The King Killer Chronicles Book 1 and 2: Name of the Wind and A Wise Man’s Fears
Novels By: Patrick Rothfuss
Written By: Tim Sanders
I picked up the King Killer Chronicles when the first book, The Name of the Wind, was on sale, and then it sat on my kindle unread for a few years before I actually picked it up.
I remember trying to read it twice before I actually got hooked. Having read it 3 times now, I'm unsure where the hang-up was. I chalk it up to the wrong book at the wrong time. Once I finished the Name of the Wind, I immediately picked up A Wise Mans Fear and continued. Patrick Rothfuss just has a way with words and describing things. The Way Pat Writes about Kvothe performing on stage is almost as impressive as I'd imagine watching Kvothe perform. He really pulls you in, and you can imagine this red-haired youth plucking away at his stringed instrument. Unfortunately, the series is 2 fantastic books and then a wait for the third one. From what I understand, Pat doesn't know how to end the book and tries to make the third book as engulfing as the first two.
The Name of the Wind takes place in an in with the bartender telling a story about his youth before he became infamous, changed his name, and went into hiding. There are chapters in "modern time" that take place in a small-town bar, and they are perhaps more engulfing than the chapters where everything is happening at once. One can't help but ask all the questions about Kote's (yes, that's his changed name) past. Kvothes chapters are very engaging and told in the same way someone would tell a story. I feel this will play into the 3rd book, however, you'll just have to take my word for it. Kvothe's story starts out as many fantasy books/Disney stories do. Kvothes becomes an orphan who then survives on his own before making his way to a fantasy college. Kvothe makes it into the college, where he learns the arts of magic. Before you start thinking about Harry Potter, the magic of this world is far different. Almost mechanical, very technical, and a touch mystical. Kvothe doesn't attend potions or divination; instead, Kvothe goes to sygaldry and alchemy. The magic is sympathetic magic and very nuanced. Part of the magic is learning the true names of elements and using those to call upon the elements. When Kvothe isn't learning magic, he is either going on adventures, learning swordplay, sleeping with exotic fairies, playing his stringed instrument, or sticking his nose where it doesn't belong, all while looking for his parents' killers.
Both books are fantastic. The first one is for sure better than the second primarily because of the sex scenes in the second one that start to get very old. We get it Kvothe is a lady killer. I am highly looking forward to Patrick Rothfuss' next book, Doors of Stone, and I will wait as long as it takes for that book. If you don't like to wait between books and prefer to binge instead…. Then you will miss out on this epic series for roughly 10 years when the series is anticipated to be completed. Or read the books and be like me sitting at the edge of my chair waiting for the next book to drop.
In short, pick up The Name of the Wind and A Wise Man's Fear; you won't regret it. Or you might - you decide!