bottleofink's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
mgnspncr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Pretty good. Very philosophical. What happens when men try to cheat death and upset the “balance”? What is power? What does power even mean?
milesjmoran's review against another edition
5.0
When I was young, I had to choose between the life of being and the life of doing. And I leapt at the latter like a trout to a fly. But each deed you do, each act, binds you to itself and to its consequences, and makes you act again and yet again. Then very seldom do you come upon a space, a time like this, between act and act, when you may stop and simply be. Or wonder who, after all, you are.
Out of the quartet that I've read thus far, this one felt the most like an adventure story, the previous two feeling more like coming of age novels. I was surprised at just how dark this one went, even compared to The Tombs of Atuan, and it made me, a 26 year old, shiver and wince at certain junctures. Le Guin knows how and when to be harsh or gentle, and I think this is one of the reasons why adults love these books as well as younger readers. Nothing at all is sugary - it's brutal at points and she doesn't mind slowing the plot down to have her characters ruminate on morality or life itself. Ursula K Le Guin is just a master of her craft. I find myself just letting go, having complete faith in her as a storyteller, and it's just a wonderful reading experience. I'm almost at the end of the quartet now and that makes me incredibly sad.
Out of the quartet that I've read thus far, this one felt the most like an adventure story, the previous two feeling more like coming of age novels. I was surprised at just how dark this one went, even compared to The Tombs of Atuan, and it made me, a 26 year old, shiver and wince at certain junctures. Le Guin knows how and when to be harsh or gentle, and I think this is one of the reasons why adults love these books as well as younger readers. Nothing at all is sugary - it's brutal at points and she doesn't mind slowing the plot down to have her characters ruminate on morality or life itself. Ursula K Le Guin is just a master of her craft. I find myself just letting go, having complete faith in her as a storyteller, and it's just a wonderful reading experience. I'm almost at the end of the quartet now and that makes me incredibly sad.
radetzkymarsch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
pocketardis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mellanclear's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
3.5