The world of this collection was so vast...

I took pleasure in the details related to languages, places, people, and the history of the earth's ocean.

How my heart ached for God and my heart wanted to have an active presence in the rest of the volumes as well, but this collection is about the events of a land and not an individual.

I liked the first and last volumes of the collection more than the others.

This collection offered a rich tapestry of knowledge and exploration. It allowed me to delve into different aspects of the world and gain a deeper understanding.

The descriptions of various languages and their evolution were fascinating. It made me realize the complexity and diversity of human communication.

The accounts of different places and their unique characteristics painted a vivid picture in my mind. I could almost envision myself standing in those locations, experiencing their beauty and charm.

The stories of the people and their interactions added a human touch to the collection. It made me empathize with their joys and sorrows and appreciate the commonalities that bind us all.

Overall, this collection was a captivating and enlightening read that left me with a sense of wonder and a desire to learn more.

I read this book in just one day.

I was sitting in a tent, listening to the raindrops outside.

The atmosphere was so peaceful and a little bit sad.

This book was the perfect choice for that mood.

It was slow-paced, with every word carefully chosen and deliberate.

The language was almost musical, flowing smoothly and beautifully.

As I read, I was completely immersed in the story.

The characters came alive in my mind, and their emotions touched my heart.

Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.

This book had a powerful impact on me, and I will never forget the experience of reading it in that rainy tent.

It was truly a magical moment.

In this way, in the place where the powers of the world united, the powers of humanity also came together: A king, a princess, masters of magic. And dragons. And later, a thief nun who became a farmer's wife and a heartbroken village sorcerer...

This diverse group of individuals, each with their own unique abilities and backgrounds, found themselves in a situation that required their combined strength. The king brought his leadership and authority, the princess her charm and intelligence. The masters of magic contributed their arcane knowledge and spells.

The dragons, with their might and fire-breathing capabilities, added a fearsome element to the mix. The thief nun, despite her past, had a certain cunning and resourcefulness. And the heartbroken village sorcerer, though wounded, still possessed a deep understanding of the magical arts.

Together, they formed an unlikely alliance, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. Their unity would prove to be a powerful force in the battles and adventures that awaited them.

I almost immediately had misgivings about this book.

The beginning of the book seems to cover a lot of old ground, and initially, the plot lacks any clear direction. One can't help but wonder why she wrote this book.

The preceding book, Tales from Earthsea, has a small blurb on the cover or in the introduction where Le Guin mentions that her publisher suggested a new Earthsea book. That, and little else, appears to be the motivation for Earthsea books #5 and #6. It seems she has no truly new stories to tell, but rather is just fleshing out some of the mythologies.

I really dislike it when an author revisits an old series and writes new sequels. At its worst, it can turn into a form of retconning that can truly make you turn against the original series. The original trilogy was neatly wrapped up, with no obvious plot holes or cliffhangers. Then came Tehanu some years later. Okay, not great, but it seemed to really conclude the series for good. Oh, but wait, there's more! The major plot point of this book is eventually revealed to be the resolution of the afterlife for the people of the Archipelago. She completely changed the world with her tidy solution to the afterlife. I found the original, horrifying afterlife to be one of the more strange and appealing aspects of the earlier novels.

I still believe the original Earthsea trilogy is essential reading. However, having now read all of the later sequels, I can safely say that one can skip them.

“He grinned a little as he thought it; for he had always liked that pause, that fearful pause, the moment before things changed.” This quote by Ursula K. Le Guin from The Other Wind sets a tone of anticipation and mystery. The book cover, with its captivating image, further draws the reader in.

I don't have anything overly revolutionary to say about this book. Having completed both the Hainish Cycle and the Earthsea Cycle, I feel that Le Guin transcended the boundaries of hard sci-fi or fantasy. She was a masterful storyteller, using genre fiction to explore the depths of humanity. Her language was deceptively simple, yet it gradually revealed its poetic beauty. Only incrementally did one catch a glimpse of the enormity of her themes. She constructed literary castles, and we are fortunate to have been able to explore them.

Anyway, the novel is a nearly perfect conclusion to the Earthsea series. I adored the storyline of Alder, the Mender, and how his narrative seemed to quietly echo Ged/Sparrowhawk's story. I also loved the storyline of Lebannen, the King, and the Kargish princess. Finally, the storyline of the Dragons, Tehanu, and the Mages was equally captivating. Mostly, I was in awe of how Le Guin skillfully wove all these threads together. She harmonized the various stories and themes to tell a truly lovely tale.

“He grinned a little as he thought it; for he had always liked that pause, that fearful pause, the moment before things changed.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin, The Other Wind

Another few years have passed between novels, and once again, the influence of the author's internal changes on the plot's continuity is too noticeable.

This book, much more philosophical than the previous ones, represents a true subversion of the values in the cycle. The dragons, which were clearly chaotic and often evil beings, now become superior spirits, an ideal to reflect upon. The wizards of Roke, although with good intentions, are deeply wrong and are responsible for a crime against humanity. The evil barbarians in the second novel have been more faithful to the commitments of men when they separated from the dragons...

There are many changes and too much contradiction to reach a symbolic climax, and in my opinion, it could have been resolved with more elegance. The story seems to be pulled in different directions, making it a bit difficult for the reader to fully engage and understand the overall message. However, the author's unique writing style and the vividly described world still manage to hold some appeal.

