Six Books Like The Name of The Wind

Patrick Rothfuss wrote The Name of The Wind in 2007 in an effort to write a fantasy book without resorting to any of the generic tropes of the genre. This is not an easy task, but his efforts were successful enough to garner him a lot of awards and honors, including the Quill Award for Fantasy as well as the Publishers Weekly "Best Books of the Year." The success of the book also meant that Rothfuss was able to continue the story and turn it into a planned trilogy. The second book in the series, The Wise Man's Fear, was released in 2011 and fans have been waiting patiently ever since for part three.  If you are one of those who are still eagerly looking forward to the next title, but want to read something similar in the meantime, then check out the following books that are like The Name of The Wind.

Blood Song 

by Anthony Ryan

One of the things that make The Name of the Wind so unique is the way in which the author lets the protagonist tell his life story to another character in the book. This story within a story style of writing is also present in Blood Song by Anthony Ryan. It is about a boy who rises up as a warrior after being abandoned by his father on the doorstep of a fighting order. It features a fast-paced plot and has all the best elements of epic fantasy. Like The Name of the Wind, Blood Song is also the first book in a trilogy, although later titles have less in common with The Kingkiller Chronicle series.

The Last Unicorn 

by Peter S. Beagle

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle doesn't feature the same level of world building as The Name of The Wind, but it is still a timeless classic of the fantasy genre. One of the reasons why fans of Patrick Rothfuss might enjoy this book is because the author himself has stated that it is the best book that he has ever read. That is high praise indeed and definitely makes it worth checking out if you are not already familiar with the story. This book has also had an animated film adaptation that became a cult classic in its own right.

The Riddle-Master of Hed 

by Patricia A. McKillip

The Riddle-Master of Hed is another older title, but it shares a lot of common themes with The Name of the Wind. Themes like storytelling and identity feature strongly in both books and, true to the title of the book, The Riddle-Master of Hed also contains plenty of twists and turns. This book is also part of a trilogy and was followed  by Heir of Sea and Fire in 1977 and Harpist in the Wind in 1979. 

The Darkness That Comes Before 

by R. Scott Bakker

The Darkness That Comes before is the first book in the Prince of Nothing trilogy by R. Scott Bakker. Just like The Name of The Wind, it is a book where the author wasn't afraid to avoid traditional fantasy tropes in favor of something a little different. Unlike a lot of other fantasy books, this series features a lot of philosophy, which is certainly unique. The book is part of The Princes of Nothing series, which has since expanded into an even wider series called The Second Apocalypse.

The Lies of Locke Lamora 

by Scott Lynch

Fantasy fans who enjoy the different time lines in The Name of The Wind will enjoy this debut novel from Scott Lynch. The book also features two different time lines, with one in the present following the adventures of a group of criminals that goes by the name of the "Gentleman Bastards." In between there are chapters that are set in the past, which fleshes out the history of the characters as well as the city in which the story is set. Lynch has already written three books in the series and a further four are planned to continue the story.

The Magician's Guild 

by Trudi Canavan

The Magician's Guild by Trudi Canavan is part of The Black Magician series and shares a couple of similarities with The Name of The Wind. In addition to magic playing a role in both tales, the protagonist of The Magician's Guild also rises up from a life in the slums in order to achieve great things. In addition to two other books in the series, The Notice, and The High Lord, Canavan has also written a a prequel titled The Magician's Apprentice.