The Name of the Wind

The Name of the Wind, published in 2007, is the first book in author Patrick Rothfuss’s The Kingkiller Chronicle series. The fantasy novel is an incomplete coming-of-age-style tale about Kvothe, a legendary and extraordinary figure whose many heroic deeds are the subject of local lore. Kvothe has come to retire as an innkeeper in a small town where the people know him as “Kote.” However, disquieting events start to happen as a result of a war that’s taking place in the region, including the presence of “demons.” Mercenaries shake down a traveling scribe known as Chronicler, who subsequently makes his way to the inn, hoping to get Kvothe’s story.

Rothfuss structures the tale as a story Kvothe tells, with interludes that relate what is happening in the present day, such as when the innkeeper takes a food break or needs relief from his emotions. Kvothe talks of his childhood with a theatrical troupe known as the Edema Ruh, where he learns from his parents and from the arcanist Abenthy, whom Kvothe calls “Ben.” Evil people from children’s tales, called the Chandrian, massacre his parents and the entire group of performers one evening when Kvothe is just 12 years old.

Kvothe makes his way to the nearest city, Tarbean, where he spends the next three years as a street waif, begging and stealing for food as he works through the profound grief that overcame him after the death of his family. During this dark period, he contends with prejudice and economic hardship. He learns about the true nature of “demons” and finds solace in stories. Following the arrest of the storyteller Skarpi, Kvothe realizes he is over being sad and that his mind is re-opening. He begins to return to the path he was on when his world ended three years ago: to the University.

Kvothe, now 15, travels to the University near Imre. One of his fellow travelers is beautiful Denna, with whom he falls in love, but they are only together a few short days before Kvothe arrives at Imre. Kvothe’s University education begins, and he impresses the masters at admissions enough that they allow him to enter without paying anything—in fact, they give him some money to start with. However, he makes some enemies early on as well. Master Hemme’s attempt to embarrass Kvothe in front of the class and then get him punished for it backfires miserably. Instead, the masters raise Kvothe to the title of E’lir for his knowledge of sympathy. Wealthy and arrogant fellow student Ambrose ensures that Kvothe receives a ban from the Archives, where Kvothe hopes to learn more about the Chandrian.

After a flamboyant start at the University, Kvothe begins to settle in. He must borrow money from a moneylender named Devi for subsequent terms. He starts to study sygaldry. He befriends a shadowy student named Auri, who seems to live within the bowels, or “Underthing,” of the University. He also makes two loyal friends, Wilem and Simmon.

Kvothe purchases a secondhand lute, as thieves previously stole his father’s lute, and finally plays music again. He goes to the Eolian and earns his silver pipes, which allows him to make money by performing music. He also meets Denna once more, when she steps in to perform the female part of the song that he played to earn his pipes. She continues to flit in and out of his life in a maddening way.

One day, Ambrose sends two men to attack Kvothe. While thinking through his next steps, Kvothe hears about a wedding party massacred in a town called Trebon about 70 miles away. He believes the Chandrian are responsible. He goes to find out what happened and locates the only survivor—Denna. As they investigate, they discover a dragon that has become addicted to the local drug, denner resin. Kvothe must kill the dragon before it rampages through Trebon. In the process, Denna disappears again.

When Kvothe returns to the University, he tells Wil and Sim about his adventure, but Ambrose comes over, steals his lute, and breaks it. Kvothe’s anger is epic; without realizing what he is doing, he calls the name of the wind against his enemy. When he and Ambrose must account in front of the masters, they surprisingly raise Kvothe to the title of Re’lar. All students who reach that next level do so dramatically.

Back in the present, one of the mercenaries, now violent and deranged, comes to Kote’s inn. When Kote tries to use sympathy to stop him, it does not work.