Book Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Genre: Fantasy
Bob's Thoughts: "An accessible Fantasy that embraces the clichés."
Grade: A-
Available at Your Local Booksellers or Library.
100 Books, 100 Posts: #1 (99 to Go!)

Read an Overview of the Book at Patrick Rothfuss' Website.



Fantasy is full of clichés. It's hard to find totally original fantasy books today. That's OK. Clichés are fine with me.

The thing is, I am very picky with the fantasy I read, so, when I hear people say, It's been done before, well, I tend to take their word. Yet, with Patrick Rotfuss's debut novel, "The Name of the Wind" none had to clue me in, because, well, Rothfuss doesn't try to hide it. In fact, he embraces the clichés.

Barebones, the story is about an orphaned boy, who grows up to be a legend. Hmmmm....

His family is slaughtered by an evil so great people tend to think of it only as a legend... Hmmmmm...

Eventually, he gains entrance into a school, that specializes in teaching a form of magic... Hmmmmm...

He gets into a series of adventures, that through mostly luck, but some skill as well, develops a reputation, and a few enemies... Hmmmmm...

So, yeah, barebones, this story shares a lot of similarities with many fantasy novels. Many readers compare this book to Harry Potter. This is both a fitting compliment, and a problem. The comparison fits, because, life the Harry Potter series, from Book 3 on, this is adult Fantasy, written in a manner both safe and accessible to younger audiences. It maintains an edginess, without being full of sex, profanity, and gratuitous violence (not that I don't enjoy the big 3, in its proper place). Yet, it is an adult book. While I think Potter fans would be pleased with this book, don't go in expecting it to be Potteresque. Enjoy it for its own world, its own creation.

All together, Rothfuss creates a beautiful new world, full of rich, interesting characters, and vile villains. It's is dark, when it needs to be dark, but full of brightness and humor. . Instead of running from the clichés, even so far as to have the main character/narrator make jokes of them as he tells the story, comparing what he did, with what those of stories have done.

The Name of the Wind is the first in a trilogy, titled The Kingkiller Chronicles, so don't expect closure at the end of the book. The story itself is satisfying, yet, leaves you hungry at the same time.