Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind

Author: Patrick Rothfuss
Series: The Kingkiller Chronicle #1
Publisher: DAW Books, Inc.
Genre: Adult Fantasy
Format: Paperback, 662 pages
Release Date: January 1, 2007
Source: Borrowed from a friend (Thanks, Christopher!)
Rating: 5 Stars
Add to Goodreads
Buy the Book

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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 a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. A high-action story written with a poet's hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

My Review:

Wow. I am so nervous about reading adult fantasy. It’s so long and so complex and I worry that I’ll either be bored or really confused. But my friend Christopher recommended this book to me and I checked out some reviews on Goodreads and was blown away by the number of 5 star gushing reviews so I decided to give it a try. I am so so glad I did.

This is Kvothe’s story, told by him. I loved the way this book was written. With Kvothe himself telling his story, it gave it a sense of legitimacy. It was also just beautifully written. The prose is gorgeous and has a musical quality to it, much like Kvothe himself. You see, Kvothe is very musically gifted, among other things. And as you’re reading, you can hear it. You can hear his passion for music in the way that he speaks. And I absolutely loved that.

Is this book packed full of action? No. This is one of those books that slowly creeps up on you, drawing you so far into the story that you're lost amidst the pages. And then it ends and you shake your head and blink a few times wondering where you are and why the things surrounding you look so ordinary. I was so lost and drawn into this world that Patrick Rothfuss created that I never wanted to leave. I was on the streets of Tarbean with Kvothe fighting for my life. I was at the University with him soaking up the knowledge and struggling to keep my head above water financially. I was in Trebon with him as he performed his first heroic act. I was everywhere, sucked into these pages, lost in the story.

Kvothe was a very interesting character. We see him as he is in the present and you can’t help but wonder how he got to where he is. Because the young Kvothe he speaks of is nothing like the shell of a man he is now. And I am dying to know what happened. What events led him to this life he lives now as an innkeeper when before he was a bright eyed clever young boy.

But I didn’t just love Kvothe; I loved all the characters. Bast and Auri especially. I can’t wait to learn more about these two in the future. They seem like such good friends to Kvothe. One from his past and one from his future. I loved that even though this is truly Kvothe’s story, these characters were still fleshed out and felt real.

And don’t even get me started on the world-building. Amazing. Incredible. Astounding. Jaw-dropping. Unbelievably inventive. These are just a few words I can use to describe it. This world is so creative and inventive. It holds so many fantasy elements that I love and so many that I desperately want to learn more about in future books.

Read this book. If you’re a fantasy lover, read it. I don’t care if you don’t normally read adult fiction. I don’t care if the length scares you. I promise that you will not regret it. This is one of those books that will make a deep impact on you. That you will remember for months and years later. A book that will make you question heroism and what it takes to be one. A book that will make you evaluate your own life and your own petty struggles. And a book that will leave you completely breathless and wanting more. 

Let's talk! Have you read this book? What did you think? Were you blown away by this world and Kvothe's story? Have any other adult fantasy recs for me?