Book 1 of The Kingkiller Chronicles
Rating: 4 out of 5
If one were to describe a book as a “Harry Potter for adults” or a “darker, grittier version of Harry Potter”, it may be enough to make readers cringe and avoid it like the plague. Let’s see…. A gifted boy who is suddenly orphaned and subsequently finds himself studying in a university that teaches magic (or sympathy, as it is called in the book). Sound familiar? A tad unoriginal? True, maybe. In fact, this book is a throwback story similar to the times when stories of orphan boy-magicians became redundant and tiring. But then, Patrick Rothfuss, on his debut work, has succeeded in placing his own touch on the story and transports the reader into a tale of legends, heroics, demons, gods, and most of all, magic and music.
The Name of the Wind is the story of the legendary Kvothe (pronounced “quothe”), or rather the story of his beginnings. Kvothe, at the beginning of the story, is now called Kote and is living his days away from his past, tending to his Waystone Inn along with his assistant, Bast. One day, a man called Chronicler comes into the inn and discovers Kote’s true identity. He appeals to Kote to tell his life story. With reluctance, Kvothe begins to tell his tale. It is the story of a boy who grew up blissfully among his father’s troupe of artists and musicians, going from town to town to perform. He invites into the group a magician (or arcanist, as they are called in the book), Abenthy who sparks in him a strong interest in sympathy, in which Kvothe proves to be some kind of a prodigy. Abenthy also plants in him the idea that one day Kvothe might want to enter the University, where sympathy is taught.
Kvothe’s blissful life comes to a crashing turn as he comes home one day to find his camp burned and everyone he loved dead in what seems at that time, an unfortunate chance encounter with brigands. Left alone in the woods by himself with only his father’s lute, the only thing he salvaged from the wreckage of his life, he finds that he has a greater talent for music that anyone ever dreamt possible. He soon lives the life of an urchin in a city, learning to survive its mean streets until one day, he decides to take the biggest chance of his life and apply for entrance to the University, in which he makes it through. Here, Kvothe learns of power, determination, mischief, bravery, loss, desperation and friendship. He learns of the things that will drive him all his life – his magic, his music, and the woman that will haunt his heart. He will learn of names and the name of the wind.
The Name of the Wind with its story, in itself, would have been unremarkable considering this is a setup book for the next parts of The Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy, but for the amazing prose of Patrick Rothfuss which is elegant, intelligent, witty in the right places, at the same time simple and straightforward. But most of all it has passion. And it is this passion that speaks to the reader and tugs at the heartstrings that pulls one in. One would be hardpressed to find another work that speaks with so much beauty. The Name of the Wind is not just a book, it is a lovely piece of music. Consider the following passage, which is one of the most facinating introductions of a character:
And there are other issues, this being the initial book of a trilogy. First of all, Rothfuss approached his story differently in which he did not go right away to his main plotline but started literally at the very beginning, explaining the background of the story of the boy who will one day become Kvothe and dedicated the entire first book to that. No big plotlines were started therefore no plotlines are resolved, and by the time it ends, the reader is left with more questions. Consequently, the main character is hinted at being this legendary, enigmatic figure but yet the Kvothe that we see in the story is not yet the man he is to become. One can only read the introduction passage of the main character and ask, “When are we going to see that Kvothe?” The reader can also see many interesting glimpses of the world where Kvothe belongs, but isn’t given the whole picture of it as a whole and is left wondering “What more is out there?” But these really are not faults of the book or Rothfuss’s work but rather a testament to the compelling writing of the author that he was able to grab the reader’s interest and transport them inside the story and makes them ask for more.
In a way, Rothfuss has succeeded in putting the readers in the shoes of Chronicler as he listens to Kvothe, and like Chronicler, the readers find themselves waiting eagerly for when Kvothe tells the next installment of his story.
The Name of the Wind is the story of the legendary Kvothe (pronounced “quothe”), or rather the story of his beginnings. Kvothe, at the beginning of the story, is now called Kote and is living his days away from his past, tending to his Waystone Inn along with his assistant, Bast. One day, a man called Chronicler comes into the inn and discovers Kote’s true identity. He appeals to Kote to tell his life story. With reluctance, Kvothe begins to tell his tale. It is the story of a boy who grew up blissfully among his father’s troupe of artists and musicians, going from town to town to perform. He invites into the group a magician (or arcanist, as they are called in the book), Abenthy who sparks in him a strong interest in sympathy, in which Kvothe proves to be some kind of a prodigy. Abenthy also plants in him the idea that one day Kvothe might want to enter the University, where sympathy is taught.
Kvothe’s blissful life comes to a crashing turn as he comes home one day to find his camp burned and everyone he loved dead in what seems at that time, an unfortunate chance encounter with brigands. Left alone in the woods by himself with only his father’s lute, the only thing he salvaged from the wreckage of his life, he finds that he has a greater talent for music that anyone ever dreamt possible. He soon lives the life of an urchin in a city, learning to survive its mean streets until one day, he decides to take the biggest chance of his life and apply for entrance to the University, in which he makes it through. Here, Kvothe learns of power, determination, mischief, bravery, loss, desperation and friendship. He learns of the things that will drive him all his life – his magic, his music, and the woman that will haunt his heart. He will learn of names and the name of the wind.
The Name of the Wind with its story, in itself, would have been unremarkable considering this is a setup book for the next parts of The Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy, but for the amazing prose of Patrick Rothfuss which is elegant, intelligent, witty in the right places, at the same time simple and straightforward. But most of all it has passion. And it is this passion that speaks to the reader and tugs at the heartstrings that pulls one in. One would be hardpressed to find another work that speaks with so much beauty. The Name of the Wind is not just a book, it is a lovely piece of music. Consider the following passage, which is one of the most facinating introductions of a character:
Still, being a debut work, it has its faults. There are parts where Rothfuss indulges upon more than he needed to, making the book somewhat overly long. There are also parts in the beginning where the story seems to start to take off and then suddenly come back down again jarring the readers out of their momentum. And some of the resolutions to issues early in the plot somehow seem forced. These would have taken away from the quality of the book if not for the beauty of Rothfuss’s writing and the enigmatic aura of his main character. The Name of the Wind is also written mostly on a first-person narrative; therefore, as expected, most supporting characters are not developed. For example, Kvothe describes two of his University companions as his closest and staunchest friends but that feeling never comes across to the reader because little time was spent with them.“I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night in 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 than others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make minstrels weep.
You may have heard of me.”
And there are other issues, this being the initial book of a trilogy. First of all, Rothfuss approached his story differently in which he did not go right away to his main plotline but started literally at the very beginning, explaining the background of the story of the boy who will one day become Kvothe and dedicated the entire first book to that. No big plotlines were started therefore no plotlines are resolved, and by the time it ends, the reader is left with more questions. Consequently, the main character is hinted at being this legendary, enigmatic figure but yet the Kvothe that we see in the story is not yet the man he is to become. One can only read the introduction passage of the main character and ask, “When are we going to see that Kvothe?” The reader can also see many interesting glimpses of the world where Kvothe belongs, but isn’t given the whole picture of it as a whole and is left wondering “What more is out there?” But these really are not faults of the book or Rothfuss’s work but rather a testament to the compelling writing of the author that he was able to grab the reader’s interest and transport them inside the story and makes them ask for more.
In a way, Rothfuss has succeeded in putting the readers in the shoes of Chronicler as he listens to Kvothe, and like Chronicler, the readers find themselves waiting eagerly for when Kvothe tells the next installment of his story.
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