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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
Archmage Sparrowhawk and a young prince leave go on an adventure to find out where all the magic has gone from the world.
It had some good moments, but I thought the general plot was a little weird: let's ask a drug addict where the magic went; let's ask some trades people; let's ask some foreigners; let's ask a dragon.
After meeting Tenar in The Tombs of Atuan I was also disappointed that there weren't any good female characters in this book. The only one was the old dyer woman who had lost her name.
It had some good moments, but I thought the general plot was a little weird: let's ask a drug addict where the magic went; let's ask some trades people; let's ask some foreigners; let's ask a dragon.
After meeting Tenar in The Tombs of Atuan I was also disappointed that there weren't any good female characters in this book. The only one was the old dyer woman who had lost her name.
Not as good as the first two, but still entertaining.
adventurous
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
Gorgeous writing, an exploration of life vs death, and an epic oceanic exploration of lands and people across Earthsea.
Dragons are so common in fantasy but the way ULG portrays them—their size and power—struck me with such an awe as if I’ve never encountered dragons before. The ending was so bittersweet. I’ll probably think about this trilogy for a long time.
Dragons are so common in fantasy but the way ULG portrays them—their size and power—struck me with such an awe as if I’ve never encountered dragons before. The ending was so bittersweet. I’ll probably think about this trilogy for a long time.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
BEAUTIFUL. Le Guin‘s books somehow always find me when I need them most, with her impactful themes and messages always striking at the right time. Love the section with the Children of the Open Sea. Excellent worldbuilding. The theme of death being necessary for life was also explored in such a way that I’m still thinking about it. Actually cried a bit when the end of Ged‘s story was reached, and how he came full circle back to Gont without magery. Really amazing prose that’s also very succinct.
I think I like Le Guin best when she doesn't try to be preachy and dogmatic. Initially quite liked this book but revisiting some of the quotes made me realised it has (the incredibly unendearing) glimmers of that dogmatic, joyless and pretentious book, The Dispossessed. I appreciate the critical contemplation of religious tropes of "eternal life", but banging on and on about how "TO REJECT DEATH IS TO REJECT LIFE" starts to grate after the first five or six times.
Visible:
18%
“No. But when we crave power over life—endless wealth, unassailable safety, immortality—then desire becomes greed
I felt as if Ged were speaking directly to us, this country at this time. Of course Ursula was speaking to us through Ged, but how ironic that she was speaking to an earlier us yet this still holds true today.
18%
“No. But when we crave power over life—endless wealth, unassailable safety, immortality—then desire becomes greed
I felt as if Ged were speaking directly to us, this country at this time. Of course Ursula was speaking to us through Ged, but how ironic that she was speaking to an earlier us yet this still holds true today.
What I lurned from this book iz that being a wizard izn't always the fun and the game.
Ursula Le Guin gave me the klutzy gay prince Disney never could.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Yes
An excellent conclusion to the first Earthsea Trilogy. The beauty of the writing was the same as the first but kept the increased pace and tension from the second. Seeing Ged's growth over all the novels was a delight and he really feels like a friend at this point. The themes were poignant and the finale beautiful. Also, dragons.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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