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The Farthest Shore (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 3)

Ursula K. Le Guin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 66 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Earthsea is always great 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

I read most of the Earthsea Cycle as part of a children's literature course I did back in 1999. This is another book about Ged. But in this one he is the special educator to Lebanner/ Arren.

It is a book about the big questions, such as life and death, and the search for who we are. It is also about what we are to be and the idea of predestination. Ged says "to seek to be one's self is rare." It is also that we seek what we don't know in order to be found by our destiny.

In the book darkness is overtaking the world, singers are losing their songs, mages are forgetting their crafts. Men doubt and society is decaying, all because of fear or death. Men are giving up their true names to a lie. They are becoming slaves to a dead master.

Key Notes:
Ged is Master of Roke - Archmage
Lookfar (Ship is back again)
Isles of Myths

Editorial Review:

Book Three of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle

Darkness threatens to overtake Earthsea: the world and its wizards are losing their magic. Despite being wearied with age, Ged Sparrowhawk -- Archmage, wizard, and dragonlord -- embarks on a daring, treacherous journey, accompanied by Enlad's young Prince Arren, to discover the reasons behind this devastating pattern of loss. Together they will sail to the farthest reaches of their world -- even beyond the realm of death -- as they seek to restore magic to a land desperately thirsty for it.

With millions of copies sold worldwide, Ursula K. Le Guin's

Earthsea Cycle has earned a treasured place on the shelves of fantasy lovers everywhere, alongside the works of such beloved authors as

J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.

Fortune's Fool (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Book 3)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 37 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Remember the audience these books are for... 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I read the first book in this series because the concept seemed promising, skipped the second because of the mostly bad reviews, and got this one as a gift so I read it. Although the story concept is interesting and the characters mildly so, this book is as lacking in maturity as the first. But then again, this series is written for young adults, and as I scan the other reviws it appears that everyone has lost track of that fact! It's like an adult buying a pair of GAP Kids jeans and being disappointed that they're too small. If you are a 13 or 14 yr old girl these books are exactly what you are looking for in fantasy romance. If you're over 30 and disappointed, it's your own fault for not paying attention to the fact that they are not written for you. I've read a lot of ML's books and have enjoyed most, but will not continue with this series- I'm not a member of the target audience and so will probably not care for them. All the other readers who have given bad reviews are really not qualified to do so unless they are teenage girls, and I doubt any of them would dislike these stories.

Editorial Review:

The seventh daughter of the Sea King, Ekaterina is more than a pampered princess—she's also the family spy. Which makes her the perfect emissary to check out interesting happenings in the neighboring kingdom…and nothing interests her more than Sasha, the seventh son of the king of Belrus. Ekaterina suspects he's far from the fool people think him. But before she can find out what lies beneath his facade, she is kidnapped!

Trapped in a castle at the mercy of a possessive Jinn, Ekaterina knows her chances of being found are slim. Now fortune, a fool and a paper bird are the only things she can count on—along with her own clever mind and intrepid heart.…

The Snow Queen (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Book 4)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

somewhat disappointing 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Show Queen is not up to Ms. Lackey's usual level. This book qualifies as a light, entertaining read that goes well with its publishing as a Luna romance, but her previous Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms were more engaging. I liked that she did not have explicit sex in this novel, which means I won't have to hide it from my kids, but the romantic relationships lacked the attraction, tension, longing, and the sizzle that make her books enjoyable. Also, the only character development I noticed was in the spoiled children learning their lessons and Ilmari learning to appreciate someone his own age. I don't expect depth from a romance novel, but it would be nice to see some reason for attraction between the mature protagonists besides the usual "she's beautiful, smart and brave" meets "he's strong-bodied and brave, yet willing to learn from her superior female viewpoint." (Quotes are my indication of a cliche, not actual quotes from the book.)

The most annoying thing was the poor editing. There are some glaring problems with internal consistency and continuity. As just one example, Ilmari is described in Chapter 4 as having "gray in his hair and beard," but in Chapter 14 "his hair was not yet graying." There are many others, and they were distracting and annoying.

The first and second books in this series were well-written (for the genre) and engaging. The third was cute enough and was interesting for expanding into Russian folklore. This fourth book feels like a draft, not a finished novel. There are some fun passages in here, and it does have the feel-good, "this is how it should be" ending that she referred to in her Author Note, so I won't give up on the series yet. Here's to hoping she returns to her usual level and gets better editing.

Editorial Review:

Aleksia, Queen of the Northern Lights, is mysterious, beautiful and widely known to have a heart of ice. But when she's falsely accused of unleashing evil on nearby villages, she realizes there's an impostor out there far more heartless than she could ever be.

And when a young warrior disappears, Aleksia's powers are needed as never before.

Now, on a journey through a realm of perpetual winter, it will take all her skills, a mother's faith and a little magic to face down an enemy more formidable than any she has ever known….

Tehanu (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 4)

Ursula K. Le Guin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 151 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Why? 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Before reading the fourth book in the Earthsea "cycle", I was aware of the opinions of many who had already read this book. Quite frankly, I was hoping that I would disagree with those who were disappointed in "Tehanu". But try as I might, I failed to see the beauty in this "continuation" of what HAD been one of the greatest trilogies written.

