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shugentobler's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death
mrgriffit's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A masterclass in storytelling. About how people connect with each other, their country, and their world. It’s at its best when the main characters are pushed together and the only flaw I can find is that it doesn’t get to the point where they are “together” until much later in the story than I wished.
On an altogether different note, it feels as though in some ways, the journey that began in Rocannon’s World is finished here. The gift of Mindspeech is finally used for its true purpose, connection and understanding. A tool to bring people together, not to dominate or destroy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Incest, Misogyny, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
olivi_yeah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Sexism, and Torture
Moderate: Homophobia
that_vnr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
!!! MILD SPOILERS AHAID !!! I genuinely don't want to touch another book for a month. This book broke my heart in all the good ways a book can. Leaves you wanting for more, leaves you numb and speechless. It's the book I always needed. A sci fi story that challenges you. The reader and the protagonist are informed very early on what the outcome of the story will be, so it leaves you wondering about what truly, in my opinion, matters: What is love, what is gender, what is humanity? What makes us so different from the androgynous dwellers of Gethen? Why as a reader did it feel so natural to assign a gender to these genderless people, just as Genly Ai did, but why did I also feel then need to reprimand him and myself while doing so? Why as a person in real life do i do the same? I don't throw the word masterpiece around easily, but this is a treasure for sure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement and Incest
Minor: Death, Suicide, and Violence
bakatan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, and Torture
Minor: Incest and Miscarriage
libellumartinae's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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? No
3.75
Alrightie, this book was... intense. beautifully so, but I can't help but deny that partnering this book with another was a bad choice in my part that inevitably staunched my enjoyment of it. One of the things, in fact, I struggle with the most is a sort of initial confusion that didn't diminish throughout the reading experience as I tried to piece together the author's world. It's also true that as I have noted from other reviews not much happens throughout this book and this brought it to be a boring in some parts.
But gods! the whole architecture and meaning of this is utterly fabolous, alongside the knowledge that everything written is somehow already happened and you can see the echoes of it throughout the writing. An enchanting scifi reads.
But gods! the whole architecture and meaning of this is utterly fabolous, alongside the knowledge that everything written is somehow already happened and you can see the echoes of it throughout the writing. An enchanting scifi reads.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Blood, Grief, Dysphoria, War, Classism, and Deportation
evehowell's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
a timeless classic, immersive and unique; both political undertones and overt plot were so deeply enjoyable to me and easy to engage with.
the musings on gender and its relation to how our society functions are fascinating, and in many ways as relevant now as 50 years ago when first written. whether intended to or not, the book gives a fantastic trans and non binary allegory - a world without gender that just makes sense. i found i shared genly’s shock when he encountered terran humans again, man and woman alike, at the conclusion of the book - it felt almost wrong!
the plot is also so interesting, from the anxious escapades across the land to the awkward state dinners and odd conversations with strangers. the development of genly & estraven’s relationship throughout the book was such a joy to witness - frankly, genly’s attitude at the beginning just makes me laugh.
i would have expected the ending to mark down my rating, as i hate sad endings with a passion and love estraven’s character so dearly, but somehow i found the plot’s approach to it just so perfect for the scale and consequence of that event. the world kept moving and the mission remained important, but gently by no means moved right on. in my head though they live happily ever after 😌
overall, my second hainish cycle read was a fantastic choice, and i’m excited to launch right on into the next one - ursula le guin is and always will be a genius.
the musings on gender and its relation to how our society functions are fascinating, and in many ways as relevant now as 50 years ago when first written. whether intended to or not, the book gives a fantastic trans and non binary allegory - a world without gender that just makes sense.
the plot is also so interesting, from the anxious escapades across the land to the awkward state dinners and odd conversations with strangers. the development of genly & estraven’s relationship throughout the book was such a joy to witness - frankly, genly’s attitude at the beginning just makes me laugh.
overall, my second hainish cycle read was a fantastic choice, and i’m excited to launch right on into the next one - ursula le guin is and always will be a genius.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
gilnean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Cursing, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Excrement, Vomit, and Sexual harassment
verytwilly's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Striking, beautiful, elegant in its prose, consideration of topics, and motifs. This novel is both a work of art and of philosophy. I enjoyed it to such an extent that I’m lost for words to describe how much it fascinated, compelled, and inspired me…
Content Warnings
Minor: Body shaming, Confinement, Gun violence, Incest, Mental illness, Suicide, and Violence
kemrick19's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Incest, Slavery, Suicide, and Grief