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This was a significantly better book than the first one in this series, Gifts. It had an excellent pace that kept me engaged from start to finish. The world-building was truly fascinating, creating a vivid and unique setting. The characters were also very compelling, with their own distinct personalities and arcs.

It is somewhere between children's and YA literature, which makes it accessible to a wide range of readers. I read it because volume 3, Voices, won a Nebula prize and is my LAST read in the lists of Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Sci-Fi award laureates.

Le Guin is such a gifted storyteller that the pages just seemed to fly by when I was reading this one. She has a remarkable ability to draw you into the story and make you care about the characters and their fates. While I still prefer the Earthsea universe to the Western Shore universe, this is still a wonderful story that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys well-written fantasy.

Fear is the offspring of silence, and the consequence of silence is nothing but fear.

A generation is learning that knowledge demands effort and comfort is found in the cradle of ignorance. The next generation doesn't even know that it is ignorant because it doesn't even know what knowledge is.

This was the second book I read from Ligotti. I liked the book "The Strange Case of Mr. Pudding" (published by Tandis) much more because it had a good and interesting idea and a good narrative.

But the book "Noctuary"... I don't know, it advanced very emptily until the end. It had no ups and downs, and most of the parts were a report and summary of the events. I couldn't establish a connection with the story and the characters, and in short, I didn't understand some of their actions.

It had a good idea and some things to say, but it didn't have the expected and satisfying payout for me. Many things in the narrative and world-building remained chaotic until the end. (This book is the second volume of a series, and it is mentioned in the preface that it can be read independently. Maybe this is the problem, and it is better to read it as a series. I don't know. Anyway, only this volume has been translated.)

And there are numerous proofreading errors. Very numerous! The translation, in my opinion, could be improved with a better edit.

I think I read it at the wrong time.

Ursula's pen is very good, but unfortunately the book didn't draw me in.

Perhaps if I had read it at a different moment, my perception might have been different.

The story might have had more impact on me if I was in a more receptive state of mind.

However, despite Ursula's excellent writing skills, this particular book just didn't manage to capture my full attention.

It's possible that the themes or the pacing didn't quite align with my personal preferences at this time.

Nonetheless, I still recognize the quality of Ursula's work and look forward to exploring other books by her in the future.

Maybe the next one will be the one that truly hooks me and keeps me engaged from start to finish.

Three and a half stars

This is an introspective and thoughtful book that delves deeply into many profound themes.

It takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery and reflection.

The narrative voice of this story is truly captivating.

It has a unique charm that draws you in from the very beginning and keeps you engaged throughout.

The author's writing style is细腻 and evocative, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind.

Each character is well-developed and has their own distinct personality.

The story unfolds at a steady pace, revealing new layers and insights along the way.

Overall, this is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and engaging read.

I finally finished reading this book!

I must say that I liked this book more than the first one. However, due to school, I couldn't read it, so I also lost a bit of interest in this story. It is an interesting story, but maybe the writing style doesn't suit me because it seems a bit dry to me. I'll see if I read the third book as well.

Overall, I think this book has its merits. The plot is engaging and keeps you hooked from start to finish. There are also some interesting characters that add depth to the story.

Despite my initial lack of interest, I found myself getting more and more involved in the story as I read on. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy this genre, but I would also caution them that the writing style may not be to everyone's taste.

In conclusion, while this book may not be perfect, it is still a worthwhile read. I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for us in the third book.

I can't even rate this book.

It is so extremely annoying.

From the very beginning, it fails to engage me. The story seems to lack a clear direction, and the characters are not developed enough to make me care about them.

The writing style is also rather dull and uninteresting. There are no vivid descriptions or engaging dialogues to keep my attention.

Moreover, the pacing is off. Some parts drag on forever, while others are rushed through, leaving me feeling confused and dissatisfied.

I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it has completely disappointed me. I would not recommend it to anyone.

It's a waste of time and money. I hope the author will improve in their future works.

Overall, this is one of the most annoying books I have ever read.

This one was even better than the first book in the series.

It had a more engaging plot that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The characters were more developed and their relationships added depth to the story.

The author's writing style had also improved, making it easier to follow and more enjoyable to read.

I especially liked the new twists and turns that were introduced, which made the story more unpredictable and exciting.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first one or who is a fan of the genre. It is a great addition to the series and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next.

Another example of social fiction by Ursula K. Le Guin that has been misfiled as scifi/fantasy.

This volume, Voices, is actually better than the first in the Annals of the Western Shore trilogy, which is Gifts.

