Book Review: The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss

When I talked to C about reading The Slow Regard of Silent Things, he mentioned that as much as he has enjoyed the first two books of the Kingkiller Chronicle, he had very little interest in this book. Of all the secondary characters he wanted to know more about, Auri was not high on the list. Besides, did we really need her origin story?

Well, turns out, The Slow Regard of Silent Things is NOT an Auri origin story. It is an Auri story. Set concurrent with the other books. It is a story of the things underneath the Academy and how Auri feels herself to fit in amongst them. And while we get to know Auri better, the story in no way explains her, or even tries to. It simply takes us through one week in her world. It is more a “day in the life” type of thing than anything else.

Rothfuss begins the book (novella?) with a warning that this story does not do the things stories are supposed to do. It is kind of a warning that The Slow Regard of Silent Things is not for everyone. And if you are looking for the high adventure of the Kovthe stories, you should not look here.

But if you want something quieter, something filled with wonder, if the slow regard of silent things is something that appeals to you, this story will leave you, not fulfilled, but filled in an altogether unique way, much like the character herself.