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anitapit's review
5.0
The writing, the story, the characters, the descriptions, the humor, the.. everything. JUST YES. If you like fantasy and a good story, read this book.
And Kvothe? I love you.
And Kvothe? I love you.
amandalanphear's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars
This was a slow burn... and I enjoyed it! But I was expecting a bigger payoff in the end..
*Spoilers Below*
600+ pages and we still don't know anymore about the Chandrian?? or Deenah? or Bash?
Hoping the second book has more action and some actual answers
This was a slow burn... and I enjoyed it! But I was expecting a bigger payoff in the end..
*Spoilers Below*
600+ pages and we still don't know anymore about the Chandrian?? or Deenah? or Bash?
Hoping the second book has more action and some actual answers
heytony's review against another edition
5.0
A legendary arcanist, Kvothe, is currently in hiding as an innkeeper in remote town. He is sought out by a scribe that wishes to record his official story. The story will be told over three days and this book covers the first day. This follows the story of Kvothe as a child, in his own voice, seeking admission to the University, where he can learn the secrets of magic.
This was such a great book. I loved the writing, and I really did feel like I was being told a story - one that Kvothe had been preparing to tell for quite some time now. I loved so much of this book and am quickly finding myself a sucker for a good magical school. This was instantly one of my favorite fantasy books and I would recommend it to anyone that likes fantast or just a really good story!
This was such a great book. I loved the writing, and I really did feel like I was being told a story - one that Kvothe had been preparing to tell for quite some time now. I loved so much of this book and am quickly finding myself a sucker for a good magical school. This was instantly one of my favorite fantasy books and I would recommend it to anyone that likes fantast or just a really good story!
hanolalaith's review against another edition
5.0
For you're a fantasy fan, and have found the genre getting stale, The Name of the Wind is a breath of fresh air. Rothfuss has built a world of magic that stems from science, and characters who are very relatable. It will hit especially close to home if you come from a musical family. It is not a difficult read, and the short chapters make it perfect for reading on work breaks. I prefer to review series as a complete story, but his was so enjoyable that I'm barging right into the second book.
stmartin's review against another edition
4.0
Best book I've read in a long time. I listened to it because it was recommended by a lot of people, and a lot of people on my Goodreads friends list gave it high praise. It was one of those books you just want to inhale and get it all in at one time. Every part seemed relevant. When it was over I couldn't believe it was over. It sounds like there is another book in the series... I'll have to get that one next.
geekess's review against another edition
4.0
When I found this book on GR, I was hesitant to read it, because of the negative reviews about the "perfect protagonist". I tried the first chapter and confirmed my fears, and the book ended up on my maybe-someday-list. The start reminded of all the Tolkien-clones there are in the fantasy-world. I hate Tolkien-clones.
But... being out of anything good to read, I returned to this audiobook. And was very pleasantly surprised. Let me say this first: I love this book. I don't really know why. I hate perfect protagonists with a fierce abandon ;-) I like complicated and selfdoubting characters. I like greys in morality. I like failure and reality in a story. To be frank, this book has none of that.
But it has something that I really appreciated: it tells the story behind a famous sorcerer/adventurer. I love stories about (in)famous people. The how and why. People become someone for a reason. Most stories we tell about famous people aren't true in the least. So, who is this person really?
So, I was hooked as soon as the Kvothe started to tell The Chronicler about his youth.
Regarding those negative reviews here on GR... I get the impression those people haven't read the same book, or maybe not in its entirety. Or are maybe immature young boys or something. Or maybe just don't like it, taste is a very personal thing. But the things these review mention I can't really find in the book.
Yes, there may be a homosexual relation between Kvothe and Bast. Maybe. Might be just a really good friendship/bromance, in my opinion.
I can really find no traces of an Oedipus-complex. Yes he loved his mother. That's what mentally healthy people do, especially when their mother is taken from them. They idealize them in retrospect. And most men are really attracted to women that resemble their mother (and women to men that resemble their father). I have studied Psychology and I just can't find traces of anything of the sort in this story.
Kvothe isn't infallible, does make mistakes and big ones. He gets in trouble at every opportunity, and yes that is a bit tough to swallow sometimes, because I think he shouldn't be thát dense. It a bit 1 dimensional, his flaw not to see those traps. But then again, a lot of real people are this stupid, so why not a brilliant fictional sorcerer.
Well, I can't say much without spoiling the story, so I'm not going to try. I loved this story. It's light and fluffy but nowhere near as fluffy as David Eddings. Reminded me more of Robert Jordan (which I still consider fairly brainless Soap-reading, until Brandon Sanderson took over) but with teeth.
