I don't even know where to begin with this quartet.

I had excellent fun reading it. It did take me almost a whole month, but it's rather large as well. I'll talk about each book:

#1 'A Wizard of Earthsea'

Ursula Le Guin immerses us into a world full of magic, dragons, and unknown dark powers, an Archipelago of islands. I was thoroughly enchanted by the story of Ged growing up, and his mission to correct his wrongs and restore the balance.

Ged has humble beginnings in a village on the island of Gont, as a young boy. The wizard living on Gont, Ogion, gives him his true name of Ged, but everyone else calls him Sparrowhawk because birds flock to him when he calls. In this world, one's true name is of great power, and can be used against another by somebody with power. Ogion tries to make Ged his apprentice, but Ged has bigger ideas and wants to see the world, and so decides to go and learn structured magic at a high school on the island of Roke. I was sad when Ged decided to leave the kindly Ogion; he was like a grandfather figure, but I thought they must see each other once more. In fact, they do meet again at Ged's most desperate time.

Ged's training in Roke was kept brief, but I felt genuinely the friendship Ged built with Vetch, another pupil. The trust between them was strong and later Vetch agrees to help Ged on his difficult journey. I didn't really understand the rivalry Ged built with another student, Jasper, and we never see him again. I guess it was the pride of the young, and it worked as a catalyst for the dark event Ged has to put to rights. I thought the masters of Roke were friendly, and the classes sounded interesting: spell weaving, binding, illusion, naming.

I loved his little rat-like pet otak, 'Hoeg', but unfortunately he meets a sad end. Ged happens to be a dragon-lord, one whom dragons will speak to. The dragons are wise and old, and rather interesting.

This was an exciting introduction to Le Guin's world, and we are left with a nice happy ending. Ged manages to save himself and the world from the 'gebbeth', and Ged makes a great friend in Vetch. Unfortunately we do not see him in the other books, but a long time passes between them so Ged probably sees him!

#2 'The Tombs of Atuan'

I expected the second book to be much like the first, so I was pleasantly surprised when it was different. We get to know Arha, the Eaten One, who is the First Priestess 'reborn', taken from her parents aged 5. Arha serves the Nameless Ones, their primitive gods, and the mortal Godking. The land of Atuan is a dry desert, isolated, compared to the Archipelago where Ged lives, which is verdant and green. Arha lives with other priestesses, guards, eunuchs, and young girls who are priestesses in training. Only women and eunuchs are allowed to enter the sacred places which have stood for hundreds of years. There is great ritualism and respect in 'the Place'.

I got quite absorbed in the rituals and rules, the solemnity and the religion Arha has to obey. It was exciting when Arha walked the Undertomb and the Labyrinth alone. It was one of the most special places. No light was allowed in the Undertomb, and Arha got to know that and the Labyrinth by touch and memory, spending hours and hours getting to know her way, her own secret playground.

Sure enough, Ged/Sparrowhawk turns up, almost killed as a thief in the Labyrinth. He searches for a ring of great power to reunite the lands in peace. He develops trust with Arha, who has never seen a man, and she escapes with him, from everything she has known, and Ged gives her her real name: Tenar. The people of the Archipelago are red-brown skinned, and Tenar is white skinned, so when Ged brings her home she is called Tenar the White. It turns out that the Nameless Ones are not just superstition, because when Arha and Ged leave 'the Place', there is a massive earthquake, destroying the sacred buildings and tombs.

We learn, with Tenar, how different the world is outside Atuan. The last part of the book focuses on her apprehension about going to the white city of Havnor.

The book served as an introduction to Tenar and the legend of the Ring of Erreth Akbe, and we presume it will have significance in the next books.

#3 'The Farthest Shore'

Book three was a grim, powerful story. I didn't enjoy it as much as the first two, but in some ways I enjoyed parts more.

A boy, Arren, arrives on the island of Roke, the Isle of the Wise. He meets with Ged, now the Archmage Sparrowhawk. There is worrying talk about people forgetting magic and becoming unskilled and lethargic. Ged decides to take Arren with him on a quest to restore the balance. He seems to let fate guide them, with Arren helping. They travel to a couple of western and southern lands whose people have lost all purpose, are apathetic, no more magic or happiness is seen. Crops fail, orchards are untended, the dyers can't see the colours and the chanters forget the songs. Even the dragons are becoming mere animalistic beasts, losing speech and nobility.

