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The Name of the Wind
While on the road this weekend, I read The Name of the Wind
Soooooooo, that was a really freaking good book.
Like, I was trying to be all subtly weepy in the middle of an airplane on the way to Philly.
Okay, I will backup. The Name of the Wind is a high fantasy novel. I realize describing it like that is kind of the kiss of death for some readers but this, thankfully, does not read like a D&D campaign.
I love D&D but if that's what I'm looking for then, you know, I'll play D&D.
The Name of the Wind is the story of Kvothe, told by Kvothe. This sort of... memoir style actually works really nicely because it blends the past and the present (of the story because there is stuff going on in the present of the story as well) together really nicely. It creates a richly layered world full of nuance. It's 722 pages (in paperback) of incredibly engrossing detail.
Some of it is really heartbreaking. Some of it is really funny. All of it compelled me to keep reading, zomg. Which is why I started this on Saturday morning's flight and finished it on Monday morning's flight home. I think, on an ordinary weekend, I'd have finished it in one sitting.
The only negative thing I have to say about this book, in fact, is that the next book in the series hasn't come out yet. I hate getting involved in a series that isn't already complete! *flail* But this was absolutely worth it.
It IS high fantasy, make no mistake. There's magic and swords and strange deadly creatures. Demons. Cities with that odd combination of technology based on magic and typical Medieval social structures and attitudes. Largely rural and agrarian communities. But even though we should all (well, those of us who have extensive experience reading fantasy fiction) be familiar with this kind of world building, it works here. It works because it all feels very true.
The narrative that Kvothe is telling is his own origin story. It probably helps that I am a complete sucker for origin stories. It has a slow, building pace that winds you up and keeps you from realizing how many pages you've read in a sitting.
HURRY UP, PATRICK ROTHFUSS, I WOULD LIKE THE NEXT BOOK NOW PLS.
Soooooooo, that was a really freaking good book.
Like, I was trying to be all subtly weepy in the middle of an airplane on the way to Philly.
Okay, I will backup. The Name of the Wind is a high fantasy novel. I realize describing it like that is kind of the kiss of death for some readers but this, thankfully, does not read like a D&D campaign.
I love D&D but if that's what I'm looking for then, you know, I'll play D&D.
The Name of the Wind is the story of Kvothe, told by Kvothe. This sort of... memoir style actually works really nicely because it blends the past and the present (of the story because there is stuff going on in the present of the story as well) together really nicely. It creates a richly layered world full of nuance. It's 722 pages (in paperback) of incredibly engrossing detail.
Some of it is really heartbreaking. Some of it is really funny. All of it compelled me to keep reading, zomg. Which is why I started this on Saturday morning's flight and finished it on Monday morning's flight home. I think, on an ordinary weekend, I'd have finished it in one sitting.
The only negative thing I have to say about this book, in fact, is that the next book in the series hasn't come out yet. I hate getting involved in a series that isn't already complete! *flail* But this was absolutely worth it.
It IS high fantasy, make no mistake. There's magic and swords and strange deadly creatures. Demons. Cities with that odd combination of technology based on magic and typical Medieval social structures and attitudes. Largely rural and agrarian communities. But even though we should all (well, those of us who have extensive experience reading fantasy fiction) be familiar with this kind of world building, it works here. It works because it all feels very true.
The narrative that Kvothe is telling is his own origin story. It probably helps that I am a complete sucker for origin stories. It has a slow, building pace that winds you up and keeps you from realizing how many pages you've read in a sitting.
HURRY UP, PATRICK ROTHFUSS, I WOULD LIKE THE NEXT BOOK NOW PLS.
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Also, I agree with you about getting into an unfinished series. I am still waiting for the next instalment of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. I'm afraid he's going to die before he finishes his story.