Reviews - Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea

1.99k reviews for:

Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea

I like the way this book approaches the idea of femininity and womanhood. I also like the way it brought Tenar and Ged together at the end.

To this book's credit, it was hard to figure out if it would be Tenar or Therru that would eventually be the hero. In most of the other books, it has been clear from the beginning who the hero would be.

I'm really glad the author didn't stop at this one though. It felt woefully incomplete without an exploration into the changing of the world for which Therru or Tehanu is a harbinger.

katie0528's review against another edition

3.75

emotional hopeful sad 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

This is a depature from the rest of the series that for the most part, I quite enjoyed. Tenar has lived on Gont since Ged rescued her from Atuan. She gave up a life of magic and renown to be a mother and wife. Now a widow with grown children, she takes in the abused and deformed Therru. Soon, a powerless Ged arrives on Gont and takes refuge with them, as they struggle with moving forward together while healing their past demons.

This was such a good emotional story about found family, I was kinda taken aback by the random final battle. Not only did the villain reveal himself very near the end (second to last chapter), but there was really not much to it. While I appreciate LeGuinn's attempts to tackle misogyny in her books and calling out the fantasy world at large, her villian seemed oddly placed in this one, more to make a point than to serve the narrative.

Content Warnings

mathewlreyes's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

brainbyibm's review against another edition

4.0

dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ndsr's review against another edition

5.0

I read this probably six months ago and I still find myself thinking about it from time to time. Magisterial work in revising what was already magisterial work in Earthsea.