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alexalily's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Animal death, Drug use, Slavery, and Drug abuse
pickledlettuce's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Leguin does it again. I’ll admit, there were parts of this book that felt super slow because of the pacing, but I would not trade a single word for a shorter length. Although I liked the first two books more, this one knocked my socks off.
The whole theme of this book (and most of Ged’s story in general) is the acceptance of death and change. Death of a living thing, an idea, a word, anything. Leguin isn’t saying that death should be celebrated, or that death is a wonderful, great thing in the world. What she is saying is that death and life are one, that for rebirth to happen, for hope and light to flourish in the world, our way of thinking, our selfishness, must change. Death is something that is scary, but that does not mean we should fall to despair because of it. I feel it is best exemplified in this quote:
The whole theme of this book (and most of Ged’s story in general) is the acceptance of death and change. Death of a living thing, an idea, a word, anything. Leguin isn’t saying that death should be celebrated, or that death is a wonderful, great thing in the world. What she is saying is that death and life are one, that for rebirth to happen, for hope and light to flourish in the world, our way of thinking, our selfishness, must change. Death is something that is scary, but that does not mean we should fall to despair because of it. I feel it is best exemplified in this quote:
"You will die. You will not live forever. Nor will any man nor any thing. Nothing is immortal. But only to us is it given to know that we must die. And that is a great gift: the gift of selfhood. For we have only what we know we must lose, what we are willing to lose... That selfhood which is our torment, and our treasure, and our humanity, does not endure. It changes; it is gone, a wave on the sea. Would you have the sea grow still and the tides cease, to save one wave, to save yourself?"
Our actions and words effect others. To act on selfishness is to change the world. To better our own lives and others, our selfishness must die so light can flourish. The future may be dark and seem hopeless, but as Leguin says:
“To see a candle’s light, one must take it into a dark place.”
EDIT: this is now a five star book. The themes, the characters, the world, it’s all SO well done. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished. Leguin was a master of fantasy imo.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Blood
conspystery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
I've finally finished this book, after running out of time on my library loan for it once or twice. Even broken up by the constraints of insufficient lending periods, this story is incredible, as are the previous two books in the series. I love how rich Earthsea is while at the same time being grounded in thematic reality. This book confronts death and what it means to live in such a fascinating, sincere way; every character feels simultaneously like their own dynamic person while also representing their own philosophical conflict. I just love Earthsea so much and this entry in its world is no different-- Le Guin is unparalleled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Animal death and Suicide
Minor: Blood
nerdkitten's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Dementia, Drug use, Mental illness, Murder, Slavery, Trafficking, Violence, Body horror, Kidnapping, and Gore
Moderate: Drug abuse, Cannibalism, and Mental illness
Minor: Toxic friendship, Suicide, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Gore, Blood, Animal death, and Grief
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Fire/Fire injury
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