The Name Of The Wind: Patrick Rothfuss
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The Name of the Wind is the first book in Patrick Rothfuss’ new Kingkiller series.
This is the story of Kvothe (pronounced almost like “Quothe”), also knows as “Kvothe the Bloodless” and “Kvothe Kingkiller”. The Name of the Wind introduces us to Kvothe as he is now, striving desperately to become lost in obscurity, and gives us a fascinating look into Kvothe’s history as he narrates his own tale to a famous scribe.
Readability is excellent – the author's descriptions are vivid and meaningful. What we see of Mr. Rothfuss’ interesting world is described entirely through the eyes of the viewpoint character, allowing us to discover it as he does.
Synopsis:
The Name of the Wind is told (most of the time) from the point of view of Kvothe, the central character. When the author changes viewpoint characters, it is always in the context of the larger meta-story which is taking place in the current time. Most of the book is composed of Kvothe’s tale as seen through his eyes. From his beginnings as an actor in a traveling troupe to the beginnings of his education in sympathy (magic) at the University, we are given detailed insight into how Kvothe’s experiences have molded him.
My Take:
Once in a while, you find a true gem of a novel – a story that is just “right”. Pacing, dialogue, plot, you name it, it’s pretty close to perfect. This is one of those novels.
I was entirely spellbound from the moment I began the first chapter – I literally could not put it down, and when I had to, couldn’t wait to pick up where I had left off.
Kvothe’s tale is one of personal growth and exploration. Born a genius, he still experiences the timeless failings of youth, running headlong into peril or holding back too cautiously when he should step forward and seize the moment. I found it very easy to empathize with the character, who is quite likeable. Discovering the intricacies of Mr. Rothfuss’ domain along with Kvothe was a pleasure – I particularly liked the methodology of the series’ magic. I also liked the irony of Kvothe’s quest to separate truth from legend all the while becoming a legend himself.
I found this to be a truly excellent novel, and can hardly wait for the next book in the series!
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Hardcover: 662 pages
Publisher: DAW Hardcover (March 27, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 075640407X
ISBN-13: 978-0756404079
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