Patrick Rothfuss: The Narrow Road Between Desires

Hi everyone

The Narrow Road Between Desires is a novella by Patrick Rothfuss, set in The Kingkiller Chronicle world and it takes place before the first book in the series; The Name of the Wind. 
I got my book from Bol.com.

"Bast knows how to bargain. The give-and-take of a negotiation is as familiar to him as the in-and-out of breathing; to watch him trade is to watch an artist at work. But even a master's brush can slip. When he accepts a gift, taking something for nothing, Bast's whole world is knocked askew, for he knows how to bargain—but not how to owe.
From dawn to midnight over the course of a single day, follow the Kingkiller Chronicle's most charming fae as he schemes and sneaks, dancing into trouble and back out again with uncanny grace." 

First things first: this is not the book to start the series with. If you’re new to The Kingkiller Chronicle, I’d recommend beginning with The Name of the Wind. This novella has a very different style and tone from the main novels, and it assumes you’re already familiar with the world and its characters. But if you’re a fan of the series, The Narrow Road Between Desires is a treat.

It was a treat to read from Bast's point of view. He has something childlike and innocent about him which I quite enjoyed reading. Though I disliked his manipulative ways with people he wanted to do something more with.

The writing is beautiful. Patrick Rothfuss can create a world like no other. The book is charming, heartwarming, athmosperic and just overall a lovely read.  

While The Narrow Road Between Desires doesn’t add anything to the main plot of The Kingkiller Chronicle, it’s a delightful sidestory that adds depth to Bast’s character and the world he lives in. 

Have you read The Narrow Road Between Desires or any of the other books in The Kingkiller Chronicle? What did you think of the novella? I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

Happy reading!
Helena

Bookhaul

Hi everyone

I got three new books! So happy with these and I'm looking forward to reading them.

- Jonathan French: The True Bastards

- Robin Hobb: Dragon Haven

- Patrick Rothfuss: The Narrow Road Between Desires

I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve read any of these! Did you love them? Or maybe you have other recommendations based on these picks?

Happy reading!
Helena

Patrick Rothfuss: The Slow Regard Of Silent Things

Hi again

The Slow Regard Of Silent Things isn’t a real part of The Kingkiller Chronicles. But since it is about a secondary character in those novels; I’m giving it the label on my blog.
I got this one as a gift.
It has 159 pages.
You can find all my Patrick Rothfuss reviews here. 

“Deep below the University, there is a dark place. Few people know of it: a broken web of ancient passageways and abandoned rooms. A young woman lives there, tucked among the sprawling tunnels of the Underthing, snug in the heart of this forgotten place.
Her name is Auri, and she is full of mysteries.
The Slow Regard of Silent Things is a brief, bittersweet glimpse of Auri’s life, a small adventure all her own. At once joyous and haunting, this story offers a chance to see the world through Auri’s eyes. And it gives the reader a chance to learn things that only Auri knows...”

This novel is about Auri in her everyday life while she is always searching for the perfect gift for Kvothe in exchange for his companionship and his songs. It's about her collecting, organizing, feeling and touching of objects and her ever-busy mind, her childlike reasoning at times but also her sweetness and her gentleness.
This is a bittersweet novel.

I do think Rothfuss missed the mark a bit. I would have loved to know how Auri came to be who she is. What caused all this? That's what we all want to know.

Why is her life centered around Kvothe? It seems as if she has nothing else in her life to make her happy but caring for him, thinking about him and thinking about what would make him happy. As a woman, I find that notion quite offensive. 

The cover and the illustrations are so beautiful! They are really wonderful.
It’s a novel to keep looking at or to display for a time.

This novel is only for those readers who love the character of Auri, for those who love the atmosphere of the novels and not only the action and interactions.

Happy reading!
Helena

Patrick Rothfuss: The Wise Man’s Fear

Hi

The Wise Man’s Fear is the second part in The Kingkiller Chronicle. It won the David Gemmell Legend Award and it has 994 pages.
You can find my review on the first installment; The Name of the Wind here.
I got this novel from bol.com.

