The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss (3.0)
I generally enjoyed this book, but was surprised by the
4.5 ave. rating on Goodreads. It is a somewhat typical fantasy novel with
magic, demons, and a reluctant hero. The main difference is that it starts with
the hero, Kvothe, in adulthood and seemingly in hiding as the owner of a pub in
the middle of nowhere. He tells his tale to a Chronicler who has come to his
pub. In this telling we learn his story from childhood to partway through his
education. The question of what Kvothe really is and how he became it is
compelling, though not fully answered in this book. Given that it is the first
of a series, the characters are not fully developed, but the main character in
particular made troubling choices. The foreshadowing is clumsy and the results
of his bad choices seem very obvious. If you consume fantasy novels at a fast
pace, this will fit in nicely, but if you are looking for something special and
unique, I don’t think this will fit the bill.
