Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

A companion novel to Le Guin's GIFTS, VOICES delves into the life of a teen named Memer, who grows up in a city under the control of enemy people. The streets are constantly patrolled by hostile soldiers, and possessing a book is a crime punishable by death. The invading army views written words as evil and believes the city of Ansul is filled with demons. However, Memer knows that the Waylord, who raised her after her mother's death, has a hidden library in his house. There, he teaches her to read and then to use her understanding to assist the city in facing its greatest crisis.

Despite being a novel centered around story-telling and reading, VOICES offers more action and excitement than one might anticipate. The arrival of Orrec, a great storyteller and the narrator of GIFTS, reignites the courage of Ansul's people, leading them to attempt a rebellion against their oppressors. Memer finds herself in the middle, torn between her loyalty to the Waylord, who desires a peaceful solution, and her hatred for the soldiers who have destroyed so many things she treasures. With numerous twists and turns along the way, VOICES presents a conclusion that is both satisfying and unpredictable.

Perhaps the novel's strongest aspect is the way it transitions from black and white to shades of gray. Orrec believes that all people have some good in them, and as Memer is compelled to get to know the invaders she despises, she realizes that they are not all terrible and cruel. Some are simply different and unable to understand her way of life. The message seems to be that it is far better to reach an understanding with others, even if you dislike them, than to seek revenge. In a time when cultural and religious clashes dominate the news daily, this should resonate with many readers.

VOICES is not a flawless book. It slows down a bit more than desired before reaching its conclusion, and Memer is not as actively involved in those events as one might expect from a main character. However, these flaws are minor compared to the novel's other strengths: the unique setting and culture, the vivid language and personalities, and a voice that gently suggests, without preaching, that there is more than one way to win a war.

4.25 Stars

This novel, unlike its predecessor, makes us feel that we are in a present where the events occur as Memer, the protagonist of this story, narrates them. It is a great extension of the Western Coast universe, and we focus on Ansul, a town enslaved by a nation that considers them pagans (and mistreats them because of it).

The story has more firmness and substance than "Dones". It presents a social and political problem, depicting how people live, what hatred, revenge, and intolerance can cause, the importance of words, and that collaboration is always better than war. Once again, the author's stance is clear in the face of an authoritarian society where its power is based on fear. We have the right to be free, just as we must also fulfill our responsibilities.

I am eager to finish this trilogy and not lose track of the story of Orrec, Gry, and Memer. I am looking forward to seeing how their journey unfolds and what challenges they will face next. The author has created a captivating world that keeps me engaged from start to finish. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy story with a deeper message.

This is an absolutely perfect book.

"Voices" is specifically geared towards Young Adults, yet the concepts it presents are truly profound. It delves deep into the role of the occupier (in this case, the Alds) and the occupied (Ansul), exploring the complex and often double-edged nature of religion as a force that can bring both peace and war. Additionally, it emphasizes the significant value of storytelling in transforming not only cultures but also individual lives.

Occupation undeniably oppresses the occupied, but Ursula K Le Guin does an outstanding job of illustrating the nuanced aspects of occupation. In fact, it ultimately oppresses the occupier in crucial ways. Beyond mere religious zeal, many of the oppressors in this book gradually come to the realization that they truly do not desire to occupy others who are hundreds of miles away from their own homes. They long for their families, their familiar culture, and their accustomed ways of life. Just like the occupied, they also yearn to be free from this situation. Occupation, in essence, brings out the worst in all of us.

I found myself growing to love many of the characters in this book, both the oppressors and the oppressed. It left me with a profound sense of the power of individual courage – that small but mighty voice that dares to speak up and rebuke injustice. Moreover, it showcases the power of the commonality of just a few individuals to spark a significant social and political transformation. Ursula K Le Guin truly stands as a giant in the realm of American letters. Every single time I read one of her books, I am left with a distinct sense of purpose and a deep love for life that I seldom encounter anywhere else. What more could one possibly ask for in the wonderful world of literature?

Whew! This was truly a tedious read!