No, it's not literature. It doesn't come close to real writers like Steven Erikson or Stephen Donaldson or Patricia McKillip or... well a lot of them. But by my book, it high on the "normal" ranking list for enjoyment and readability, and most of all: entertainment.
My first fears about the Tolkienality were groundless. It veers of into an entirely different direction.
I immediately went on to the second book, and that says a lot.
So... Give this book a try. Don't let yourself get turned of by the synopsis or bad reviews or the first chapters. Give it until Kvothe gets near the University. You may be pleasantly surprised.
But... being out of anything good to read, I returned to this audiobook. And was very pleasantly surprised. Let me say this first: I love this book. I don't really know why. I hate perfect protagonists with a fierce abandon ;-) I like complicated and selfdoubting characters. I like greys in morality. I like failure and reality in a story. To be frank, this book has none of that.
But it has something that I really appreciated: it tells the story behind a famous sorcerer/adventurer. I love stories about (in)famous people. The how and why. People become someone for a reason. Most stories we tell about famous people aren't true in the least. So, who is this person really?
So, I was hooked as soon as the Kvothe started to tell The Chronicler about his youth.
Regarding those negative reviews here on GR... I get the impression those people haven't read the same book, or maybe not in its entirety. Or are maybe immature young boys or something. Or maybe just don't like it, taste is a very personal thing. But the things these review mention I can't really find in the book.
Yes, there may be a homosexual relation between Kvothe and Bast. Maybe. Might be just a really good friendship/bromance, in my opinion.
I can really find no traces of an Oedipus-complex. Yes he loved his mother. That's what mentally healthy people do, especially when their mother is taken from them. They idealize them in retrospect. And most men are really attracted to women that resemble their mother (and women to men that resemble their father). I have studied Psychology and I just can't find traces of anything of the sort in this story.
Kvothe isn't infallible, does make mistakes and big ones. He gets in trouble at every opportunity, and yes that is a bit tough to swallow sometimes, because I think he shouldn't be thát dense. It a bit 1 dimensional, his flaw not to see those traps. But then again, a lot of real people are this stupid, so why not a brilliant fictional sorcerer.
Well, I can't say much without spoiling the story, so I'm not going to try. I loved this story. It's light and fluffy but nowhere near as fluffy as David Eddings. Reminded me more of Robert Jordan (which I still consider fairly brainless Soap-reading, until Brandon Sanderson took over) but with teeth.
No, it's not literature. It doesn't come close to real writers like Steven Erikson or Stephen Donaldson or Patricia McKillip or... well a lot of them. But by my book, it high on the "normal" ranking list for enjoyment and readability, and most of all: entertainment.
My first fears about the Tolkienality were groundless. It veers of into an entirely different direction.
I immediately went on to the second book, and that says a lot.
So... Give this book a try. Don't let yourself get turned of by the synopsis or bad reviews or the first chapters. Give it until Kvothe gets near the University. You may be pleasantly surprised.
danielkk's review against another edition
5.0
Rothfuss created a new fantasy fan with this engaging tale. Highly recommend -- very difficult to put down -- just damn good storytelling.
abuchan's review against another edition
3.0
Mary Sue vibes @Kvothe. Overall, I enjoyed the book, although I'm not yet certain if I'll read the second one. I enjoyed the magic system and the story but couldn't connect with the characters as much as I'd hoped. Perhaps it will grow on me over time. Who's to say?
mattdavenport's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've ever read. In fact, it is probably the best book I've ever read all things considered. I'm gonna start with the one negative before I get to the positives: it starts slow. Still, there were plenty of little moments to keep me intrigued throughout the story until he gets to the University, where things start heating up. And the beginning is still insanely interesting, it's just slow. All the negative ratings I've seen on here are from people who gave up too soon, which is frustrating. Okay, the good.
Writing: The best. I'm not a writing expert, but I know some about prose and I've read all the major fantasy series. Rothfuss isn't as detailed as Martin or Sanderson, but he paints a beautiful picture while still using adult, extensive vocabulary. He's actually a better writer than any of them because of how much he focuses on his language. The best word I can use is smooth. With other great authors sometimes you gotta struggle; you have to force yourself to read some boring paragraphs so that you can enjoy the great parts. Every paragraph is enjoyable in this book and in every other Rothfuss book.
