I think this is the book with the densest dialogue in the series. That is, on 200 pages, you are having difficulty concentrating with "What's happening, stop, why did he do this".

I also think I'm a bit bored. If there were only 2 books left until the end of the series, I would have given up.

Anyway, we will finish it now :/

The book in question seems to be overly focused on dialogue, which can make it a bit of a struggle to stay engaged. The constant repetition of phrases like "What's happening" and "Why did he do this" can become tiresome after a while. It's understandable that the author might want to create a sense of urgency or mystery through the dialogue, but perhaps a more varied approach could have been taken.

The fact that the reader is already considering giving up on the series with only a few books left is a sign that something might be amiss. However, it's also possible that the story will take an unexpected turn and redeem itself in the end. Only time will tell if this is the case.

I just love this book.

It is truly an indescribable feeling. I have searched deep within my vocabulary, but I am at a loss for words to accurately convey the extent of my affection.

It is as if my soul comes alive and sings with joy every time I pick up this book and embark on another reading journey.

I find myself longing to learn more languages, hoping that with new words and expressions, I can better express the profound connection I have with this literary masterpiece.

Each time I turn the page, I am transported to a world filled with wonder and inspiration.

This book has become an integral part of my life, and I know that my love for it will only continue to grow with each passing day.

I cannot imagine a life without this book by my side, and I look forward to many more re-readings and the discovery of new treasures within its pages.

The story itself and the pen of the writer are better, more mature and more attractive. The style also grows along with the characters and this, in my opinion, raises the score of the book higher. But why do I still give it 3 stars? Because some events in the book happen very much without background and even without subsequent explanation, while it is expected that it should not be like this. In my opinion, even the young and child audience will notice this bug.

Moreover, although the overall quality of the story and the writing is good, there are still some areas that need improvement. For example, the development of some subplots seems a bit rushed, and the relationships between some characters could be explored more deeply. However, despite these shortcomings, the book still has its own charm and can attract readers' attention.

In conclusion, although this book has some flaws, it is still a worthwhile read. I believe that with further polishing and improvement, the author can create even better works in the future.

You can watch my video review of the book here: https://youtu.be/8nlFEJOpEUg)

All the way back in the first chapter of A Wizard of Earthsea, Le Guin introduced a phrase common in Sparrowhawk’s land. One version was ‘Weak as woman’s magic,’ and a more concerning one was ‘Wicked as woman’s magic.’ The people of the island were rustic, at best reaching a medieval level of development. So, it wasn't surprising that women were held in low regard. As the series continued and a prestigious wizard school only for boys was introduced, this phrase became a target of criticism among fans. Even the sequel, which explored Tenar’s growth as a young girl, couldn't satisfy the naysayers. By the third book, the status quo was solidified. In a similar vein to the original story, Sparrowhawk was accompanied by a boy named Arren on his adventure. A Wizard of Earthsea was published in 1967, and The Farthest Shore completed the trilogy in 1972. Given the era they were written in, it's understandable that the books faced criticism for promoting an outdated worldview. However, there was more depth to the issue that deserved a more complex discussion, which Le Guin opened up in Tehanu.

One way Le Guin brings in a new era for Earthsea is through the portrayal of Sparrowhawk. In The Farthest Shore, he used all his magic to defeat a great evil. Afterward, the book offered two possible endings for him. In Tehanu, Le Guin chooses the latter, but his return home is far from peaceful. Having lost all his power, Sparrowhawk is directionless and depressed. We can only view his experiences from the outside. In the previous books, while characters like Tenar and Arren took the lead, Sparrowhawk guided them. Now, Tenar embarks on her journey alone. She starts before Sparrowhawk arrives on the island, and when he does, he's often angered by her attempts to help him recover and is useless in other ways. He seems ashamed of having given everything to save the world and tries to hide from those who might see his emptiness. It's a pitiful turn for a favorite character, but it has a purpose. It allows us to experience what Tenar claims is her own source of power.