I have come to the realization that Ursula K. Le Guin's books are rather inconsistent for me, and this one, unfortunately, was a disappointment. "Gifts" was so beautiful and captivating that I had high hopes the entire series would resonate with me. However, just like in "The Left Hand of Darkness", the political undertones in "Voices" simply bored me to tears.

Moreover, there appeared to be an abundance of unnecessary details that elongated the story needlessly. Even during the climax, it felt as if nothing of real significance was occurring. I'll give it two stars for the interesting concept, but I definitely won't be revisiting this one.

Voices’ by Ursula K. Le Guin is the second book in the Western Shores trilogy.

Although a couple of characters were in the previous novel, I believe it can be read independently.

For those interested, start with book one: Gifts.

The book blurb describes Ansul, once a peaceful town with libraries, schools, and temples.

But now, the conquerors consider reading and writing punishable by death and believe the Oracle House is full of demons.

Seventeen-year-old Memer finds refuge in the house.

Then Orrec and Gry arrive, and Memer's life changes.

Will she and the people of Ansul rebel?

Orrec and Gry were children in ‘Gifts’, and their coming of age is similar to Memer's.

They are part of the same world but from different areas.

Orrec and Gry's childhood was violent and patriarchal, while Memer's was affected by the Alds' annexation of Ansul.

The Alds believe books are demonic and want to find the Night Mouth.

They have banned reading, writing, dancing, and the worship of Ansul's gods.

Memer is a “siege child” and disguises as a boy to travel and avoid the cruel priests.

The novel raises questions about compromise and revenge.

I think it has many layers and nuances, and I loved it.

I'm not sure what I'd do if faced with the same situation.

I love reading and am a woman who has experienced the suppression of female rights.

A culture that burns books because of a theological view that reading is evil is concerning.

I own hundreds of books I cherish.

This was very good.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

However, it didn't feel as captivating as the first book.

The plot was engaging and filled with interesting twists and turns.

The characters were well-developed and had their own unique personalities.

The author did a great job of creating a vivid and immersive world.

Despite all these positives, there was something missing that made the first book so special.

Perhaps it was the element of surprise or the新鲜感 that wore off a bit in the second installment.

Nonetheless, it was still a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first book.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for us in the next book of the series.

Letting go of a thirst for vengeance and hatred is an extremely difficult task.

It requires a great deal of inner strength and self-reflection. Even if we manage to move on to the next stage, like in a book series where the second book might be even better, it is still flavored by the background and experiences of the first book.

Reading in order allows us to fully understand the development of the story and the characters. It helps us to see how the events in the first book have shaped the subsequent ones.

Just as in life, we need to learn from our past and use those experiences to grow and become better. Letting go of vengeance and hatred is not easy, but it is essential for our own peace and well-being.

We must strive to forgive and move forward, no matter how difficult it may seem.

Svet, jeho fungovanie a aj celková atmosféra ma veľmi bavili.

The world, its functioning and even the overall atmosphere really entertained me.

I also enjoyed the plot and didn't even have any objections to the characters.

However, the story didn't really interest me at certain moments.

Maybe it was because the pace slowed down a bit or some of the subplots felt a bit dragging.

But overall, it was still a decent experience.

I liked the way the author created the world and the characters, and the plot had its interesting twists and turns.

It's just that there were those few moments when my attention started to wander.

Nevertheless, I would still recommend it to others who might enjoy this type of story.

Ursula Le Guin's worlds have a special charm for me. Wandering in her fictional universes, it creates a sense of a safe haven within me, a place I can always return to, whether it's in my mind, on my shoulders, or in my home. This is because whenever I stumble in life or in literature, the books that I reach out for again and again are those written by her.

Imagine a world with countless societies, countries, boundaries, cultures, gods, and atheisms. In this world, there is the Ansul library, which houses the written texts of all these world cultures, beliefs, myths, and histories. The Ansul people, who consider books sacred, will risk their own lives to save the books first when a disaster befalls them.

For those who find the sanctity of life in books, this place must hold a very special significance. And if, as I have described here, your spirit is also wandering among us, dear Ursula, please accept my endless gratitude once again.

