The Narrow Road Between Desires
A novella. Illustrated by Nate Taylor.
#1 New York Times-bestselling phenomenon Patrick Rothfuss returns to the wildly popular Kingkiller Chronicle universe with a stunning reimagining of “The Lightning Tree.” Expanded to twice its previous length and lavishly illustrated by Nathan Taylor, this touching stand-alone story is sure to please new readers and veteran Rothfuss fans alike.
Bast knows how to bargain. The give-and-take of a negotiation is as familiar to him as the in-and-out of breathing; to watch him trade is to watch an artist at work. But even a master’s brush can slip. When he accepts a gift, taking something for nothing, Bast’s whole world is knocked askew, for he knows how to bargain – but not how to owe.
From dawn to midnight over the course of a single day, follow the Kingkiller Chronicle’s most charming fae as he schemes and sneaks, dancing into trouble and back out again with uncanny grace.
The Narrow Road Between Desires is Bast’s story. In it he traces the old ways of making and breaking, following his heart even when doing so goes against his better judgement.
After all, what good is caution if it keeps him from danger and delight?
Patrick Rothfuss
Patrick James Rothfuss, born in Wisconsin in 1973, is a celebrated American writer known for his contributions to the world of epic fantasy. Growing up in an environment where the long winters and the absence of cable television left him with little choice but to embrace the joys of reading and writing.
In a twist as intriguing as one of his plots, Patrick embarked on a truly eclectic academic journey. Casting aside his initial pursuit of chemical engineering, he wandered through the academic landscape, making pit stops in fields like clinical psychology, philosophy, medieval history, theater, and sociology. It took a mere nine years for university policy to insist that he finally wrap up his undergraduate journey with a degree in English.
The Kingkiller Chronicle
The Kingkiller Chronicle, written by Patrick Rothfuss, is a captivating fantasy book series that centers around Kvothe, a multi-talented adventurer, arcanist, and renowned musician. The series employs a unique "story-within-a-story" format, where readers are drawn into the intricate narrative of Kvothe's life as he shares it with a scribe.
The plot unfolds through two distinct timelines. In the present, Kvothe recounts his life's story to the Chronicler at the Waystone Inn, with these interludes presented in the third person and offering insights from various characters. The majority of the first two books, however, delve into Kvothe's past. In this past timeline, the narrative is skillfully rendered in the first person, allowing readers to experience the world through Kvothe's own perspective and get intimately acquainted with his life's highs and lows.
The Kingkiller Chronicle consists of two primary books, and includes two additional books that complement the series but are not considered mandatory reads, and the series is set to expand with the upcoming release of two more books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.