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Oct 12, 2011

Shannon rated it:

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 More...

46 comments like (138 people liked it)

Jul 28, 2011

Allison (The Allure of Books) rated it:

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 More...

18 comments like (50 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

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 More...

7 comments like (43 people liked it)

Nov 28, 2008

Patrick rated it:

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

58 comments like (565 people liked it)

May 04, 2011

Joel rated it:

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 More...

62 comments like (58 people liked it)

May 17, 2011

mark rated it:

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 More...

12 comments like (19 people liked it)

Dec 01, 2011

Jacob rated it:

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...

10 comments like (14 people liked it)

Feb 10, 2010

Wealhtheow rated it:

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.

49 comments like (44 people liked it)

Jan 28, 2009

Jon rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

3 comments like (17 people liked it)

Feb 19, 2011

Ian rated it:

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...

222 comments like (56 people liked it)

Mar 12, 2011

Ron rated it:

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

5 comments like (10 people liked it)

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...

3 comments like (13 people liked it)

May 24, 2011

Hirondelle rated it:

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...

2 comments like (17 people liked it)

Jan 09, 2012

Mike (the Paladin) rated it:

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 More...

6 comments like (6 people liked it)

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...

6 comments like (27 people liked it)

Jan 26, 2008

Sarah rated it:

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

28 comments like (24 people liked it)

Mar 03, 2011

Vinaya rated it:

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 More...

11 comments like (23 people liked it)

Aug 06, 2009

Min rated it:

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 More...

10 comments like (10 people liked it)

Jul 21, 2009

D_Davis rated it:

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...

23 comments like (11 people liked it)

Jul 31, 2011

Luisa rated it:

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...

3 comments like (12 people liked it)

Oct 13, 2010

± Colleen of the Crawling Chaos ± rated it:

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...

24 comments like (13 people liked it)

Nov 03, 2011

Oscar rated it:

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...

4 comments like (4 people liked it)

Sep 26, 2008

Jean rated it:

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 More...

0 comments like (16 people liked it)

Dec 26, 2008

Amy rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Feb 22, 2008

Eric rated it:

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...

3 comments like (10 people liked it)

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...

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Oct 13, 2008

Mara rated it:

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...

5 comments like (5 people liked it)

Oct 01, 2011

Roshio rated it:

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...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

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.

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Jan 27, 2009

Jane rated it:

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...

11 comments like (6 people liked it)