Characters: Kvothe, in the past and present parts, is awesome. He is the most complete, and my personal favorite, of all the fantasy character's I've had the pleasure to read about. He's mysterious, he's intriguing, I don't know what to expect but I understand his motivations for everything he does at the same time. He is proud, but sad, and so complex... I can't even explain. All the characters he interacts with are awesome too; Bast is intricate and mysterious, the Chronicler seems to represent us as the reader in a lot of ways, his friends Sim and Wil are perfect, Dany is the closest character I've ever read about that relates to ways I've felt in certain relationships before, and Elodin and the other teachers take well-known tropes and paint them in new, beautiful lights. So let's talk about the rest of the book's points...
POV: I hate first person. Correction: I used to, because everything before this I read first person was shitty. This is written beautifully, and it's not even really first person. He's telling his own story, but it's like it's third person. Update: after reading Blood Song, by Anthony Ryan, I've gained even more appreciation for Rothfuss writing and how he built up this story. Ryan tried to do the same thing, and just wasn't a good enough author for it.
Magic: Fantastic. Amazing. So many series just create magic and expect you to go with it. "Ooh it's an ancient language" "ooh I got a wand, it's in my blood, it just works". No, Rothfuss makes his SCIENTIFIC! There are reasons behind everything, there are hard and fast rules, there is an incredibly detailed way to do things and it requires tons of effort and practice to be able to even do magic, let alone be good at it. So hard that everyone "can" do it, but most people just can't because it's so hard and it requires teaching that normal people wouldn't think to teach themselves. Amazing. But at the same time, there's still mystery, Naming. It keeps that sense of sense of wonder that magic is supposed to have. It probably helps that he's studied a bunch of science and ancient mythical magics in his life time.
All in all, if you don't read this book, you don't know fantasy, and every other book you've read before this will pale in comparison.
After ranking; The Name of the Wind is my favorite book of all time.
Writing: The best. I'm not a writing expert, but I know some about prose and I've read all the major fantasy series. Rothfuss isn't as detailed as Martin or Sanderson, but he paints a beautiful picture while still using adult, extensive vocabulary. He's actually a better writer than any of them because of how much he focuses on his language. The best word I can use is smooth. With other great authors sometimes you gotta struggle; you have to force yourself to read some boring paragraphs so that you can enjoy the great parts. Every paragraph is enjoyable in this book and in every other Rothfuss book.
Characters: Kvothe, in the past and present parts, is awesome. He is the most complete, and my personal favorite, of all the fantasy character's I've had the pleasure to read about. He's mysterious, he's intriguing, I don't know what to expect but I understand his motivations for everything he does at the same time. He is proud, but sad, and so complex... I can't even explain. All the characters he interacts with are awesome too; Bast is intricate and mysterious, the Chronicler seems to represent us as the reader in a lot of ways, his friends Sim and Wil are perfect, Dany is the closest character I've ever read about that relates to ways I've felt in certain relationships before, and Elodin and the other teachers take well-known tropes and paint them in new, beautiful lights. So let's talk about the rest of the book's points...
POV: I hate first person. Correction: I used to, because everything before this I read first person was shitty. This is written beautifully, and it's not even really first person. He's telling his own story, but it's like it's third person. Update: after reading Blood Song, by Anthony Ryan, I've gained even more appreciation for Rothfuss writing and how he built up this story. Ryan tried to do the same thing, and just wasn't a good enough author for it.
Magic: Fantastic. Amazing. So many series just create magic and expect you to go with it. "Ooh it's an ancient language" "ooh I got a wand, it's in my blood, it just works". No, Rothfuss makes his SCIENTIFIC! There are reasons behind everything, there are hard and fast rules, there is an incredibly detailed way to do things and it requires tons of effort and practice to be able to even do magic, let alone be good at it. So hard that everyone "can" do it, but most people just can't because it's so hard and it requires teaching that normal people wouldn't think to teach themselves. Amazing. But at the same time, there's still mystery, Naming. It keeps that sense of sense of wonder that magic is supposed to have. It probably helps that he's studied a bunch of science and ancient mythical magics in his life time.
All in all, if you don't read this book, you don't know fantasy, and every other book you've read before this will pale in comparison.
After ranking; The Name of the Wind is my favorite book of all time.
lindsaystadter's review against another edition
4.0
My husband has been trying to get me to read this for years, and I finally told him I would after he read 3 Harry Potter books for me. He always acted like it was SO NERDY, but it wasn’t, and I enjoyed it! It’s a fantasy book, but don’t let the ridiculous cover throw you off; it’s a solid adventure narrative. It took a while for me to get into it because it’s told from a flashback perspective, and it was just taking way too long to get into the main narrative, but once it got to it, it was a good time. It’s not as hard as some fantasy book are to follow, with a bunch of similar names and things. I still mix up some of his professors at school, but beyond that I felt like I cold easily follow the entire plot. Looking forward to reading the sequel!