The Name of the Wind

The Name of the Wind
Patrick Rothfuss

Most people who know me know that I prefer Science Fiction more than Fantasy. This book came at the recommendation of a friend, but like everything I do, took me a while to actually sit down and read it.

I was pleasantly surprised that this was not a "typical" fantasy story, and in fact seemed to be more playing the traditional "Hero's Journey" method of fantasy storytelling extremely tongue-in-cheek; almost to be self-mocking, even though all the elements are there, tragic pasts, journey for revenge, etc.

The Name of the Wind is partially a "memoir" of the great hero Kvothe's great deeds that created his legendary status in the fantasy world he occupies. While most of the book takes place in the "past," the story of Kvothe growing up and learning magic (which, big points to Patrick Rothfuss for writing an original and new type of "magic" in fantasy stories), a small part of the story takes place in the "present," where we see the former hero Kvothe now in retirement and reminiscing about his adventures.

What follows is a very engaging story about the very first part of a hero's adventurous life, with all of the secrets of this fantasy world tantalizingly just out of reach. Normally this would annoy me because I would like at least some payoff, but Rothfuss's writing style instead makes you just crave to read more and more, and even after over 700 pages I am clamoring to get my hands on book 2 of this apparent 3 book story.

My only real complaint lies in characterization. Kvothe's adult hubris and pride are at least apparent, and his adolescent failings are on display, but he's kind of a perfect character otherwise, and at some points I wondered to myself if Rothfuss ever got accused of some slight mary-sueism. At least Kvothe never started yelling for 30 pages about why the Aturan Empire sucks because they have a social safety net or anything. As part of this complaint about characterization is probably my only real problem with the book, which is the adolescent romance between Kvothe and the heroine. The heroine, who, is characterized as charming, elusive, and beautiful, and only two of those are character traits. And, I found it difficult to find her charming when her character wasn't fleshed out all that much otherwise. She was more a character of her actions, most of which we found out about second-hand through Kvothe's own discovery of them.

Romance was annoying and bewildering as to why anyone would pine for it when I was an adolescent, and perhaps the whole Adults-reading-YA-Novels contributes to this idea that romances between 16-year-olds makes for compelling fiction, but their romance, such as it was stupid adolescents not being able to properly express feelings for one another seems more of an annoying drag on the story more than anything sweet or romantic. But was honestly the only sour spot I have with a book that is a compelling read otherwise.

Grade A-