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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
5/5
"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"
It is with a heavy heart that I conclude Ged's arc in the Earthsea Cycle. I cannot imagine an Earthsea installation without him, and I cannot imagine finishing this series, which strikes the debate of when I will grab the last installation "Tehanu".
I do not know how, but each of these books have come to me in the most appropriate moments of my life. As of the themes of books 1, 2 and 3 correlated exactly with what I was experiencing in life at the moments I read them. They also always heal my reading blocks.
In the third installation of the Earthsea Cycle, we follow Ged, now a middle-aged man, and his new companion, Arren, who has come to the island of Roke to seek why magic, music, songs, spells and languages are disappearing from the world, causing ruin to all mankind and dragonkind and everything inbetween. A dark force is at play, and they must travel together to discover how, if, and at what cost they can heal the world.
"They are angry. They dance their anger on the wind."
The stakes are high, the wisdom in this book is aplenty, and needless to say it makes you think of the boy Ged was in the first book, Wizard of Earthsea. As well as the young adult he was in Tombs of Atuan. Seeing him grow-up was a beautiful experience, and I could endlessly read about all his deeds and adventures. His character arc was wrapped up in a great way, but can anyone really wrap Ged up?
I sensed his fatigue in this book, his powers not being what they used to be and him coming to terms with that. The feeling that he had had just about enough of doing glorious deeds and actions, being the Archmage, and yet in The Farthest Shore he embarks on his last quest, that costs him everything, and he fully embraces that.
I cannot explain what makes Ged such a deep and relatable character, but since the first book I felt a connection with him, and marveled at how beautifully the interactions between him and the other characters were handled.
"It is hard for a dragon to speak plainly. They do not have plain minds. And even when one of them would speak the truth to a man, which is seldom, he does not know how truth looks to a man."
Ged and Arren definitely had a very special dynamic, and I appreciated it throughout the book. Their relationship did a fantastic job at showcasing the difference between young adult and adult, and it drove a very intriguing parallel as to the days when Ged was also a young kid just learning the ways of life.
I loved how the wisdom from someone that was once a boy and we experienced him as such, is now giving tutelage to another young apprentice of sorts. It was moving to say the least to get to the point where Ged gew up enough to take that load on himself, as a mentor had once done for him all those years ago.
I'll see you around, Ged. You have changed so many of my views on life for the better with each one of your journies, and wherever you are, I hope you keep doing just that.
"There is a certain bleakness in finding hope where one expected certainty."
"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"
It is with a heavy heart that I conclude Ged's arc in the Earthsea Cycle. I cannot imagine an Earthsea installation without him, and I cannot imagine finishing this series, which strikes the debate of when I will grab the last installation "Tehanu".
I do not know how, but each of these books have come to me in the most appropriate moments of my life. As of the themes of books 1, 2 and 3 correlated exactly with what I was experiencing in life at the moments I read them. They also always heal my reading blocks.
In the third installation of the Earthsea Cycle, we follow Ged, now a middle-aged man, and his new companion, Arren, who has come to the island of Roke to seek why magic, music, songs, spells and languages are disappearing from the world, causing ruin to all mankind and dragonkind and everything inbetween. A dark force is at play, and they must travel together to discover how, if, and at what cost they can heal the world.
"They are angry. They dance their anger on the wind."
The stakes are high, the wisdom in this book is aplenty, and needless to say it makes you think of the boy Ged was in the first book, Wizard of Earthsea. As well as the young adult he was in Tombs of Atuan. Seeing him grow-up was a beautiful experience, and I could endlessly read about all his deeds and adventures. His character arc was wrapped up in a great way, but can anyone really wrap Ged up?
I sensed his fatigue in this book, his powers not being what they used to be and him coming to terms with that. The feeling that he had had just about enough of doing glorious deeds and actions, being the Archmage, and yet in The Farthest Shore he embarks on his last quest, that costs him everything, and he fully embraces that.
I cannot explain what makes Ged such a deep and relatable character, but since the first book I felt a connection with him, and marveled at how beautifully the interactions between him and the other characters were handled.
"It is hard for a dragon to speak plainly. They do not have plain minds. And even when one of them would speak the truth to a man, which is seldom, he does not know how truth looks to a man."
Ged and Arren definitely had a very special dynamic, and I appreciated it throughout the book. Their relationship did a fantastic job at showcasing the difference between young adult and adult, and it drove a very intriguing parallel as to the days when Ged was also a young kid just learning the ways of life.
I loved how the wisdom from someone that was once a boy and we experienced him as such, is now giving tutelage to another young apprentice of sorts. It was moving to say the least to get to the point where Ged gew up enough to take that load on himself, as a mentor had once done for him all those years ago.
I'll see you around, Ged. You have changed so many of my views on life for the better with each one of your journies, and wherever you are, I hope you keep doing just that.
"There is a certain bleakness in finding hope where one expected certainty."
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another beautifully written installment in the Earthsea Cycle. It’s shaping up to be one of my favorite fantasy series and solely for how beautifully the world and themes are explored with each new character. I hope we will be seeing more of Arren in the next book.
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good continuation
I enjoyed this third part of the Earthsea cycle. The journey of a boy understanding and growing up following one who is the most powerful. I thought it was a little drawn out in parts. Some parts felt almost pointless but I’m sure if I ever reread I would be able to understand more. It almost feels like a proper ending. Although I know the stories continue on.
I enjoyed this third part of the Earthsea cycle. The journey of a boy understanding and growing up following one who is the most powerful. I thought it was a little drawn out in parts. Some parts felt almost pointless but I’m sure if I ever reread I would be able to understand more. It almost feels like a proper ending. Although I know the stories continue on.