The book community was introduced to a new member of the fantasy pantheon on the 27th of March, 2007, when Patrick Rothfuss first released The Name of Wind.
The first book in the Kingkiller Chronicle remains one of the best-selling epic fantasy reads ever. However, over 15 years and roughly a million Goodreads ratings later, fans remain in the dark as to when the third book in the series will be released. Regardless,
So, is it wise to join the rest of the frustrated bandwagon in reading it?
The Name of Wind is the first book in the ongoing Kingkiller Chronicles, an epic fantasy novel by Patrick Rothfuss.
The series was originally planned to be a trilogy. Still, with the second book, The Wise Man's Fear, published as far back as 2011, fans are understandably losing patience with the sage-bearded Patrick Rothfuss as the wait for book 3, The Doors of Stone, continues.
The Name of the Wind is primarily written from the first-person point of view, where the protagonist, Kvothe, narrates his own story, recounting his life experiences and adventures.
This narrative style allows readers to closely connect with Kvothe's personal thoughts, emotions, and perspectives.
The illustrated mass-market paperback edition of The Name of the Wind is a chunker of a book, at 736 pages long, with 92 chapters and an epilogue.
If you're a fast reader, then it's probably nothing to you, but if you aren't, The Name of the Wind will take a bit of time to finish.
My name is Kvothe.
I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
You may have heard of me.
The Name of the Wind closely follows the life story of a mysterious innkeeper named Kvothe. The entire first book is an account of Kvothe's life told to a chronicler- in a day.
In the book, the protagonist reveals his journey from a gifted child to a legendary figure known for his extraordinary abilities. Through the narrative, we are taken through Kvothe's childhood, including his difficult experiences as a street orphan and his eventual enrollment in a prestigious university renowned for its study of magic.
Along the way, he encounters a world filled with intrigue, adventure, and a touch of magic.
Seeing how angry and frustrated most of the Kingkiller Chronicle fanbase is about the endless, bleak wait for the third book in the series, you may want to skip The Name of the Wind and its sequel, The Wise Man's Fear, in favor of other ongoing or complete fantasy series.
However, such is the quality of the storytelling that you'd be essentially missing out on arguably one of the cornerstone stories in the genre if you decided against reading The Name of the Wind.
