Source: Goodreads
Kote runs the Waystone Inn in the tiny, isolated town of Newarre. One day, a man called The Chronicler appears claiming to know Kote’s true identity and begs to be allowed to write the memoir of the King Killer. Kote agrees and gives the man three days. The Name of the Wind constitutes the first. Kvothe, Kote’s real name, was born Edema Ruh, one the most talented groups of actors and musicians in all the Four Corners of Civilization. When he is suddenly orphaned at a young age, he sets out to attend the University, where a talented student can learn the likes of Math, Chemistry, Medicine, Rhetoric, and even Magic.
Let me begin by saying that this book is massive, as is its sequel. This one clocks in at 662 pages of dense content. It is not something I picked up lightly, and I probably wouldn’t have picked it up at all if my 11-year-old self hadn’t had a huge crush on this guy who, once we entered the age of Facebook, quoted this series constantly. It piqued my interest, it was fantasy, which I loved, and he kept posting about it, so I decided I had to give it a try. Still, it was very big, and I didn’t end up reading it until about 2014, by which time I was determined to find out why this book was supposedly amazing.
I checked it out of the library about five times because I kept getting lost or interested in other books, but I finally locked myself in my room and finished the second half in two or three days. It was actually pretty good once I got into it, but I had to force myself to stop thinking about why people liked it before I could enjoy it. The narrative flies all over the place and Kvothe experiences a lot of different situations and feelings, so I feel that there’s something to appeal to everyone here if you don’t mind getting through whatever parts you don’t like.
Overall, it was quite good. I found the beginning very confusing, but then unless you’ve read reviews you don’t know that you’re in the present and SO MUCH has happened that you aren’t aware of yet. The story is mostly a narrative within the story, Kvothe dictating for The Chronicler his early life, but there are bits and pieces that take place in present day, and these the reader is not given an explanation for.
If you love big books that move at a sedated pace, this is the series for you. But if you like short, quick reads, definitely steer clear. I personally enjoyed it and will probably reread it at least once before the third book comes out, but the date for that has been TBA since 2011. Rothfuss has two young children so this could take a while. Maybe also avoid this series if you only read series that have ended.
HHC Rating: 3.75 Stars
Other reviews in this series: Book #2 – The Wise Man’s Fear