A review by 1_and_owenly
The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition by Ursula K. Le Guin

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad 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

This is a perfect example of the whole being greater than the individual parts. Not only are the individual stories amazing, but in combination with the art from Charles Vess and the extra essays from Ursula K Le Guin, this provides depth and grace beyond the books which compose the series. Earthsea is a reaction against the typical Western heroic tale and it becomes oh so clear in this compendium. We never forget that Ged is not White. That the dragons are more than just beasts. That wars are not what the narratives build towards. 

We see the evolution of whole societies and how change has come to Earthsea and who changes will continue. We see what Ursula K Le Guin was trying to do and why. 

This book has become one of my favorites and I will revisit it in the future. I look forward to see how my views of this art change over time… and how the characters therein change for me.