first day of Kvothe telling his story to The Chronicler, a wandering scribe and collector of stories. Rothfuss also shows us the power of stories. Kvothe is shaped both by the stories others tell about him as he grows up, and eventually by the stories he tells about himself. Stories define us, just as they define the world around us. Kvothe spends much of his time seeking stories of the Chandrian. It's quite clear that Rothfuss loves this stuff. If the book isn't evidence enough for his love of story, check out the many interviews he's done and notice how often he responds by saying, "Let me tell you a story about that...."

On many levels, the story of Kvothe is a familiar one. Gifted orphan goes off to magical school and becomes a hero. I know I've heard that plotline before. And some of the events of the book were a bit predictable as a result. But it doesn't matter. This isn't a book you read to discover what's going to happen; you read to discover how things will happen, and to appreciate Rothfuss' storytelling. This is both a strength and a weakness. On the one hand, though this book doesn't end so much as it simply stops, I don't feel a powerful urge to run out and grab the second book. Oh, I plan to read it, but there isn't the same urgency with which I've awaited other books. Action and plot aren't used as a blatant hook to force you to keep reading.*

But when you read this book, you're immersed in Kvothe's world. The cultures and geography and characters and details, everything is amazingly well developed. According to one interview, Rothfuss spent 14 years working on this trilogy, and it shows. He knows his society, every detail from the exchange rates for various coins to the mathematical formula for calculating the power of different kinds of magic to the exact level of medical skill Kvothe receives from both your average townsperson and from the University medic. If you're a worldbuilding junkie, you should enjoy this one.

While the book is basically one big flashback, we do get bits of an approaching crisis in the present day. (Rothfuss seems to enjoy this layering of stories. Fortunately, so do I.) These glimpses, brief though they are, help show us how much Kvothe has changed, how different he is from the young Kvothe of his own story. I wish I had seen a little more of the present, but I'm assuming I'll get more answers in the next books.

While there's a fair amount of action, at it's heart The Name of the Wind is simply the story of Kvothe. And it's a good story.

It's also a long story -- 600+ pages in book one, and we've got two more on the way. While some reviewers have complained of slow pacing, I had no problem at all. If I had to point to a weakness, it would be that some of Rothfuss' antagonists feel a bit two-dimensional. Kvothe's foes at the University are nasty, petty, and often a little dim. The Chandrian are a more interesting antagonist, but we don't really see enough of them in this book for them to feel completely real yet. (Which is appropriate, since they're creatures of legend.)

Overall, this is a very good book. The fact that it's Rothfuss' first novel is even more impressive. ARCs** of The Name of the Wind included a note from Rothfuss' editor, describing the book as the best first fantasy novel she's seen in 30 years as an editor. I haven't read enough first fantasies to say the same, but for me, the book is definitely worth picking up, reading, and assuming you have time, reading again.

---
*Not that there's anything wrong with that, Jim said self-consciously.
**Advance Review Copy. Being a DAW author does have the occasional advantage :-)(less)

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Nov 28, 2008

Patrick rated it

· (Review from the author)

I kinda liked this book. But my opinion on the matter probably shouldn't be trusted....

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Apr 12, 2011

Joel rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, audiobooks, 2010, series, here-there-be-dragons, vote-getters

I must preface this review by stating that my experience with fantasy is somewhat limited: the Harry Potter books, George R.R. Martin, a dozen scattered other novels and series. The more of it I read, the more I realize traditional "epic" fantasy of the multi-book series tack is not quite for me.

Or maybe I am bad at choosing, since I really like some of it (Martin, Bujold). Some of it, not so much. Take, for instance, The Name of the Wind, one of the most celebrated fantasy...moreI must preface this review by stating that my experience with fantasy is somewhat limited: the Harry Potter books, George R.R. Martin, a dozen scattered other novels and series. The more of it I read, the more I realize traditional "epic" fantasy of the multi-book series tack is not quite for me.

Or maybe I am bad at choosing, since I really like some of it (Martin, Bujold). Some of it, not so much. Take, for instance, The Name of the Wind, one of the most celebrated fantasy debuts in years, with glowing praise from... just about everyone. In some ways, I can see why. It's very well written. The characters are engaging. There's good dialogue. Drama. Adventure.

But it's also very long. I'm not against a long book if I feel like I got something back for the time invested. But TNOTW doesn't tell an epic story to match its epic length. To be fair, it's the start of what promises to be an epic story, but that means I'll have to read the next two books in the series to be satisfied. This book is not a satisfying installment on its own. The episodic structure means large parts of the book are largely inconsequential when you get right down to it, so if they aren't interesting, well... they feel like a waste of pages. Which means while I really enjoyed the scene of Kvothe earning his silver pipes, I *really* could have done without the extended horse bartering/fevered riding/detective work/battling dragons section (which was about 150 pages I think), as it didn't advance the story... at all, really. Not even when you throw in the romance angle.

