While still a solid installment in the Earthsea cycle, it is, so far, my least favorite.

Pros: The prose remains great, even for a younger target audience. The two main characters develop very nicely, which is a delight to witness. Talking dragons are always awesome, adding an element of excitement and wonder to the story. Additionally, the magic system is still great, and the world continues to expand, opening up new possibilities and adventures.

Cons: However, the overall plot felt lacking. Unlike the previous two books, it wasn't super clear what the main goal was, which made it a bit harder to engage with the story. The other characters are very much side characters, with little depth. While the world is expansive, the people in it seem to be lacking in personality and development. I would have preferred more conflict to add more tension and drama to the story, but I do understand that its original target audience is younger.

Overall, while this book has its strengths, it also has some weaknesses that prevent it from being as good as the previous installments in the Earthsea cycle.

5 Stars


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While Tombs of Atuan is the middle story of the first three Earthsea books, The Farthest Shore stands out as the true spiritual sequel to A Wizard of Earthsea. In this book, we find Ged as the wise and experienced older mentor, the Archmage who is guiding and protecting the future King on a crucial mission to save all of Earthsea. This portrayal of Ged is truly excellent and engaging.

This story beautifully rounds out the first three books of the Earthsea trilogy. It gives a sense of a comforting end to the story of the archmage Sparrowhawk. Even though there are three more books in the cycle, this book offers a wonderful and satisfying way to conclude Ged's story for now. However, it also leaves us with the anticipation that more exciting stories involving the greatest wizard of Earthsea are yet to come.

The way Ged's character has evolved throughout these books and his role in The Farthest Shore make it a must-read for fans of the Earthsea series. It continues to build on the rich and magical world that Ursula K. Le Guin has created, captivating readers with its enchanting tale.