Sympathy for the Devil

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

Summary: Told in Kvothe's own voice, this is the tale of the magically gifted young man who grows to be the most notorious wizard his world has ever seen.The intimate narrative of his childhood in a troupe of traveling players, his years spent as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, his daringly brazen yet successful bid to enter a legendary school of magic, and his life as a fugitive after the murder of a king form a gripping coming-of-age story unrivaled in recent literature. A high-action story written with a poet's hand, The Name of the Wind is a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.

Review: A standard fantasy with a surprisingly small world and mythology and a distinct lack of action. 

This is a long book, which is perfectly fine and even expected for a fantasy novel. Unfortunately, not much happens. I know that this is only the first day of Kvothe's story and he will be going in a large amount of detail, but I feel that some of this book could have been cut down and more plot included. You can cram so much plot into a book that is over 600 pages. The next book is even longer. I hope there will be much more action in the next one. 

Also, the setting has some interesting elements, but the world still manages to feel incredibly small. I know that it is told from one point of view, which cuts down on what the reader experiences. Still, so many interesting histories, stories, mythologies, places, and races and peoples were brought up and I had been hoping to see more of those. Kvothe was a pain at times, but on the whole, I was ok with him as a character. I didn't understand his fascination with Denna. What makes her so special? I hope he will grow out of it.

Rating:

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to those that enjoy fantasy, especially those dealing with magic schools.