This is the start of a great epic. I LOVE these kinds of series. It's a fantasy, but you're not bombarded right away with explanations of the physics and details of the world. You learn about the world very slowly, experiencing it along with the character. I love that it's an adult story about a child's life (or partly so, anyway).

Kvothe (think quothe) is in hiding as an innkeeper named Kote after a long hard-lived legendary lifetime. His patrons don't know who he is, only that he resembles a little the flame-haired legend Kvothe. A scribe heard rumor and comes calling looking to put down the true life story of the legendary figure. So starts the story that takes up the book: Kvothe starting with his childhood and telling the tale of how he became a legend.

It's very well told, and I'm very very sad that the second book isn't out yet. Book one ends sometime around age 15 and still in school, so obviously there's lots more to tell! It's not even announced yet, and yes, I'm already getting the RSS of the author's blog so I can hear it straight from the horse's mouth when the time comes. Truly epic. I'm sure my review does it no justice.

If you like epic fantasy bildungsramen-style, you'll love it.
Edit: It only improved on second reading.