Book 52 & 53 - I'll Be Your Denna, Baby

Series Title: The Kingkiller Chronicle

Author: Patrick Rothfuss

Genre: Fantasy

Since being recommended the Kingkiller Chronicle books a few years ago, I have read (and propagated) them with the same sort of religious diligence as the Harry Potter series - once a year, every year, hopefully until the day I DIE.

So, I'm setting aside my goal (i.e. to read only new books) for a moment to revisit this beautifully crafted, achingly wonderful, and woefully unfinished series.

Here we go.

Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One)

I'm almost scared to start writing this review, because I want to do this amazing book justice. Rothfuss does so many things right, and seemingly with such ease, that it's almost unfair to other writers everywhere.

Okay.

Enter Kvothe. He has true-red hair, and green eyes that change colour according to his mood - sea foam to emerald to forest. He's an actor, a musician, a fighter; he can be gentle, and fierce, and never takes himself too seriously - except, of course, when he does.

In Day One, Kvothe himself recounts his childhood as part of a traveling troupe, his survival as a feral orphan on the streets of a Big City,his long-anticipated entrance into the University, and the rumblings of his myth, just beginning. We also meet Denna/Dianne/Dyanea, his frustrating and elusive female counterpart.

Now, to dive deeper. Within the prose, you will find stories within the story. Bits and pieces of songs and riddles and poems. Characters, perfectly rendered. Magic, developed within an established, scientific sort of framework. Magic, hidden and powerful and found absolutely everywhere. Lore and history, as intricately interwoven and complementary as our own.

And as soon as it starts, it's over - and we're on to book two!

Wise Man's Fear (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Two)

Day Two picks up right where Day One leaves off - which makes this series perfect for bingeing...

Rothfuss expertly leads the reader through a whole new series of story arcs. Kvothe leaves the University, entertains and amazes a king (of sorts), joins up with mercenaries on a hunting mission, and runs off to pop his cherry with a figure straight out of an actual fairy tale. Then he's off to train (or die) with the Adem, performs a few side missions to bolster his growing legend, and, finally, makes his way back to the University - back home.

This book is excellent because Rothfuss demonstrates just how skilled he is at not just world-building, but at culture- and people-building. In Severen, Kvothe and the reader learns about the language of rings and courtly politics. In Fae, we see a more organic sort of magic, where names hold mysterious power and the Faen world only relates to our own in appearance - and even then, just barely. We also learn about the Adem, with their sign language and differing social norms. All of it is captivating and beautiful, and makes what happens next even harder to accept...

The Doors of Stone (The Kingkiller Chronicle: Day Three)

BECAUSE WHERE IS IT, HMM?? Patrick, we are WAITING!

Yes, the third and final installment in this powerful series is still being written, and a finish date has been TBD for 8 years now. I don't know if George R.R. Martin and Rothfuss are working together to keep their fans in agony, but they need to lock themselves in a cabin for a year and just get 'er done already!

Rating: 🎸 🎸 🎸 🎸 🎸 /5