# Is "The Narrow Road Between Desires (expanded Bast novella)" by Patrick Rothfuss a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Narrow Road Between Desires (expanded Bast novella) by Patrick Rothfuss (DAW Books, 2023) is identified by: Expanded reimagining of The Lightning Tree, roughly twice the original length, illustrated throughout by Nate Taylor. US DAW hardcover is the true first of this expanded text.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- Expanded reimagining of The Lightning Tree, roughly twice the original length, illustrated throughout by Nate Taylor
- US DAW hardcover published November 14, 2023 (ISBN 978-0-7564-1917-2), 240 pages; the first printing carries a complete number line running down to 1, with the printed price present on the jacket flap
- Publisher imprint reads DAW Books
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Patrick Rothfuss |
| Publisher | DAW Books |
| Year | 2023 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | Expanded reimagining of The Lightning Tree, roughly twice the original length, illustrated throughout by Nate Taylor |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
Expanded reimagining of The Lightning Tree, roughly twice the original length, illustrated throughout by Nate Taylor. US DAW hardcover published November 14, 2023 (ISBN 978-0-7564-1917-2), 240 pages; the first printing carries a complete number line running down to 1, with the printed price present on the jacket flap.

## Is this the true first?
US DAW hardcover is the true first of this expanded text.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Distinct from the earlier, shorter novella (The Lightning Tree) that appeared in the Rogues anthology in 2014.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Narrow Road Between Desires (expanded Bast novella)* by Patrick Rothfuss a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-narrow-road-between-desires-expanded-bast-novella
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.