The Narrow Road Between Desires

by Patrick Rothfuss

Series: The Kingkiller Chronicle (novella)

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Mentions
375	5	68,473	(3.9)	4
"Patrick Rothfuss returns to the Kingkiller Chronicle universe with a stunning reimagining of "The Lightning Tree," expanded to twice its previous length and lavishly illustrated by Nate Taylor. Follow the Kingkiller Chronicle's most charming fae as he schemes his way through the small town of Newarre. While Bast cares nothing for the laws of man, he is beholden to older, deeper laws. And despite his cleverness and care, Bast finds himself forced to choose between betraying his master and helping a hated enemy. Playful, sweet, and sly as Bast himself, The Narrow Road Between Desires explores a previously unseen part of Temerant, and shows a side of Bast we've only glimpsed before. Learn more about Bast as he goes against his better judgement and follows his heart's desire. For after all, what good is wisdom if it keeps you from finding your way to danger and delight?"--… (more)

all members

▾Members

Recently added by

ibrachi, Irinna55, parsec-sff, lucepages95, damnnicks, EmmaClaire, JennyMiera, jakehlyn

▾Tags

▾LibraryThing Recommendations

▾Member recommendations

20
The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss (Dariah)

▾Lists

None

▾Will you like it?

▾Conversations (About links)

No current Talk conversations about this book.

» See also 4 mentions

▾Member reviews

date ▼ | votes

Showing 5 of 5

A short spinoff of Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles series centering on the character Bast, seen here trading in favors and secrets with the local children. It's a decent enough story (as well as a very nicely illustrated one), with an appropriately magical feel and an ending with its heart in the right place, although perhaps not quite as clever or moving as it felt like it wanted to be. It was revised and adapted from an earlier story, "The Lightning Tree," and while I haven't read that one to compare them, I do sort of wonder if it actually needed the 15,000 words the author says he added to it, or if it might have been better off without them. (

)

bragan | Feb 17, 2024 |

Updated and expanded version of a story that I had previously read. Still interesting overall. (

)

Guide2 | Jan 4, 2024 |

The Narrow Road Between Desires is an expanded version of earlier short story by Pat Rothfuss called The Lightning Tree. I read The Lightning Tree years ago, which I loved quite a bit more than his other novella released around the same time, the nothing burger called The Slow Regard of Silent Things. The Lightning Tree is a gorgeous character study of Bast and a snapshot of daily life in Newarre. The Narrow Road Between Desires is like The Lightning Tree+. Pat hasn't lost his writing touch despite having just emerged from a publishing drought of 8 years.

But let's not mince words. The Doors of Stone is THE book everyone is really waiting for and for over 10 years now. Hopefully this book primes the pump to get Pat back on track to finally deliver. (

)

Daniel.Estes | Dec 5, 2023 |

Really develops the Bast character and his rascal ways. Beautifully written, as always. I only wish that it gave us more about why Bast has taken up with Kvothe, but I feel like it would be too much outside of the scope of this single tale.

Kvothe is only a bit player in this novella, so if you want more about him you're going to be left disappointed.

It's also worth noting that one of the best parts about this book is actually the last author's note. It definitely brought tears to my eyes as someone with kids.

An excellent taste to keep me engaged with the world that Rothfuss has made and, like a fish who hasn't learned anything this past decade, I'm still taking the bait for new material. It's hard to rush real masterworks like Rothfuss puts out. (

)

Theriq | Nov 28, 2023 |

It's fine. I'm not pining for the third book like some and even though it's 'just' republishing and modifying an older story, it still works. I listened to it in basically one sitting and the beginning reminded me of The slow regard (which I really loved) where it was slice of life with immortals dancing through mortals to their own rules. I really liked the interaction between young kids acting solemnly and bast the font of all knowledge (compared to him with kvothe where he's the child). But towards the end, it wasn't ethereal and calming, but it was also only kinda plot focused. Probably won't read again but I'll read slow regard again to remember it (

)

Lorem | Nov 25, 2023 |

date ▼ | votes

Showing 5 of 5

▾Published reviews

no reviews | add a review

▾Other authors

» Add other authors

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

The Kingkiller Chronicle (novella)

Is a retelling of

The Lightning Tree by Patrick Rothfuss

▾Awards and Honors

view history

▾Common Knowledge

You must log in to edit Common Knowledge data.

For more help see the Common Knowledge help page.

Canonical title

Original title

Alternative titles

Original publication date

People/Characters

Important places

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

First words

Quotations

Last words

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

Information from the German Common Knowledge. Edit to localize it to your language.

Englisch

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English

None

▾Book descriptions

"Patrick Rothfuss returns to the Kingkiller Chronicle universe with a stunning reimagining of "The Lightning Tree," expanded to twice its previous length and lavishly illustrated by Nate Taylor. Follow the Kingkiller Chronicle's most charming fae as he schemes his way through the small town of Newarre. While Bast cares nothing for the laws of man, he is beholden to older, deeper laws. And despite his cleverness and care, Bast finds himself forced to choose between betraying his master and helping a hated enemy. Playful, sweet, and sly as Bast himself, The Narrow Road Between Desires explores a previously unseen part of Temerant, and shows a side of Bast we've only glimpsed before. Learn more about Bast as he goes against his better judgement and follows his heart's desire. For after all, what good is wisdom if it keeps you from finding your way to danger and delight?"--

▾Library descriptions

No library descriptions found.

▾LibraryThing members' description

Book description

Haiku summary