"I am a great lover of the fantasy genre. So when I say that The Name of the Wind is one of the best pieces of original fantasy that I have read in years, I do not say so lightly. This inspired first installment of The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss deserves to be read not only by fantasy lovers but also by anyone who just enjoys a good story. The Name of the Wind is written largely in the voice of the hero Kvothe as he reflects upon his life. Short interludes back to the present day instill a wonderful sense of nostalgia and dark mystery into the narrative. I see this book not only a great work of fantasy but also a brilliantly self-aware look at the art of storytelling and how stories, fictional or otherwise, can shape an individual and the world at large. I sincerely hope that this book speaks to you as much as it did to me."
"George R. R. Martin is a pretty busy guy (at least he better be!), so when he takes time out from writing to read AND BLURB a debut novel, you know it is something special. The Name of The Wind, the first book in the Kingkiller Chronicles and Patrick Rothfuss’s beautifully-crafted literary debut, is that brand of special. It’s A Song ofIce & Fire/Game of Thrones, but more focused – the story of a hero, who becomes both a living legend and a lie, as told in his own words. Kote’s tale is so engrossing, you’ll be spoiled for epic fantasy for a while after reading it – that is until the much-anticipated Book #3 comes out (2015? 2016?). And I recommend picking up The Wise Man’s Fear (Book #2) at the same time as The Name of the Wind. I promise you, once you finish one, you won’t want to wait to start the second."
"Fantastic and thought provoking, this fantasy novel is a masterwork of storytelling. It follows the story-within-a-story format, and dances between the main character’s present and past flawlessly. The magic is fascinating and well thought out, with the drama of an epic and a main character who is not recklessly noble but fascinatingly human."
Publisher DAW Trade
Publication Date 2009-04-07
Section Science Fiction / All Staff Suggestions / Fiction Suggestions / Archived Staff Suggestions / Ben F. / Emily P. / Sayde M.
Format Paperback
ISBN 9780756405892
This is the riveting first-person narrative of Kvothe, a young man who grows to be one of the most notorious magicians his world has ever seen. From his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, to years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-riddled city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that transports readers into the body and mind of a wizard.