What I liked: The structure of the book is interesting. I like the idea of the narrator telling his story. In fact, because of this I can somewhat excuse the episodic feel (and the appallingly thin, idealized female characters, who have no substance and next to nothing to do), even if I don't always like it. It also does a great job of slowly revealing the mechanics of its world without too much exposition or too little explanation, and some elements, like the explanations for sympathy and "real magic," are very satisfying. The prose and dialogue are better than the narrative; I would read other books by this author (just, er, no more books like this one).

What I didn't like: Rothfuss is a little too satisfied with the ways he's working to break fantasy conventions even as he seemingly reinforces them (i.e. a unassuming boy is secretly a genius and a chosen one, goes off to a magic school, excels at everything he tries, etc. etc.). I can't even count the number of cute comments like, "If this were a story, X, Y, and Z would have happened. But this is not a story." This might be a revolutionary concept in fantasy writing, but considering much of post-modern literature is built on metafiction, it struck me as one one interesting element; certainly not enough to excuse 600 pages of narrative inaction. (less)

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Apr 07, 2011

mark monday rated it

Shelves: operatik-sword

this is a really absorbing mixture of epic fantasy tropes and The Story of Kvothe: The Harry Potter Years. the novel, besides its framing story, is divided inequally between three parts of the protagonist's early journeys: a bucolic life on the road with romany-like entertainers, a hard-scrabble life on the streets in a typically hard city, and a life of mystery & romance & wonder in a sinister school for sorcerors. all three portions are nothing new; in fact a person could call out each scenari...morethis is a really absorbing mixture of epic fantasy tropes and The Story of Kvothe: The Harry Potter Years. the novel, besides its framing story, is divided inequally between three parts of the protagonist's early journeys: a bucolic life on the road with romany-like entertainers, a hard-scrabble life on the streets in a typically hard city, and a life of mystery & romance & wonder in a sinister school for sorcerors. all three portions are nothing new; in fact a person could call out each scenario as an obvious cliche of the genre. happily, nothing felt derivative to me and kvothe's adventures were a pleasure to read from beginning to end. it is hard for me to put a finger on why this is so, other than to state the obvious: the writing is excellent. now this is not especially lyrical or literary writing - i never felt the need to put the book down and savor a brilliant or haunting phrase. but what it is, well, is perhaps even more enjoyable: a truly well-crafted page-turner that escapes derivativeness by virtue of its straightforward humanism, its carefully constructed mysteries, its relaxed pacing, its many scenes of derring-do, its equally frequent scenes of contemplation & moodiness, and its splendid hero - one who manages to be both somewhat of an everyman and yet also a singular & highly individualistic oddball. sometimes a classic formula works perfectly, and this novel manages to take three classic situations (theatre types on the road, orphan child-thief, student mage) and breathe new life into them.

for me, there was one flaw: the portrayal of kvothe in the framing sequences and within the interludes. personally, i need to be shown how a character is an amazing icon, a fearful wizard, a terrifying power who moved history. i can't just be told that - or even have it implied - and then just accept that this is how i should view the character. so, although the framing sequences and interludes were definitely compelling - i really want to know what is going to happen next - i found myself rushing through them to get back to the boyhood adventures. all that said, this is truly a minor flaw in my opinion.

so back to the novel's virtues:

Kindness. how refreshing to have so much kindness displayed by various characters throughout all of kvothe's life situations. the kindness was never maudlin or forced, and was depicted side-by-side with cruelty and other forms of darkness. and so it was a pleasure to live in a world that felt real but was not all harsh edges, where some human beings didn't automatically want to fuck over other human beings.

Music. i loved this novel's focus on music as a key component of life, and how it was central to kvothe's self-image.

A Single Perspective. since george rr martin, i will always appreciate the multiple-perspective epic fantasy. but it was really enjoyable looking through kvothe's eyes throughout the novel. he never bored me, he never alienated me; his motivations were clear and yet he also managed to surprise me on a regular basis. in general, i don't need to like a protagonist for a novel to succeed for me. that said, kvothe is a prickly cuss at times but was also genuinely likeable - in a very unforced way.

Scary Demonic Beings. the Chandrian! gosh i am intrigued. i can't wait to read more about them. a woman with a broken sword? a man by a dead tree? a naked temptress? a white-haired man with all-black eyes? a man with a dog biting his leg? a thoughtful man, wrapped in shadow? who are these enigmatic villains who slaughter groups of people for digging up the wrong treasure or for singing the wrong song?