When Ansul was initially sacked by the Alds, the soldiers engaged in pillaging, raping, and destroying every book they could lay their hands on.

Nine months later, Memer was born into the house Galva, the once glorious Oracle House, which harbors a secret library. It is here that the people of Ansul safeguard the few books they were able to salvage.

The lord of the house, the Waylord, endured years of captivity and torture at the hands of the Alds. By the time he was finally released, both his body and spirit were shattered. Memer and the Waylord form a bond over the saved books, as they are the only remaining members of the Galva family with access to them.

Even though Memer resembles one of the Alds, she grows up with a fierce hatred for the people who have occupied her city and land, broken her Waylord, and killed her mother. The people of Ansul are known for their peacefulness and forgiveness, yet the intensity of her hate reveals that she may have more of the Alds within her than she is willing to admit.

Things take a turn for Memer when she encounters Orrec and Gry (the now grown-up main characters from Gifts), and he unwittingly inspires the city to revolt against the Alds. As a traveling storyteller, Orrec attempts to remain neutral and understand both sides of the conflict, but the power of his tales proves to be beyond his control.

Le Guin masterfully weaves together the story of an occupied people, a cultural conflict, clashing religions, and the power and beauty of tales into a powerful narrative of freedom. Memer is a remarkable main character, flawed yet passionate, and her coming-of-age story in difficult circumstances is truly captivating.

I adored how the little lines of dialogue in this book shed new light on Gifts, the first book in the series, and how subtly she weaves the overarching themes of freedom and the power of stories into the main conflict of the narrative.

This series is truly outstanding, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of intelligent fantasy. If all youth literature were as powerful, enchanting, and intelligent as this series by Le Guin, no one would ever want to grow up.

Meh. This is a rather heavy-handed and often simplistic novel, perhaps due to its intended audience of children or teens.

The conflict is neatly divided into black and white. The polytheistic city of Ansul was renowned for its literary and scholarly culture until the Alds of Asudar invaded, engaging in rape, murder, and destruction. The Alds are religious extremists who view the written world as evil. They destroy every book they can find, kill those in possession of written material, and make reading a crime. Seventeen years later, their priests and soldiers still occupy the city.

Memer was conceived during the invasion when her mother was raped by soldiers. She despises the Alds for all their atrocities - raping her mother, torturing the beloved Waylord of her home Galvamand, wrecking the estate, and denying the gods she worships. Galvamand was once a university, and now people bring any books they find to the house for safekeeping. These books are stored in a secret room that only Memer and the Waylord can access using magic words. When a famous storyteller and his wife are invited to the city, it presents an opportunity for change.

In this context, all books acquire a grand, magical quality, and Memer and the Waylord become heroic, liberating figures simply because they love to read and do so in secret. We've seen this glorified reader rebelling against the book-burners (or in this case, book-drowners) countless times. Obviously, I'm on the side of the readers, but it's an old and tiresome conflict.

It also doesn't make sense. How can anyone run a business without writing things down? The Waylord even suggests that business will suffer or collapse in the future, yet it's astonishing that it hasn't already or that the Alds have managed to thrive without any form of writing. This is a quasi-medieval society, so there are no machines to do their record-keeping for them.

Le Guin seems to be going a bit too far with the Alds and taking a cheap shot at Islam, which their religion is based on. It's strictly monotheistic with a devil, and the Alds touch their heads to the ground four times when they pray. It resembles the more fanatical versions of Islam in its extreme intolerance, violence, and oppressive treatment of women (in Asudar, they're not allowed out of the house). Of course, Islam is quite different as it has a holy book, and the first word of the Quran is "Read", but on the other hand, the Prophet Muhammad was supposedly illiterate, as all the Alds clearly are.

In terms of the narrative, it seemed like a decent if unexciting coming-of-age story for a while. Memer is a strong character, and I still like the concept of a secret library, but as the conflict intensified, it became thoroughly dull - too predictable, with too many easy and convenient resolutions. After being equally disappointed with A Wizard of Earthsea, I think I'll avoid Le Guin's YA and children's fiction from now on.

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