Quite simply, "Tehanu" lacks the conciseness and mystery of the previous books. While I could - perhaps - forgive Le Guin for her decision to tear apart the world she had so beautifully constructed with this rather mundane and heavy-handed tale, I cannot excuse the absence of poetry here; poetry which abounds in each page of the previous three books.

Shame on you, Ursula!

Editorial Review:

Book Four of Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle

Years ago, they had escaped together from the sinister Tombs of Atuan -- she, an isolated young priestess; he, a powerful wizard. Now she is a farmer's widow, having chosen for herself the simple pleasures of an ordinary life. And he is a broken old man, mourning the powers lost to him through no choice of his own.

Once, when they were young, they helped each other at a time of darkness and danger and shared an adventure like no other. Now they must join forces again, to help another in need -- the physically and emotionally scarred child whose own destiny has yet to be revealed.

With millions of copies sold worldwide, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle has earned a treasured place on the shelves of fantasy lovers everywhere, alongside the works of such beloved authors as J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis.

The Phoenix Unchained (Enduring Flame, Book 1)

Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory first teamed up to write The Obsidian Trilogy, set in a wondrous world filled with magical beings, competing magic systems, and a titanic struggle between good and evil. That world proved so popular with the creators and readers alike that Lackey and Mallory have returned to it with The Phoenix Unchained, Book One of The Enduring Flame, the opening volume of a new epic fantasy trilogy.
 
After a thousand years of peace, much Magick has faded from the world. The Elves live far from humankind. There are no High Mages, and Wild Mages are seen only rarely. Bisochim, a powerful Wild Mage, is determined to reintroduce Darkness to the world, believing that it is out of Balance.
 
Tiercel, a young Armethalian nobleman, is convinced that High Magic is not just philosophy. He attempts a spell—and draws the unwelcome attention of Bisochim. Tiercel survives Bisochim’s attack and begins trying to turn himself into a High Mage.
 
Next in line to be Harbormaster of Armethalieh, Harrier instead finds himself regularly saving Tyr’s life and meeting magickal people and creatures. To Harrier’s dismay, it seems that he must become a hero.
 
In The Phoenix Unchained, Harrier and Tiercel begin a marvelous journey to uncover their destinies. Along the way, they meet a charming female centaur, several snooty Elves, and the most powerful dragon their world has ever known.
 
 

The Lathe of Heaven

Ursula K. Le Guin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 65 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Accessible, wide-ranging, and opens the doors to many new topics and genres. Very highly recommended 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

George Orr has the ability to dream things into being, changing reality smoothly and seamlessly into what he creates in his dreams. Scared by this power, he takes drugs to stop his dreams and soon ends up in mandatory sessions with a dream-specialist therapist who promises to help him--yet reveals that he has his own plans for George and his effective dreams. Unlike George, who did not want to change reality, the psychiatrist Haber has no qualms changing reality to serve what he views as the greatest good. A well-developed science-fiction text in its own right, Lathe of Heaven also delves into the realm of dystopic societies, utilitarian philosophy, and issues ranging from race to socialized medicine to human natures. The text is skilled, accessible, well-paced, and both thought-provoking and essentially satisfying as a book. I greatly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

I was impressed by how much ground and how many topics Le Guinn covers in such a short book, and how accessible the topics remain throughout. It is a very readable text, but not because Le Guin dumbs down or oversimplifies topics. Rather, she carefully juggles plot, characterization, and theory such that the book moves at a good pace without becoming rushed and the various factors combine in a way that brings out the best and most useful (to the reader and the story) in all of them. Therefore, I would recommend this book to all readers, including those that don't generally read science-fiction.

The topics which Le Guin investigates are wide-ranging and, though she doesn't investigate any in extensive depth, the text does provide a lot of food for thought. Covering everything from healthcare to the patient/doctor relationship, from utilitarianism to human nature, to race and war and the unconscious mind, she really does touch on a wide range of subjects in the series of dystopic realities that span the book. The topics are covered in enough detail to be realistically realized, but are kept open so that the book keeps moving at a good pace and the reader is never given a clear, absolute answer to any one topic. My only complaint with the novel is this level of brevity and indecisiveness, but I believe it is necessary. It would be impossible to delve into all of these topics in depth without completely changing the purpose and content of the novel, and it would also make for a lengthy, tiresome read. As it is, the book opens a lot of doors and closes none of them, providing apt food for thought and introducing more topics (such as human nature) that are only accessible because it is able to cover so many.

I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It read quickly, kept me interested, but never became simplistic or shallow. I highly recommend this text to all readers, and I think it has the potential to open up pathways to all sorts of new thoughts and genres for the reader. This is a wonderful book.

Editorial Review:

George Orr is a man who discovers he has the peculiar ability to dream things into being -- for better or for worse. In desperation, he consults a psychotherapist who promises to help him -- but who, it soon becomes clear, has his own plans for George and his dreams.

