Review: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

"Do you just want to get by? Or do you want to make me proud?" 

Info
Author: Patrick Rothfuss
Paperback: 672 pages
Publisher:DAW Trade; Reprint edition (April 7, 2009)
Format: Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook

      It was only by a stroke of luck that I read the Name of the Wind. I had ventured to the library to try to find a different book, and it was not there. While I was slowly making my way to the exit, I saw the Name of the Wind sitting on a library shelf and I had heard good things about it. I ended up staying up to the wee hours of the night being immersed in Rothfuss’ world. This review comes shortly after my eighth reread of the Name of the Wind. Rothfuss has created a masterpiece, filled with a great lead character, superb writing, and a interesting magic system.

         The Name of the Wind begins with a innkeeper named Kvothe (pronounced “quothe”) and him relaying his life story to a record keeper known as the Chronicler.Kvothe’s tale goes from his time with his family up to his time at a school known as the University(imagine Hogwarts). Kvothe’s tale, at first glance, seems to be standard fare, but it is never boring due to Rothfuss’ superb and witty writing. The only issue that I had with the story is that it takes fifty or so pages to actually get into the actual story.

        Throughout the years of his life, Kvothe has been called the Bloodless,the Kingkiller, and the Arcane. It is quite interesting how when you read the actual story that Kvothe tales that he is not as frightening as you would think. Yes Kvothe is arrogant and foolish at times, but he is also clever and is an overall good person. I think Rothfuss made Kvothe such a flawed character to show that rumors and tales about a person are not entirely true.

        It should be noted that Rothfuss has created an interesting magic system known as sympathy. Sympathy is interesting because it is more science than magic. and follows all of the rules of science. A good example of sympathy is toward the beginning of the novel in which Kvothe takes the air from his own lungs as a conduit to control the wind. 

         I could write forever about the Name of the Wind, but I do not want to keep you from reading this masterpiece. Pardon me my fellow readers, I am about to start my ninth reread. 

The Name of the Wind review score: 46/50

Story-10/10

Characterization-9/10

World Building- 8/10

Writing- 10/10

Magic-9/10

Best Magic Systems

A large portion of these descriptions are from the books respective wiki sites.

1.Allomancy (Mistborn)
Allomancy is one of the three magic systems in the Mistborn fantasy novel trilogy, and is the most prominent. People capable of Allomancy are known as Allomancers. Allomancers have the ability to "burn" (or use) metals, in order to fuel a variety of physical and mental enhancements and abilities. For an additional burst of power, they may flare, or burn their metal especially quickly, consuming it at an accelerated rate, but gaining greater benefits in return

2.The Fae (Coldfire Trilogy)
a vast energy field that comes from within and around Erna to envelop its surface. Some individuals are possessed of the ability to manipulate, or Work it, to perform spectacular feats of magical ability. The Fae can be used to track or obscure someone and can endow weapons.

3.BioChromatic Breath (Warbreaker)

The book uses a system of magic, "BioChromatic Breath", which allows mages to bring life to objects as well as provide benefits directly to the mages, such as perfect pitch, perfect color recognition, perfect life recognition, and agelessness Use of BioChromancy drains the colors from surrounding objects and the less colorful an object is, the more difficult it is to apply BioChromancy to it.

4.Symphathy (The Name of the Wind)
Symphathy is a form of magic which allows the user to link two objects together and cause changes in the bound object by manipulating the other. Symphathy is a interesting magic system because it has quite a bit of science involved in it and the user is not all powerful.

5.Skill/Wit (Farseer trilogy)
The Skill is an almost force like system in which the user can manipulate objects and the minds of others. The Wit is a magic system that bonds a human and a animal's mind together.

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Chapter 2 of the Alloy of Law Released

    Tor publishing has released the second excerpt of the highly anticipated sequel to Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy.

http://www.tor.com/features/series/the-alloy-of-law

 From the excerpts that Tor has provided, I am very much excited to read The Alloy of Law when it comes out. What are everyone's thoughts about the excerpt?