The Name of the Wind: The Kingkiller Chronicle Book One

What I’m reading….

Last year I took on the A Song of Ice and Fire series by Geroge R.R. Martin. This series has spanned over two decades and has yet to conclude, although the author mercifully tells us that the series will be completed in two more installments. That being said GRRM is not one to rush his writing and I am left five books in with no release date in sight for the sixth book!

I shared this plight with a fellow ASoIaF reader and he recommended that I try reading Patrick Rothfuss’ fantasy trilogy The Kingkiller Chronicle. Here is a quick plot summary:

The Kingkiller Chronicle is a fantasy trilogy by Patrick Rothfuss, telling the autobiography of Kvothe (pronounced like “Quoth” but with a v), an adventurer, arcanist, and famous musician. The plot is divided into two different action threads: the present, where Kvothe tells the story of his life to Devan Lochees (known as Chronicler) in the main room of his inn, and Kvothe’s past, the story in question, which comprises the majority of the books. The present-day interludes are in the third person from the perspective of multiple characters, while the story of Kvothe’s life is told entirely in the first person from his own perspective. The series also contains many metafictional stories-within-stories from varying perspectives, most of which are recounted by Kvothe, having been heard from other characters in his past.

I have just started this book, but I am already about 30% of the way through. I would give you a specific page number, but I am both reading the paperback and listening to the audiobook so my placing is a little off. The world that Rothfuss has created is very much a parallel to ours, but it contains magic and takes place in a more adventurous setting. I am completely drawn in by this story and I highly recommend listening to the audio version if you are able to. The narrator gives each mini story such life, also this story has a few songs which are better in audio.

I am excited to get through the rest and will be posting updates as I make my way through.

Are you reading this book or have you read this before? Let me know what to look forward to.