The Kingkiller Chronicle
Patrick Rothfuss
19 people recommended it in 10 threads, 2014–2025.
3 commenters pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
Every word is a joy to read. I haven't read anything else that brings as big a smile on my face. Kingkiller's literary qualities are head and shoulders above anything in fantasy fiction.
Rothfuss has laid down plot points like a Go player places stones. The second time reading through will join together disparate pieces of information that you wouldn't have connected together before, starting from very large revelations in the second reading of the first few chapters.
Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle books have redefined what is possible with fantasy fiction, with incredible depth and subtlety and literary flourishes.
(Despite the low-fantasy sounding name, the series is excellent. I think it's probably the only fantasy series I would strongly recommend people pick up despite the fact that it's not finished yet.)
I’ll add The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss to this, having recently gotten into Brandon Sanderson. Probably my favourite fantasy series.
I think when Rothfuss releases his final Kingkiller Chronicle book it might be my new intro series :)
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What book changed your life? 2022 · 4 recommendations
- Ask HN: What book are you reading? 2014 · 4 recommendations
- My Favorite Books 2020 2020 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Which books have you read more than once? 2020 · 2 recommendations
- The Best Books I Read in 2015 2015 · 2 recommendations
- Show HN: See what readers who loved your favorite book/author also loved to read 2025 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you plan to read in 2020? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift? 2016 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What Books Are You Reading? 2014 · 1 recommendation