The Name of the Wind

📘 About This Book

Discover #1 New York Times-bestselling Patrick Rothfuss’ epic fantasy series, The Kingkiller Chronicle. “I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD! DAY ONE: THE NAME OF THE WIND My name is Kvothe. 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. You may have heard of me. So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature—the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man’s search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend.

📖 Summary

The Name of the Wind is a celebrated epic fantasy novel written by Patrick Rothfuss, originally published in 2007. Spanning 674 pages, the book serves as the first installment in The Kingkiller Chronicle series and has achieved massive commercial and critical success, selling over one million copies and earning praise from notable figures like Lin-Manuel Miranda. The narrative is framed through the voice of its protagonist, Kvothe, a legendary and notorious figure who is now living quietly as an ordinary innkeeper under an assumed name. When a chronicler discovers his true identity, Kvothe agrees to tell the genuine story of his life over the course of three days, separating the myths and grand rumors from reality. Kvothe begins his tale by recounting his childhood as a member of the Edema Ruh, a traveling troupe of performers. He grows up surrounded by music, family, and a rich oral tradition. However, tragedy strikes when his family is brutally murdered by mysterious demonic entities known as the Chandrian. Left entirely alone as an orphaned child, Kvothe must survive on the harsh streets of the large city of Tarbean. He endures years of poverty, danger, and severe trauma before managing to pull himself out of the squalor through sheer wit and determination. Driven by a relentless thirst for knowledge and a deep-seated desire for vengeance against the Chandrian, Kvothe sets his sights on the prestigious University. Despite being far younger than the standard age of admission, his brilliant intellect allows him to talk his way into the institution. At the University, he studies sympathic magic, chemistry, and the arcane arts, though his pride and sharp tongue frequently land him in trouble with both his peers and the masters. Throughout his academic journey, he also navigates a complex, agonizingly unrequited romance with a mysterious young woman named Denna, whose own path crosses with his across the continent. As the narrative unfolds, Kvothe’s incredible exploits begin to take shape. Readers learn how he eventually becomes expelled from the University while still a youth, walks paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of, talks to gods, and learns songs that make minstrels weep. He also endures legendary trials, such as spending a night with Felurian and surviving with both his sanity and his life intact. The book brilliantly contrasts the unassuming, broken innkeeper of the present with the dazzling, dangerous hero of the past, creating a rich tapestry of sorrow, triumph, music, and magic that redefines traditional epic fantasy storytelling.

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✍️ About the Author

Patrick Rothfuss

Patrick Rothfuss (b. 1973) is an American author known for 'The Kingkiller Chronicle', an acclaimed epic fantasy series beginning with 'The Name of the Wind'.

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