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A review by n8hanson
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
3.0
In some ways, a very deeply considered fantasy tale.
* The magic system is well-realized, internally consistent, and provocative.
* The brisk pacing generally kept me turning pages and unusually focused.
In other ways, the writing is terrible lazy.
* The romance plot stereotype that's shoved through is the weakest and unfortunately often central point of the story. The protagonist Kvothe has a "m'lady" noblesse chivalry that is utterly contrary to his upbringing, pre- or post-[spoiler]. Rothfuss tries too hard to make Kvothe a sympathetic (if impetuous and arrogant) gentleman, so he comes across as a fedora'd nice guy.
* Kvothe fulfills one trope after another, often with a sly wink or a slight plot twist, but sometimes no amount of bells and whistles can hide the fact that the author often treads through boringly familiar plot territory for a zero-to-hero plot trajectory.
* Speaking of territory, the world map is off-brand Western Europe. Draw Europe with a thick Sharpie, add some alphabet soup names on it, and there you have Kvothe's known world.
* This world has piped steam heating systems, but no other notable uses of steam? It has rather advanced chemistry, but no gunpowder? A university with a robust magic department and regular output of students, yet no clear depiction of what role they play outside academia? Perhaps the next book answers these questions.
* The magic system is well-realized, internally consistent, and provocative.
* The brisk pacing generally kept me turning pages and unusually focused.
In other ways, the writing is terrible lazy.
* The romance plot stereotype that's shoved through is the weakest and unfortunately often central point of the story. The protagonist Kvothe has a "m'lady" noblesse chivalry that is utterly contrary to his upbringing, pre- or post-[spoiler]. Rothfuss tries too hard to make Kvothe a sympathetic (if impetuous and arrogant) gentleman, so he comes across as a fedora'd nice guy.
* Kvothe fulfills one trope after another, often with a sly wink or a slight plot twist, but sometimes no amount of bells and whistles can hide the fact that the author often treads through boringly familiar plot territory for a zero-to-hero plot trajectory.
* Speaking of territory, the world map is off-brand Western Europe. Draw Europe with a thick Sharpie, add some alphabet soup names on it, and there you have Kvothe's known world.
* This world has piped steam heating systems, but no other notable uses of steam? It has rather advanced chemistry, but no gunpowder? A university with a robust magic department and regular output of students, yet no clear depiction of what role they play outside academia? Perhaps the next book answers these questions.