A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Absolutely beautiful prose; this book was a joy to read. It took me back to my childhood when I would read Astrid Lindgren's " The Brothers Lionheart." This book is a deceptively simple high fantasy coming-of-age story about a young wizard discovering who he is and meeting colorful characters along the way. What surprised me most was the way the book is written, if that makes sense. Based on my one-sentence elevator pitch, one would expect this book to read like a lighthearted YA romp. But instead, "A Wizard of Earthsea" reads like an old legend being told by a bard or poet at fireside. It is ceaselessly immersive, and reading the book feels like sinking the teeth of my brain into a hearty, perfectly seasoned meal.
Out of the entire Earthsea series, it seems to be that this first book is generally regarded as one of the weaker entries, which makes me so excited to see where the story and Le Guin's writing can go from here. This book was published in the late 60s, with the final book in the series coming out in the early 2000s; I can't wait to find out how her style evolved over those 30 years. I only regret not picking up these books sooner.
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