Patrick Rothfuss’s The Name of the Wind is the first book in the Kingkiller Chronicle.
It is a fantastic novel taking place in medieval world. This world has its own tales and legends, gods and demons. This world also has its own magic. Using principles of science, arcanists wield sympathy to manipulate the elements of the natural world. Powerful users of sympathy can also learn the names of things, and, with these names, the wielder is given enormous power to manipulate things such as the wind. This story is often compared to both Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series after some similarities in the plot. The story is narrated by Kvothe an innkeeper and a legend in disguise.
Kvothe is a marvelous character. He is extremely intelligent and quick-witted. Wherever he goes, he can quickly become the best at what he does. This can make him both friends and enemies. Kvothe is forced to endure many hard trials throughout this book’s length and he survives all of them stronger than he was before. When Kvothe is first introduced, he is a quiet, but endlessly mysterious innkeeper known by the name of Kote. Kote is persuaded to tell his incredible tale of how the son of a trouper became the legend known as Kvothe.
This book maybe intimidating to look at, but a marvelous story hides within its pages. The plot is intricate and lays the ground work for future novels. Kvothe’s journey is filled with both hardship and humor. This quick-witted character caused his rivals to enter hilarious and awkward situations. The Name of the Wind series is widely regarded as a classic in the making. It is beautifully written and has in intricate plot that requires readers to notice details. Hints and clues are told through stories and songs. As to be expected from a tome, this story has a multitude of characters. Many of these characters are recurring and are important. Some of these characters have multiple names. The main character is called a different name by different people and the name reveals some insight that person’s interaction with Kvothe. This amazing 722 page book is worth 5 stars.
The Kingkiller Chronicles
This series takes place in expansive, medieval world. This world has its own gods, demons, legends and lore. Using Principles of science and magic, arcanists wield sympathy to manipulate elements of the world. Arcanists must train at the University, a prestigious school for intelligent people. There is also a mysterious group called the Chandarin that goes around killing people. (To all readers: stories and songs are important to the lore of this book.)