The Slow Regard of Silent Things
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The Slow Regard of Silent Things

Patrick Rothfuss β€” 2014
Living in the abandoned tunnel system beneath the University, the enigmatic Auri reflects on her bittersweet life while making unique observations about the broken world she would survive. By the best-selling author of The Name of the Wind. 100,000 first printing.
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Reviews

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Sunny@cyrodiilictomes
5 stars
Apr 2, 2024

This story made me so happy. Not just out of my love for Auri, but the way she goes about her days. There is something in the way that everything has its place, everything should be just so and if it isn't, it niggles at you until you realise what it is and mend it. It kind of set me at ease and I couldn't help but smile to see the lengths she would go to for Kvothe, she dotes on the sweet lad and they care for one another so much.

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Brandon Eckroth@brandoneckroth
4 stars
Dec 18, 2023

A closer look into one of my favorite characters from the chronicles. This story will leave you feeling refreshed and content, knowing the way of things. Knowing the name of things.

+3
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Ben@bingobongobengo
2 stars
Dec 18, 2023

One star for the art, one star for the vague almost background to a character in the main series, otherwise it's a bit of a drag. Read like poetry without the poems.

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Jaden Nelson@unojaden
2 stars
Nov 30, 2023

** spoiler alert ** I will admit this book was not what I wanted. It did not give me the secrets of the haunted past of Auri, or tell us much about her at all. Basically all I learned is that she loves kvothes visits and appears to have an extreme case of OCD or some mental illness. That being said, who am I to say what I should "want" from a book. I put my blind faith in an amazing author, Rothfuss, and he did and didn't fail me at the same time with this book. I gave it a whole other star just for the amazing foreword and endnote, written from Patrick to us. It resonated with my thoughts almost exactly. This is a book that I am not passionate about. It is a book I like, a cute little intermission of the king killer series. The illustrations make up for me buying the book, and I just needed it to put with my other 2 books on the shelf. Anyways, it was a strange and short book that I liked, but will probably not reread, but recommend readers at least try.

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Annabelle Gauthier@annagoatcheese
5 stars
Jun 27, 2023

Cozy fantasy with incredible illustrations. I got emotionally attached to a broken gear.

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Rachel Kanyid@mccallmekanyid
5 stars
Jan 15, 2023

UPDATE 4/13/16 -- Re-Read! Even more beautiful the second time!!!! This book... this book is strange.... It's unique... It's twisty, and tumbling and mysterious and most certainly BEAUTIFUL... Exactly everything that you need from a story about Auri. There are hints about her past, but nothing resolute. There are moments when you think she might be insane, but also moments when you think she might just be the most clever character from a book ever..... It's simply wonderful.... If you are a fan of The Kingkiller Chronicles, you definitely need to read this, just be aware that if you are expecting it to be like any other book you've ever read, you will be let down.

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Izza@m0thermayi
3 stars
Dec 9, 2022

3.5 stars | Nice to get back into this world again. I will probably reread this at some point as I feel I might not have been in the right mood to read it.

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Evil Lizzard@davegiraffe
5 stars
Nov 18, 2022

This is such a lovely story. I love Auri, and this felt like very beautiful, thoughtful, gentle fanart by the author himself. I loved getting to know Underthing as well. The illustrations are beautiful and thoughtful too. I will absolutely reread this book. It is one of those hugs-disguised-as-books.

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Emelie@swedishbookowl
3 stars
Oct 31, 2022

Im only giving this book 3 owls cause i want to be neutral, like Switzerland, about it! I Didnt get what the plot was, except from a girl named Auri who lived in the underworld... Underground.. Undersomething! Okay, so i basically know her name! Since the fact is that this book is after the duology it wasnt probably My best choice to read it now. I Will therefore reread it again, after i've read book 1 & 2! And God knows when that Will be!

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Stephen Gill @steog
4 stars
Oct 21, 2022

A strange enjoyable tale.

