The Narrow Road Between Desires

Patrick Rothfuss

Nov 2023 · Astra Publishing House

About this ebook

An instant New York Times, USA Today and Indie Bestseller!

#1 New York Times-bestselling phenomenon Patrick Rothfuss returns to the wildly popular Kingkiller Chronicle universe with a stunning reimagining of "The Lightning Tree." Expanded to twice its previous length and lavishly illustrated by Nate Taylor, this touching stand-alone story is sure to please new readers and veteran Rothfuss fans alike.

Bast knows how to bargain. The give-and-take of a negotiation is as familiar to him as the in-and-out of breathing; to watch him trade is to watch an artist at work. But even a master's brush can slip. When he accepts a gift, taking something for nothing, Bast's whole world is knocked askew, for he knows how to bargain—but not how to owe. 

From dawn to midnight over the course of a single day, follow the Kingkiller Chronicle's most charming fae as he schemes and sneaks, dancing into trouble and back out again with uncanny grace.

The Narrow Road Between Desires is Bast's story. In it he traces the old ways of making and breaking, following his heart even when doing so goes against his better judgement.

After all, what good is caution if it keeps him from danger and delight?

Ratings and reviews

hey pat, i'm a 22 year old girl that's been a fan of your books since i was in high school. definitely found myself connecting to all the characters in your book, hungry for more stories and words and just overall seeking the ability to escape into your books again and again. i've reread everything over and over through the years. the slow regard of silent things helped me through a really hard time. Auri was a character I needed most of all and didn't even know. this story with Bast, after all this while is hitting in the best way. not to mention how sweet the authors note was. i know you get some bullies, but there's a lot of people rooting for you and Kvothe and everyone in Temerant too. can't wait for more good words :-)

an absolutely wonderful dive into the viciousness and empathy dichotomy of Bast. I'd recommend picking up the physical copy of this book. It's gorgeously illustrated and lovely to look at. And it's a wonderful return to the world of Temerant, and Pat's wonderful evocative writing. Every word has been curated so carefully. there's gravity in every moment. Ignore the 1* haters, reviewing another book yet to be published, as opposed to this one. Well done Pat! still got the magic in spades

Empathetic to the love for your family, and it truly shines through. Love the exploration of Bast and his heritage. Rike and the children are very fleshed out and believable. Needless topical issues in a couple of places. Gorgeous prose and slice of life, giving more metrics to the magic. Book three is saved in my searches and I hope to clear that soon (finish the next in the series PLEASE).

About the author

Patrick Rothfuss is the bestselling author of The Kingkiller Chronicle. His first novel, The Name of the Wind, won the Quill Award and was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. Its sequel, The Wise Man's Fear, debuted at #1 on The New York Times bestseller list and won the David Gemmell Legend Award. His novels have appeared on NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction/Fantasy Books list and Locus' Best 21st Century Fantasy Novels list. Pat lives in Wisconsin, where he brews mead, builds box forts with his children, and runs Worldbuilders, a book-centered charity that has raised more than sixteen million dollars for charity, the lion's share going to Heifer International. He can be found at patrickrothfuss.com and on Twitch at twitch.tv/patrickrothfuss.