Submitted by Iain Fleming (Jun 30, 2008)

As a reader of fantasy for more years than I care to remember I have become somewhat jaded with the genre. I am fed up with George RR Martin and the interminable waits between his novels and since David Gemmell's tragic death September of every year has become a little emptier. I never cared much for Robin Hobb, Robert Jordan, fell out of love with Feist and horror of horrors I had strayed into the field of 'speculative' fiction to find if there was something there. But since science has never been my strong point some of the big idea proposed seemed either ridiculous, or beyond me. However, two writers in the last year or so have brought back the smile to my face. One is Scott Lynch, whose magnificent Lies of Locke Lamora, helped rediscover my joy in fantasy fiction. The other is Patrick Rothfuss and his Name of the Wind. This book, a debut nonetheless, is stupendous. Utterly beguiling, entrancing, funny, sad, exciting, and when all the plaudits are heaped upon it... a damn, fine story. My faith in the genre has been resestablished. This story, simple at heart, has all the elements that fantasy lovers come to expect from great adventures. That is not to say this is a formulaic, cliche ridden novel. Far from it. Rothfuss has taken all that we find familiar in fantasy given it a brand new shiny veneer and given us something wonderful. Buy this book, you will not be disappointed. Right, back to the book store. Maybe Robin Hobb deserves another £7.99 of my hard earned cash.

I finished the book in a single night because it instantly immerses you in a gripping world. It's Harry Potter for a more mature audience/

An informative review, but I disagree that Kvothe seems to know something about everything. One of the most endearing, and in my reading experience unusual, characteristics of the Rothfuss'protagonist is that he is so often WRONG :) and/or makes mistakes. After the first few times, the reader, as Kvothe must have, does not feel confident that everything is going to turn out for the best, or even that our young hero will always know best. Kvothe is very, very human. I too, as another commentor wrote, would have liked to see more of just what it is about Denna, besides her "beauty" that made her the Main Maid of the tale. Actualy, I started to have--and still have--a sneaking suspicion that there is a surprise twist, that Denna does not turn out to be the love of Kvothe's life after all, that she will turh out to be only a major puppy-love infatuation, and that Fela, the one with the calloused hands, will be the one. Or someone. I don't know. Kvothe's crush on Denna seems shallow. Other than that, I have no quibble with any part of the story..EXCEPT that the sequel is not out yet! Damn! I don't want to wait! So far, an extremely satisfying tale. Believable. I especially like the character of the "magic", as though it were logical and possible.

It would be nice if the synopsis of the plot were removed from this "review".

Fantastic novel, debut or otherwise! Rothfuss is very easy to read and quickly engrossing. It doesn't take many pages to become immersed in his story. I can't wait to pick up Part Two this summer. What's up with Bast? Looking forward to finding that out and more...