The Lathe of Heaven is a dark vision and a warning -- a fable of power uncontrolled and uncontrollable. It is a truly prescient and startling view of humanity, and the consequences of playing God.

Taliesin (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 1)

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 97 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Beautiful Beginning to Arthurian Legend 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I love the entire Pendragon Cycle because of this first book, Taliesin. It's beautiful: The history of Atlantis, the early prophecies, the life of Charis and the baby boy Taliesin wrapped in seal fur. The characters are deep and rich; Lawhead creates the perfect foundation to this legend.

I got bored 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Stephen Lawhead has written two genre-spanning series which are fantastical retellings of historical legends: The Pendragon Cycle (King Arthur) and The King Raven Trilogy (Robin Hood). I didn't like The Pendragon Cycle as well as I liked The Song of Albion, and King Raven which were later and better works. The story was too slow for me and the writing was not nearly as polished.

However, there are a lot of fans of this rendering of Arthur, I think because Lawhead does a lot of research, which makes his worlds believable. He is particularly good with Celtic lore. ~FanLit.net

Editorial Review:

It was a time of legend, when the last shadows of the mighty Roman conqueror faded from the captured Isle of Britain. While across a vast sea, bloody war shattered a peace that had flourished for two thousand years in the doomed kingdom of Atlantis.

Taliesin is the remarkable adventure of Charis, the Atlantean princess who escaped the terrible devastation of her homeland, and of the fabled seer and druid prince Taliesin, singer at the dawn of the age. It is the story of an incomparable love that joined two worlds amid the fires of chaos, and spawned the miracles of Merlin...and Arthur the king.

Tales from Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 5)

Ursula K. Le Guin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 51 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Tales From Earthsea is a wonderful anthology that answers some of the questions hinted at in the previous books. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Le Guin's fast, lyrical prose is a joy to read and these five stories stand as sterling examples of her work. I loved everything about this work, especially the surprising facts that women and men founded Roke and that a single biased archmage created the myth that women could not be mages. The appendix at the end of the book sums up nicely all the varied tales and legends in Earthsea that were only mentioned in passing before. I was very glad about this because I always wondered what really happened between Morred and Elfarren. All in all a magnificent work. Also, if you missed Tino Georgiou's masterful novel--The Fates, go and read this popular best-seller.

Editorial Review:

The tales of this book, as Ursula K. Le Guin writes in her introduction, explore or extend the world established by her first four Earthsea novels. Yet each stands on its own.

"The Finder," a novella set a few hundred years before A Wizard of Earthsea, presents a dark and troubled Archipelago and shows how some of its customs and institutions came to be. "The Bones of the Earth" features the wizards who taught the wizard who first taught Ged and demonstrates how humility, if great enough, can contend with an earthquake. "Darkrose and Diamond" is a delightful story of young courtship showing that wizards sometimes pursue alternative careers. "On the High Marsh" tells of the love of power-and of the power of love. "Dragonfly" shows how a determined woman can break the glass ceiling of male magedom.

Concluding with an account of Earthsea's history, people, languages, literature, and magic, this collection also features two new maps of Earthsea.

The Fairy Godmother (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Book 1)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 87 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

One of my all time favorites 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is one of the most enjoyable reads ever. Good story, the world is detailed and interesting, and the story moves at a nice pace. I've already reread a few times- it's still one of my favorites!

Editorial Review:

From the bestselling author of the Heralds of Valdemar series comes an enchanting novel.

In the land of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, if you can't carry out your legendary role, life is no fairy tale. . .

Elena Klovis was supposedto be her kingdom's Cinderella--until fate left her with a completely inappropriate prince! So she set out to make a new life for herself. But breaking with "The Tradition" was no easy matter--until she got a little help from her own fairy godmother. Who promptly offered Elena a most unexpected job. . .

Now, instead of sleeping in the chimney. She has to deal with arrogant, stuffed-shirt princes who keep trying to rise above their place in the tale. And there's one in particular who needs to be dealt with. . .

Sometimes a fairy godmother's work is never done. . . .

When Darkness Falls (The Obsidian Trilogy, Book 3)

Mercedes Lackey, James Mallory

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 40 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

A great working of Wild Magic and High Magic strikes at the heart of the Demon Queen’s plots, but the human city, the Golden City of the Bells, falls farther under her sway with each day that passes.  And without the City’s High Magicians, the Wild Magicians, the Elven Army, and all their allies will surely fall before the onslaught of the Demon Queen’s malignant warriors.

But all hope is not lost.  The Light’s young mages, tempered by war, grow ever more powerful.  High Mage Cilarnen learns an ancient secret that can make him, for a brief, white-hot time, the greatest mage in the world—unless it kills him. 

Jermayan, the first Elf-Mage in centuries, has linked with the dragon Ancaladar and rediscovered the swift-as-thought powers of Elven magic, which can reshape mountains and summon lightning from clear skies. 

Knight-Mage Kellen has molded his troops and the Unicorn Knights into a deadly fighting force.  Soon the Elven King and his Commanders put Kellen’s magical gifts to their greatest test, in the final battle between the Elves, the humans, and the Demons.