10 Things You Should Know Before Reading The Name of the Wind

The Fantasy Review’s list of 10 Things You Should Know Before Reading The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

#1 – The Series Probably Won’t Be Finished

One of the first things you will probably hear from fans of Patrick Rothfuss’ Kingkiller Chronicle is their disappointment that the series is not finished, that they have been waiting many years for the final book, and it might never appear.

I know this might be important to some readers, which is why I mention it in a list of things you should know before reading The Name of the Wind, book 1 in The Kingkiller Chronicle, but I still personally strongly recommend you read the book (for reasons I will get into).

#2 – Incredible Prose

The second most common thing you will have probably heard about The Name of the Wind is the incredible prose. The internet is not lying to you. Rothfuss clearly spent a lot of time focusing on sentence structure, the sound of the words he uses and their specific meanings, the paragraph structure, the metre and rhythm of the sentences…etc.

If you are looking for a book that will blow you away with how it sounds and feels to read, as well as having a great story, this is the one for you.

#3 – Marmite Main Character

Kvothe is the main character in The Name of the Wind and he’s a bit of a dick. You can love and appreciate him but still accept that he can be an acquired taste.

An important thing to remember is that this book is told from an older Kvothe’s point of view, telling the tale of how he went from nothing to becoming a legend. 

It is an interesting experiment that makes you question the reliability of the narrator at certain points, but also it provides an explanation for this younger version of Kvothe being a little…irritating at times.

#4- Easy to Read

Despite the gorgeous prose, The Name of the Wind is incredibly easy to read. If you love Sanderson or any other modern fantasy authors who use “clean” prose, just giving you the bare bones and getting on with the story, I still think you can enjoy this book.

Rothfuss has engineered his prose so not only is it technically exquisite, but you don’t have to notice that if you’re not interested. The writing style does not get in the way of the story at all.

#5 – Slow Start

When I first picked up The Name of the Wind, I gave up on it at 35%. I am so glad I came back, because right after that point the slow-build finally gave way to the story I was expecting.

Looking back, I appreciate the first section of the book and don’t have any notes, but (and perhaps this was my fault) my expectations were not met when I first tried reading it.

You might not have this experience as it’s purely a personal taste issue! But I promise, if you’re anything like me who loves to just get in medias res, give the book to at least 40%.

#6 – In-depth Worldbuilding

There are no spoilers in this article of things you should know before reading The Name of the Wind, so all I will say is that the worldbuilding is fantastic. No, this is not Malazan or The Lord of the Rings.

Don’t go in expecting hundreds of races and cultures and a list of 3000 characters to memorise. This is a simple story of one individual navigating the world, but as he does explore, so do we, and the experiences are breathtaking.

#7 – Character Over Plot

There are no big battles or Lords calling their bannermen to war. The Name of the Wind is first and foremost a character-focused story about Kvothe and those close to him.

Sure, there are some interesting and intense machinations and backstabbing, etc to get you hooked on the plot, but this book isn’t about that. (more on this at #9)

#8 – Re-readable

The Name of the Wind is endlessly re-readable. I know plenty of people who won’t reread a book because there are too many books out there they already haven’t got time to fit into their finite lifespan.

Yeah, me too, and I get it, but I love having a book on my kindle or shelf that I return to every now and again and just get lost in that world once more. It’s pure escapism and I adore it.

#9 – Lots of Theories

Another reason to reread this book are the mysteries. One of the major plot devices used in The Name of the Wind is it has a lot of unanswered questions, and none of them have been adequately answered, or answered at all, in any of the published books in the series.

This is not a bad thing for fans of the series. Sure, these questions drive us mad, but the theorising and debating goes on into eternity, forcing us to reread the book over and over again, looking for clues, and just enjoying being part of a community who all love the same thing.

#10 – One of the Best Fantasy Books of All Time

Yes, maybe we will never get the final book in The Kingkiller Chronicle, but what we have already is one of the best fantasy books of all time in The Name of the Wind, and the sequel, The Wise Man’s Fear, is still a 4 or 5-star read for me (depending on the day).

Why deprive yourself of a transformative reading experience just because book three might never materialise? At least give The Name of the Wind a few hours of your time. It has a full plot-arc that might not answer much with regards to the series arc, but it is still a full story in its own right.

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