A Dragon. perhaps the most realistic dragon i've ever read about. sorta deadly. sorta cute. an interesting animal. and also drug-addled!

okay, if you haven't read this already, you should. reading it is like a beautiful day in the park, you just want it to go on and on.(less)

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Mar 05, 2009

Jacob rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009

I first read this about a year and a half ago, back in July 2007, while waiting for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to come out. I had re-read the first six books and July 21 was still a week away, so I picked this up to pass the time. Bad idea. When you're suffering from Potter Fatigue, it's not a good idea to check out a popular new work of fantasy and expect to fully enjoy it. I know I didn't. Oh, don't get me wrong; The Name of the Wind was good stuff, but my mind was still addled ...more

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Aug 30, 2007

Wealhtheow rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Wealhtheow by: Pat Rothfuss (an excellent congoer)

Shelves: fantasy

I really disliked the main character, to the extent that I couldn't get more than 1/3rd through it. The other problem I had was the language: Kvothe's eyes are described as shards of ice just a sentence before his voice is likened to a sharp steel blade. Ah well--there's lots of other high fantasy in the world.

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Jan 28, 2009

Jon rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Jon by: Shannon

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, read-in-my-40s, my-favorites, award-winners, favorites

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The story is told by the protagonist years after the events occurred. He’s actually dictating his life story to a wondering Chronicler so there is no real sense of danger when something terrible happens to him – you already know that he survives to tell the tale. It's almost an autobiography of the main character (Kvothe) from pre-adolescent boy through “college” (as an adolescent). Definitely a coming-of-age tale of a renowned hero and adventurer.

Kvothe starts his story from hi...moreThe story is told by the protagonist years after the events occurred. He’s actually dictating his life story to a wondering Chronicler so there is no real sense of danger when something terrible happens to him – you already know that he survives to tell the tale. It's almost an autobiography of the main character (Kvothe) from pre-adolescent boy through “college” (as an adolescent). Definitely a coming-of-age tale of a renowned hero and adventurer.

Kvothe starts his story from his early days as a curious contented son of traveling entertainers. But all does not remain rosy, as he becomes an orphan by a tragic and horrific event. Kvothe survives, living on the streets, and eventually attends University to study to be an arcanist. Ill fortune often finds him and his curiosity and pride get him into trouble frequently.

Kvothe is the protagonist and the one relating his story. Denna is the love of his life, who he met on trip to University and keeps meeting sporadically throughout the rest of the tale. Ambrose is one of the annoying antagonists, the rich brat and bully at University who thinks he can put Kvothe in his place through any means at his disposal, including assassination attempts. The Chandrian are elusive terrifying beings who killed his family and the entire entertainer troupe and also wiped out everyone attending a wedding near the town of Trebon. Various Masters at the university both help and hinder Kvothe’s progress through his terms and he has a handful of friends who are fellow students, patrons or musicians.

Because the story is a story within a story, being told from the first person point-of-view, I only really connected with the main character when he was a helpless orphan fending for himself on the streets. Once he liberated himself from those dire circumstances, I could follow his progress through secondary education mostly by shaking my head at his thick headedness - not over a lack of intelligence on his part but more the lack of experience socially. Typical coming of age stuff.

I would recommend this book to all fantasy readers. Be prepared to wait for the rest of the story, though, as the rest of the trilogy is not published yet.

I updated my rating to match my feelings for this book. It was the best book I read last year (2008) by far. (less)

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Feb 19, 2011

Ian rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: best-sellers-that-suck, did-not-finish, unfulfilled-expectations, fantasy

I'm sorry, Mr. Rothfuss. For realz, actual sorry. Honestly. I tried giving your book two stars out of pity, since I so wanted to like it and I'd feel bad about giving it one star and dragging down your average rating. Though you don't appear to need my pity. Your book has the highest average GR rating (4.49) of any of the book I've read. I finally dropped my rating down to one star because it's just a steaming pile of crap and I couldn't take the embarrassment of having posted a two-star r...more

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Mar 12, 2011

Ron rated it

Recommended to Ron by: Jon Moss

Shelves: fantasy, maps, signed

As soon as I finished page 722, I turned back and started reading page 1. By far the best fantasy I've read in years. Depth and richness unparalleled since Tolkien. Greatly superior to Rowlings and Jordan in creating a believable world, even down to the laws governing it's particular brand of magic.

