annrhub's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sarahjonewt's review against another edition
5.0
I devoured this novel in less than 24 hours. Also, this is the first of the Earthsea series I have ever read (I like to read things out of order, but that's a story for another day). And it was perfect. I've had a hankering for a story about a wizard who loses their power and this delivered like WHOA. I cried within the first 30 pages and continued to have my emotions pummeled like a punching bag for the rest of the novel and it was perfect.
This is a quiet novel, but no less powerful for it. This is the first time I've met Ged, and I'm looking forward to reading the earlier novels and getting to see a younger version of him through this lens of where-he's-going-to-end-up. And Tenar's love and fear and fierce protectiveness made the story. I'm almost positive that she's the most well-rounded, complex character that I've ever read.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this novel is the mastery of the writing. I mentioned that it's a quiet novel, but the suspense and conflict and stakes were present on every page, and I could NOT put this book down.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series. My only question now is: which one do I read next?
This is a quiet novel, but no less powerful for it. This is the first time I've met Ged, and I'm looking forward to reading the earlier novels and getting to see a younger version of him through this lens of where-he's-going-to-end-up. And Tenar's love and fear and fierce protectiveness made the story. I'm almost positive that she's the most well-rounded, complex character that I've ever read.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of this novel is the mastery of the writing. I mentioned that it's a quiet novel, but the suspense and conflict and stakes were present on every page, and I could NOT put this book down.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series. My only question now is: which one do I read next?
charliequicken's review against another edition
have i read the first three earthsea books? no. will i? yes, of course. still, even without that context, this was such a great read. i love tenar and tehanu, though i am, as always, begging authors to have very different names for their characters, because i will get them confused. in the beginning, there's an uncomfortable way of talking about wandering travelers, who bear a resemblance to roma and other people that don't live in one place, so beware, but otherwise a great book about growing older and what it means to be happy
emilyjarman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
adashske's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
maren_hemsath's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
4.75
circleofreadersdruid's review against another edition
5.0
I have to say, Tehanu is the best in the Earthsea books so far. I liked the first three, especially the second, which also featured Tenar, but in Tehanu, Le Guin has finally come into her own as a writer. The slow reveal of where she was going with her world- and magic-building was delicious, and I lapped up every bit of her questions and discourses about feminism, power, and societal responsibility. Here’s one of my favorite quotes:
If women had power, what would men be but women who can’t bear children. And what would women be but men who can.
One last note: Jenny Sterlin is an amazing narrator. I’ll be on the lookout for more books read by her.
If women had power, what would men be but women who can’t bear children. And what would women be but men who can.
One last note: Jenny Sterlin is an amazing narrator. I’ll be on the lookout for more books read by her.
enbyglitch's review against another edition
5.0
Another solid Earthsea book, which greatly subverted my expectations of both the series and feminism.
Two books I've read are somewhat reminiscient - Hobb's "Ship of Destiny" and Larkwood's "The Unspoken Name". In either of those stories, Tenar or Therru would have eventually taken up the power to deal with the problems facing them. Here though, their heroism comes in surviving abuse until an opportune moment. It is a very different take than I'd seen previously, and probably puts to rest my hopes of seeing Tenar become a cool wizard in this series haha.
Le Guin has a lot to say here about the victimization and dehumanization of women in the acts and words of men - and the truth there cannot be denied. It's fascinating to me that she emphasizes and explores a real binary between the genders, then in the Afterword talks about needing to transcend systems that have proven chronically traumatic. Maybe its just my genderqueer bias, but I think she was almost there.
Overall a good story, if certainly worthy of all kinds of content warnings regarding sexism and abuse. Le Guin's take on feminism is both wildly different and interesting in its own right.
Two books I've read are somewhat reminiscient - Hobb's "Ship of Destiny" and Larkwood's "The Unspoken Name". In either of those stories, Tenar or Therru would have eventually taken up the power to deal with the problems facing them. Here though, their heroism comes in surviving abuse until an opportune moment. It is a very different take than I'd seen previously, and probably puts to rest my hopes of seeing Tenar become a cool wizard in this series haha.
Le Guin has a lot to say here about the victimization and dehumanization of women in the acts and words of men - and the truth there cannot be denied. It's fascinating to me that she emphasizes and explores a real binary between the genders, then in the Afterword talks about needing to transcend systems that have proven chronically traumatic. Maybe its just my genderqueer bias, but I think she was almost there.
Overall a good story, if certainly worthy of all kinds of content warnings regarding sexism and abuse. Le Guin's take on feminism is both wildly different and interesting in its own right.
fi_reads_books's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0