The Narrow Road Between Desires (The Kingkiller Chronicles #0.6) by Patrick Rothfuss

"We're given an interesting glimpse into a day in the life of Bast, Kvothe's student, who also just happens to be Fae. Some of it makes sense, some of it doesn't but through it all Bast shows that though he's powerful, he also has a heart and in the end, will do the right thing."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pros: I do love Bast for the fact that he could easily kill all the people who come to him and yet he doesn’t. He has a heart, though he’s sly, dark and mysterious.

Cons: I’m curious as to what happened between Rike and Bast that created such animosity but the lack of an explanation didn’t take away from the book as a whole.

Full Review: ***Disclaimer***If you have not read The Name of the Wind or The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss, please do so and then come back and read this at your leisure. That way you'll know what I'm talking about 🙌.***

Bast is sneaking out of the Waystone Inn early, for what purpose, we don't know but just before he makes it over the threshold, Kvothe catches him. He simply asks Bast if he can get some eggs and carrots in his travels. Ever the helpful assistant, Bast assures Kvothe that he'll get what he needs and then heads off on his business.

His business to go a clearning where there's a tree. It was struck by lightning, long ago, bleached white by the sun and now, it's where Bast more or less, "holds business." He sits in the grass, against the tree and waits. His first "customer" is a young girl who needs a lie.

She was playing with her mother's knives when she cut her hand and she wants to avoid the inevitable beating if her mother finds out the truth. So, Bast gives her a convincing story and in return, he asks for a secret. The morning goes on, much in this way, children coming and going, some more curious than others, like Kostrel. Through it all though, Bast is his usual, flippant, casual self. That is, until he's inadvertently bound by a boy named Rike, who he's had dealings with before.

When Rike finally appears and tells Bast that he needs his help in killing his father, well, Bast has quite the decision to make.

This was a quick but entertaining and at its core, a genuine and thoughtful read about one of the least known characters in Rothfuss' series. Since we know next to nothing about Bast, that just makes me want to learn more. And though this book doesn't really give anything away, it shows sides of Bast that we already knew but are expounded upon. It shows that deep down, he is good, he has a heart and he does care for others. His dealings with Rike and the other children of Newarre is proof of that.

I think Rothfuss said it best in his Author's Endnote when he said that "Bast is a good wolf."

Comments

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