The Name of the Wind

What Our Readers Are Saying

Share your thoughts on this title!

Average customer rating 4.8 (32 comments)

---

`

One of the best fantasy // adventure novels that I've read as an adult. Kvothe is a character that plays the underdog, self-deprecating yet immensely talented hero as well as any fictional character written. It's a thousand pages of midnight-oil burning awesomeness. You will be instantly captivated but you need to be prepared to tell your loved ones that you are going on a two month holiday, tucked away in your favorite reading nook while you read book 1 and 2 of this series.

`

It's so rarely nowadays to see a really well-written fantasy book. So I was really pleased to find Patrick Rothfuss's "The Name of the Wind". It was a very fascinating reading, really. I heard that the author spent a lot of years to write this book, and those years certainly weren't a waste. The characters, the plot, the whole world of this book is great, interesting and well-balanced. It's that kind of book which you won't be able to stop reading if you'll start.

`

Really fascinating start to what promises to be a great trilogy. This is a great story with a great human hero. I was much impressed by the writing. Reminiscent of Bujold

`

Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind made my summer. When I picked it up, it had been a long time since I had found something that held that spark, the one everyone always talks about - the something that creates incredible urgency, that makes you stay up all night, that turns a reader of books into a devourer of books. Rothfuss' vivid characters, complex world, and meticulous attention to detail created that spark for me. I devoured The Name of the Wind in, appropriately, three days. I recommend it to practically everyone I know, and to many people who don't know me, as well. It is well worth it, as is book two: The Wise Man's Fear. I can't wait for the third installment to hit the shelves. For a more comprehensive review, visit me at my blog: http://bit.ly/NlhNOZ

`

Books with a science fiction slant aren't typically books I read. But since a good friend read this book and raved about, I thought I'd give it a shot. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The characters and storyline kept me enthralled all the way through. And once I finished it, I went and picked up the next book in this trilogy (The Wise Man's Fear) and read it in only a couple of sittings. And now I wait, somewhat patiently, for the third installment to come to light.

`

Fantastic. Utterly fantastic. This is the beginning of an epic trilogy the likes of which I haven't seen since the Lord of the Rings. It is a sad tale at heart, but with many moments of brevity that keep it from being an outright tragedy. An interesting 'magic' system, and an incredibly rich mythology give the book a fantastic setting.

`

One of my favorites. I love the story within a story, and the writing is exquisite.

`

Patrick Rothfuss has written a book you do not want to end. A brilliant frame story that recounts a life, as its teller wishes it to be told. The world, the characters, the situations may be labeled fantasyesque given the touch of magic involved, but they all combine in a page-turning story that engages from start to finish. As the title implies, this is only volume one, and volume two is equally engaging. Until the third arrives, they are both worth reading and reading. Mr. Rothfuss knows how to craft a fine tale.

`

This is one of the best books I have ever read, and certainly the best recent science fiction/fantasy. It is an amazing story, with a fully developed world - and superb writing. Definitely a winner!

`

Wonderfully written, with imagination, invention and narrative wound together into a compelling story.

`

Every detail is so intricately written that it almost passes as truth.

`

Great read. Hard to put down. An adult Harry Potter. 2nd book not as good. Hoping the 3rd will be as good as this 1st one

`

This is an excellent book; lots of fun to read.

`

Both book one and book two utterly sucked me in. I resented anything that distracted me from reading until these were finished. May the year 2012 speed in the publishing of book three!

`

It's been a long time since I was filled with childlike glee reading a book. I woke up in the morning reading The Name of the Wind and fell asleep reading The Name of the Wind. Thank god there was a sequel. Somehow I will find the patience to wait until the third is published.

`

Feels like a timeless story of fantasy, honor and love. But it's not a retelling of a hundred similar works. Fresh and genuine characters, it's my favorite book of 2011.

