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xentimus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hayleystagg's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jfaberrit's review against another edition
4.0
This is a nice exercise in both character-building and world-building, befitting it's novella length. Admittedly, there isn't much action, but I'm confused by how a genre that can admit the Silmarillion as a classic wouldn't have room for a demonstration of how a character not on a heroic quest would interact with a different fantastic world. The story of Auri is charming (I'd say "sweet" and grin, but she does so about 100 times each and I need a break from those descriptions for a little while), and but for some intentional repetitions that wandered over more into being tics than showing off patterns I have to say I enjoyed the story. The stakes are low, but the writing is pleasant and Rothfuss' sense of perspective for her is strong. It's much easier to get a picture of the working of magic and sympathy certainly. Basically, an interesting and different exercise in teasing out a side-story, one I'm glad I got to see.
missemleigh's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5 stars - very sincere story of auri. Maybe not for me, like patrick suggests, but i respect and love the dedication to his craft and stories. This book still has strong, wonderful takeaways and beautiful moments.
dashie's review against another edition
5.0
Rothfuss' existence pisses me off on the occasion I remember that The Doors of Stone is still AWOL. But no writer's words speak right to the molten core of my being as his does.
I think I might like this novella more than 2/3 of The Kingkiller Chronicles that I have read. Because Kvothe is me, but all that is good and soft and caring of me that I keep hidden for the sake of my own safety and sanity is Auri. Reading about her various days, when she let's the day decide what kind of day it's going to be made me nostalgic for when I was unemployed. Yes I was dirt poor, yes given the choice I would never wallow in that poverty again, but in those days, my creativity thrived, I was rich in imagination, my life was full. I wrote and I read and I took photos and every new day, without the monotony of adult life, was an adventure waiting to happen.
This is a book to reread when I need that reminder again. That it's ok to go at your own pace; somedays are for making, somedays are for lying in the dark. But all days, you must move with grace with the earth. In balance.
I think I might like this novella more than 2/3 of The Kingkiller Chronicles that I have read. Because Kvothe is me, but all that is good and soft and caring of me that I keep hidden for the sake of my own safety and sanity is Auri. Reading about her various days, when she let's the day decide what kind of day it's going to be made me nostalgic for when I was unemployed. Yes I was dirt poor, yes given the choice I would never wallow in that poverty again, but in those days, my creativity thrived, I was rich in imagination, my life was full. I wrote and I read and I took photos and every new day, without the monotony of adult life, was an adventure waiting to happen.
This is a book to reread when I need that reminder again. That it's ok to go at your own pace; somedays are for making, somedays are for lying in the dark. But all days, you must move with grace with the earth. In balance.
freshasadaisy's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
frankincredible's review against another edition
2.0
I love Patrick Rothfuss. I have read both "The Name of the Wind" and "The Wise Man's Fear" countless times. I travelled from Orlando, FL to Silver Spring, MD to see Rothfuss give a Q&A on his book tour. I listen to any podcast (his or someone else's) he is on just to hear what he has to say. I'll even watch him play a game I have NO interest in on Twitch. I share this, because my thoughts on this book fill me with a lot of cognitive dissonance.
I don't like this book. My core values tell me that's not possible. I like EVERYTHING Rothfuss touches. How could I not like this book? I mean, sure, the book is about Auri, who is an odd character, but I knew that going in. So what's not to like about the story?
Well, the juxt of my complaint is that reading an entire story of Auri's thoughts fill me with anxiety. Auri thinks much differently than "normal" people do (those who've read Rothfuss's other stories understand). In fact, you could say she suffers from mental/cognitive disabilities or personality disorders in the most strict view of the character. It's really hard to explain to those who have not read his previous books, but basically her understanding about everything in the world around her is less about how the nouns look, what a verb is doing, and what and adjective describes. Instead, she thinks and communicates in terms of how these things make her FEEL, what emotion they evoke. Over the course of an entire story, as opposed to a few intermittent chapters, this really drummed up a sense of anxiety in me.
I recognize this is a "me problem" and not everyone will feel this way... and for that reason, I boosted my score to two stars, but if I'm being honest, the story made me so uncomfortable that in a vacuum where my score wouldn't affect the aggregate score on GoodReads, I would give it one star.
I sincerely hope others pick this story up and enjoy it. It's just not for me.
I don't like this book. My core values tell me that's not possible. I like EVERYTHING Rothfuss touches. How could I not like this book? I mean, sure, the book is about Auri, who is an odd character, but I knew that going in. So what's not to like about the story?
Well, the juxt of my complaint is that reading an entire story of Auri's thoughts fill me with anxiety. Auri thinks much differently than "normal" people do (those who've read Rothfuss's other stories understand). In fact, you could say she suffers from mental/cognitive disabilities or personality disorders in the most strict view of the character. It's really hard to explain to those who have not read his previous books, but basically her understanding about everything in the world around her is less about how the nouns look, what a verb is doing, and what and adjective describes. Instead, she thinks and communicates in terms of how these things make her FEEL, what emotion they evoke. Over the course of an entire story, as opposed to a few intermittent chapters, this really drummed up a sense of anxiety in me.
I recognize this is a "me problem" and not everyone will feel this way... and for that reason, I boosted my score to two stars, but if I'm being honest, the story made me so uncomfortable that in a vacuum where my score wouldn't affect the aggregate score on GoodReads, I would give it one star.
I sincerely hope others pick this story up and enjoy it. It's just not for me.
makocat's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
julieboebooley's review against another edition
5.0
This is a sweet story about a character I love from The Kingkiller Chronicles. It's a very odd and unusual story about an odd an unusual girl, but it's also tender and thoughtful.
I wouldn't recommend reading this book without having read the books in The Kingkiller Chronicles that are out, you'd be lost and confused and have no idea who Auri is or what's going on. But if you read those books and liked Auri, this book is for you.
I wouldn't recommend reading this book without having read the books in The Kingkiller Chronicles that are out, you'd be lost and confused and have no idea who Auri is or what's going on. But if you read those books and liked Auri, this book is for you.