A great big fantasy brick, where a young boy with exceptional talents must make his way in the world. Despite all the common tropes, it's absolutely wonderful. It probably helps that it's presented in flashback, framed by an adult who has clearly achieved much, and suffered. Kvothe has an idyllic childhood, loses his parents to violence, barely survives as a street kid, and then finds his way to the university where he can study magic. He's a brilliant student, magic user, and musician, naturally. And I loved every minute of it.