For those of you who need some kind of reminder about what happened in the first novel; Rothfuss put a little comic on his site: http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com.

“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...”

Kvothe is still searching for information on the Chandrian and the Amyr but his search is almost at a standstill. I find that very disappointing. Isn't this the Quest at the heart of the novel? I really miss some kind of crisis. It’s hinted at in the surrounding story but that’s it. Right now it’s just a simple recounting of the life of an atypical student. It’s a wonderful story, but it lacks something greater.
I had hoped to leave all those daily-life parts a bit more behind. I’m tired of reading about his money problems, Ambrose and Denna (definitely tired of Denna).
The whole Denna thing is way too long. I didn’t like her in the first novel, I hate her now. She’s annoying and I always felt so glad when she left. She’s boring, unlikable, mean and not mysterious at all. Their story goes nowhere, it has no purpose whatsoever. I hate her.
Devi is a truly fascinating character. I wish she had a much more prominent part.

Rothfuss seems to have no respect for women whatsoever. Almost every female character in this novel wants to have sex with Kvothe. How difficult is it to have a female character with some kind of personality and importance?
And there is way too much sex in this one. It’s over the top. Totally unnecessary. The whole part is juvenile, it’s the sexdream of a lonely teenager. It ads nothing to the story.

Rothfuss could have cut 300 pages easily. Reading about the xth lesson, the xth search in the Library or about yet another encounter with Denna was too much for me. Let alone yet another sexscene or fight with the Adem. It’s too drawn out.

That all being said, I did enjoy this book.
Almost every bit of action happens by accident. And it is fantastic to read how these incidents became the stuff of legends. How people exaggerate incidents that then turn into legends. And I’m sure Kvothe does this too. I love it.
I love the characters (except for Denna) and most of the story is gripping. It’s not as uneventful as the first novel and the pace is definitely better in this one.
I don’t know even with all those faults, I still enjoyed most of the novel. I think it’s his writing style. That is just fantastic. So absorbing and entrancing.
The magic system is very well thought out. It’s not contrived, it’s rooted into the world and it is consistent throughout the novel. The different cultures are more distinct in this novel then the first. They seem much more real. The humor is great. And the characters are very well realized.
And I’m glad we get right into the story without Rothfuss retelling the whole first novel.

Happy reading!
Helena

Some quiet time before a short trip with my husband!

Patrick Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind

Hi Again

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is the first novel in The Kingkiller Chronicle. I ordered my copy from bol.com some time ago and I’ve been itching to read this but I wanted to wait until I had a few days off. My gorgeous copy has 662 pages.

“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.”

I really enjoyed this book. The world is very thoroughly built; all possible questions are answered, it all seems possible, the way their magic works is logical and that makes the novel very believable en realistic.
The characters are really well thought out, they are all unique; they don’t blend together when you’re reading. The characters make faults and have flaws but they also have merits and good intentions and that makes it such a good story. Kvothe is arrogant, selfish, impulsive and rash but I still like him. He’s not the personification of everything 'Good' in that world; he’s not a real Hero.

Rothfuss' writing is vivid, smooth and compelling with delightful descriptions and evocative language; it all makes for a wonderful, intriguing novel.
The story sucked me right in. It took me some time to really understand what was going on but I kept going because it is just so well written. It’s a real page-turner and I found myself wanting to read the whole night through.

But it is a very slow story. Reading about Kvothe's money problems or his imagined problems with Denna (unbearable storyline) yet again couldn’t interest me at all. Rothfuss definitely likes to meander. A lot.
Secondly, even though this is definitely the story of how a boy becomes a legend; Kvothe is good at everything and that's just unbelievable.

4 stars

Happy reading.
Helena

 

 

Writing a review about this absolutely great fantasy novel.