A review by clubbo
The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin

3.5

I always admire the way Le Guin makes complex themes and issues understandable for a younger audience without coming across as condescending.  I don't plan on having children, but if I do, I'm sure that copies of all the Earthsea books will be on their bookshelves.

I didn't enjoy this as much as A Wizard of Earthsea or Tombs of Atuan, simply because I didn't feel as attached to Arren as I did Ged or Tenar.  He was okay, and I did enjoy the tension between his love and admiration for Ged and his realisation that Ged is fallible and human, but mostly he feels more one-note than I'm used to in Le Guin's writing.  Ged feels more like the protagonist than Arren does.  But that's okay, because I love Ged.

I loved the interactions between Ged and

Cob

, towards the end of the book.  As a child that was equally terrified and fascinated with death, I know that it would have definitely struck a chord with me if I had read it at the intended age.