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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
I remain very impressed by Le Guin's ability to make a book with a simple plot, few characters, and little action feel so important and be so profound. Whenever I review one of her books I talk about the prose, and here it's as excellent as always, simple yet perfectly crafted.
Ged is a superb character, and it's been interesting to see him at different stages of his life through different people's eyes. I like how a lot, perhaps most, of his story isn't explicitly recounted in the Earthsea books and is simply mentioned by characters, but we see the impact of these events on his personality. In every installment of Earthsea he's a different person, and in this iteration, old man Ged, he's at the traditional old wizard/mentor stage, and he does it well. I liked the ending a lot, and I also appreciated what seemed to be perhaps the main message of the book: sometimes it's wisest to do nothing. This is the quote on that topic which I liked the most:
I also want to mention that, although dragons are one of the most common tropes in fantasy, Earthsea has handled them fantastically. The go largely unseen except when necessary, and Le Guin didn't make the story all about them just because they exist in her world and dragons are cool. I don't think any other fantasy depiction of dragons has given me the same sense of wonder as this book has.
8/10
Ged is a superb character, and it's been interesting to see him at different stages of his life through different people's eyes. I like how a lot, perhaps most, of his story isn't explicitly recounted in the Earthsea books and is simply mentioned by characters, but we see the impact of these events on his personality. In every installment of Earthsea he's a different person, and in this iteration, old man Ged, he's at the traditional old wizard/mentor stage, and he does it well. I liked the ending a lot, and I also appreciated what seemed to be perhaps the main message of the book: sometimes it's wisest to do nothing. This is the quote on that topic which I liked the most:
“When I was young, I had to choose between the life of being and the life of doing. And I leapt at the latter like a trout to a fly. But each deed you do, each act, binds you to itself and to its consequences, and makes you act again and yet again. Then very seldom do you come upon a space, a time like this, between act and act, when you may stop and simply be. Or wonder who, after all, you are.”
I also want to mention that, although dragons are one of the most common tropes in fantasy, Earthsea has handled them fantastically. The go largely unseen except when necessary, and Le Guin didn't make the story all about them just because they exist in her world and dragons are cool. I don't think any other fantasy depiction of dragons has given me the same sense of wonder as this book has.
“And though I came to forget or regret all I have ever done, yet I would remember that once I saw the dragons aloft on the wind at sunset above the western isles; and I would be content.”
8/10
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
There probably isn't much I can add to the reviews, as the book has been around a while. But it's pretty much fantasy perfection. Everything I love about Le Guin's writing/prose and the Earthsea world.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
my best friend said i wouldn’t be missing much if i skipped this one
adventurous
emotional
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
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-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
My favorite book of Earthsea so far.
The middle lagged a lot but it picked back up in the end. Arren was a good new character.
The middle lagged a lot but it picked back up in the end. Arren was a good new character.
3.5 Stars. This book takes a more traditional approach to storytelling, with the big bad villain and everything. I think that makes it lose the uniqueness the first two books had.