Published: March 2007
Pages: 662
Summary
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.
My thoughts
The Name of the Wind is a captivating tale that is beloved by countless readers. Over 1 million Goodreads ratings with a 4.52 score, this book has done something and I’ve been longing to see what this story is all about.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its immersive world-building. Rothfuss has crafted a complex and descriptive fantasy realm, filled with lore and captivating cultures.
I thoroughly enjoyed the prose and although the pacing felt a bit off at times, the writing made it worth it to stick around. He certainly had me in his grip and I love it when I find a book that makes me FEEL. This one packs a punch and my heart was aching for this wee boy.
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.
However, the novel is not without its flaws. Now this story of Kvothe is being told by.. Kvothe. So we have to assume he holds a level of bias and that doesn’t make him the most reliable narrator.
Something you will catch on quick to is that Kvothe is brilliant at everything he does. He is wise beyond his years and with very little time he can effortlessly master various skill and memorise the most complex magical theory.. even considering that he may be exaggerating the story, he is only able to progress through the story because of his brilliantness.
At times I found it ridiculous “oh he’s amazing at this thing too?” It got tiring and predictable. Perhaps you don’t need a reason for being incredibly smart, but it’s so unlikely, and I know I’m saying that about a book with magic, but its very hard to root for a character that is so unrelatable.
Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.
My other main issue is that Kvothe would not be where he is or had the opportunities he had if not for the women in his life. The female characters are also incredibly interesting but they only get time and attention in this story to push Kvothe along, which is so frustrating. Perhaps we see more of them in book 2 or 3 but for nearly 700 pages, we could have gotten much more without taking away from the story.
To me, they feel like plot devices, pushed into the story as a way for Kvothe to ‘progress’ and develop. We know literally nothing about these women except for their interactions with Kvothe, I reflected on the story and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Would I recommend?
Yes, despite these criticisms, The Name of the Wind remains a compelling read. Rothfuss’s storytelling and prose make it a wonderful experience (emotional turmoil included). This was an unique and thought-provoking work of fantasy and I’ll definitely be reading book 2!