The Name of the Wind

Patrick Rothfuss

Mar 2007 · Penguin

About this ebook

Discover #1 New York Times-bestselling Patrick Rothfuss’ epic fantasy series, The Kingkiller Chronicle.
 
“I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda • “He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.” —George R. R. Martin • “Rothfuss has real talent.” —Terry Brooks
 
OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD!
 
DAY ONE: THE NAME OF THE WIND
 
My name is Kvothe.
 
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
 
You may have heard of me.
 
So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature—the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man’s search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend.  

 
Praise for The Kingkiller Chronicle:
 
“The best epic fantasy I read last year.... He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.”
—George R. R. Martin, New York Times-bestselling author of A Song of Ice and Fire
 
“Rothfuss has real talent, and his tale of Kvothe is deep and intricate and wondrous.” 
—Terry Brooks, New York Times-bestselling author of Shannara
 
"It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing...with true music in the words."
—Ursula K. Le Guin, award-winning author of Earthsea
 
"The characters are real and the magic is true.” 
—Robin Hobb, New York Times-bestselling author of Assassin’s Apprentice
 
"Masterful.... There is a beauty to Pat's writing that defies description." 
—Brandon Sanderson, New York Times-bestselling author of Mistborn

Ratings and reviews

Though many say the writing is skillful I found it to be regularly heavy handed. Every other paragraph there is some kind of unnecessary flexing of sentimental musing, trying hard to be philosophical. Pair with this ridiculous Gary Stu protagonist this book was an absolute chore. There is nothing about this character that is relatable or interesting. He's so uselessly, boringly perfect in an insufferable roll-your-eyes way that is impossible to get past and does not change or evolve.

This book has a great main character of my favorite type: competent and confident. Also, he's some kind of wizard. Fantasy books today are too often low fantasy barely having any wizards or magic at all. This book is great with lots of simple magic and a hint of something even more powerful and great. My one complaint is that sometimes the character acts out of pride and/or love which makes it hard to relate to him and ruins his image as a prodigy. He's so often rational so whenever he makes irrational moves it's hard to read.

An epic story that I couldn't put down. A Wise Man's Fears is the second book in the series and it is great as well. I can't wait to see how Patrick Rothfuss finishes the journey (ahem, although I have been waiting for quite a while now, lol).

About the author

Patrick Rothfuss is the bestselling author of The Kingkiller Chronicle. His first novel, The Name of the Wind, won the Quill Award and was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. Its sequel, The Wise Man’s Fear, debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestseller chart and won the David Gemmell Legend Award. His novels have appeared on NPR’s Top 100 Science Fiction/Fantasy Books list and Locus’ Best 21st Century Fantasy Novels list. Pat lives in Wisconsin, where he brews mead, builds box forts with his children, and runs Worldbuilders, a book-centered charity that has raised more than six million dollars for Heifer International. He can be found at patrickrothfuss.com and on Twitter at @patrickrothfuss.