The Doors of Stone: Release, Updates & Everything We Know About Kingkiller Book 3 (2024)

Book 3 in The Kingkiller Chronicle series, titled The Doors of Stone, is coming, it is just a matter of when.

Written by American author Patrick Rothfuss, the Kingkiller novels take readers on an adventure in an original fantasy world, following an adventurer and musician named Kvothe.

The first two books (The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear) were released in 2007 and 2011, respectively. It has been more than a decade since the last book in the series hit store shelves.

Will The Doors of Stone Ever Release?

The Doors of Stone: Release, Updates & Everything We Know About Kingkiller Book 3 (1)

Despite having been revealed more than a decade ago (being first described before the publication of The Wise Man's Fear in 2011), no publication date has been set for The Doors of Stone.

The release plan for the third book has long been a topic of conversation among fans, as readers eagerly await news on the next chapter in the Kingkiller story.

In a 2014 interview with Christopher Paolini, The Doors of Time author Patrick Rothfuss revealed he thought he had about "a year" left of writing on the project to get it right:

"My writing energy is going toward working on Book 3. There is no publication date. Believe me, if there was a pub date I would share it with everyone. It still has alot of work before it is perfect. And here is what I told the people that showed up to my Portland event, because somebody asked, 'When's Book 3?' And I am like, 'Okay, that is a fair question.' And I said, 'It is going to take me at least a year to make the book everything that I want it to be.'"

He added that he cannot get the book perfect "really fast" and does not want to rush the process:

"When I said, 'At least a year,' I heard this [mumbling] from the audiences. And I said, 'Think of it this way, who remembers watching the first 'Matrix' movie?' And everyone was like, 'Oh, I remember. It was awesome.' And I go, 'Who remembers the last 'Matrix' movie?' And every one is kind of like, 'Oh yeah...' And I go, 'Do you want me to take another year and get this shit absolutely right?' I want to get this absolutely perfect. I want this to be a book so good that it will break your heart and last for a thousand years. And I cannot do that really fast."

This "at least a year" plan would ultimately not come to fruition, as Rothfuss encountered some trouble while writing.

In a 2017 blog post (via Player.One) from the fantasy author, he admitted that progress was not going as well as planned.

He said, "The writing isn’t going well" and that he was in the middle of "[taking] it apart:"

"The writing isn't going well. Not everything functions in a straight line. I took it apart… the entire manifold has been disassembled and it’s been sitting next to it. Is there a publication date for the third book? The answer — the obvious, obvious goddamn answer — is ‘No.’ Because if there was a publication date for Book 3 I would have written this ebullient glowing blog post about it… and shared that information with you guys so you’d be happy."

Things would get even worse for fans when, in 2020, Rothfuss' editor, Betsy Wollheim, speculated the author had not "written anything for six years" and that she had "never seen a word of book three" (per Newsweek).

This came as the author told fans on Reddit that if he did not care about the book, "[they] would have it by now."

In 2021, Rothfuss revealed the book's prologue, doing a public reading of the first chapter on YouTube. This was the first indication that real progress had been made on The Doors of Stone, but it was still unclear if/when it would ever be released.

Rothfuss then noted he intended to release another chapter of the book; however, those plans have yet to materialize.

As of writing, it is unclear when The Doors of Stone will be released due to multiple delays and Rothfuss' sense of perfectionism.

What Will Happen in The Doors of Stone?

For better or worse, fans have some idea of where The Doors of Stone will go from a story perspective.

Book 3 in The Kingkiller Chronicle series is supposedly set to close out the story of the main character, Kvothe.

The book will, according to Rothfuss, largely take place at the University, a prominent location from the first two books, following Kvothe as he takes on his greatest adventure yet.

In a live stream on Twitch (via Winter Is Coming), Rothfuss said the book will see Kvothe as a "mess psychologically."

This will see the series' protagonist return to the realm of the Fae as he seeks mental refuge, getting tied back up with all sorts of colorful personalities on his adventures.

Are There Other Kingkiller Books I Can Read?

While fans wait for The Doors of Stone to be released, there (luckily) are a few other Kingkiller books to tide them over.

Of course, the first two novels in Patrick Rothfuss' fantasy series are there to read and reread, but a couple of other options are out there for those looking for more.