Misleading title, though. Should have been "Set the Hook". ;-)

"There's no story that doesn't touch on the truth." p. 202

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Dec 09, 2011

Rob rated it

I have no interest in imagining I'm someone who is stronger, deadlier, smarter, sexier, etc. than myself - a famed hero in a milqtoast world little different from modern North America.

I read fantasy to immerse myself in strange worlds ripe with danger and conflict. To uncork primal wonders. And there is none of that in Rothfuss' book.

His world is about as strange and dangerous as a mashed potato sandwich. His protagonist is comically overblown wish fullfillment for people w...more

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May 12, 2011

Hirondelle rated it

Shelves: fantasy, mary-sue-land

I do not know how to assign a numerical rating to this. As Sheryl Crow complained "if it makes you happy, it can´t be that bad". But it makes me happy and yes, I think it is bad, sorry. This was a good read, it made me keep turning the pages and wanting to just go sit down reading it till I finished it. But it is, for my taste and from my point of view, bad - the writing, the plotting, the characterization.

First the good. It´s a massive brick of a novel, seems to be desi...more

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Jan 09, 2012

Mike (the Paladin) rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I put starting this off for a long time...I bought it just after it came out, here we are 4 years later and still waiting for the 2nd in the trilogy (and oh how I hope it remains a trilogy). I must admit to being a bit "burned" by The Wheel of Time and A Song of Fire and Ice...

Still, I finally got to it. The book is one I've seen praised unrestrainedly by many readers. I to find it a fine book and enjoyed it. I don't however think it's a five star book... So with no spoiler...moreI put starting this off for a long time...I bought it just after it came out, here we are 4 years later and still waiting for the 2nd in the trilogy (and oh how I hope it remains a trilogy). I must admit to being a bit "burned" by The Wheel of Time and A Song of Fire and Ice...

Still, I finally got to it. The book is one I've seen praised unrestrainedly by many readers. I to find it a fine book and enjoyed it. I don't however think it's a five star book... So with no spoilers...3.5 but I give it 3 as it's not quite a high enough for a 4 stars. I mean most of my 4 star books I find better, I had to rethink this but, ya 3 stars.

************************** Possible minor spoilers below ***************

The book is an excellent to good read at times and drew me in, there are some minor annoyances however. The switching back and forth between the story within the story and the telling of said story isn't always what it might be. The world being constructed here is holding together but the "lore" it works by isn't the "lore" we know about... so far, it's not really been spelled out. Early on we're told that "they did all the right things for all the wrong reasons" , but we aren't told why or how the things were right for the wrong reasons... Iron seems to work, except when it doesn't etc. So, I suppose the details are just going to be part of the story.

I can't agree with the Harry Potter comparisons. There are a few minor surface similarities but few.

Also the Kvothe loves Denna story is in grave danger of becoming unbearable, I mean I was drifting off there as it stretched out for a while. It's badly in danger of developing into something like Harry Potter meets Great Expectations... Oh well.

In spite of my criticism I just hope I can do as well, mostly this is a good readable fantasy and has some amazing prose. It simply manages to run hot and cold a bit. I didn't care for the wind up of the book and I hope the story doesn't spin out of control. It seems to be moving a little slowly at times and that can always be worrisome. But over all a pretty good book. (less)

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Apr 15, 2008

Collin rated it

This book came to me highly recommended by people I trust but ended up leaving me fairly cold. I had a hard time putting my finger on what bothered me, but I think it was the fact that I was tired of reading another fantasy involving a Mysterious Hero with a Mysterious Past being followed by Mysterious Mysteries. The Protagonist is another one of these "great at everything" kind of guys that's only fun if he's pitted against some equally daunting opposition. This guy (forget his nam...more

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Jan 26, 2008

Sarah Keliher rated it

Shelves: sf-fantasy-general, shelf-of-shame

I really, really wish I could give this negative stars.

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Mar 03, 2011

Vinaya rated it

Shelves: books-i-loved, fantasy, favorites, re-reading-times-1-million, the-real-5-star-deal, speshul-snowflake

My name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as "quothe." Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person. I've had more names than anyone has a right to.

The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it's spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree. "The Flame" is obvious if you've ever seen me. I have red hair, bright. If I had been born a couple of hundred years ago I would probably have been burned as a demon. I keep it shor...moreMy name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as "quothe." Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person. I've had more names than anyone has a right to.

The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it's spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree. "The Flame" is obvious if you've ever seen me. I have red hair, bright. If I had been born a couple of hundred years ago I would probably have been burned as a demon. I keep it short but it's unruly. When left to its own devices, it sticks up and makes me look as if I have been set afire. "The Thunder" I attribute to a strong baritone and a great deal of stage training at an early age. I've never thought of "The Broken Tree" as very significant. Although in retrospect, I suppose it could be considered at least partially prophetic.

