This book is one of those books written by a man that sort of just forgot to include women? There is even a line from one of the characters that's like "there's been such a lack of women in this story" and then the story promptly is like what no women? There's ONE woman! With I think complete lack of insight into the irony. 

When they get to speak, especially the ONE woman, they aren't totally vapid and one dimensional, but mostly they are plot devices and manic pixie dream girls. You can tell the author is trying and even thinks he's doing a good job being pro-woman but he falls flat.

Frankly there are too many common phrases at the expense of sex workers...

He manages to somehow pull off being a very good writer who's obsessed with his own prose without being totally annoying, which is impressive. 

I will say overall I liked the book and thought it was engaging. And I think the author does a good job of sprinkling in the mystery and some fun parallel language use.

I find this book to be beautiful. The way Rothfuss uses literary devices to foreshadow events and provide exposition is beautiful. Compared to other authors, I find Rothfuss’ use of exposition and worldbuilding to be masterfully crafted. If you’re looking for a slow paced and intricate look into the stereotypical hero arc story than you’re looking in the right place. 

A bit meandering, but overall an engrossing fantasy book. 

I love the way the author describes certain imagery of scenes n such, but there is definitely a problem with the portrayal of women within the story, and no poc representation at all.

this was genuinely one of the most annoying depictions of women that i’ve ever read. i don’t think patrick rothfuss hates us or anything, but i’m not sure he’s ever actually interacted with a woman.

i am a long term fantasy reader, i am used to male authors writing male dominant stories with sidelined and sexualized female characters. i am also used to male readers praising books full of this trope and not even recognizing it. name of the wind is no exception yet there was also something about its specific depiction of women that deeply pissed me off. 

there are noticeably few women in the entire story for no clear reason, even as background characters, and it’s even pointed out that women are a rarity at the magic school (why?). nearly every female character is sexualized or traumatized. i don’t criticize authors lightly. this was a genuinely fucking weird depiction of women. they exist to be pitied or lusted after by the narrator.

women and girls are described as, without any awareness of it being problematic:

1) “Young, pretty, unassuming...The sort of girl who spent her life in a perpetual flinch because the innkeeper had a temper and a sharp tongue and wasn’t afraid to show her the back of his hand.”
2) a thirteen year old: “She threw her arms around me and kissed my cheek...I hadn’t noticed before, but she was beautiful.”
3) a fifteen year old: involved with a man twice her age (and using him), discussed by said man, who is a sympathetic character and friend to the protagonist
4) instinctively and universally disliking a female character because she gets male attention (this epiphany is told to a teen boy as genuine advice by an adult man)

at one point, a male character POINTS OUT that there’s a “paucity of women” in the tale, and the main character goes yes of course my guy you are so right, it is missing a **singular woman** who of course has a mysterious traumatic background and then at one point needs rescue by our hero.

this was also a wildly exhausting book to read, and took me 6 weeks when i’m typically a 1-3 day reader. anyway, i enjoyed the overarching story and i will read the sequel because i’m an idiot clown.