Sean Gursky reviewed The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (The Kingkiller Chronicle, #1)
Review of 'The Name of the Wind' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
I trouped, traveled, loved, lost, trusted and was betrayed.
When you look in to recommended fantasy stories The Kingkiller Chronicle is usually at the top. I knew I was going to like the series but held off on starting because I didn't want to start another series and wait for years for it to complete. That argument loses steam when applied to ASOIAF or Stormlight Archives so I have thrown caution to the wind and am reading what will probably be an instant favorite of mine.
Things we understand we an try to control.
From the beginning the story flowed casually and the prose wasn't a challenge. The way Kvothe laid the groundwork and foundation for his story was masterfully down. I knew Kvothe survived in any situation he faced in his youth but I was still captivated. I was eager to return to Name of the Wind and read …
I trouped, traveled, loved, lost, trusted and was betrayed.
When you look in to recommended fantasy stories The Kingkiller Chronicle is usually at the top. I knew I was going to like the series but held off on starting because I didn't want to start another series and wait for years for it to complete. That argument loses steam when applied to ASOIAF or Stormlight Archives so I have thrown caution to the wind and am reading what will probably be an instant favorite of mine.
Things we understand we an try to control.
From the beginning the story flowed casually and the prose wasn't a challenge. The way Kvothe laid the groundwork and foundation for his story was masterfully down. I knew Kvothe survived in any situation he faced in his youth but I was still captivated. I was eager to return to Name of the Wind and read more. Not every chapter was thrilling or full of suspense, but there was a simple pleasure in him commuting between University and Eolian.
The boy grows upward, but the girl grows up.
Kvothe had a youthful naivety but had experienced traumatic experiences with the Chandrian attack and life on Tarbean. He is knowledgeable and wise in many areas and his faults with women led to some amusing interactions.
Do not misunderstand. She was not loud, or vain. We stare at a fire because it flickers, because it glows. The light is what catches our eyes, but what makes a man lean close to a fire has nothing to with its bright shape. What draws you to a fire is the warmth you feel when you come near. The same was true of Denna.
Denna is Kvothe's Kryptonite but I found her frustrating. When she felt she wasn't wanted she disappeared. She couldn't tolerate to be alone and describing her as cruel is entirely accurate. Yet Kvothe couldn't stay away and Denna wouldn't stay. As a reader her motives were counterproductive but I suspect in the remaining books the mystery of Denna will unfold and her present day actions will make sense...I hope. This is one thread I want concluded because she's just too flaky of a character without some background.
Bones mend. Regret stays with you forever.
The magic system was nicely explained and even Kvothe questioned how you name the wind even doing it. As a reader it was nice to be as uninformed as Kvothe in some areas. The magic and fantasy were excellent but I enjoyed the character interactions. Wilem, Simmon and the characters at Eolian were like a comfortable pair of shoes. You could slip in for a quick chat or join them for a long afternoon and it's the characters that made me want to return to the book so readily.
Anger can keep you warm at night, and wounded pride can spur a man to wondrous things.
The Wise Man's Fear is a bit more divisive of a story with fans so I'll see where I land as I continue on with the series, but I know I'm heading straight for disappointment and joining millions of others as we wait for details about Kingkiller #3 to emerge.
