Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by felicitasviviancoco
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a great book! I was immediately enthralled by Ursula K. LeGuin's storytelling and worldbuilding. I just recently read the Wheel of Time which is the exact opposite in writing style from LeGuin's but they're both absolute masterpieces. She manages to write deep characters and lets them evolve through her book eventhough it's only around 150 pages long. There were quite a few points where I would chuckle because her characters are sometimes very peculiar but in a very lovable way.
Following Ged in his life from 12 to 19 (I think?) is an bold choice for such a short book but she managed to pull it of perfectly. As an adult reader my heart ached when he decided to leave for Roke but from the point of view of a 13 year old boy it had to be this way. I really loved how Ged's impulse to show off and prove himself was shown to the reader through different actions and came to this really scary scene where the shadow is pulled into the world.
The way Ged interacts with other people is also very nice to read. After the shadow-incident, he is not the same person and you can tell by his uncertainty in the interactions.
I think the shadow isn't really a being per se but more his bad conscience warping his perception. He is so afraid of his own power and potential to hurt the people around him, that it manifests into this shadow-figure which haunts him. I can't wait to re-read this book in a few years and compare my thoughts then.
I read it as an ebook this time but I will definitely get a hardcover edition (maybe with illustrations). I'm really glad that I found a new book to call one of my favourites.
Following Ged in his life from 12 to 19 (I think?) is an bold choice for such a short book but she managed to pull it of perfectly.
The way Ged interacts with other people is also very nice to read. After the shadow-incident, he is not the same person and you can tell by his uncertainty in the interactions.
I think the shadow isn't really a being per se but more his bad conscience warping his perception. He is so afraid of his own power and potential to hurt the people around him, that it manifests into this shadow-figure which haunts him. I can't wait to re-read this book in a few years and compare my thoughts then.
I read it as an ebook this time but I will definitely get a hardcover edition (maybe with illustrations). I'm really glad that I found a new book to call one of my favourites.