Ged and Arren must travel into the land of the dead. We learn that Arren is called Lebannen, and his true name keeps him safe with Ged. I love Ged's ability to know true names! It's a mage thing. They must defeat a man who believes himself immortal and appears in illusions. In doing so, Ged loses all his magic, spends it out, and Lebannen brings him home. Ged makes Lebannen the King of Havnor, and the people hope for peace at last. At the end of the book, no-one knows where Sparrowhawk went, whether he went west to the dragons or retired in the forests of Gont. It really made me look forward to book 4!

#4 'Tehanu'

This last book begins just before Ged returns to Gont, at the end of 'The Farthest Shore'. We catch up with Tenar from 'The Tombs of Atuan', and she is called Goha in her village. She has had a family, now is widowed, and her children have left home.

Goha/Tenar takes in a severely burned, and raped child. She calls her Therru, flame in her native language. She is blind in one eye and has a claw for one hand because of the burning. Tenar wants her to have the best life she can.

This book is very pastoral, concerned with Tenar's neighbours and friends, and some village witches. There are simple pleasures like goats and sheep, growing onions, a peach tree, farming the land. Tenar was the wizard Ogion's pupil for a little while when Ged brought her to Gont, but not for long. In any case she goes to him when he is dying, and respectfully looks after his home, trying to teach Therru about life and the great stories and songs. There is always a worry in Tenar about who will have Ogion's magic books... There is an occasional reference to Therru's skin being scorching hot. Therru also very much likes the story of dragon-people who split into dragons and people.

This book focuses a lot on "the woman question". What are women good for? Should men do women's jobs like cooking and cleaning? Would a woman ever have the same rank or power as a man? Tenar is surrounded by kind women, and the bad people she meets are all men. There is also a theme of fear, of the future, of men, women's vulnerability, wizards, and even the king's men.

Ged is dropped on Gont, in his weakened state, by a dragon named Kalessin. He spends a lot of time with Tenar, recovering from his ordeal in the land of death, and the fact that he has no more magic. It is inevitable that Tenar falls in love with Ged...we realise she always was.

The ending of the fourth book is left as a cliffhanger of sorts, like all of the books: open and slightly uncertain. The ending of Tehanu is pleasant enough. However now I have found out that there are several short stories about this world, and even a fifth book, called 'The Other Wind', which references a line from the story about the dragon-people Therru liked so much. In fact, at the end of 'Tehanu', it is Therru who saves everyone with the help of the great dragon Kalessin.

Overall, as a quartet, I enjoyed these books immensely. While I couldn't say I was gripped the whole way through, I was most of the time. It was fantastic and thought-provoking. It touched on important societal and magical issues. Although it was meant for young-adults/teenagers, I think it has value for adult readers too. I can't wait to find another of Ursula Le Guin's books based in this world!

Terremer is a truly beautiful universe, like a small and precious bubble. It's not the kind of epic and powerful story that one typically reads. Instead, it's an intelligent, feminist fantasy that is deeply connected to nature and takes its time to unfold. The author presents us with human protagonists who are real and vulnerable, which is a great strength. Another positive aspect is the ethical questions it raises regarding the practice of magic. Finally, the author's afterwords are really fascinating and add a great deal to the reading experience of her universe.

The world of Terremer is rich and detailed, with a unique charm that draws the reader in and makes them want to explore every corner. The characters are well-developed and their relationships are complex and engaging. The magic system is also interesting, with its own set of rules and limitations. The author does a great job of making the reader feel as if they are part of this world, experiencing everything along with the characters.

Overall, Terremer is a wonderful read that offers something different from the typical fantasy fare. It's a book that will appeal to those who enjoy intelligent, thought-provoking stories with strong female characters and a connection to nature. The author's afterwords are a great addition, providing further insights into the world she has created and the themes she explores. If you're looking for a new and exciting fantasy adventure, then Terremer is definitely worth checking out.

Wonderful! I absolutely loved reading The Earthsea Quartet. I fell in love with the characters from the very beginning.