`

I was looking for Game of Thrones and saw a Powell's staff recommendation for The Name of the Wind, so I bought it instead. The recommendation was spot on - this book is great! Well-written and engaging, this book is a cross between the best parts of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Great recommendation from Powell's...the Name of the Wind is even better than Game of Thrones!

`

On the scale of 1 to 5 I'd probably give between 3.5-4. Recommend by a friend who doesn't normally like fantasy / sci-fi so I was intrigued. It's also been a while since I've read what I consider to be very good fantasy and this took me a few chapters to really get into it. At 600+ pages there IS tremendous character development and Rothfuss does well with keeping the secondary and tertiary characters enough on your radar so that you remind yourself not to forget about them as they may have more prominent roles in the sequels. There are many chapters that read quickly, the pace is overall very good and his ideas are plentiful. Still, personally, I was almost satisfied with the ending to the point that I had no real urgency to start the 2nd book right away. This could also be that, again, at so many pages, so many characters and subplots, it might be necessary to leave ample space to fully digest the 1st book. Definitely a worthy read and satisfyingly addicting at times, but I couldn't say that it ranks among my favorites among the fantasy epics (though, many of those I read in my adolescence so maybe they didn't age well). Not fully knowing how good current fantasy epics are, this could, though rank highly among them. On the other hand, having not been significantly interested in fully exploring the fantasy genre for years, this definitely ranks as a good book and above average.

`

This was the best book I read last year, I'm a big scifi and fantasy fan, stumbled upon this when first released and fell in love. The story telling is paced well, the book is not just plot driven but also has incredible characters that are described in detail. Loved it, can't wait for the second to come out.

`

Though it was not printed in 2010, this WAS the best book I read this last year. Extraordinary story-telling, featuring a hero whose epic tale is told in flashback; this, interspersed with the story of the adult who is obviously going to have another major tale told going forward in an expected sequel. The tale is quite lyrical in the opening sections where we're introduced to the child Kvothe whose parents lead a troupe of traveling players. There is a sad section where Kvothe becomes a feral child. There is a section that is both full of wonder and action, and adventure, and danger, as the teenage Kvothe enters a school for magicians. The genre for the book is Fantasy...but the brilliance of the writing means that any lover of fiction will enjoy reading this book. The elder Kvothe has a very retrospective tone of voice; the student's tale is told with more verve. There is precision in tone sometimes, and far reaching generalities at others, as Rothfuss builds layers of this world.

`

Calling all Tolkien fans! If you love thought provoking, well written, epic stories...this is the book you've been searching for! Get lost in another world for awhile.

`

While high fantasy is not everyone's cup of tea and may not be the kind of literature that wins major prizes, Patrick Rothfuss's debut The Name of the Wind is still the best book I read in 2010. As a professor I don't have as much free time to read for entertainment as I would like, so I have a very low tolerance for poorly written stuff. Rothfuss has created characters that I want to know who inhabit a very complex and well-constructed world that's not quite familiar. He's done it in wonderful prose that nearly sings, and is never cluttered with the often-used device of exhausting detail. You know what I mean, three paragraphs describing the clothing, hairstyles and the content of the "groaning board, heaped with savory viands" that clutters so many thick fantasy novels these days. Perhaps the best feature of this engrossing tale is that he doesn't explain everything seven times each chapter and allows his reader to wonder and ponder and puzzle over so much, including the somehow unpredictable nuances of plot as the story unfolds. I have only one regret: I was loaned the book and did not pay for it, thus depriving this fine writer his due. I will likely buy my own copy to re-read in the future and thereby in part rectify my lapse. I will also be awaiting the promised sequel more eagerly than almost any I have previously. Martin, Erikson et al have real competition here.

`

The Name of the Wind is one of the most amazing, creative and original books I have ever read. It is a classic swords and horses type fantasy that manages to contain all of the best components of the genre without straying into cliche. His characters are solidly written and original, and so well-fleshed out you'd think they lived right around the corner. Patrick Rothfuss is a writer extraordinaire, and I was truly disappointed when I turned the last page of this book. I can't wait for the story to continue.

