Rating: 4/5 Stars
Goodreads Description:
Told in Kvothe’s own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.
The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature.
A high-action story written with a poet’s hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.
My Review:
The Name of the Wind has been around for ten years. I heard about it and was curious to read it since I am a fan of fantasy. I enjoyed following the tale of Kvothe and liked him as a character, but I did not feel like I was reading high fantasy. There is no epic quest or one common enemy. This is a tale of a smart kid who faces tons of hardship and finds magic along the way.
We meet Kwothe as an adult innkeeper who doesn’t appear to be anyone special. One day a stranger arrives who says he is the Chronicler and is there to record Kvothe’s life story. He has discovered Kvothe’s true identity as a wizard of great talent and quite a reputation. The book then unfolds as Kvothe tells the Chronicler his life story from childhood through his teenage years.
For someone deemed a hero, Kvothe has had more of his share of life’s blows and knockdowns. He really had a tough life. Tragedy rather than opportunity has shaped Kvothe’s life. He can’t get a fair shake no matter how hard he tries, and he does try. He is determined, tough, brave and smart. Kvothe is a very likable character who you can’t help but root for.
There is a wizarding school that Kvothe makes his way into and here he learns some magical skills as well as making some friends and enemies. There is a romantic interest by the name of Denna but she is extremely elusive and mysterious.
The book may be able to be read as a stand alone if you don’t care what happens next. The story is left open and you can’t help but feel that there has to be a bigger tale to tell than the one in this book since it ends with him as a teenager and leaves the reader wanting to know more of how Kvothe came to be so legendary. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series.
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