My first mentor called me E'lir because I was clever and I knew it. My first real lover called me Dulator because she liked the sound of it. I have been called Shadicar, Lightfinger, and Six'String. I have been called Kvothe the Bloodless, Kvothe the Arcane, and Kvothe Kingkiller. I have earned those names. Bought and paid for them.

But I was brought up as Kvothe. My father once told me it meant "to know."

I have, of course, been called many other things. Most of them uncouth, although very few were unearned.

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

This is not where the book begins, but this is where the story begins. Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of The Wind, justly hailed as one of the promising fantasy debuts of all time.

I always find it hard to write reviews for books I like; harder still, for books I love. But the hardest of all are the books that bring me to awe, admiration and adoration. I know I sound hyperbolic, but there is no adjective I could apply in praise of NotW that would capture the essence of what this book means to me.

There are many writers I have admired over the years. Some of them I revere. But Patrick Rothfuss is the only writer who makes me pray passionately to a God I'm not even sure I believe in, to grant me an iota of his talent. It's not just that the Name of the Wind has some of the most beautiful prose I've ever read. It's not just that the storytelling transcends our times, and transports me to a place that seems almost real. It's the fact that these simple words on a page touch a deep place inside of me. Allow me to quote Kvothe here:

Yes, I cried at the end of it. I did then, and I have every time since. Even a reading of the story aloud will bring tears to my eyes. In my opinion, anyone who isn't moved by it is less than human inside.

Quoting Kvothe again, this book is "not flawless, but perfect". I'm not so blind in my adoration that I cannot see the faults in this book. Let's begin with the obvious. It's gargantuan! This is one massive doorstopper of a book, and the next one is TWICE as big! There are times when, no matter how absorbing the narrative, the editor part of me was screaming, 'not necessary! not necessary!' Kvothe is one of those smart, charming, cocky, funny, attractive, talented heroes who are every geek's wish fulfillment fantasy. So are the women. You can totally tell from this book that Patrick Rothfuss is a geek, whose spent more of his time role-playing than playing Casanova. Denna is the perfect adolescent fantasy. A beautiful mysterious woman who secretly has the hots for our hero, who appears and disappears at whim, vastly desired by all the men around her, and playing hard-to-get into the bargain. All the other women in this novel also appear sparsely and are oddly flat. This book is all about Kvothe and how super-cool he is. There are also way too many "cute" references to how, if it was a story things would have gone differently, but since it's real life, things are more complicated. Rothfuss does come across as being a little too self-satisfied with his subtle attempts at breaking fantasy tropes.

But despite its faults, this book sucks you in and keeps you mesmerized. There is beauty in Rothfuss' prose, a rhythm and flow that indicate a master storyteller, almost bardic in its intensity. This book reminds me of Daughter of the Forest, even though the styles and the cadences are completely different. What's similar between them is their ability to sweep me off my feet and into another world. NotW is the sort of book that makes me want to genuflect; it's the sort of book that makes me deeply envious as a storyteller, because I know that no matter how good I am, no matter how well-received my work is, this is the book I would have wished to have written, and never shall. Damn you, Patrick Rothfuss!(less)

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Aug 06, 2009

Min rated it

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

Hmmm. Where should I begin? Reading Rothfuss' book is a bit like being very hungry while waiting for a slow, slow cooked meal or thick stew. It smells delicious and tempting while cooking . . . you really really want to take a bite. However, despite your rabid hunger, you wait. Patiently stewing. Oh sure there is some excitement thrown in, maybe a sauce boils up and you nearly burn yourself. But for the most part it is the making of the meal that is important - you can wait to eat. The re...moreHmmm. Where should I begin? Reading Rothfuss' book is a bit like being very hungry while waiting for a slow, slow cooked meal or thick stew. It smells delicious and tempting while cooking . . . you really really want to take a bite. However, despite your rabid hunger, you wait. Patiently stewing. Oh sure there is some excitement thrown in, maybe a sauce boils up and you nearly burn yourself. But for the most part it is the making of the meal that is important - you can wait to eat. The reward of a well prepared meal will be worth it in the end.

Or at least that is what I'm hoping. I feel like this book, while I truly enjoyed it, was a bit like preparing a meal. You get all the things you need and start painstakingly putting them together. This book is everything we need to enjoy the next one. You begin to understand the heart and soul of main characters.