A Wizard of Earthsea was 4 stars for me. It was so exciting and even had a little bit of spookiness to it. The story kept me on the edge of my seat.

The Tombs of Atuan was a solid 5 stars. I adored it! It was also a bit spooky, but in a captivating way. I couldn't put it down! It quickly became my favorite of the quartet.

The Farthest Shore was 3-4 stars. It was such an adventure, but there were times when I got a little bored. However, those moments didn't last long, and then something exciting would happen. It left me with a bit of a sad feeling, but Tehanu came along and fixed that.

Tehanu was 4 stars. It was so beautiful and a great conclusion to the quartet. But it also felt like an exciting beginning to new adventures. It has me eagerly looking forward to getting my hands on The Other Wind and seeing what new stories and characters await.

I truly relished the experience of savoring this book. I took my time, allowing myself to fully immerse in its pages.

It was like a captivating fusion of the enchanting world of Lord of the Rings and the thrilling drama of Game of Thrones, yet without the rather uncomfortable element of incest.

The story weaves a tapestry of ancient and mysterious creatures. There are magnificent dragons, powerful and awe-inspiring. Then there are the dragon-people, with their unique abilities and characteristics.

The narrative follows their adventures as they set sail on voyages to discover far-off lands, filled with unknown wonders and perils. Along the way, spells are cast, and magic abounds, adding an extra layer of excitement and mystery to the tale.

It is a book that draws you in and keeps you hooked from beginning to end, transporting you to a world of fantasy and adventure.

The Wizard of Earthsea is truly the best among its kind. It offers a wonderful escape into a world of fantasy.

Even when I'm coughing my lungs up, this book provides a much-needed respite.

The story is filled with magic, adventure, and interesting characters.

It takes the reader on a journey through a mysterious and enchanting land.

The author's vivid descriptions bring the world of Earthsea to life.

You can almost feel the magic in the air and see the landscapes in your mind's eye.

Whether you're a fan of fantasy or just looking for a good read to take your mind off things, The Wizard of Earthsea is definitely worth checking out.

It's a classic that has stood the test of time and continues to captivate readers of all ages.

So, pick up a copy and let yourself be transported to the magical world of Earthsea.

An integral of adventures taking place on Earthsea, among the adventures of Ged the magician, Tenar the child priestess or even Tehanu the unexpected girl.

I have mixed feelings towards Earthsea. I may have made the mistake of reading it all in a row, which could sometimes introduce a feeling of weariness as Ursula K. Le Guin's pen is very contemplative, sometimes leading to long passages without dialogue. So I would perhaps recommend alternating the different books of this integral with other readings to avoid getting tired.

Earthsea is a classic of fantasy and it shows. We find all the classic codes of works of that era. If I thought it a pity in the first volume that the world was not more detailed, the following volumes gradually overcome this obstacle to present a more global vision of Earthsea and its history.

As I indicated a little higher, Earthsea is also a work that takes its time, with very little action and when it does arise, it is often resolved quickly without frills or anything very spectacular stretching over several pages. Nevertheless, some intrigues are very likeable and I enjoyed following Ged and others through their travels, often initiatory. Because more than an adventure, the author seems to want to convey messages to us through her novels.

Speaking of messages, two elements are important to note. To begin with, revolutionary for its time, Earthsea mainly highlights characters of color. Far from being insignificant at the time of its release, this will of the author is a strong signal in a very standardized fantasy. The introduction also returns to the problem of illustrations, the frustration of the author not having her say, seeing very white characters being claimed by the publishers despite the content of the text so as not to frighten the public.

Another element, if the first volume remains very heteronormative, the cycle will gradually develop strong female characters, the will of Ursula K. Le Guin to break free from a straitjacket in which she herself had involuntarily locked herself in the first volume. Tenar is on this point a formidable character, perhaps my favorite given her evolution throughout the cycle. It would have been so easy for the author to make her a powerful magician by reducing her to that but she preferred to make her a woman assuming all her femininity, a strong and moving character in one of the volumes that is largely dedicated to her.

Regarding the case by case:

A Wizard of Earthsea: We follow the adventures of the young Ged, alias Sparrowhawk, apprentice magician who will, out of jealousy, trigger a dramatic event that he will have to face later.

