Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

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

Author: Patrick Rothfuss (American, 1973- )

Originally published: 2007
Page count: 722

Dates read: 6/18/22-9/18/22, 1/17/23-1/30/23

2023 book goal progress: 2 out of 23

Author Challenge: Patrick Rothfuss

Read my other book reviews for my 2023 goals HERE.



Description on back of book:
My name is Kvothe. 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 the day. I have written songs that make the minstrels weep. You may have heard of me.

So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature - the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man's search for meaning in his universe, and how that search gave birth to a legend.

First sentences:
"It was night again. The Waystone Inn lay in silence, and it was a silence of three parts."

Favorite quotes:

"When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind."

"A poet is a musician who can't sing. Word's have to find a man's mind before they can touch his heart, and some men's minds are woeful small targets. Music touches their hearts directly no matter how small or stubborn the mind of the man who listens."

"Once I knew what was bothering me, the greater part of my uneasines left. Fear tends to come from ignorance. Once I knew what the problem was, it was just a problem, nothing to fear."

"I knew he was trying to do me favor, and a week ago I would have jumped at the oppertunity for free shoes. But for some reason I didn't feel right about it. I quietly gathered up my things and left a pair of copper jots on his stool before I left. Why? Because pride is a strange thing, and because generosity deserves generosity in return. But mostly because it felt like the right thing to do, and that is reason enough."

"I finally found what I had wanted most, yet it was not what I expected. As is often the case when you gain your heart's desire."

CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 7.4/10 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters      - 8
Atmosphere   - 7
Writing Style - 7
Plot                - 8
Intrigue          - 8
Logic             - 6
Enjoyment     - 8
What is a CAWPILE Rating?

Review:

I read the first half of the book last year and finished it this year. It is a story within a story, like The Princess Bride. The main character is telling his life story, so it goes back and forth between 'the present' and 'his past.'

I don't want to say too much and give things away, but I do not like his love interest. There are 6 strong female characters in the story, all with their own unique personalities and talents (including the woman he swoons over). Though the book redeems his love interest a little, she's the least interesting with a toxic personality that happens to have a pretty face. There are 3 other women I think would be great for him, but he goes for the pretty face - boring.

Side note: Six strong females may seem like a lot. Yay! Feminism! But if you start counting the strong male characters... I can't help but be disappointed by the extreme lack of balance. Maybe the second book will have more/better representation.)

Despite that, the love story is really a very minor aspect of the general story, which is nice. Overall, I enjoyed this fantasy story with magic, 'demons', fae, humor, tragedy, and even a dragon. Oh! And a huge library called The Archives - which he gets banned from, but you'll have to read the story to find out more...

Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let Patrick Rothfuss have the last words:

"Bast stood in the doorway, practically dancing with irritation. When he spotted the approaching figure he rushed down the street, waving a piece of paper angrily. 'A note? You sneak out and leave me a note?' He hissed angrily. 'What am I, some dockside whore?'

Kote turned around and shrugged. 'I knew you would just argue with me, Bast.'

'It wasn't even a good note. "If you're reading this I am probably dead." What sort of note is that?'

'You weren't supposed to find it till morning,' Kote said tiredly."