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evie_jane's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
sunny2081's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
bluebird_in_flight's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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? No
5.0
fethiye's review against another edition
4.0
Spoiler
It pains me to rate it; because Kvothe was everything i want in a protagonist, his friends are the best, the humor was good. It was an enjoyable read. The audiobook was entertaining. But what keeps me from giving it a higher rating is Denna or Dianne or whatever she calls herself. I couldn't stand her.linds_farr's review against another edition
5.0
What a joy it was to reread this book! Getting to read Kvothes voice and laugh at his humor again felt like spending time with an old friend
sophiemattholie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
manjala's review against another edition
4.0
- Read for the fantasy book club for the month of july -
I'm not going to elaborate too much on my thoughts about this, because I will talk with my book club friends about it later and I don't want to influence their thoughts too much.
This definitely felt like the first part of a series, and as a really elaborately crafted one. The difference between present-time Kvothe and his younger self (who is vastly different in both personality and abilities) felt purposeful. As a fan of unreliable narrators, this book definitely felt like a story told by someone who doesn't want you to know everything, and tries to make you think he is all great and confident, but I don't fully believe it.
The themes of music, magic schools, poverty, the situations Kvothe got out of using his smarts but also failing at it, the complicated magic system (which I still don't fully get, I hope the second book will help me with that) made this book fun to read. Although it dragged a little for me in the middle; I wasn't a big fan of the direction the plot was going with a certain character (I couldn't care less about them to be honest).
All in all, I feel like this book was one that felt like every part mattered, or had purpose. I hope the next books will not disappoint me (I am prepared for that). While I may not fully understand it yet, I just enjoyed the ride.
I'm not going to elaborate too much on my thoughts about this, because I will talk with my book club friends about it later and I don't want to influence their thoughts too much.
This definitely felt like the first part of a series, and as a really elaborately crafted one. The difference between present-time Kvothe and his younger self (who is vastly different in both personality and abilities) felt purposeful. As a fan of unreliable narrators, this book definitely felt like a story told by someone who doesn't want you to know everything, and tries to make you think he is all great and confident, but I don't fully believe it.
The themes of music, magic schools, poverty, the situations Kvothe got out of using his smarts but also failing at it, the complicated magic system (which I still don't fully get, I hope the second book will help me with that) made this book fun to read. Although it dragged a little for me in the middle; I wasn't a big fan of the direction the plot was going with a certain character (I couldn't care less about them to be honest).
All in all, I feel like this book was one that felt like every part mattered, or had purpose. I hope the next books will not disappoint me (I am prepared for that). While I may not fully understand it yet, I just enjoyed the ride.
fhammond_36's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of adventures and stories and music and magic characters and danger and enemies and friends. Looking forward to reading more.because this is only PART of the tale.
Also, the main character is flawed - he thinks he’s arrogant and foolish. He is. But he’s also impatient and rushes stupidly into things without thinking anything through or considering the impact on others because revenge - which he never seems to be aware of. And he has to struggle to survive without money or any political power. But he never seems to leverage or thank the people who are loyal to him. It seems like he stays isolated even though he isn’t really for most of the time. Which seems strange given his upbringing. So yes he has enemies but he also stuffs up all on his own. Which is a bit annoying. Personal growth anyone?
The characters around him are interesting which keeps you intrigued. Feels a bit random and alternately structured. Rambly? So lots of good bits. And lots of mysteries introduced that you hope will get answered. This feels like a good start for a series but I can see that it sets up things that may need to be settled or delivered at some time in the future or, like Devi, we’ll be using the blood!
And the map is not useful. Someone needs to help out!
Also, the main character is flawed - he thinks he’s arrogant and foolish. He is. But he’s also impatient and rushes stupidly into things without thinking anything through or considering the impact on others because revenge - which he never seems to be aware of. And he has to struggle to survive without money or any political power. But he never seems to leverage or thank the people who are loyal to him. It seems like he stays isolated even though he isn’t really for most of the time. Which seems strange given his upbringing. So yes he has enemies but he also stuffs up all on his own. Which is a bit annoying. Personal growth anyone?