It's a slow burning story that I absolutely sped through without as much as skipping an "and" or "the." I actually would have given it 4.75 stars if that was available. If only because of Rothfuss' constant reminders of the following: Kvothe is poor, Kvothe is a trouper, and Kvothe had spent a time in his life being hungry. These things within the context of the story are obvious to even the dullest reader. The other reason, and perhaps this accounts for the former, is Rothfuss teeters on over explaining the minutia of exactly how things are done. The magic stuff is explained with a kind of scientific or technical writing drone. However, I'd like to point out these little things were not enough to ruin the story for me.

This book has been placed on the YA shelves of some book lists. Though the character (in most parts) is aged anywhere between a young boy and a teen of 15, I can't imagine very many tweens and teens would have the patience to read this one. However, if the reader is heavy into fantasy, I could definitely see them loving this above all other YA fantasy. It just seemed more of an adult read, not for content, just in pacing and style.

I will be in line first thing to get the next installment. The ending was a bit abrupt. Despite being 720 pages in, I wanted more. As I said, it's like waiting for a slow cooked meal - I was ready to start eating. In fact I'm hungry for the beef of the meal (if I ate meat, of course). Or should I say the heavy vegetables? No, I think wanting the meat of the story is what I mean.(less)

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Jul 21, 2009

D_Davis rated it

Shelves: fantasy

3.5 stars.

IT was good, but not great. While I enjoyed much of what I read, when I look back on the story I don't really recall anything great or memorable happening. I guess it's kind of cool that it is really a very small story, and yet there is a part of me that wanted something more epic to happen, especially given the amount of time I invested in the book.

So yeah - worth reading. But I won't be checking out the sequels.

***

Kvothe's performa...more

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Jul 31, 2011

Luisa rated it

Shelves: bad-rec, fantasy, don-t-get-the-hype, did-not-finish, disappointing, unsurprisingly-bad

I have a problem. When I hear about a travesty of a book, I must read it. I know I should just be thankful for the warning and make sure this book doesn't get within a mile of my To-Read list, but curiosity always gets the better of me. I get the urgent need to see the monstrosity for myself. Such is the case with this book.

Now, I was never actually told the book itself was awful. Just that the protagonist was one of the biggest Gary-Stus in existence. But he was a likable Stu, they ...more

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Sep 08, 2009

± Colleen of the Crawling Chaos ± rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: People who like overwrought epics

Recommended to ± Colleen of the Crawling Chaos ± by: Those evil goodreads people

Shelves: fantasy, sword-and-sorcery

2.5

"I must confess myself... disappointed."

(For those who don't get the reference, it's a line that Voldemort uses in Goblet of Fire - the movie version at least. I am using a Harry Potter reference in retaliation to all those people who are somehow comparing this to that series, for the sole reason that there's a freaking magical university. Really, there's very little comparison aside from that. I mean, not even to get into how the whole tone and whatnot is...more

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Jul 18, 2009

Oscar rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 5-estrellas, acción-aventuras, fantasía-literatura-fantástica, propios, favorites

Hay libros que están destinados a perdurar por siempre en la mente del lector. Cuando escojo y abro un libro, lo hago buscando de nuevo esa sensación que sólo encontraba cuando empecé a leer libros seriamente, deseando reencontrarme con ese sentido de la maravilla que me transportaba a otros universos, habitados por personas, que no personajes, ya que eran tanto o más reales que la gente del mundo real.

Este es uno de esos libros.

No suele pasarme muy a menudo, al contrario...more

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Sep 26, 2008

Jean Tatro rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: everyone who likes fantasy

Shelves: fantasy, favorites

Quite honestly I don't know where to start with this. This is the sort of book I used to dream about. Pure and simple it is a beautifully crafted masterwork. It was an emotional rollercoaster on which I found myself on the edge of my seat, sometimes crying so hard I had to set the book aside. And there were times when I laughed as well, and felt anxious as one of the book's many twists played out.

And there are twists and turns. I'm an experienced enough of a reader that usually I can...moreQuite honestly I don't know where to start with this. This is the sort of book I used to dream about. Pure and simple it is a beautifully crafted masterwork. It was an emotional rollercoaster on which I found myself on the edge of my seat, sometimes crying so hard I had to set the book aside. And there were times when I laughed as well, and felt anxious as one of the book's many twists played out.

And there are twists and turns. I'm an experienced enough of a reader that usually I can predict what is going to happen after a certain point, but in this story I found the rug constantly being pulled out from under me. The author isn't afraid to pull punches, and at the same time doesn't overload the story with misfortune.

Part epic fantasy, part bildungsroman, and all excellent storytelling. The narrative style danced a fine line between third person and first person that fit the method the story was told in like a glove. Pace of the story is an easy one, neither hurrying or dragging on. It does start out slow and it took awhile to really grab my interest, which happen at the beginning of chapter two. Still those first twenty or so pages are important to set up the life that the main character is currently living as a contrast to the person he is.

