The Name of the Wind
Score Modern
What it's about
Kvothe, a legendary wizard now hiding as an innkeeper, tells his own story at last: a childhood with a troupe of traveling players, years as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, a brazen bid to get into a legendary school of magic, and the events that made him a fugitive. It's a coming-of-age story told by a man who knows exactly how his legend was made.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most beloved fantasy novels of the century. Readers love its lyrical prose, its school-of-magic chapters and the sense that every small detail matters.
You'll love it if you liked
The Way of Kings, The Eye of the World or Mistborn
Good to know
It's the first book of the Kingkiller Chronicle, and the third book still hasn't been published. Many readers think it's worth reading anyway.
Quick answers
Is The Name of the Wind worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most beloved fantasy novels of the century. It ranks #149 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 84.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Name of the Wind about?
Kvothe, a legendary wizard now hiding as an innkeeper, tells his own story at last: a childhood with a troupe of traveling players, years as a near-feral orphan in a crime-ridden city, a brazen bid to get into a legendary school of magic, and the events that made him a fugitive. It's a coming-of-age story told by a man who knows exactly how his legend was made.
How long does it take to read The Name of the Wind?
About 17 hours (661 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Name of the Wind?
If you liked it, try The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan or Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.
By the numbers
- Readers98 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller76 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Loved by readers.
Where it ranks
- #21 of the 461 fantasy books we rank
- #80 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #149 of the 2,819 books we rank
Reads as
Epic, Adventurous
If you like this, read next
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
The Fifth Season
Dungeon Crawler Carl
House of Earth and Blood
Six of Crows
The Eye of the World