The characters around him are interesting which keeps you intrigued. Feels a bit random and alternately structured. Rambly? So lots of good bits. And lots of mysteries introduced that you hope will get answered. This feels like a good start for a series but I can see that it sets up things that may need to be settled or delivered at some time in the future or, like Devi, we’ll be using the blood!
And the map is not useful. Someone needs to help out!
kirstyn4mw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
branson's review against another edition
5.0
To me, fantasy as a genre has its own lore — meta-rumors almost. The lore is not just of the great things that happen within the stories, but of the stories themselves.
When I seek out a story of fantasy, I find myself carrying expectations from such lore. These expectations can be quite innocuous. I find myself expecting adventure, magic, and creatures of the imagination amongst other devices.
But at times, expecting magic makes it less magical.
—
The Name of the Wind feels like my first real brush with fantasy. In a sense, it is. I have not read much fantasy prior. Yet somehow, my expectations for fantasy weighed heavy with me going into the book. For example within The Golden Compass, using magic to unlock a door was just so. This is not the case with The Name of the Wind.
Rothfuss took his time to remind me of what my expectations for fantasy were going into the book. He spun tales with kernels of truth early on. Conversations in taverns and entertainers reflect the lore of the world. These tales were largely the form I might expect a fantasy story to take.
But then, others remind our main character, Kvothe, that the magic and beasts within the stories he hears are just not so. That is, these stories are not all they are chalked up to be. "Real magic” does not exist. The same goes for heroes, adventures, and beasts. However, they do come from somewhere.
And Rothfuss is eager to show us where that might just be.
—
Rothfuss at first convinced me that he was casting aside my expectations to tell his take on the elements I thought I was familiar with. But by the end I realized that he was not giving me just his version on the fantasy elements of old.
Rothfuss was setting the foundation for making all the elements I expected feel magical again. He broke down my expectations just to build them back up again. These were the elements of old as I hoped to encounter them.
What does magic, adventure, and a story of a hero really feel like? Who are these character archetypes, really? How do fantasy stories propagate through the world?
Rothfuss did not feel as if he were subverting any given trope. He was writing them it as originally intended — each, the real deal.
When I seek out a story of fantasy, I find myself carrying expectations from such lore. These expectations can be quite innocuous. I find myself expecting adventure, magic, and creatures of the imagination amongst other devices.
But at times, expecting magic makes it less magical.
—
The Name of the Wind feels like my first real brush with fantasy. In a sense, it is. I have not read much fantasy prior. Yet somehow, my expectations for fantasy weighed heavy with me going into the book. For example within The Golden Compass, using magic to unlock a door was just so. This is not the case with The Name of the Wind.
Rothfuss took his time to remind me of what my expectations for fantasy were going into the book. He spun tales with kernels of truth early on. Conversations in taverns and entertainers reflect the lore of the world. These tales were largely the form I might expect a fantasy story to take.
But then, others remind our main character, Kvothe, that the magic and beasts within the stories he hears are just not so. That is, these stories are not all they are chalked up to be. "Real magic” does not exist. The same goes for heroes, adventures, and beasts. However, they do come from somewhere.
And Rothfuss is eager to show us where that might just be.
—
Rothfuss at first convinced me that he was casting aside my expectations to tell his take on the elements I thought I was familiar with. But by the end I realized that he was not giving me just his version on the fantasy elements of old.
Rothfuss was setting the foundation for making all the elements I expected feel magical again. He broke down my expectations just to build them back up again. These were the elements of old as I hoped to encounter them.
What does magic, adventure, and a story of a hero really feel like? Who are these character archetypes, really? How do fantasy stories propagate through the world?
Rothfuss did not feel as if he were subverting any given trope. He was writing them it as originally intended — each, the real deal.