Can you truly criticize a book for being long when you love every word of it and found yourself longing for more as soon as you read the last page? For every cliche I came across I found that I could hold this book up as an example of how to do them well. This book treads old ground in new and interesting ways, from a new system of magic to a twist on the only standby of dragons.

And there is an honest cast of thousands. In barely a hundred pages I'd lose track of characters, and yet as soon as they were identified I could summon up their image from earlier. Not a single one was truly faceless. Of the main character - he is talented, and special, and yet damaged and flawed in that ever important human way. The world is one of the most well put together I've ever seen, and I don't want to give anything away so I'll just say that we are giving hints to a world much larger then we are initially presented with.

It's so rare to find a book that is both a work of art and an engaging story. I felt this was something profound, a book that I fill come back to again and again. Instead of waiting for the paperback like I usually do I plan to buy the sequel as soon as it comes out.(less)

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Dec 26, 2008

Amy rated it

Shelves: read-in-2008, fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I just now came across this on the 'recent reviews' page - the strange thing is that I literally pulled this book, at random, from the shelves of the public library as I was walking through this morning. I must be destined to read it.

Later:
I finished this today. I'm just going to jot down a few rough thoughts now, and complete my review once I've had a chance to process. So for now, these are just ideas I'd like to think about more:

It was interesting to me how so...moreI just now came across this on the 'recent reviews' page - the strange thing is that I literally pulled this book, at random, from the shelves of the public library as I was walking through this morning. I must be destined to read it.

Later:
I finished this today. I'm just going to jot down a few rough thoughts now, and complete my review once I've had a chance to process. So for now, these are just ideas I'd like to think about more:

It was interesting to me how some of the steps in processing lights were similar to diode fabrication steps - doping, use of fume hoods, acid - the juxtaposition of materials fabrication terminology and the world of this story is mind-boggling in a sense. If they'd made such progress in the fabrication of lights, why not in other areas? The hidden university underground plus the war could make this world seem to be slightly post-apocalyptic, but the descriptions of the countryside and the people don't seem to support this.

Seems to be similarities to Ender's Game - boy genius put in a position without adults to trust, required to develop skills quickly.

Kvothe is so impulsive as to be almost annoying sometimes - every time his life is back on track and he has enough money to stop focusing so intently on money, he does something reckless to once again put his future in jeopardy. Maybe this is just the teenage boy in him...

His university friends seem like props, there in a supporting role. Why do they support Kvothe? What is he providing in the friendship? Or is it just not part of the story, since it's Kvothe's story?

I'm also not too fond of Denna. The lack of options for women is used as an excuse for her constant search for a 'sugar daddy' - maybe I'm just reacting as I'm supposed to. She was described as a woman women disliked. I keep waiting for Denna to expose some hidden depth of character - so far, I'm disappointed. Auri and Fela are both more likable - hopefully they'll get a bigger role in the later books.

(less)

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Feb 22, 2008

Eric rated it

Recommends it for: General fantasy likers

This was a good story. I enjoyed it and will read the sequels. But I can't say I understand the lavish praise it has gotten in seemingly all quarters. The Onion A.V. Club said it was the best story told in any genre in 10 years. Its editor said it was the best she'd read. Whaa?

Peeves:
-I think the supporting characters are half-sketched at best.
-There's no sense of place, just a few towns floating on an otherwise blank map, their relation to each other unknown (unless th...more

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Oct 24, 2007

Chris rated it

this was a good diversion from the stuff I've been reading lately... however, it was a little monotone, and also kind of meandering. i realized about halfway through that judging by the pace, there would have to be at least two or three more sequels to fit in all the crap that is alluded to in the beginning when the main character starts telling his story to this "Chronicler" character.

All that said, it's clear that the Rothfuss guy has a way with words and can write some ...more

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Oct 13, 2008

Mara rated it

Shelves: fantasy

A decent debut effort, if not extraordinary. The protagonist gets off plenty of clever turnabouts in his personal and professional life that elevate him slowly from ordinary lad through to standard fantasy hero, exactly the sort of thing you expect from a book like this. Occasionally the exposition is fun, but too often turns bland and can be skipped to get on with the story. A good editor could have tidied things up here. Also, unfortunately, for the author, his inexperience with anything resem...more

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Jan 16, 2011

Roshio rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favourites, epic

I had my eye on this book for about 2 years and I couldn't decide if it was worth buying or not. In the end I decided against buying it and just got it from the library. I ended up half way through stroking my cheek against the book telling it how much i loved it. It was that good! I read a review here on goodreads with someone saying how much they couldn't stand the fact that Kvothe is so good at everything, but I really like that fact, Rothfuss handled that well.
Beyond that, I want mooo...more