Two other full-length novels set in the Kingkiller Chronicle universe have been released over the last decade.

Rothfuss released The Slow Regard of Silent Things in 2014, a companion tale to the mainline Kingkiller trilogy. The book tells the story of an adventurer named Auri who goes searching in the tunnels beneath the famed University location from Rothfuss' other books.

The second companion novella, The Narrow Road Between Desires, was published in 2023. This book, also written by Rothfuss, focused on the character of Bast, the dashing assistant to Kvothe from the mainline books.

Two short stories set in the universe have been released as well, titled Unfettered and Rogue.

The Doors of Time still has no public release date.

The Doors of Stone: Release, Updates & Everything We Know About Kingkiller Book 3 (2024)

FAQs

Why hasn't Patrick Rothfuss finish? ›

Summary. The release of "The Doors of Stone," the final book in Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy, has been delayed for over a decade, leaving fans in anticipation. Rothfuss faced personal tragedy and struggled with meeting deadlines, causing further delays in the completion of the series.

Will there ever be a book 3 of The Kingkiller Chronicles? ›

By Ashley Hurst | Feb 28, 2024. Fans of Patrick Rothfuss' beloved fantasy series The Kingkiller Chronicle have been waiting over a decade for the third and final book in the trilogy, The Doors of Stone, but it's still not out.

Has Doors of Stone been released? ›

The Doors of Stone is unreleased as of 2024, a point of contention online. Rothfuss has said that the book would "conclude Kvothe's story", closing off the current arc, but that further stories in the world of Temerant would be forthcoming.

Who is shut behind The Doors of Stone? ›

In The Chronicle

It is generally agreed upon that Iax is the being Felurian refers to as being shut beyond the doors of stone.

Does Patrick Rothfuss still teach? ›

Patrick eventually had to stop teaching in order to focus on writing, though he screwed that up by having an adorable baby with his adorable girlfriend. He started a charity fundraiser called Worldbuilders and published a not-for-children children's book called The Adventures of the Princess and Mr.

Will the Kingkiller Chronicles be a TV series? ›

Showtime has passed on its previously announced TV adaptation of The Kingkiller Chronicle, executive-produced by and featuring music from Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda, according to Deadline.

What is bast in The Name of the Wind? ›

Bast is Kvothe's assistant and student and a prince of the Fae. Kvothe has gone into hiding and assumed the identity of Kote in order to keep a low profile. Kvothe saves a traveling scribe known as Chronicler from spider-like creatures called scrael, whereupon Chronicler, recognizing Kvothe, asks to record his story.

Who is a felurian? ›

Felurian is a legendary figure in The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss. She is an immortal Fae who uses her power to seduce men and lure them into the Fae realm. She is famous and many songs and stories are written about her.

Is Kote really Kvothe? ›

In the frame story, Kvothe goes by the name Kote. He lives in the town of Newarre, hiding his true identity by living as the innkeeper of the Waystone Inn with his companion, Bast. It seems that Kvothe took on this identity after a mishap that led to becoming a wanted man, presumably the death of the eponymous King.

Is The Wise Man's Fear a sequel? ›

The Wise Man's Fear is a fantasy novel written by American author Patrick Rothfuss and the second volume in The Kingkiller Chronicle. It was published on March 1, 2011, by DAW Books. It is the sequel to 2007's The Name of the Wind.

Who is the villain in Kingkiller? ›

Cinder is a major antagonist from The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss. He is a member of the mysterious, malicious group known as the Chandrian. In the novels, he is the most seen out of all the Chandrian, and is notable for killing Kvothe's parents.

Who is IAX? ›

Iax being the ancient shaper whom played a large part in constructing the Fae, eventually stole the moon, started the creation war, and ended up locked beyond the doors of stone.

Who is puppet in Kingkiller Chronicles? ›

Puppet is Master Ash, and his use of the puppets during Kvothe's visit represent Denna being beaten. He knows what is behind the four-plate door. When Kvothe asks him what is behind the door, he replies that it is of no concern to a student, and not that he does not know what is behind it.

How long did it take Patrick Rothfuss to write The Name of the Wind? ›

Patrick Rothfuss on Why It Took 15 Years to Write The Name of the Wind.

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