3.89 AVERAGE


This very clearly reads like a classic.
If you are looking for a lot of hollywood action and a grimdark story, you are completely wrong here.

If you are looking for a slower book, that focuses on one boy and his way to become a wizzard, then this might be just the right book for you.

The writing style is fluent, and allows an easy entrence into this world.
I did like the characters, the world and especially the pet... ;)

I personally had a bit of a problem with the magic - I still have no idea what wizzards can and can`t do. That makes it all a bit mysterious. But what will be exactky what others like about this books, was a bit annoying to me, as I really like to have an incling of what powers are possible.

Also at points it could have been a bit shorter. At times my head went of bit
"I am sailing, I am sailing, Home again 'cross the sea, I am sailing, stormy waters, To be near you, to be free..."
beause especially the last part of the book had the main character sailing here, there, and so on...

Other than that I did really enjoy this book and was well entertained throughout the story!

I wasn’t expecting this to be so well done. I know Le Guin is a highly esteemed author, but I went into this book thinking “Ah, this is a teen’s book. I’ll read this then probably move onto her more serious books.”

But man is there a lot of subtlety in this story! The magic system is sleek and simple. The character exposition is efficient, and relies on “tell not show” which I think a lot of modern fantasies (especially roman-tasies) could benefit from. There is a lot to look forward to, but it motivates further reader curiosity.

As far as children’s/teen fantasy goes, this is definitely a must-read. It’s certainly on the same level as LoTR, Narnia, or Redwall.
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous mysterious 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
adventurous lighthearted mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No
dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The novels in the Earthsea series are not "gripping" in the usual fantasy sense...yet somehow this story still has a hold on me decades after I first read it. It is imaginative in the best sense of kindling my imagination.

ursula k. le guin and anything she writes will forever have my heart. love earthsea for how it inverts many of fantasy's typical tropes (not perfectly, not entirely, but still) and for all the world building. it's short but packed with lore. ged is such a fantastic character,
Spoilerespecially since i couldn't believe him to be the "hero" at first

Could not get into this, not my kind of fantasy I guess?
adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

First time reading a local legend, and a rare dip into the fantasy genre. While some of the world-building descriptions could have been more concise, I loved the lessons taught by this story, and the representation of having a Black wizard as the protagonist!
adventurous slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No