Voices delves deep into the crucial importance of literacy within a democracy. It also explores the contrast between nonviolent solutions and violent ones, presenting very timely themes that are highly relevant in today's world.

It is truly wonderful that writers like Le Guin have now reached a point where they feel confident in creating heroines as well-developed as heroes.

This book has the potential to be enjoyed by a wide range of readers. It could easily be classified as YA (Young Adult), but older adults will also find great pleasure in its pages.

Le Guin's ability to craft engaging stories with thought-provoking messages is on full display in Voices, making it a must-read for fans of her work and those interested in exploring important social and political ideas through the medium of literature.

Le Guin is justifiably renowned for her novels from the late 1960s and the 1970s. Titles like the Earthsea books, The Dispossessed, and The Left Hand of Darkness have solidified her reputation. However, she has not rested on her laurels. For nearly 60 years now, she has been a significant force in science fiction, fantasy, and indeed literature as a whole.

This, the middle volume of the Annals of the Western Shore, showcases precisely why. Her prose is as clear and powerful as that of almost any writer one can think of. The characters she creates straddle the line between the archetype of tale-tellers and fully three-dimensional human beings. She infuses the entire work with a humanity and relevance that is truly breathtaking. She crafts great stories that are elevated to the level of epic by the inclusion of a meaning that is both apparent and yet never heavy-handed. It never overpowers the tale but instead lifts it.

Voices presents a great, ancient city of learning that has been under the subjugation of a foreign power for seventeen years. This power's singular god views any other deities as demons and any books or writing as blasphemy. The story also features a girl, the child of a violation during the invasion, who has grown up tending the remains of a secret library and is a witness to, and plays a crucial role in, a great change.

Just as wonderful as the first volume, Gifts, it leaves one a little sad that there is only one book remaining.

When comparing Voices to Gifts, the first book of the series, in terms of the themes described, Voices is clearly the superior one.

This is a book that delves into the tragic loss of a cultured civilization due to colonization. The colonizers view the ability to read and write as a demonic power, and books as malevolent entities that must be eradicated at any cost, without regard for human life. Seventeen years after the war, we are presented with a civilization in ruins, or a Dark Age, where a new generation of "half-castes" has lost the ability to learn.

As she did in her Earthsea series, I appreciate how Le Guin challenges our perceptions of ethnicity and religion. The lost civilization of Ansul is not what we would typically consider an Aryan society; the people are described as having dark skin and worshipping multiple deities in a polytheistic religion. The Alds, the colonizers, are monotheistic and have pale skin with frizzy blonde hair. Both cultures are in conflict, and the people of Ansul have not completely abandoned hope of restoring their city to its former glory. However, the question remains: can a rebellion be achieved peacefully, or must it be a violent one?

The protagonists from Gifts, Orrec and Gry, are significant characters in this installment, which takes place approximately twenty years after the events of the first book. While I believe Voices is the better of the two books, I don't have the same affinity for our narrator as I did for Orrec in the first book. I personally preferred Orrec's story because it was one of self-reflection and internal conflict. Memer, on the other hand, describes external conflicts and thus has a broader scope. Memer, the main protagonist of this book, has an authentic teenage voice, filled with strong emotions and prejudices regarding what has happened to her people and her disgust and hatred towards all the Alds. Her views are extreme and uncompromising. I didn't entirely like this perspective or her treatment of Simme, an Ald and her younger counterpart. Throughout the book, she struggles to respect other cultural beliefs and is somewhat dissatisfied with the outcome of the rebellion, feeling that the path chosen by her elders is not the one she would have taken. However, Memer, our narrator, is an adult looking back on the events as she remembers them, and through this more mature lens, there is a sense of regret for her initial impulsive nature.

Despite these minor flaws, this is an outstanding book that can easily be read as a standalone novel.

A book that delves into the captivating story of a city under occupation, the emergence of agents of change, and the path towards a brighter future through mutual concessions. It is a literary work that offers profound insights and thought-provoking themes.

Ursula Le Guin is a masterful storyteller, and any time spent reading her books is truly time well invested. Her ability to create vivid worlds and complex characters is simply remarkable.

In this particular book, she explores the dynamics of a city in turmoil, where the occupiers and the occupied are at odds. Through the eyes of the agents of change, we witness their struggles, their hopes, and their determination to bring about a better tomorrow.

The concept of mutual concessions is a central theme in the book, highlighting the importance of compromise and understanding in resolving conflicts. It serves as a reminder that only through cooperation and give-and-take can we move forward and build a more harmonious society.

Overall, this book by Ursula Le Guin is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the human condition, the power of change, and the possibility of a better future. It will leave you with a new perspective and a deeper appreciation for the written word.