I was surprised by this volume, I did not expect that this young adult novel could sometimes be so dark with deaths (including one that made me very sad). If I really liked the first two thirds with Ged's learning and his beginnings as a sorcerer, I had a bit more difficulty with the "pursuit" of the last third which is part of those passages that are sometimes a bit long for me. If I liked my reading, I thought this last part was perhaps a bit too simple sometimes, due to the lack of development of the universe.

The Tombs of Atuan: The very young Tenar is supposed to be the reincarnated priestess of an ancient barbaric cult dedicated to the darkness and those who populate it. Her life is turned upside down when a magician finds himself imprisoned in the underground...

Radical change of atmosphere! Much darker and less action for this novel that would not blush to appear in an integral of Conan as many elements in it made me think of it: dark and possibly haunted caverns, sacrifices, reincarnated priestesses... We meet Tenar for the first time in the role of a child overwhelmed by a crushing and cruel burden and who will become curious about Ged. I really liked this volume which also manages to finally flesh out a little the lore of Earthsea, using elements introduced in the first volume.

The Farthest Shore: Magic seems to disappear at the edges of Earthsea. Ged, now Archmage, sets off in search of a solution with the young Arren, a warrior having an unwavering faith in the Archmage.

A very good novel. As for the first volume, I really liked the first two thirds although I had a bit of difficulty with the character of Arren as his love for Ged seemed exaggerated to me. We discover new islands and new peoples throughout our journey and a dusk-like atmosphere reinforces the disturbing atmosphere of this reading. Unfortunately, I lost interest a bit in the very last part which is much more mystical.

Tehanu: Following the events of The Farthest Shore, Tenar, having given up magic and adopted a disabled young girl named Tehanu, takes in a Ged in a sad state.

A volume that certainly has its longueurs but which has other merits. Besides establishing the lore of this second trilogy, it is a true ode to the female condition through the character of Tenar. The latter is clearly the strong and main character of this volume while Ged is relegated to the role of a sidekick. If I thought the end was rather abrupt and little explained, I still liked following Tenar in her evolution.

The Finder: First tale of Earthsea, it goes back to the creation of the Roke School of Magic.

If the idea was interesting, I had a lot of difficulty getting interested in this story because of an extremely long passage in the quicksilver mines.

Rose of the World: A love story between a witch's daughter and an apprentice magician.

Very classic and short, this story is likeable.

The Bones of the Earth: The mage Ogion and his teacher try to stop the famous earthquake that made Ogion's reputation.

The story that annoyed me the most... Following Ogion interested me enormously but in 25 pages we don't have time for anything...

In the Great Marsh: A peasant community takes in a mage that it begins to exploit.

A forgettable little story.

Damselfly: A young girl is dissatisfied with her name and her condition and wishes to enter Roke.

Last tale of Earthsea. A story that takes many detours to reach its destination. It is interesting but I thought that its end was too similar to that of Tehanu!

The Other Wind: While Tenar and Tehanu are at the royal court, Ged receives the visit of a magician haunted by his nights during which the dead call him. And if the wall separating the living from the dead were to crumble?

The Other Wind is probably my favorite story. It's a bit like the grand finale of Earthsea, all the important characters are present, including that of the last Tale of Earthsea! We have action and emotion, a success!

Description of Earthsea: An "encyclopedia of the universe." Here, everyone will pick what they want among the peoples, the languages, the dragons...

The Word of Unbinding: A mage finds himself imprisoned and tries to escape.

I didn't really understand... This story had a good potential but I didn't understand why it ended so abruptly.

The Rule of Names: A rather clumsy mage lives in a small community and seems harmless.

A short but very cool story, with a mini-twist, moreover.

The Daughter of Odren: A lord disappears mysteriously, to the great satisfaction of his wife and her lover.

A rather short story of family vengeance but which remains quite nice to read.

On the High Marsh: A last story with Tenar and Ged.

A sort of true conclusion to Earthsea. We can see right away where the book takes us but we accept to take one last trip through Ged's memories.

Earthsea Revisited: A lecture by Ursula K. Le Guin

A very interesting lecture on the place of women in the Earthsea cycle.

