Kvothe is a world-renowned figure of mystery with a disreputable reputation - a hero or a demon depending on which stories you hear. The real man, now calling himself Kote, has hidden himself away at an inn in the middle of nowhere with his apprentice Bast, and it is not known why. It’s not until the Chronicler discovers him there that he shows any interest in reliving his past life. Insisting that his story will take three days to tell, and that the famous chronicler must write it down exactly as he tells it, he begins to share his story.
His story starts when he was a child genius growing up with his parents’ troupe, performing plays and tricks across the land while being taught “sympathy” (magic), history, chemistry etc. by a tinker, Abenthy, who had been to the University. The entire troupe is slaughtered by a group called the Chandrain, after which the orphaned Kvothe is homeless and penniless on the streets of Treban, a big port city.
It’s not until he’s fifteen that he makes it to the University, and is accepted, though he’s three years younger than is usual. Abenthy has taught him well, and combined with his impressive memory, natural talent, quick intelligence and training, he moves quickly up the ranks of the university. Despite his abject poverty, he hones his skill in metalworking, music and medicine. This is not without adversity though, as he makes some dangerous enemies along the way, none as dangerous as the wealthy Ambrose Jakis.
Kvothe keeps up his investigation of the Chandrain, pursuing any trace of the mysterious group which makes flames glow blue and spell death for anyone who may take a closer look at them. Kvothe also repeatedly encounters the mysterious and beautiful Denna, a young girl with a beautiful voice and in search of a patron.
A confrontation with Ambrose leads to Kvothe accidentally calling the name of the wind, which earns him both a punishment, as well as a promotion.
It is very evident from the outset that this book is just world-building and laying the groundwork of a story of epic proportions. The character development is ludicrously good. The world-building is solid, believable and original, with a perfect balance of new elements and concepts, introduced and fleshed out at a manageable pace without overwhelming the reader.
But what really stands out is the prose. The language, the construction, the delivery… it is just sheer poetry.