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maddy_pierson's review against another edition
1.0
I really wanted to give this book a full 5 (or even 4) stars, but it just didn't quite make it. The worldbuilding is quite good, and the plot and characters both have so much potential. Lots of the characters seem great, but I'd really like to see them more fleshed out. Kvothe is sometimes frustratingly perfect, with almost no flaws, and he started to feel like a different character to me than the boy in the beginning of the story.
There were many characters introduced whose plots just disappeared, even though they had so much potential. I realize there are more books in the series, and that those characters and subjects will probably be touched on later on, but I just felt like the book could've covered more ground than it did. It was a little bit too much exposition and just not enough coverage of the important plots.
I find myself very intrigued by Bast, Auri, and Elodin. I'm even really intrigued by the Kvothe who is narrating the story. However, I just can't find it in me yet to really feel something for Kvothe once he goes to the Univerity. Same for Denna, even though Kvothe first made her out to be some otherworldly woman, inexplicable and special. Sadly, she hasn't proven to be so yet, but I have hopes for her.
I really did enjoy the book, I think that the world Rothfuss has built has many promising facets, and an interesting history. I think that once Kvothe leaves the University things will start getting more interesting. The Chandrian is a plot that has so much potential, and should hold a lot of weight in the book, but it doesn't seem to like it should.
Still, I did read the book in just a couple of days, and I really did enjoy it. While it could have been written slightly better, I still found it very intriguing, and I hope that the second book adds a little more substance to its characters and plot than this first book has.
There were many characters introduced whose plots just disappeared, even though they had so much potential. I realize there are more books in the series, and that those characters and subjects will probably be touched on later on, but I just felt like the book could've covered more ground than it did. It was a little bit too much exposition and just not enough coverage of the important plots.
I find myself very intrigued by Bast, Auri, and Elodin. I'm even really intrigued by the Kvothe who is narrating the story. However, I just can't find it in me yet to really feel something for Kvothe once he goes to the Univerity. Same for Denna, even though Kvothe first made her out to be some otherworldly woman, inexplicable and special. Sadly, she hasn't proven to be so yet, but I have hopes for her.
I really did enjoy the book, I think that the world Rothfuss has built has many promising facets, and an interesting history. I think that once Kvothe leaves the University things will start getting more interesting. The Chandrian is a plot that has so much potential, and should hold a lot of weight in the book, but it doesn't seem to like it should.
Still, I did read the book in just a couple of days, and I really did enjoy it. While it could have been written slightly better, I still found it very intriguing, and I hope that the second book adds a little more substance to its characters and plot than this first book has.
jvar's review against another edition
5.0
Epic
I've had this book recommended to me many times over the years. I finally gave in and was not disappointed, even for a moment. It left me breathless in turns, surprised, delighted and stricken. If the definition of art is to feel something, then this is a masterpiece.
I've had this book recommended to me many times over the years. I finally gave in and was not disappointed, even for a moment. It left me breathless in turns, surprised, delighted and stricken. If the definition of art is to feel something, then this is a masterpiece.
becca_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
I was not expecting to like this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed watching the MC grow up and learn. I do think that the MC was too good at everything he did; it made his character unrealistic and made things way to convenient for him at times. He does work really hard at everything he does and he is a student who puts 100% effort, but I kinda wish I saw him fail more often. I also wish we got more explanation on the magic system and how it works.
apollymi_9's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
gbweeks's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed the book. My only complaint is that Kvothe is unrealistically sophisticated for someone so young.
meljoy111's review against another edition
4.0
This started slow but around chapter 30 really got interesting. I was loving it until the last few chapters when it seemed to abruptly end. Did the author decide he was tired and just give up? I have it 4 stars but 3.5 is more accurate.
ephemera8's review against another edition
3.0
This was pretty enjoyable, but it probably would have been 4 stars if it wasn’t so damn long for what it was.
argetlam12's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
lorddad's review against another edition
5.0
There are authors that tell a good story, there are those that are masters at crafting words, and then there are those that can do both. In this book, at least, Rothfuss does both. I was compelled to continue reading throughout the entire book both because I wanted to continue the story as well as read the next bit of beautifully written prose.
I'm apprehensive about the next book based on the inklings I've heard, but I would definitely recommend reading this title in the series. His character is a typical super-protagonist, smarter at a younger age than those around him, but this gives him a sense of overconfidence that bites him on multiple occasions throughout the book.
I enjoyed the setting, bouncing between a roving performing troupe, the slums of a large city, a university for arcanists and artificers, all interspersed between a modern day inn that's seeing more and more interruptions of its idyllic peace.
I'm apprehensive about the next book based on the inklings I've heard, but I would definitely recommend reading this title in the series. His character is a typical super-protagonist, smarter at a younger age than those around him, but this gives him a sense of overconfidence that bites him on multiple occasions throughout the book.
I enjoyed the setting, bouncing between a roving performing troupe, the slums of a large city, a university for arcanists and artificers, all interspersed between a modern day inn that's seeing more and more interruptions of its idyllic peace.