A review by zober
Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin

adventurous 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

I enjoyed this coming-of-age fantasy story. It follows Gavir's life through various phases/settings, which I won't list in order to avoid spoilers. It's fairly slow, and thought-provoking. Definitely a departure from the plot-focused fantasy best sellers of the current era, but I welcomed it.

Quotes I enjoyed:
Sometimes, they told me, a boy, refusing his second initiation, chose to return to the women's village and live there as a woman the rest of his life.
yesss Ursula with a trans-friendly culture, somewhat implied to be indigenous in nature

I thought of her beautiful sister, and wondered if Melle too would be beautiful. I found myself thinking, "Let her be spared that!"
reminiscent of Daisy hoping her daughter will be a "beautiful little fool" in Great Gatsby, except... a different take on the fact that society only values women for their beauty