`

Several years back a book came out called "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, that blew me away, with its blend of glorious prose, excellent storytelling and mysteriously zippy plot. At the time, I felt there would never be another book written by a male author with quite that same zing and combination of things I enjoy. Then I happened upon "The Name of the Wind" quite by accident. The title, being so similar to Zafon's novel, intrigued me, and the blurb about it being an epic tale told by a god-like being had me hooked, so I grabbed the hefty tome and steeled myself for what could be a disappointment. What a relief to discover that Patrick Rothfuss is a marvelous craftsman who has created a deliciously engrossing tale that sucks you in and doesn't let you go until the final page. Kvothe is a fascinating protagonist, a young boy who grows up with traveling bards and players, is orphaned and still manages to get admitted to wizarding school by dint of magical talent and hubris in equal measure. It is evident right from the first page that Rothfuss knows his myths and legends, fairy tales and classic adventures well enough to draw on that tradition for the life of Kvothe, which is told by the magician himself to a humble scribe who finds the great man in a tavern, working as an inn keeper. If you're an adult fan of Harry Potter's adventures, someone who grew up on the great classic myths and legends, or just a person who enjoys good, classic storytelling, this book is for you. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series, due out in March.

`

My favorite new fantasy book. Easy to read, intelligent, fast paced and inventive! And the best part is, there's more coming :)

`

This is perhaps the best book I have ever read, not just the best in 2010. This is a coming of age story, a mystery, a fantasy and so much more. Patrick Rothfuss has created a fascinating world for an unforgettable character, Kvothe. It is the first in a trilogy with the second book to be available on March 1, 2011.

`

Rothfuss' book is a tremendous addition to the fantasy genre. I read quite a bit in this genre and found NOTW to exceed expectations in so many ways. One of my top 5 books for 2010. And the 2nd book comes out in March 2011!

`

A beautifully written page-turner set in a fully realized alternate world. On a single day in a country inn, the narrator relates his youth as a poor but gifted scholar struggling to pay for his education and chafing at the restrictions of his society. The story is so engrossing and the prose so lively that the reader is apt to miss the elegant structure of the narrative. The Name of the Wind gives not only the pleasure of a good yarn, but also the satisfaction that comes from contemplating any well-made piece of craftsmanship. This novel is planned as the first of a trilogy. This reviewer, for one, is anxiously awaiting volume 2, due out in Spring 2011.

`

I have never been a fan of fantasy novels. They have a tendency to fall into either a children's fairytale or a Lord of the Rings ripoff, in my experience. I had given up on the genre completely in favor Science Fiction, but Patrick Rothfuss has managed to redeem an entire genre in my eyes with a single novel: The Name of the Wind. Rothfuss frequently avoids the cliches associated with fantasy writing with his story of the young Kvothe and his search to find the name of the wind. The main story here is actually told by a character in the story, creating a frame for the events to unfold in. Rothfuss uses beautifully descriptive language and tells an engaging story I was almost completely unable to put down. As far as I'm concerned, 5 out of 5 is not a high enough rating to do this novel justice.

`

Fantasy quests can get to be too familiar, you got your dragons, your swords, your overlooked child with a great destiny. Rothfuss has smartly taken a clue from Casanova's biography and written about a life, rather than a quest. Wonderful descriptions, telling details, and a complete world. And more to come!

`

This was one of the most enjoyable fantasy books I have ever read. It was very well written, engaging right from the start. The author did a good job of building his main character, Kvothe. There were some companion characters that you learned just enough about to make you want to discover their stories in future installments in the series. The author started the book with his setting being present time, and presented the body of the story as a retelling of past experiences by the main character, who detailed his childhood up to about his late teens. This is one of those rare books that, as you turn the last page, leaves you with a smile on your face and a fierce urge to wrap your fingers around the next book in the series to satisfy your itching curiosity about what happens next. A must-read for any fan of the fantasy genre.

`

This book had me hooked from the very first page. I could not put it down.