In conclusion, Earthsea is worth discovering at least for your culture as a reader of fantasy. However, avoid reading it all at once if the writing seems too slow to you at times during the first volume!

* A Wizard of Earthsea
I read this book some time ago. To be honest, it was just meh. However, it did improve my appreciation for J.K. Rowling.

* The Tombs of Atuan
This book is wonderful. It is by far the best of the quartet. Unfortunately, it stands alone as a single gem. I truly wish it was the last one in the series. The characters are extremely well-portrayed. The internal and external conflicts are presented in a way that makes perfect sense. The storytelling feels so effortless. This is the one book that I wholeheartedly recommend. Moreover, it can be read independently as it is mostly context-free.

* The Farthest Shore
The story in this book is wrapped up nicely, but it just wasn't enough. It is on the same level as the first book.

* Tehanu (***spoilers***)
***spoilers***
This book just doesn't make sense. The depiction of Sparrowhawk in the other books contradicts his personality at the beginning of this book, especially when compared to The Farthest Shore. His wisdom seems to be lost, and it's lost magically... Additionally, the ending is just too much of a Deus ex machina for my liking. Even though an extraordinary event is somewhat predictable, it is also quite pitiful. I believe Le Guin could have done a much better job.

***spoilers***

Wizard of Earthsea: 4*. The writing in this book is truly fantastic. It weaves a magical and enchanting world that is both vivid and detailed. However, I found it rather difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. I think my personal preference leans more towards character-driven stories, and unfortunately, Ged isn't really the most captivating character in this one.

Tombs of Atuan: 4*. Oh, I absolutely love that this book is set in a tomb! It adds an element of mystery and intrigue that really draws the reader in. It was an easier read than Wizard of Earthsea for me, as I was far more invested in Arha/Tenar than I was with Ged in the first book. And speaking of Ged, he is slightly more interesting in this one too.

The Farthest Shore: 4.5*. The writing in this installment is beautiful, with a sensitively controlled plot that delves into a rather meaningful subject. The story is engaging and thought-provoking. However, I still can't give it a full 5* because I just find the characters a bit boring. I respect that the author has a plot that she is more focused on, but I do wish the characters had more depth and personality.

Tehanu: 5*. Did I give the whole thing 5* because I love Tehanu so much? YES! Obviously, I won't give any spoilers here, but the feminist lean in this book is my favorite thing. I love Therru with all my heart, and Tenar is and always will be my favorite character. Ged also suits being a grumpy old man.

Overall, the Earthsea Quartet is pretty decent. The Ghibli film, which I saw but never fully understood and reread the synopsis of last night after finishing the books, is an awful interpretation that completely butchers this beautiful quartet. I'm sorry it took me so long to read these books, but it's exam term and I've been really busy. Nevertheless, I'm glad I finally got around to reading them and experiencing this magical world.

I would have spent a little over a year to finish this omnibus. I didn't know anything about Ursula Le Guin before, and I wanted to discover her through her fantasy.

Earthsea is an incredible world, of an almost endless richness and a rather rare complexity. On the creative level, it is a complete work as there are few: Earthsea is not just a contextual universe for the adventures of a few heroes; it is a whole universe, with its complicated history, its mapped geography, its resources, its geopolitics, and cultures, languages and customs that vary according to the spaces. But if I was impressed by all this, and eager to discover more, I think that it is also what prevented Earthsea, the literary work, from being a favorite for me. To be honest, I didn't have the feeling of being part of it: it was this feeling that had overwhelmed me in other fantasy works, less complete in their universe but stronger in emotions, like The King's Assassin. Here, I rather had the impression of reading the adventures of the heroes with detachment, as one would do with Homer's Odyssey, or with mythological or legendary tales. The writing is very precise, almost documentary. It's beautiful, it's impressive, but it's not overwhelming.

It is a work that will remain in my cerebral memory much more than in my emotional memory. But it will still be anchored in my inner library as a founding text, especially on one point: the questioning of the male hero and the attempts to make heroines exist. On this subject, I really appreciated having the omnibus in my hands, with prefaces by the author in each volume, and several appendices. The last one is a university lecture that Le Guin gave on her work, in which she comes back precisely to these themes: what is heroic virility? can one make a heroine exist without a hero? can one, to go even further, give up gender in a fantasy work? She affirms there the political scope of her work, but like any work of literature, always read in a specific sociopolitical context. By the creation of another world, it is ultimately ours that is questioned.

