4.25 
 Yes: Storytelling, characters, unique story nuances 
 No: Story gets a little verbose, and over-explains small points, and under-explains interesting or important points at times. 
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 This one has been sitting in my TBR list for some time, and, with such great ratings, I knew I HAD to finish it in 2016. I tried my hardest to stay away from reviews and descriptions of the book, so, I really didn't know what to expect, except that it was fantasy (), there was magic and wizardry involved (), and, that it was set in a fantasy medieval time-frame (yes! ). 
 I really did enjoy the vast majority of this book. It was exciting, the storytelling was very good, was extremely satisfying, and included several details that made the average reader love Kvothe - both as a classic underdog epic hero, who is IMO a tongue-in-cheek Gary Stu, and as a person. The world-building was, though not vast, pretty good, as well. I loved the characters, and, even though Kvothe made me want to literally thump him in the forehead several (SEVERAL) times throughout the novel, I had to keep reminding myself that he was very young, and had gone through some pretty tough stuff in his young life. I gave him a break more often than not. 
 I couldn't put the book down so, I'd consider this a very easy read for a fantasy novel reader, and a moderate read for those entering into the genre. 
 I've already started the next book in the series The Wise Man's Fear, as I got hooked on Kvolte's story. TNotW is such a book that if you make it through it, there is absolutely no way that you can't finish the series. It would be painful not to know how the story goes, as there is a bit of a cliffhanger on several characters including Kvothe.