Submitted by JingleHelen11 t3_119gk8k in books
Amphy64 t1_j9n4jv1 wrote
Reply to comment by JingleHelen11 in What do you generally expect of published books? by JingleHelen11
No. I don't like the aspects complained of, either, don't get me wrong, but that doesn't mean they needed editing out or even that there isn't a reason for them - it's absolutely crystal clear from the start that what you're getting is the main character telling the real (though still possibly exaggerated) version of how they became a figure people are telling these conventional epic fantasy stories about. So it's one case where complaining about genre conventions, even those bordering on wish fulfillment, doesn't automatically fit because that's the point, and we were all warned going in. (also the 'sex goddess', more a Circe figure, and the main character is really just acting like a normal enough college student: I think it stands out genre fans jump to complain about this aspect, over points where the main character is far more clearly exaggerating his abilities) Does remain to be seen whether Rothfuss ever can or will do anything with that playing with and commentary on genre, not holding my breath he'll even ever write another book.
But maybe give the first one a go, rather than reading up and having aspects spoiled? What I really like of Rothfuss' is the novella, The Slow Regard of Silent Things, think it stands out as better written than most fantasy (though that would be a low bar) and more magical realism-esque, but it does concern a character from his main series so not fully stand-alone exactly.
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