I will probably not reread Earthsea, and I don't know if I will go and look at Le Guin's SF side, but I know that this experience will have marked me as a reader, researcher and citizen, and that it will nourish my future reflections.

What can be said about the books you come to love is that even if you discover their flaws, such as a lack of consistency, numerous plot holes, and an obscure pacing, you will not hesitate to defend them against the whole world.

The fascinating aspect of these books is that the gap years between each book's publication (1963 - 2001) generate a powerful momentum of evolution. When reading all four books as a "quartet" (I've heard there are two more books to catch up on later), the character developments and the aspects of each book are as diverse as a spectrum.

The stories have various branches: adventures, journeys, discussions, and even the dull domestic rural life of an individual. The mage, the dragons, and women play crucial roles throughout the four books. It's as if Le Guin uses this saga as a vessel to explore how she combines the fantasy genre with philosophy and social criticism. Ultimately, the story expands far beyond her. It raises many thought-provoking questions, not only about human beings and gender roles but also about life and death debates that can be explored more deeply than the limited plot and tone. Some parts of the stories outlive the wisdom of the writer, leaving many discussions and unanswered questions. For example, the part about Equilibrium is a bit intertwined with prejudices on races and genders. Not only is the balance clumsy, but it can only be understood by the mages and not by the witches and other human beings. I had several internal debates during the almost 900 pages and was at a loss as to where to start. To be a little more optimistic, I'm certain that it's a good thing to both love and criticize the book, which might not make Le Guin unhappy.

This was as good as Jane Eyre.

Jane Eyre is a classic novel that has captured the hearts of readers for generations. It tells the story of a young woman's journey through life, filled with love, loss, and self-discovery.

The writing in Jane Eyre is beautiful and engaging, drawing the reader in from the very first page. The characters are well-developed and complex, making them easy to relate to and root for.

This particular work that was being compared to Jane Eyre must have had many of the same qualities. It likely had a captivating plot, beautiful prose, and memorable characters.

Perhaps it too told a story of love and adventure, or of a person's struggle to find their place in the world.

Whatever the case may be, being compared to Jane Eyre is no small feat, and it is clear that this work was of a very high standard.

The ‘Earthsea’ trilogy, in my opinion, is the preeminent work of fantasy penned in the twentieth century. What sets it apart from countless others, aside from its beauty, wonder, terror, and wisdom, is the fact that it attains its effects with such flawless economy of style. Post-Tolkien, most fantasies construct their worlds by piling detail upon detail, accompanied by genealogies, maps, appendices, and the like. Yawn. Le Guin is a master of brevity. Not a single word is wasted. There isn't a solitary paragraph of filler in any of the books. The outcome is a poetically charged and fully realized world.

With the belated release of ‘Tehanu’, the original ‘trilogy’ was repackaged as a ‘quartet’. I believed at the time that this was an error. The first three books form a perfect unit, and ‘The Farthest Shore’ is a perfect – albeit devastating – conclusion. ‘Tehanu’ seemed to me like a sort of coda, a brave yet rather painful attempt to ‘disenchant’ the series. It was more of a commentary on the original books than a continuation.

With the subsequent publication of ‘Tales from Earthsea’ and 'The Other Wind', a new pattern emerged. 'Tehanu' isn't the fourth book in a quartet, but rather the first book in a new trilogy.

Rereading the first books as an adult, I was struck by the extent to which a writer with Le Guin's feminist credentials had written a series that adhered to all of the classic gender and power tropes. Beginning with 'Tehanu', she effectively rewrites the first three books, deconstructing them and reinserting the 'outsiders'. It's a risky strategy that could have shattered all of the magic. In 'Tehanu', this nearly occurs. But when considered as a whole, the'second' trilogy is a remarkable accomplishment, a rare instance of fantasy questioning its own foundation – all the more powerfully because Le Guin understands and loves what she is taking apart.