In the 2018 documentary Worlds of Ursula K. Le Guin, Le Guin said that some fans criticized Tehanu for degrading Sparrowhawk too much. While it's likely some were disappointed by his return, the book has other aspects that can be confusing. What sets Tehanu apart from other books in the series is the unrelenting realism. Tenar is mostly an ordinary woman dealing with everyday issues like property inheritance, domestic tasks, and whether to hike alone. The threats she faces often come from men with a higher propensity for violence and cruelty. Even when the villain is revealed to be another wizard seeking immortality, misogyny is so prevalent that he punishes Tenar and Sparrowhawk to humiliate her for being a woman and him for respecting her as a human. Overall, it's very different from the mythic storytelling of the previous books, especially considering the series was originally for young adults. Although almost two decades had passed since The Farthest Shore was published, and many readers might have welcomed a more mature take, it's no surprise that some preferred the fantasy land as they left it. Nevertheless, it's clear that Le Guin felt there were core mistakes in the series, and in her own words, if she didn't confront them, she might not have continued writing.

Overall, I think it's a wonderful success, although it can feel a bit mundane at times. It's well worth a read if you're in the mood for a slice-of-life take on the fantasy genre.

(Don't forget to check out my video on the book, which goes into more detail: https://youtu.be/8nlFEJOpEUg)

Tehanu, after 22 years of separation, is this really what it is like? There is magic, but it is not fantastical. This is a book by an author who has a lot to say about feminism, yet it is under the name of fantasy literature. In fact, when my own Earthsea series was ready, I said I would give it a try. Perhaps if it were a standalone book, it would not have been so disturbing, but the way the characters we know are used as tools for such social elements seemed meaningless to me. It's like when in every episode of Scooby Doo, at the end, when the mask of the ghost is removed, a familiar person turns out to be the bad guy.

Let me go further. Do you know how I feel when I read this series? It's like when you meet with a friend you don't really like very much to give them another chance. As you talk and talk, and you keep on chatting about nothing, and you act as if you are listening, but in fact you are lost in your thoughts. That's exactly how I feel. My eyes are scanning the words, flipping through the pages, but I can't give my mind enough to understand what I'm reading. Whereas Atuan Graves had created a jolt in my heart as if it were a defibrillator directly attached to my heart. I think this time we have lost the patient forever.

The thing I like most about these books is the 6-volume hardcover edition of Metis. The cover is very beautiful (even though the string came loose in my hand one day), the paper and printing quality are excellent, there is not a single spelling mistake, and the transition pictures between the chapters are great. If there were such a hardcover single book of Harry Potter, you would pay 188 instead of 88. Well, never mind, let's wait a little longer. There are only two books left anyway.

Happy reading to everyone!

I understand the reasons why this book is so liked by other people. Now, the focus is on women and men play a secondary role. Magic is not mentioned at all and daily life is the protagonist of the book. Indeed, the way the author presents problems of daily life and problems that困扰 women daily is very nice.

However, for me, this was the most boring book in the series. Of course, not because the protagonists were women, but precisely because I felt as if I wasn't in Earthsea. It was a completely human book.

Maybe I was expecting more of the magical and fantastical elements that were present in the other books of the series. This one just seemed to lack that special charm that made the others so captivating.

Nonetheless, I can still appreciate the author's attempt to explore different themes and perspectives. It's just that this particular approach didn't resonate with me as much as the others.

#πέστεναμεφάτε

I found the titles of this Earthsea Cycle always rather intimidating so far.

However, it was actually very okay. So, three stars for the manageable plot, but four because I liked the overall situation.

The main character is a medieval woman who apparently (in the first three volumes) has done glorious things, but now just wants to have her peace, and that alone is rare and likable.

Also very good: At one point, it is predicted that a woman on a certain island will be the solution to an important problem, and there are three people who could be in question for it. Three! (And all three are extremely unheroic).

Update upon the second reading, I wanted to read the whole cycle in the correct order: Still pleasant, definitely better than part 2 and 3.

