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alicebutton's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An exciting enough story that moves along at a fast pace, although sometimes the prose slowed me down. I enjoy how much Ged's temper and ego move the story, but I wish the book had spent more time building up the other characters. It spends a lot of time quickly summarizing large portions of his life, and while I'm glad it didn't get bogged down in the minutiae of his school years, it leaves relationships feeling undeveloped. Even tragic events get glossed over.
The world is where Earthsea really shines. I'm not one to pore over maps myself, but a carefully crafted map still adds a ton of immersion. The places and details mentioned in Ged's travels place him in a real world, not just an empty ocean. The magic is simple enough but enticing, tied to the world's history. It makes the mythos part of the story in an organic way.
The patriarchal setting, and the fact that wizardry is restricted to men and boys is an uncomfortable element, but one I can personally forgive.
It's not perfect, but like other reviewers I'm interested to see where the sequels go.
The world is where Earthsea really shines. I'm not one to pore over maps myself, but a carefully crafted map still adds a ton of immersion. The places and details mentioned in Ged's travels place him in a real world, not just an empty ocean. The magic is simple enough but enticing, tied to the world's history. It makes the mythos part of the story in an organic way.
The patriarchal setting, and the fact that wizardry is restricted to men and boys is an uncomfortable element, but one I can personally forgive.
It's not perfect, but like other reviewers I'm interested to see where the sequels go.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and War
Minor: Child death, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis