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lizziestudieshistory's review against another edition
5.0
A Wizard of Earthsea - 4.5/5
The Tombs of Atuan - 5/5
The Farthest Shore - 3/5
Tehanu - 3.5/5
I can't really review all of these in one go, especially as I've been picking these books up across the year! However, I have really loved reading about Earthsea. Ged is one of the few characters that really haunts my imagination, for "someone" I'm not sure I actually know he's one of the most interesting heroes I've read about in a long time.
The Tombs of Atuan is the best fantasy book I've read all year and everything has felt lackluster ever since... Including le Guin's other books. I can still feel the atmosphere of the Labyrinth and feel oppressed by the Tombs months later. Le Guin has magic in her prose and I'm still spellbound by this book.
*Mild Spoilers for Tehanu*
The Farthest Shore and Tehanu are more troubling for me... I think Le Guin became a bit too interested in putting a message inside her stories that the actual plot became lost. Tehanu in particular started to grate on me which has left me devastated because I love what Le Guin wanted to do! I was so excited to see Tenar as a middle aged woman who has lived a normal life with a husband and children but now gets to be the protagonist of a fantasy novel. The exploration of women and how society perceives them was wonderful, if rather depressing, but we spent a little bit too long on sexism in its various forms and not enough time on Aspen, Therru, and dragons! The ending felt rushed and out of place. If we'd stayed with Tenar and Ged's relationship and troubles then I wouldn't have had a problem because it complemented the thematic work, but it clashed horribly with the final action! I was left reeling! And not in a good way. The focus was slightly off in this book for me and it either needed to be a multi-pov book or split into two stories, Tenar and Ged's development and Therru's reveal.
The Tombs of Atuan - 5/5
The Farthest Shore - 3/5
Tehanu - 3.5/5
I can't really review all of these in one go, especially as I've been picking these books up across the year! However, I have really loved reading about Earthsea. Ged is one of the few characters that really haunts my imagination, for "someone" I'm not sure I actually know he's one of the most interesting heroes I've read about in a long time.
The Tombs of Atuan is the best fantasy book I've read all year and everything has felt lackluster ever since... Including le Guin's other books. I can still feel the atmosphere of the Labyrinth and feel oppressed by the Tombs months later. Le Guin has magic in her prose and I'm still spellbound by this book.
*Mild Spoilers for Tehanu*
The Farthest Shore and Tehanu are more troubling for me... I think Le Guin became a bit too interested in putting a message inside her stories that the actual plot became lost. Tehanu in particular started to grate on me which has left me devastated because I love what Le Guin wanted to do! I was so excited to see Tenar as a middle aged woman who has lived a normal life with a husband and children but now gets to be the protagonist of a fantasy novel. The exploration of women and how society perceives them was wonderful, if rather depressing, but we spent a little bit too long on sexism in its various forms and not enough time on Aspen, Therru, and dragons! The ending felt rushed and out of place. If we'd stayed with Tenar and Ged's relationship and troubles then I wouldn't have had a problem because it complemented the thematic work, but it clashed horribly with the final action! I was left reeling! And not in a good way. The focus was slightly off in this book for me and it either needed to be a multi-pov book or split into two stories, Tenar and Ged's development and Therru's reveal.
moietmoi's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
4.0
dzonka's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
twinkiebear's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
_loftwing_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tinsica's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It was interesting to read a book and see ways it has clearly influenced other things I had read.
I got slightly bored whilst reading at points. Think I would have enjoyed the books more if I had had a break between each book rather than reading the whole thing at once.
Overall though an easy read and fairly enjoyable
I got slightly bored whilst reading at points. Think I would have enjoyed the books more if I had had a break between each book rather than reading the whole thing at once.
Overall though an easy read and fairly enjoyable
haveyouseentron's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
First book The Wizard of Earthsea is 5/5, the others weren’t quite as good
lizziethereader's review against another edition
3.5
There is a sort of "deceleration" (for lack of a better word) to older fantasy novels like this that I had to get used to, but I did quite enjoy these books. Book 4 was very different in tone (much more character-focused and less about an adventure) but that provided a nice balance.
natalieabigail's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
4.5
kat_jane's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
4.0