varsha_ravi 's review for:

Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin

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Tehanu is a beautiful, powerful, and fitting continuation of the Earthsea cycle. Unlike the first three books, there is little in the way of grand, sweeping magic. Instead, Le Guin offers something quieter and more grounded, a pastoral story that draws its tension and drama not from fantastical threats, but from deeply human, often unsettling realities, like the cruelty and violence of men.

Ged takes a backseat in this novel; the focus is on Tenar, now nearly 25 years removed from the events of The Tombs of Atuan. She has lived a full life, is recently widowed, and now cares for Therru, a child who has suffered terrible abuse, and who, in many ways, becomes the catalyst for the narrative.

Therru’s presence upends the rhythms of Tenar’s life and reframes the way power and care are understood in this world. Her trauma, silence, and strangeness force others — especially Tenar and Ged, to confront the limits of their understanding, the failings of the society they live in, and the invisible forces that shape identity and worth. Therru embodies a kind of latent, untapped power that challenges the dominant norms of Earthsea’s patriarchal and hierarchical world. Through her, Le Guin asks: what is magic, really, and who gets to wield it?

Here, women are firmly at the center, and Le Guin gives them the space and complexity they deserve. The characters are exquisitely drawn, and while the plot may appear simple on the surface, it holds profound emotional and philosophical depth. 

Tehanu marks a clear shift in tone and perspective within the series—moving away from heroic quests and mythic battles toward interiority, care, and the overlooked power of everyday resilience. The Earthsea cycle as a whole has been a remarkable and resonant work of fantasy — one that I know I’ll treasure and revisit for years to come.