Narrated by Nick Podehl, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss has a runtime of 27 hrs 55 mins on Audible.
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)
Audiobook Details
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl
- Length: 27 hrs 55 mins
- Publisher: Brilliance Audio
- Release year: 2009
- Audible category: Literature & Fiction / Genre Fiction / Literary Fiction
Listener Ratings
The Name of the Wind holds an average listener rating of 4.7/5 from 109404 Audible ratings.
On Audible, ratings for this title break down into narration performance and story separately:
- Performance (narration): 4.7/5
- Story: 4.7/5
- 5-star ratings: 80% of all ratings
What Audible Listeners Are Saying
5/5 stars — “This is why I joined Audible!”
I have been reading Science Fiction and Fantasy for 40 years, and this is one of my favorite series. Ever.One caution, though: It has been EIGHT YEARS since book 2 of 3 was published, so you’ll be left hanging, wanting to know how things resolve. If you’re OK with that, I can’t recommend this book more. If not, wait until the author finally/ever finishes the series, before enjoying the book. You are warned . . . . . . but it’s one of my favorite books ever!
— customer, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “Nick Podhel Nails It.”
Originally posted on my blog Good Books & Good Wine.
I’ve come to discover that I like rereading books via audio. It’s a whole to way to experience worlds I’ve already inhabited. In preparation for The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, I spent one of my audible credits on The Name Of The Wind.The audiobook opens with the strumming of a string instrument, I think it’s a guitar, which feels very appropriate to the story, as it feels like tavern music. This is a great opening. It sets the mood perfectly, as the entirety of The Name Of The Wind is told in a tavern – the Waystone Inn. Plus, I think when it comes to audiobooks the opening music should fit the themes of the book, and this one does quite wonderfully.
Nick Podhel, the narrator of the audio version of The Name of The Wind does an excellent job voicing the large cast of characters. I thought he perfectly nailed Kvothe’s emotions. With Podhel’s expert narration, certain events in the book just slammed me all over again. Certain characters took on a new life, as I now have a voice to go with the words — such as Trapis, the guy who takes care of Kvothe and other street children in Tarbean, also although he doesn’t need it, Ambrose is a bit clearer to me. Podhel nailed pompous ass. ALSO he did different accents for different characters who aren’t from the commonwealth which adds a certain flavor that I appreciated. I love it when narrators do different voices for their characters and put in accents, so it really feels like the book is brought to life.
However, this is a very long audiobook and took me a month or two to get through. It’s about 28 hours long. Yet, while I was listening, I never felt the length to be a burden. I guess when you are transported to the world of the university and Imre, length becomes unimportant.
The Name of the Wind is an excellent audiob
— Amazon Reviewer, Audible listener
5/5 stars — “Most recommended book of 2011-12”
I read A LOT. I’m now approaching 500 audiobooks in my collection. I also read 30-60 additional books a year on my Kindle.Let me put it this way: I loved this book soooooo much while I was I reading it on my Kindle, that I used a credit so I could listen to it while I drive (which I do a lot for work). That is how compelling this story is. Throw it in the category of books that are under-appreciated, under-read and under-the-radar. I even found myself reading little insights to my fiancé as I read it.
Bottom line: this book a well-written, great story, with interesting characters. I have recommended this book to more friends, who like different kinds of books, than any other book I read in the last two years. To me, it has mass appeal.
If you like good characters, get this book. If you like great, well-written stories, get this book. If you like fantasy stories, get this book. If you like books when the characters seem to have super-human powers, get this book. If you like books that are not predictable but are compelling page-turners, get this book. You WON’T regret it.
— audiophile, Audible listener
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