Reviews

Voices by Ursula K. Le Guin

erasmios's review against another edition

4.0

This was my second time reading Voices. I did remember the general story, but was surprised how much I'd forgotten about the details. In Voices Le Guin continues to expand on the themes she laid out in Gifts, the previous novel: literature (studying, storytelling), religion (tradition, culture) and slavery (freedom, loyalty). Reading Le Guin's works is such a joy. She's undoubtedly one of the best fantasy authors, and in this series she exceeds any expectations adult readers might have regarding YA fantasy. The main characters aren't one dimensional stereotypes, but their motivations and growth feels real and convincing. My only criticism of Voices is that the story was a little too predictable for me. I'm not saying every book needs plot twists and big surprises, but the surprises in Voices might not match the ones in Gifts. Nevertheless, Voices is a fantastic story of slaves, poets and heroes, and its readers will learn why the pen is truly mightier than the sword. Not enough people know about this trilogy. Every fantasy fan owes it to themselves to read these books.

lucymaymiles's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

zober's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? No

4.25

I didn't know much about this series going in, and expected this book to 1) pick up where the first left off, and 2) follow the same characters. It does neither! It took me a few chapters to accept that, but ultimately I was pretty happy with it. I love that Le Guin does focus on a female character for this book - and does tie in the characters from the first book in a way that felt satisfying. 

Instead of focusing on powers generally (superpower-esque, and the power that grants people), this book largely focuses on the power of stories and words. While there's a little more action, even if it's just dressing as a boy to go grocery shopping, as a whole this continues the reflective, philosophical mood of the first book. And I love that Le Guin focuses on characters and roles - maid, stable boy, etc - who aren't normally protagonists.

The ebook has a bunch of typos, unfortunately.

greaydean's review against another edition

4.0

The story is getting stronger. I like it. I am looking forward to the next book.

nicolemhewitt's review against another edition

I was disappointed that this story didn't really continue the first book, but jumped ahead 20 years or so and told a completely unrelated story (with the main characters in the first book becoming secondary characters in this book). I found the book slow and wasn't interested enough in the political situation and the after-effects of a war that had happened 17 years ago. The story was too second-hand - the main character seemed too far removed from the action and I was bored with her philosophizing. I don't know if I'll bother with the third book in this series or not. It looks like we're jumping to a totally new story, so I'm not sure if it will be better or worse.

teensyslews's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense fast-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? No

4.0

neni's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No

5.0

samwreads's review against another edition

4.0

(read as part of the social distancing book club 2020)

For Voices, the second book in the Western Shore series, we get a pretty serious change of pace to a more political tale in a large city, one occupied by a foreign army that sees reading as a demonic practice (they do love spoken stories though, conveniently enough!). We also get a new central character in Memer, who I think is much more interesting than Orrec. She is less brooding and more adventurous, journeying by herself throughout the city in disguise as a boy, running errands, talking to strangers and spying on people. She has an interesting place in her household, being of the same ancestry as the "waylord" at the head of the house, but also answering to the housekeeper and stable master and running errands for them.

The main plot revolves around Orrec and Gry from Gifts coming to the city and using the power of words and introspection to help Memer and her house bring resolution to the conflict with the occupying forces. To do this, Memer must find her voice and re-establish her connection with the city's founders. Gry is a much more interesting character in this book than she was in Gifts, and is one of Memer's main companions throughout. Indeed, Memer doesn't really have any other "friends" her age apart from other members of the household staff, so her relationships with Gry and the Waylord offer a unique social dynamic. Ultimately Voices is more complex than in Gifts, more political and with more side stories and characters, but it's still well-crafted and satisfying.

(the rest of this review covers some of the symbolism and philosophy in the book and may contain spoilers depending on how much you care about these sorts of things).

Spoiler

Since there is a strong philosophical bent to much of LeGuin's work, I think it's worth pointing out some symbolism that runs throughout. There's obviously a strong religious element to the book, with the residents of the city believing in a polytheistic (pantheistic?) universe and seeing regular manifestations of their gods in everyday life. There's also a dualism between the fire god of the invading forces and the water god in the city's pantheon. The invaders see fire as a life-giving force and water as a destroyer, whereas water speaks to the city in the form of the Oracle Fountain, historically serving as the foundation for the city.

I know LeGuin has talked about being strongly influenced by Taoism and the Tao Te Ching, and I see a clear echo of that here in the city and in the oracle fountain. Water is a strong symbol in Taoism, which sees strength in mutability, ambiguity, and avoiding direct use of force. The oracle, with its oracle fountain, speaks in just this sort of ambiguity, and throughout the history of the city, it flourishes when avoiding direct conflict, instead learning to build social and economic relationships with former aggressors. tldr: Voices is a particularly strong example of LeGuin sharing and promoting Taoist principles of non-violence, mutability and introspection.

bluestarfish's review against another edition

5.0

We're back again in the Annals of the Western Shore, but this time a different place and time with a different set of main characters (although with a return of an older Gyr and Orrec accompanied by a halflion). The great trade city of Ansul has been under occupation for the last 17 years by the Ald who believe books and words are the domain of the devil and have destroyed the library and banned reading and books. Memer is a young girl who grew up under occupation at the formerly grand House of Oracle. It has religion, politics, searching for alternatives to violence, and wondering about who creates the grand feasts at the "end" of epic tales for all the heroes to come back to and enjoy... Memer is an interesting girl who is searching for her identity and role in life and happens to be living through "exciting times". I really like her journey.

I enjoyed this re-read a lot. And I appreciate a middle book of a trilogy that doesn't feel like a middle book of a trilogy.

doceon's review against another edition

5.0

Also really really good!