This book never truly gives the impression of being book #4 in the Earthsea Cycle to me.

The initial hundred pages or so seemed rather superfluous. The elements of darkness, sexuality, and gender role issues present in this book, while having their own valid points, felt completely out of place within this fantasy world. It's as if Wicked were the fourth sequel in the Oz series. The political and social agendas simply don't align with those of the previous books.

My other complaint is that this book would have been far more engaging if it had been written from Tehanu's perspective. The other three books follow this pattern, going from Ged to Tenar to the young prince. Logically, the expectation is that Tehanu should be the next in line of perspectives. Getting to know the classic characters and witnessing the stressful situations through her eyes would have been so much better. Instead, we get Tenar again. She is old and bitter towards the world.

**SPOILERS**

Also, for those who might argue that Tehanu's perspective would reveal too much too soon about her true nature as a dragon person, I have two responses. Firstly, Le Guin discloses the secret early on with the folktale of the fisher woman and Tehanu's ongoing interest in those dragon people. Secondly, imagine how much more entertaining and unique it would have been to delve into the mind of this new creature for more than just the last eight pages of the book. What is her opinion of Ged, the broken hero of the series? What does she think of Tenar, the former priestess of darkness, as a foster mother? One of Kurt Vonnegut's writing rules is not to leave the reader in the dark but to provide as much information as possible as quickly as possible. I can clearly see the merit of that rule through the shortcomings of this novel.

Tenar...

I'll start by saying that I like dragons a little more in each of her books. This time, there were also things that I could describe as "deeper" and more different than in the other two books I read. It was very enjoyable to read the subtle references made to women and the way women think. I think that's why in this case, I made the switch from Ged, who was my favorite character in the other books, to Tenar.

There were lines that caught my attention and I'll share them for example:

#1 Then I was saved, saved with you and Ogion, for a moment. But this wasn't my freedom. Only, I was given the chance to choose; I chose... I chose to shape myself like clay, for the service of a farm, a farmer, and our children. I made myself a vessel. I knew the shape of the vessel, not the clay's... Life made me dance, and I knew the dances. But I didn't know who was doing those dances.

#2 "When does a woman become strong because she is a woman?"
"Perhaps against her children. For a while..."
"But the doors are locked?"
"Because you are precious."
"Oh, yes. We are precious. As long as we are powerless..."

You must definitely read this series before you die!

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

It was truly a very enjoyable experience reading this book.

The story has kept me engaged from start to finish, and now that I have reached the end, I am left with a sense of anticipation.

I am eager to find out what happens with Therru in the next book.

Therru is such an interesting character, and I am curious to see how her story will unfold.

Will she face new challenges? Will she overcome her past? These are the questions that are running through my mind as I look forward to diving into the next installment.

I have a feeling that the next book will be just as exciting and captivating as this one, and I can't wait to find out.

**Tehanu (The Earthsea Cycle, #4) by Ursula K. Le Guin**

Tehanu continues the captivating stories of Tenar, the heroine from the second book of the Earthsea series, The Tombs of Atuan, and Ged, the hero of the first book, A Wizard of Earthsea.

In this installment, Ged, after losing his magical powers, returns to his homeland. Meanwhile, Tenar, the bringer of peace, lives with a little girl named Tehanu after the death of her husband, Flint the Farmer. Tehanu has survived the loss of her parents as a child but has suffered burns on half of her body.

The story unfolds with various events. For instance, a man who claims to be a traveling repairman but is actually a thief travels with a woman, and a younger man often accompanies them. They engage in thievery and rely on the woman's income. Groups of repentant people and highway robbers also come their way.

One day, the younger man enters the village, and the narrator, who had not seen the child clearly before, remarks on Tehanu's condition, suspecting she might be feverish. The child is described as being like a small, skittish seagull, always hiding when looked at, making the narrator unsure if they have truly seen her or not.

This book offers a rich and engaging exploration of the characters' lives and the奇幻world of Earthsea, filled with mystery, adventure, and themes of loss, healing, and growth.