Reviews

Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin

antonism's review against another edition

3.0

Tehanu was not a bad book, it was a rather pointless and indifferent one. Of course I can't deny how masterful LeGuin's prose is and how awesome that last chapter was, but at the end of the day a book without a strong plot is not good enough for me. There's too much introspection, thoughts, flashbacks and discriminating gender comparisons and very little else going on for most parts of this novel. It is not one to avoid but I can't recommend it either.

soumwise's review against another edition

5.0

I’ll come back at some point to write a more detailed review, but for now I’ll simply state that Tehanu was brilliantly written, hard-hitting and real. Oh sweet summer children that say fantasy is simply escapist fiction…

daisy_3's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

The last volume of the Earthsea quartet mostly forgoes quests and wizardry for a gentle story about the relationships between characters and what happems in their lives, now that their quests are over. Slow, moving, deeply character focused, and ultimately very beautiful. 

riccii's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

aidanburke's review against another edition

5.0

audiobooked this. really interesting the direction she took with this series’s

magma_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I only looked up this book after I read it because I struggled so hard to get through it. It is billed as a huge departure from the original trilogy, which I didn't know going in. So it bucked my expectations because it is a much more subdued novel without the adventure and enthralling world building I'd come to expect from EarthSea. 

This was a character book about 2 people having a mid-life crises. There wasn't much of a plot at all and I felt bored a lot of the time. It just didn't connect with me, nor is it what I expected, nor is it what I wanted. It is what it is. 

I'd caution other EarthSea readers that this book is very different and you should temper your expectations.

randomprogrammer's review against another edition

4.0

I was really drawn to the world-weary, powerless themes throughout the book. It's sort of as though the entire book was a narrative essay on the female condition. More often than not, it was sobering and slightly depressing. So much natural and interesting exploration of female powerlessness in a male society, as well as gender roles. So, my favorites list was 1, 4, 2, 3.

chchcheeeey's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted mysterious reflective

3.75

mxknits's review

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

shalot's review against another edition

3.0

I didn't enjoy this book the first time I read it as a kid. I didn't understand a lot of what was going on.

I really enjoyed it this time around. The main characters aren't wizards or adventurers; They're ordinary people that have to live in a world with wizards, kings, pirates, and thieves. I really enjoyed the peaceful moments of the book: gardening, looking after the farm, weaving baskets. It's like the series was settling down to old age with this book. But I have high expectations for the Other Wind thanks to the final chapter.