So, to summarize as succinctly as possible, [b]The Name of the Wind[/b] is the story of: "Gary Stu goes to fantasy Hogwarts".  Though I feel it is hardly fair to leave it at that. XD


Fiction: (fantasy)
[b]The Name of the Wind[/b]:
This story has an interesting way of being told, in that it is from the perspective of the main protagonist relating the story of his life to a traveling scribe, long after events have taken place.  The story itself is one of the tried and true fantasy formulas:  young orphan lad Gary Stu with his tragic past full of dead parents goes to magic school to get good so he can eventually get some revenge.  Along the way he'll have to deal with the constant problem of being poor, as well as the unwanted ire of the Malfoy and Snape stand-ins of the story after he arrives at Hogwarts.  Fortunately, young Gary is obnoxiously good at virtually everything, to levels somewhat egregious even for a fantasy protagonist.  While most protagonists do have an improbably higher-than-average success rate by nature, due to the fact that not regularly succeeding when you are rolling life or death stakes means you've really been reading Game of Thrones the whole time (and need to find a new character to root for), Gary is particularly flagrant in being amazing at everything forever.  We're talking levels like: walk up to a random bard, grab his lute, start strumming a few chords and have all the women present weeping five minutes later due to how amazeballz you are.  Then, give a small sigh at how out of tune the instrument is and wander off on your way.  We're also talking: show up at Hogwarts, be one of the youngest people to ever attend, then rather than pay tuition like everyone else, convince the university to pay [i]you[/i] in order to attend (you can't even make this stuff up XD).  While it is fair to say that the book does at times diverge from some tropes, the method of storytelling makes it so these can be almost painfully broadcast when they are about to happen.  Basically, if Gary ever starts to go: "now in all the other stories X would happen at this point", you can be fairly certain X isn't about to happen.   That being said, you do see how Gary ends up: a lonely apathetic sadsack tavern owner, so things clearly can't keep working out well forever.  I have only read the first book thus far and cannot speak for the second, but I feel like the first book does an adequate job of keeping you wondering when he will stop [s]winning the house cup[/s] getting rewarding for things that would otherwise mean expulsion for anyone except a primary protagonist and when his life will take the inevitable nosedive required to get to the present.

All that taken into account, ultimately I think it is a good book written by a good author (who also seems to be a pretty awesome person, if that counts for anything in book preferences).  The characters are likeable and the story is cohesive and fun.  It might be a grossly overhyped book with a Rick and Morty-esque toxic fanbase who very well might flay you alive if you don't proclaim Patrick Rothfuss the greatest wordsmith to have ever graced this world, but I would still recommend The [b]Kingkiller Chronicles[/b] be on the reading list of any fantasy-lover.  Just probably not at the top.