Summer Book Review:The Name of the Wind

Generally when I go into a bookstore I'm pretty overwhelmed by the expansive number of fantasy novels from which to choose. This being the case, I normally would then turn my back to that section, not wanting to go through the pain of reading all back covers telling stories of knights, wizards and dragons.

However, on this most recent trip to the bookstore I was feeling more motivated, so I started perusing that which I normally avoid. I was not disappointed.

The Name of the Wind is the first novel in a trilogy by author Patrick Rothfuss telling the story of one Kvothe.

From the very beginning, the reader is intrigued by the character's simplistic, yet illusive description of himself. It reads, "I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon... 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 the day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make minstrels weep. You may have heard of me."

This first page not only kept me going for all 900+ but nearly forced me to skip sleep just to continue the story.

The first-person narrative oscillates between the main character Kvothe as an older man posing as an innkeeper describing his untold adventures of battle, love and wizardry and the events taking place in real time.

This coming-of-age story is not to be missed by those fans of J.K. Rowling, J.R. Tolkien or C. Paolini and will — doubt me if you must — become a classic someday. Once you're finished, pick up the second novel in the trilogy, The Wise Man's Fear.