The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1), by Patrick Rothfuss
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
First things first: I’d like to discourage you from reading this novel because the trilogy as planned by Rothfuss is still unfinished and Kvothe’s amazing story remains untold in large parts. I got this book as a gift from a colleague and despite having been similarly warned by him, I devoured it!
Rothfuss has masterfully crafted a world that is both rich in detail and vivid in imagination, making it impossible for me to put down.
The story centres around the life of Kvothe, an almost legendary wizard, musician and Kingkiller who is now living in obscurity as an innkeeper. The plot weaves together Kvothe’s past and present, with each chapter revealing more about his past and how it has shaped the person he has become. The characters in the book are beautifully crafted, with each one having their own unique personality that adds depth and colour to the story.
One of the things I loved most about “The Name of the Wind” was Rothfuss’ writing style. His prose is lyrical and poetic, making even the most mundane scenes come alive with vivid imagery. This style of writing, coupled with the intricate world-building, drew me in from the very first page and kept me invested in the story until the very end. (Which made the fact that it’s only the end of the book all the more aggravating!)
Another aspect of the book that I found particularly impressive was the magic system. The way in which magic works in this world is both complex and fascinating, with different types of magic being tied to music and other creative expressions.
Overall, I would highly recommend “The Name of the Wind” to anyone who enjoys fantasy – if only it were finished. The second instalment in the trilogy is similarly great compared to this one, albeit a bit more “explicit” in some aspects…
I just hope I’ll live to see the infamous “Doors of Stone”, the final novel in the trilogy, published. In contrast to, let’s say George R. R. Martin, whom I’ve written off as a complete and unredeemable loss, I fully intend to read Rothfuss one last time.
NB: If you read this and think “this author owes you nothing”, you’d generally be right but Rothfuss actually told us, the trilogy was completely finished several times and promised yearly releases, e. g. here: https://fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com/2…
Even his editor is disillusioned to say the least: https://www.newsweek.com/kingkiller-c…
Nevertheless, for what Rothfuss gave us with “The Name of the Wind” I cannot help but grudgingly award five stars out of five.
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
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