Review of 'The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition (Earthsea Cycle)' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
I started reading these books in April. Loved going thorough all the characters, locations, travels, and conflicts. I'm sure I'll get this on paper to also enjoy the drawings and reread.
Six books in one, need to start reviewing this before I finish. The Kindle version of this could tempt me to the physical one, the drawings look pretty washed out (and small) on the eInk display. I enjoy the author's notes about why she was writing each one and what she liked and didn't like. Also a useful reminder for me coming at them in 2022 what the time gaps were.
The first one is very mythic, I felt that there was more narrative of scenes than dialogue, for more of a Dunsanay vibe. I'm sure I've read it before but I don't remember more than "the wizard floated around in a boat a lot". Even the author in her afterwords says it's generic at this point, but I like it. Ged starts arrogant and becomes progressively more humble.
Second one felt a lot more grim. The point of view …
Six books in one, need to start reviewing this before I finish. The Kindle version of this could tempt me to the physical one, the drawings look pretty washed out (and small) on the eInk display. I enjoy the author's notes about why she was writing each one and what she liked and didn't like. Also a useful reminder for me coming at them in 2022 what the time gaps were.
The first one is very mythic, I felt that there was more narrative of scenes than dialogue, for more of a Dunsanay vibe. I'm sure I've read it before but I don't remember more than "the wizard floated around in a boat a lot". Even the author in her afterwords says it's generic at this point, but I like it. Ged starts arrogant and becomes progressively more humble.
Second one felt a lot more grim. The point of view is a girl very much out of her depth until she meets Ged. I could see myself skipping this one on a re-read of the sequence. I don't want to be trapped underground in the dark, where a lot of people end up.
Third one is Ged and his new close friend on a (standard fantasy) quest to encounter a bunch of things then fight the Big Bad. They do that.
Fourth one I thought was slow in building until it turned out it wasn't building, it was the plot. The main character is a woman with no arcane or physical power (but some political power) who then has to deal with (another) evil mage. It's a cozy book until it isn't - when suddenly what seems safe is suddenly a threat due to things out of her control. Five stars just for that one.