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Oct 13, 2007

Susan rated it

Awesome debut novel outlining Kvothe's early years as he tells them over his bar to Chronicler. Rothfuss has an extremely enjoyable sense of humor and control.

like 3 likes

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Jan 27, 2009

Jane rated it

Recommends it for: no one

What a disappointment...While most of this book was "interesting" and had a character that I cared about...I was really let down by the end of this book. It felt exactly like the author, or their publisher said....Wow this books is too long lets split it up. I love fantasy books that have "continuing stories" but the authors MUST wrap up the book they are on before going onto the next.

Combined with the fact that I know the main character ultimately lives (becaus...more

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About Patrick Rothfuss

It all began when Pat Rothfuss was born to a marvelous set of parents. Throughout his formative years they encouraged him to do his best, gave him good advice, and were no doubt appropriately dismayed when he failed to live up to his full potential.

In high-school Pat was something of a class clown. His hobbies included reading a novel or two a day and giving relationship advice to all ...moreIt all began when Pat Rothfuss was born to a marvelous set of parents. Throughout his formative years they encouraged him to do his best, gave him good advice, and were no doubt appropriately dismayed when he failed to live up to his full potential.

In high-school Pat was something of a class clown. His hobbies included reading a novel or two a day and giving relationship advice to all of his female friends despite the fact that he had never so much as kissed a girl. He also roll-played and wrote terrible stories about elves. He was pretty much a geek.

Most of Pat's adult life has been spent in the University Wisconsin Stevens Point. In 1991 he started college in order to pursue a career in chemical engineering, then he considered clinical psychology. In 1993 he quit pretending he knew what he wanted to do with his life, changed his major to "undecided," and proceeded to study whatever amused him. He also began writing a book....

For the next seven years Pat studied anthropology, philosophy, eastern religions, history, alchemy, parapsychology, literature, and writing. He studied six different martial arts, practiced improv comedy, learned how to pick locks, and became a skilled lover of women. He also began writing a satirical advice column which he continues to this day: The College Survivial Guide. Through all of this he continued to work on his novel.

In 2000 Pat went to grad school for English literature. Grad school sucked and Pat hated it. However, Pat learned that he loved to teach. He left in 2002 with his masters degree, shaking the dust from his feet and vowing never to return. During this period of time his novel was rejected by roughly every agent in the known universe.

Now Pat teaches half-time at his old school as an assistant-sub-lecturer. He is underpaid but generally left alone to do as he sees fit with his classes. He is advisor for the college feminists, the fencing club, and, oddly enough, a sorority. He still roll-plays occasionally, but now he does it in an extremely sophisticated, debonair way.

Through a series of lucky breaks, he has wound up with the best agent and editor imaginable, and the first book of his trilogy has been published under the title "The Name of the Wind."

Though it has only been out since April 2007, it has already been sold in 26 foreign countries and won several awards.

Pat has been described as "a rough, earthy iconoclast with a pipeline to the divine in everyone's subconscious." But honestly, that person was pretty drunk at the time, so you might want to take it with a grain of salt.(less)

More about Patrick Rothfuss...

Books by Patrick Rothfuss

The Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #2)

The Adventure of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle

The Doors of Stone (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #3)

O Medo do Homem Sábio (A Crónica do Regicida, Livro 2 - Parte 1)

O Medo do Homem Sábio (A Crónica do Regicida, Livro 2 - Parte 2)

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Quotes from The Name of the Wind

“Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.” — 389 people liked it

“Perhaps the greatest faculty our minds possess is the ability to cope with pain. Classic thinking teaches us of the four doors of the mind, which everyone moves through according to their need.

First is the door of sleep. Sleep offers us a retreat from the world and all its pain. Sleep marks passing time, giving us distance from the things that have hurt us. When a person is wounded they will often fall unconscious. Similarly, someone who hears traumatic news will often swoon or faint. This is the mind's way of protecting itself from pain by stepping through the first door.

Second is the door of forgetting. Some wounds are too deep to heal, or too deep to heal quickly. In addition, many memories are simply painful, and there is no healing to be done. The saying 'time heals all wounds' is false. Time heals most wounds. The rest are hidden behind this door.

Third is the door of madness. There are times when the mind is dealt such a blow it hides itself in insanity. While this may not seem beneficial, it is. There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.

Last is the door of death. The final resort. Nothing can hurt us after we are dead, or so we have been told.” — 191 people liked it

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