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A review by ketreads
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
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
5.0
I think this might be my third reread of A Wizard of Earthsea and every time I revisit this world it continues to add depth and new meaning to scenes I thought I understood.
Ursla Le Guin manages to capture a classic fantasy tale of light vs dark but make it into so much more than that. The narrative style replicates the style of an orally traditional tale being passed down throughout generations of children coming into adulthood. The main character of Ged, while flawed, makes choices throughout the story that we all could have mistakenly made. The pacing of the book both manages to make big time leaps in short sentences, but also still capture the core emotions and dealings of our characters.
Another aspect I loved is the interpersonal relationships seen throughout. A few highlight characters of which are Ogion and Vetch. Every scene we see between these characters and Ged make the characters feel fully realised and nuanced throughout. Le Guin does a fantastic job of having Ged carry the story with emotional weight, of which is relieved at points by those around him such as Ogion and Vetch.
Overall, this is such a thoughtful reimagining of a classic fantasy quest and I'm excited to continue with rereading the series!
Ursla Le Guin manages to capture a classic fantasy tale of light vs dark but make it into so much more than that. The narrative style replicates the style of an orally traditional tale being passed down throughout generations of children coming into adulthood. The main character of Ged, while flawed, makes choices throughout the story that we all could have mistakenly made. The pacing of the book both manages to make big time leaps in short sentences, but also still capture the core emotions and dealings of our characters.
Another aspect I loved is the interpersonal relationships seen throughout. A few highlight characters of which are Ogion and Vetch. Every scene we see between these characters and Ged make the characters feel fully realised and nuanced throughout. Le Guin does a fantastic job of having Ged carry the story with emotional weight, of which is relieved at points by those around him such as Ogion and Vetch.
Overall, this is such a thoughtful reimagining of a classic fantasy quest and I'm excited to continue with rereading the series!