The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1) in Fantasy-Faction.com

Jan 01, 2011 Kevin Xu rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: re-read, 35-until-becoming-an-aficionados

I heard a lot of hype and great things about this book from just about everyone and their mom in order to tell everyone else and their mom who has not read the book to read it so they can fall in love and rate it five stars. So I took a shot and check this book out of the library, ending up hating the book mostly because of the main character, Kovthe. Everything that he does to me might as well be a flaw, the flaw of being rational , not thinking of the consequences or the emotional effect it wo I heard a lot of hype and great things about this book from just about everyone and their mom in order to tell everyone else and their mom who has not read the book to read it so they can fall in love and rate it five stars. So I took a shot and check this book out of the library, ending up hating the book mostly because of the main character, Kovthe. Everything that he does to me might as well be a flaw, the flaw of being rational , not thinking of the consequences or the emotional effect it would have on others. I was wondering how many things that he does right then there is a flaw to follow right afterwards. I know he is still learning in this book, but where is his common sense or emotions (other than anger), I felt like he had it and throw it out the window. The main point is I felt that me as a reader does not fell sympathetic for his action, but hating it instead. He is like everything that a parent does not want their kid to become friends with or their daughters to even date. He is no gentleman. Overall, he is a very arrogant character that think he is better than everyone in everyone way possible, and he would do anything to get ahead, even if means killing you. So he is not a person to be trusted.

He is my version of Sword of Truth's Richard Rahl, Soldier's Son's Nevare Burvelle or Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Thomas Covenant, which I know a lot of people hate these three characters to death by wanting to destroy those books, but I loved those three characters. I understood where and why Terry Goodkind, Robin Hobb, and Stephen R. Donaldson was coming from. Hey, at least the book is well written and readable, which made me actually finish the book.

Also many compare this book to The Lies of Locke Lamora, which even the two authors acknowledge that, and have become good friends, appearing together at signings with two of the highest ratings and loyal fan followings.
For me, The Lies of Locke Lamora is a book that I quite enjoyed after many tries of finally able to read the book.

Also the book is like Lev Grossman's The Magicians. One is Kvothe is a mixed character just like the main character of The Magicians, Quentin, where both characters are in a love or hate relationship. Also both of those books are really hyped, but the difference is that The Magician is hyped up by all the literature crowd, while The Name of the Wind is more of fans/readers of fantasy all time favorite. The biggest difference between the two books is that The Magicians is not as well like, having an almost a star less in the ratings.

Lastly, this book has the highest rating of any book I have ever seen on Goodreads. It has even a higher rating and likes than any of the Song of Ice and Fire books, which is saying something, even though it is a lot more popular. It makes me feel like I am not ever going to understand the what is so great about the book, and Partick Rothfuss. I'm not a big fan of Partick Rothfuss himself as a person just like many who hate Orson Scott Card or Terry Goodkind, but that is another story for another time.

P.S. I am also not a fan of John Scalzi personal or for his books as his books for me directly mimics well known books.

P.S.S. If anyone that knows me, two of my favorite characters are Drizzt and Ender, who are both the opposite as a character to Kvothe, even though the first time I heard of Kvothe, even though I had the seen the book when it came out in the bookstore, was really the first and best SUVUDU cage match 2010. It had all the top characters from Science Fiction and Fantasy up against each other. Kvothe and Drizzt was fighting it out for the third and fourth place, and I could not believe that Drizzt lost. I had to check him out. Personally I think Drizzt would have won just because he is over infinite times better of character than Kvothe ever will ever be. ...more

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Nov 24, 2011 Althea Ann rated it it was amazing

The dedication to this book says something about "if you want to do something, take your time and do it right the first time." I thought that was a pretty arrogant thing for an author to say about his first published book. However, reading the book... well, it's completely justified.
This doesn't read like a first novel. The writing shows a mastery of the craft, and I was quickly fully immersed in Rothfuss' world.
It's long, and not a whole lot happens. Some readers might feel impatient with this, ...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Hannah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

The Name of the Wind is the first day of three in which Kvothe recalls his life story. A legendary figure, tales of him are told across the lands.

"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'."

At the start of the story, however, we find him settled in a The Name of the Wind is the first day of three in which Kvothe recalls his life story. A legendary figure, tales of him are told across the lands.

"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'."

At the start of the story, however, we find him settled in a backwater village posing as Kote, an innkeeper. As his few regulars tell stories of the Chandrian, one returns bloodied and cut, carrying a dead spider like creature known as scrael. Whilst out hunting for more of its kind, Kote meets Chronicler, a famous storyteller. He is later persuaded to recollect his life story starting in his childhood where he sees an Arcanist do magic by naming the wind, and follows the events that lead him to encounter the Chandrian, fight for survival in Tarbean, and then go on to study at university and learn sympathy (otherwise known as magic).

The start of the story is steeped in mystery. If the stories about him are true then what happened to Kvothe that would make him go from legend to unknown. What exactly are the scrael? And who are the Chandrian: are they real, are they demons, or something else? Whilst we learn a little about the Chandrian through Kvothe’s determined search for information, the mystery of the scrael remains unexplained.

Whilst the story is very plot driven, detailing a large portion of Kvothe’s childhood and adolescence, the character development isn’t as strong. With Kvothe telling his own story from his perspective, the other characters are lacking in any real depth. Again mystery surrounds Denna, a wild and flighty young woman that Kvothe falls in love with. Even Bast, who we learn is not human, we still know very little of.

I love maps that accompany books, however the one featured with this novel adds little to help understand the events that happen. I really hope that as the story progresses and develops in the following books, the map will help give a real spatial benefit.

I couldn't write a review of this book without mentioning Patrick Rothfuss' magical way with words. His writing style creates fluid flowing plot as well as imaginative and poignant descriptions. The novel is also filled with rhymes and other stories, to relate fairytales, myths and historical events. Through this we gradually learn more about powerful rulers of times-gone, the Chandrian, and the power of magic.

The Name of the Wind was an enjoyable, gripping read, although it did feel like a conquest reaching the end of this mammoth book. Patrick Rothfuss' debut novel is steeped in mythology and magic. This first installment sets the groundwork for the other books, and certainly leaves you waiting to find out what else happened to Kvothe in his younger years and what might happen with the scrael. ...more

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Aug 15, 2011 Nick Mariner rated it really liked it

Probably actually 4.5 stars if that was a possibility. The oral historian in me loved this book, a story of a legendary hero telling his own life story of how he became legendary. The only reason I dropped a half star was because there were about 50-60 pages in the mid-section that left me thinking "why would this be included" and bogged down the pace of the story a tad. Other than that, awesome f-ing read. ...more

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Mar 19, 2011 Caleigh Minshall rated it it was amazing

This is just so much more than your typical fantasy. Brilliant character, gorgeous writing, lots of intelligent play with storytelling ... Completely amazing. I felt like I was in the hands of a total expert -- no idea where Rothfuss was going with the book, but I always knew it would be excellent. One of my favourite books of all time. Can't wait to buy the hardcover set when the last one comes out :) (I'm waiting to read Wise Man's Fear until then ...!) ...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Hannah rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

The re-read was just as good as the first time

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Apr 03, 2010 Danette Cole rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I was recommended this book and I wasn't disappointed! I loved this book and I cannot wait until the second one comes out. ...more

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Feb 16, 2011 Jason Abay-Abay rated it it was amazing

Great story building, it looks like this series is going to one epic read.

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Apr 22, 2012 Elise rated it it was amazing

amazing book, can't wait to read the second one! I fell in love with this book very quickly, I'm about to read the second book and can't wait for the third one! ...more

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