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Alejandro@alexito4
3 stars
Oct 14, 2022

Definitely a weird one! Let's say I don't regret reading it but I would necessarily recommend it. It's a really weird story. Nothing really happens. By the end you get a better picture of the Underthing, but that's not really the purpose of it. You instead get to know more about Auri and how she sees the world. It took me many pages to be confortable with the writing, specially the personification of objects, but by the end it was fine. (view spoiler)[ Of course, as a big fan of Kingkiller, the most exciting page is the last one where we see a glimpse of the future (maybe?). Some would say that you can go and skip right there if you just care about Kvothe. And that may be right but I feel like you need to know why Auri says those words and has those feelings. (hide spoiler)]

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Curtis Stewart@chosenfallen
5 stars
Sep 16, 2022

I seriously loved this book. I can understand why it may not be for most people, but it was definitely for me. I NEED more stories about Auri, she's just so.... Perfect

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bookmole@bookmole
3.5 stars
Aug 24, 2022

A wonderfully strange little book about Auri, a character from the King Killer Chronicles. I enjoyed it at first and then found myself rushing through it to get it done as it did become quite tedious. But still a nice read while I wait for book 3 of KKC :)

+4
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Arron Kau@arronkau
4 stars
Aug 15, 2022

Strange and beautiful. And strange. Probably best if you've read the kingkiller books first.

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Eva Bailey@evabails
2 stars
Aug 14, 2022

2.5 stars. This was a weird mess but I kind of liked that about it. Love Auri but was never really sure what was happening. The illustrations were beautiful.

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TYLER@sherlocksr
4 stars
Jun 28, 2022

4-/5

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Jenna@jenna
2 stars
Jun 8, 2022

I feel torn about this book. I thought it was beautifully written and I loved the language. The story though... I guess I feel it was a bit contrived. The more I learned about Auri (which wasn't much), the more annoying she became. This is a story about a mentally ill OCD person living underground, constantly picking things up and putting them back down somewhere else. It was very repetitive. I guess I somewhat enjoyed reading it, only for the writing. The story could have been better for me. I'm ready for the next Kingkiller book.

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Scribbler Johnny@scribblerjohnny
4 stars
Jun 7, 2022

There is no real way to describe this story. It's to be experienced.

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Bergen Anders Nelson Eickhoff@bergeneickhoff27
5 stars
May 17, 2022

This book is so heartbreakingly beautiful that I began weeping in the middle of a public park upon finishing, and then re-read the final chapter. Seriously, you need to read this book, and that goes doubly so for any fan of The Kingkiller Chronicles.

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Ivan Vega@ivanyv
1 star
Apr 15, 2022

Oh. My. God. I forced myself to finish this just because I liked the previous ones so much, and hoping I'd find something to pull me (yes, I knew what this book was about). Before, I liked Auri. Now I couldn't care less about her. It was like reading somebody's 18th century Facebook wall. No thanks.

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Sabetha Danes@aconitecafe
5 stars
Mar 27, 2022

I loved this book. it is the first of his I've read, and I was apprehensive about starting with a side book in a series but it was lovely. Auri is raw. her life isn't written here to impress you or draw you in. I do get that this story isn't for everyone, but he makes that clear in the beginning and the end. if you consider yourself broken, read this book. but don't over analyze it, or have expectations of what you think it should deliver to you. I know when reading series people tend to build their own opinions on how people are when it isn't written out, I definitely do it. but it's explained well by Pat that it is a story he wrote for him, and it is about her. you can't really analyze that, or demand her life be something it isn't. I think broken people that can read a story for what it is without expectations can relate to the character and love her story.

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roosmarijn@rosiescoffeethoughts
1 star
Jan 13, 2022

i regret reading this, what a lame excuse of a way to end a story. i was bored out of my mind throughout this entire book but the desperation and defensiveness of the author’s endnote made everything ten times worse. i want to forget i read this, probably will.

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Marit@maritt
3 stars
Oct 20, 2021

3.5 stars rounded down While I enjoyed the story, it just felt a little disjointed to me. It took some time to get into it, but by that point I was already almost halfway through the story. PS: Is grinning the only facial expression Auri is capable of or was Rothfuss just not inspired enough to let her do other things?

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Brian Alderman@brianaalderman
4 stars
Oct 9, 2021

this was different. and for that, it is beautiful

Highlights

Photo of Alec Karlen
Alec Karlen@alec-karlen

You did not want things for yourself. That made you small. That kept you safe. That meant you could move smoothly through the world without upsetting every applecart you came across. And if you were careful, if you were a proper part of things, then you could help. You mended what was cracked. You tended to the things you found askew. And you trusted that the world in turn would brush you up against the chance to eat. It was the only graceful way to move. All else was vanity and pride.

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becca b @bexbeans

DEEP IN THE UNDERTHING, Stones warm beneath her feet, Auri heard a faint, sweet strain of music.