The Name of the Wind – Retelling of One Man’s Childhood

Another book complete, it always feels good to finish one, don’t you agree?

This book I received as a Christmas present and every night I would read several chapters, letting the corners of civilization absorb me.

An interesting take about a man now turned innkeeper as he tells his story to a scribe of who he once was. As I got to know Kvothe as he told his story, I began to connect with him in a way, often emphasizing. He was a boy at that time to strived to survive and learn everything there was to learn in the world, even when travelling with his troupe as a child: the Edema Ruh.

Fun fact, Nightwish has actually made a song named after that troupe. So, Tuomas Holopainen is a Kingkiller fan!

Kvothe begins as a smart kid, seemingly picking up a lot of skills any bard from a video game or other universe would have: a silver tongue being the most notable. When the mysterious Chandrian killed his troupe and family, he stopped at nothing to learn more about them.

I remember fondly the years he spent in Tarbean begging and stealing just to survive. Like the time he tried to beg at Hillside, the richer part of the city, and was nearly beaten to death for it. But after a few years passed he found his ticket out with a little haggling and persuasion.

He was witty and that’s how I began to relate to him since my friends often tell me how smart I am in certain ways. That’s where I found the connection I share with Kvothe, or maybe I just think he’s cute because of that long red hair I imagined him growing by the time he reached Imre and had settled at the University. That’s what I love about books, they allow me to imagine what the characters look like once the author describes them instead of being spoon-fed one version of them in a TV show or movie.

Of course, the only reason why he wanted to enroll was so he could get into the Archives! But that douchebag Ambrose just had to trick him that led to his banning from such a place full of knowledge.

Kvothe caught a break in being penniless once he started playing as a bard at the Eolian and a few inns and it made me relieved to read that he was no longer living like the way he did in Tarbean, even if he wasn’t rich.

That’s another part that I enjoyed reading when he performed at the Eolian for the first time, one of the strings on his lute broke but he still managed to finish his song!

My brother warned me that Kvothe was a womanizer later on, but in this book, he seemed fixated on one girl, Denna. She was a mysterious girl who always seemed to disappear or show up with another man. Kvothe seemed too nervous to pursue anything deeper than friendship with her when he obviously liked her and the feeling appeared to be mutual.

I also liked Auri who hid in the Underthing but with a little bit of music and food, Kvothe was eventually able to lure her out. I like how he eventually buys her a new dress with the money Ambrose is forced to give him for destroying his old lute. Of course, he got a new lute immediately and I was right about where the Billows led him.

I remember I couldn’t stop reading when Denna meets him in Trebon after he speeds his way there and they investigate the attack. Who’s ever heard of a draccus before? Then again, this universe does have some presence of magic and mythical creatures.

After that, he seems to hint toward Chronicler (the scribe writing his story) that he won’t be at the University forever. He’s found alliances in some of the masters but there are still a few who resent him. I guess I will find that out in the second book. Every interlude made it sound like several days had passed in the inn!

So yeah couldn’t put this book down every time I settled in for a session. I look forward to seeing where the second book takes me. The third book still hasn’t been released yet and Patrick Rothfuss doesn’t seem to give any hint about when it’s coming, according to my brother, but hey, better to take your time than rush right?

Enjoyable and unique read to a new universe for me. Despite being a long book, I liked how most of the chapters were short allowing me to process everything after reading.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

👽Emily