• The Name of the Wind

  • Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1
  • By: Patrick Rothfuss
  • Narrated by: Nick Podehl
  • Length: 27 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (105,747 ratings)

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The Name of the Wind  By  cover art

The Name of the Wind

By: Patrick Rothfuss
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
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Editorial reviews

Why we think it's Essential - When you finish listening to The Name of Wind for the first time, you'll wonder where the hours went. When you listen again (and if you listen to it once, you will want to listen a second time) you'll marvel at the depth and intricacy of the fantasy world that Rothfuss has created. Details that initially seemed irrelevant will show themselves to be keystones of a greater story you didn't even notice the first time around. By the time your finger hovers over the Play button for a third time you'll realize that, to quote George R.R. Martin, "he's bloody good, this Rothfuss guy." --Michael

Publisher's summary

Discover #1 New York Times bestselling Patrick Rothfuss’ epic fantasy series, The Kingkiller Chronicle.

“I just love the world of Patrick Rothfuss.” (Lin-Manuel Miranda)

“He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.” (George R. R. Martin)

“Rothfuss has real talent.” (Terry Brooks)

Over 1 Million Copies Sold!

Day One: The Name of the Wind

My name is Kvothe.

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

So begins a tale unequaled in fantasy literature - the story of a hero told in his own voice. It is a tale of sorrow, a tale of survival, a tale of one man’s search for meaning in his universe, and how that search, and the indomitable will that drove it, gave birth to a legend.

Praise for The Kingkiller Chronicle:

“The best epic fantasy I read last year.... He’s bloody good, this Rothfuss guy.” (George R. R. Martin, New York Times bestselling author of A Song of Ice and Fire)

“Rothfuss has real talent, and his tale of Kvothe is deep and intricate and wondrous.” (Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of Shannara)

"It is a rare and great pleasure to find a fantasist writing...with true music in the words." (Ursula K. Le Guin, award-winning author of Earthsea)

"The characters are real and the magic is true.” (Robin Hobb, New York Times bestselling author of Assassin’s Apprentice)

"Masterful.... There is a beauty to Pat's writing that defies description." (Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of Mistborn)

©2007 by Patrick Rothfuss. (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“The originality of Rothfuss's outstanding debut fantasy, the first of a trilogy, lies less in its unnamed imaginary world than in its precise execution…As absorbing on a second reading as it is on the first, this is the type of assured, rich first novel most writers can only dream of producing. The fantasy world has a new star.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

“Fantasy readers-a notoriously discerning group-tend to dole out praise judiciously, which makes the reception of The Name of the Wind, the first volume in Patrick Rothfuss's The Kingkiller Chronicle, that much more remarkable. Critics are already throwing around comparisons to some of the biggest names in fantasy, including George R. R. Martin, Tad Williams, the recently deceased Robert Jordan, and even Tolkien. (Bookmarks Magazine)

“New fantasy authors are usually overhyped, and it's rare to find one who writes with such assurance and narrative skill right from the start. I was reminded of Ursula LeGuin, George R. R. Martin, and J. R. R. Tolkien, but never felt that Rothfuss was imitating anyone. Like the writers he clearly admires, he's an old-fashioned storyteller working with traditional elements, but his voice is his own. I haven't been so gripped by a new fantasy series in years. It's certain to become a classic." (Lisa Tuttle, The Times)

Featured Article: The top 100 fantasy listens of all time


When compiling our list of the best fantasy listening out there, we immediately came up against the age-old question: Is this fantasy or science fiction? The distinction is not as clear as you may think. Dragons, elves, and wizards are definitely fantasy, but what about wizards that also fly space ships? (Looking at you, Star Wars.) For the sake of fantasy purity, the top 100 fantasy listens include the best audio works in all manner of fantasy subgenres.

What listeners say about The Name of the Wind

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Excellent performance and writing

I love the way the author write is this book with the slow careful descriptions and how the speaker brings the characters to life. Definitely one of my favorite fantasy books now. The realistic and carefully built approach to magic is fantastic.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Bittersweet dream.

If you like the art of story telling this is the book for you. It is a tapestry of stories, like a dream within a dream. Slow to start like trying to fall asleep, but once the dream begins, divinity. The narrator does an excellent job of bringing the characters and the world to life. The second book even better, but this lasts the foundation for all that is to be.

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As amazing as an audio book gets

I love this book, the story and the presentation. Rothfuss' writing is inspiring and emotional and it only gets better paired with the acting of Nick Podehl

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    4 out of 5 stars

All over the place in a good way

I loved every character, and the reader did an amazing job with capturing every emotion, the accents were amazing, lovely voice.

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One of my favorites

I just re-listened to this book and it was even better the second time.

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Exceptional Story

Narration:
At times the narrator would go quiet for dramatic effect, but the recording is already so quiet it was difficult to hear him. One of the accents was extremely hard to understand, but it was at least consistent, and it got easier to understand the more he used it.

Story:
Brilliantly composed, this book lived up to every positive review I've read about it. I laughed, I cried, and I found my curiosity vividly stoked. I look forward to reading additional books in the series.

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Amazing book!

Super detailed and so easy to imagine being right there. The narrator did a great job with all of the voices!

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This book gets better every time!

I keep rereading this story. I come back to it because its so. written so well that other books don't typically compare and leave me still desiring something. So I keep finding myself rereading and searching for more details which in turn makes it better every replay.

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wow

A friend recommended this and I am so glad. What an adventure! What a fantastic writer and imagination.

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  • AC
  • 04-28-21

Good Book

Reader takes long pauses but you get used to it. Book it's self is good, it draws you in and makes you wonder how this world works and what secrets are yet to be uncovered.

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