Reviews

Tales from Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

suddenlyjamie's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

fschmidt2001's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious reflective slow-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

4.25

A great lore addition! Would get a perfect score except I don't care for Diamonds love story, and I don't entirely understand how Roke became so misogynistic when it was founded by women at first? 

boithorn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging medium-paced

4.0

runeiia's review against another edition

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? It's complicated

3.75

sousandwich's review against another edition

5.0

This has been my most satisfying reading experience with Le Guin’s ‘Earthsea Cycle’, surpassing even the wonderful story that Tehanu is. As usual, Le Guin’s whimsical style evokes magic in every sentence, grounding the reader in an universe that is both real and fantastic.

Out of all five stories, my favourite’s ‘The Finder’, where we follow a boy named Otter across a challenging, character-defining adventure that ultimately lands him on Roke Island. My quote of choice, however, belongs to the last story, ‘Dragonfly’:

“Silence is the answer to everything, and to nothing.”

aaron13's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

1_and_owenly's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative 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? It's complicated

4.75

Although parts of this book happen before the first book in the Earthsea series (A Wizard of Earthsea), this book is definitely meant to be read as a bridge between  Tehanu and The Other Wind. It sheds light on so much of that world and sets up the pieces for the events of the final Earthsea novel.

jonnyeberle's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

antropomorficzny's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

cassiacow's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

4.0

I thought this book did a really good job at filling in gaps in lore - Le Guin is an absolute master and a genuine joy to read.

The main criticism that I have is that Tales is the first Earthsea book where I haven't been completely absorbed in the stories happening to the characters - I was still invested in the characters themselves, but perhaps because it was a collection of short stories I felt slightly removed from the stories - as if I was watching it second- or third-hand. 

I love this series and this book is a worthy addition - definitely can recommend!