“A silence of three parts”—that’s how the story always starts. If you are looking for a series to devour this year, I have one suggestion: The Kingkiller Chronicle. Here are two reasons why you should read it.
I) Kvothe: The Anti-Hero You Didn’t Know You Needed
The last time I was this invested in a series was probably 10 years ago when I was reading Twilight. I know it’s a trend to hate on Twilight, but it is still my favorite love story. I am as big a fan of that saga as you might be of Harry Potter. But talking about fantasy, I believe this genre has a new star: Patrick Rothfuss. However, let’s not linger on the author; I am far more interested in his creation: Kvothe.
Kvothe is the anti-hero you didn’t know you needed. Yes, I said anti-hero, because he is not your regular hero —far from it. He is an anti-hero not because he is a villain, but because he is driven by pride and a desperate need to survive, often making questionable choices along the way. He’s full of flaws, perhaps just as much as he is competent. That makes him so human and relatable, even though none of us can build a sympathetic link (magic) or call the Name of the wind.
II) The Renaissance Man of Fantasy
In The Name of the Wind, we follow a broken child who has to learn how to survive. But most importantly, we discover a true Renaissance man: a poet, a musician, a student, and a master. I wonder if one day Patrick sat down and decided his character was going to be as skilled as possible—and somehow, it all blends together perfectly.
It never feels “too much” or too heavy. It feels totally normal for this man to hunt a dragon one day and worry about his school tuition or play music the next. And of course, he falls in love, because there can’t be a good story without women involved!
III) The Kingkiller Chronicle: A Bittersweet Journey
I’ll be honest: I almost gave up at the beginning because of the “heaviness.” Kvothe goes through moments that are truly heartbreaking, and I’m usually not a fan of heavy drama. (I just want the good and heroic parts; spare me the sad ones!) But what makes a hero if not his journey?
Surprisingly, Rothfuss does something brilliant here: he uses humor to balance the tragedy. One minute you are totally heartbroken, and the next you are laughing because Kvothe is laughing at himself and the absurdity of his situation. His heroic journey is not a classical one, and that is what I invite you to discover.
If you haven’t read The Name of the Wind yet, don’t wait any longer. If you have, give me your impressions in the comments! I am currently on book two, The Wise Man’s Fear, and I’m hoping to finish just in time for the third one. (One advantage of starting late is not having to wait 15 years for the conclusion!)
“A silence of three parts”—that’s how the story always ends. And if you want to have some extra fun, try reading with Gregorian chants in the background. You will thank me later.
XO
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