Perhaps with further refinement and a more coherent approach to the plot and character development, this series could reach even greater heights. As it stands, it is an interesting but somewhat flawed addition to the literary landscape.

I can't properly review from the subway, but indeed, this was nice.

However, it wasn't my absolute favorite. My all-time favorite remains Tehanu.

And Tenar is still my favorite character.

Nonetheless, yay! I finally finished the series!

This journey through the series has been an interesting one. There were moments that captured my attention and made me eager to turn the page.

Although this particular installment didn't quite reach the heights of my beloved Tehanu, it still had its own charm.

The character of Tenar has always been a standout for me, with her unique qualities and development throughout the series.

Now that I've completed the series, I can look back and reflect on the overall experience.

It's been a fulfilling adventure, and I'm glad I took the time to explore this fictional world.

Maybe in the future, I'll revisit these books and discover new details and perspectives.

For now, though, I'm content with having finished the series and having had the opportunity to get to know these characters and their stories.

Concluding Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea Cycle, The Other Wind is a remarkable addition to the series. It neatly ties up the loose ends of previous plot lines, reconnects the beloved old characters, and delves deeper into the delicate balance of nature within the enchanting magical archipelago of Earthsea.

My favorite characters in this series are undoubtedly Tenar, Ged, and Tehanu. Among them, Tehanu holds a special place as my favorite book of the series. In this final volume, new characters are introduced, which further enriches the expanded world of Earthsea that was begun in Tales from Earthsea. However, my main criticism is that the story sometimes strays from focusing on the three main characters. Their unlikely family is one of the most beautiful and thought-provoking I have encountered in the realm of fantasy series.

Another fascinating aspect of this volume is Le Guin’s expansion of the dragons and their complex relationship with humans. What makes her dragons truly special is that they often reveal profound insights into the human condition, far beyond the clichéd roles of antagonists in traditional fantasy novels. As the events in the story draw to a close, it feels like a sunset – a gentle and fitting end for this series, yet it also leaves me with a sense of inevitability, whether for good or for bad.

The final volume of any series is always a daunting task and rarely satisfies everyone. However, I thoroughly enjoyed The Other Wind and wholeheartedly recommend that anyone who has read one or more of the previous entries in the series should definitely finish it.

Rating: 3.5 stars

It has been 4 months of traveling through Terramar and one of the best experiences in Fantasy that I have had.

It has allowed me to get to know Le Guin better, as I had read other of her CF books and didn't quite connect with her, but in Terramar she gives us life lessons by talking about dragons, witches, and magic.

A journey throughout 5 books in which we accompany Ged from when he is a child who discovers he has magic until he is an old man. This is not very common in Fantasy: we usually always see the action limited to a few years or moments, but being able to grow with the protagonist over decades has been a gift.

Also, more than 30 years pass from the first book to the last and being able to see the evolution as a writer of Le Guin makes you appreciate each book even more and you can see how the plots mature with the years.

In this last installment, the loose ends from the beginning are tied up, with the plot focusing on death and where souls go when they die. A very appropriate tone for it to be the last. And although narratively Le Guin maintains the quality, I think it doesn't reach the level of the previous ones. The story is divided into three plot threads that are mixed but it does so in a rushed way and the end is a bit accelerated and didn't allow me to enjoy it as the end of such a saga deserves. In addition, Ged appears very little and I had a bittersweet feeling when finishing it, as if I had missed the opportunity to say goodbye to him as he deserves.

Nevertheless, Terramar is one of the best Fantasy sagas that I have read and that any lover of this genre has to read at some point, because it is the origin of many other stories of other writers in the last half century.

It has been a pleasure, Ursula.

I'm fucking sobbing.

Don't even talk to me right now. I just can't hold back my emotions.

It feels like my heart is breaking into a million pieces.

Every tear that falls is a release of the pain and sadness that I'm carrying inside.

I don't want anyone to bother me or try to console me.

I need this moment to myself, to let it all out.

I don't know when I'll stop crying or when I'll be able to pick myself up again.

But for now, I just need to let the tears flow and hope that eventually, I'll find some sort of peace.

Slow and contemplative,

compassionate and peaceful,

it ties everything together and deepens the lore.

This quality or entity, whatever it may be, has a profound impact on the overall fabric of a story or a situation. It moves at a deliberate pace, allowing for careful consideration and reflection. Its compassion and peacefulness bring a sense of harmony and tranquility, uniting different elements and aspects. By doing so, it enriches the lore, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. It becomes a crucial thread that weaves through the story, binding the characters, events, and themes together. Without it, the story might lack the necessary substance and coherence. It is this unique combination of traits that makes it so essential and captivating, drawing the reader or observer into a world of deeper meaning and understanding.

And now I’ve read all the books in the Earthsea Cycle, which is truly quite cool.

It all began as a reread of the first four novels. This year, I delved into books 5 and 6 for the very first time. I must say, I thought the series was solid overall. However, I wasn't as deeply invested in a lot of these newer characters as I was with Ged and Tenar from the earlier books.

Those two beloved characters are still present, but for understandable reasons, they aren't as prominent within the story. Surprisingly, I actually found the Kargish princess to probably be the most interesting character for me in this novel.

I feel that there isn't a whole lot I can say without at least spoiling some aspects. But just know that you should definitely read the short story collection Tales From Earthsea, which is book 5 in this series. This is especially true because of the last story in that book, which is directly linked to this one.

All in all, I'd rate this experience a 6/10.