The lyrical fantasy masterpiece about stories, legends and how they change the world. The Name of the Wind is an absolute must-read for any fan of fantasy fiction.
‘This is a magnificent book’ Anne McCaffrey
‘I was reminded of Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin, and J. R. R. Tolkein, but never felt that Rothfuss was imitating anyone’ THE TIMES
‘I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.
My name is Kvothe.
You may have heard of me’
So begins the tale of Kvothe – currently known as Kote, the unassuming innkeepter – from his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, through his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-riddled city, to his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a difficult and dangerous school of magic. In these pages you will come to know Kvothe the notorious magician, the accomplished thief, the masterful musician, the dragon-slayer, the legend-hunter, the lover, the thief and the infamous assassin.
The Name of the Wind is fantasy at its very best, and an astounding must-read coming-of-age adventure.
Readers adore The Name of the Wind:
‘The quality of the writing breathes magic into even fairly ordinary scenes, and makes some of the important ones extraordinary’ Mark Lawrence
‘This is why I love fantasy so much . . . The writing style is smooth, the pacing just right . . . I would easily recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, but also to people who enjoy great stories told wonderfully well’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘For the love of God, if you haven’t read this book and love these kinds of high fantasy novels, READ IT!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘The story is fantastic, the writing is amazing, and if you have a heart the main character will capture it’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘Patrick Rothfuss is such a talented storyteller and there was never a dull moment throughout the entire book! . . . The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece and Patrick Rothfuss is a freaking genius’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘This story was, simply put, excellent . . . Rothfuss has more than earnt his reputation. I’m so glad this book lived up to the hype . . . A jaw dropping five stars’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘One of the best fantasy books of all time’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘A legitimately wonderful story that is written beautifully . . . This should be one of the required reading books for any fan of fantasy‘ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
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Reviews
This fast-moving, vivid, and unpretentious debut roots its coming-of-age fantasy in convincing mythology
Patrick Rothfuss has real talent, and his tale of Kvothe is deep and intricate and wondrous
It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing ... with true music in the words
Shelve The Name of the Wind beside The Lord of the Rings...and look forward to the day when it's mentioned in the same breath, perhaps as first among equals
This breathtakingly epic story is heartrending in its intimacy and masterful in its narrative essence
Masterful ... There is a beauty to Pat's writing that defies description
The Name of the Wind has everything: magic and mysteries and ancient evil, but it's also humorous and terrifying and completely believable
I was reminded of Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin, and J. R. R. Tolkein, but never felt that Rothfuss was imitating anyone
This is a magnificent book
Reminiscent in scope of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series ... this masterpiece of storytelling will appeal to lovers of fantasy on a grand scale
Patrick Rothfuss' debut is set in an unnamed but fully realised fantasy world, and his characters are detailed and convincing.
"Patrick Rothfuss' debut is set in an unnamed but fully realised fantasy world, and his characters are detailed and convincing."
[Makes] you think he's inventing the genre, instead of reinventing it
Hail Patrick Rothfuss! A new giant is striding the land
The characters are real and the magic is true
The best epic fantasy I read last year...He's bloody good, this Rothfuss guy
As absorbing on a second reading as it is on the first, this is the type of assured, rich first novel most writers can only dream of producing