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Concluding Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea Cycle, [b:The Other Wind|13658|The Other Wind (Earthsea Cycle, #6)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309285821l/13658._SY75_.jpg|215093] is a solid entry that ties up previous hanging plot lines, reconnects old characters, and further explores the balance of nature in the magical archipelago that is Earthsea.
My favorite characters of this series are easily Tenar, Ged, and Tehanu (with [b:Tehanu|13661|Tehanu (Earthsea Cycle, #4)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924581l/13661._SY75_.jpg|2902890] being my favorite book of the series). Other characters were introduced that further tied the expanded Earthsea from what was gleaned in [b:Tales from Earthsea|13659|Tales from Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #5)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309202073l/13659._SY75_.jpg|65982] though my main criticism would be the story’s occasional straying in focus of the three main characters. Their unlikely family is one of the best and most thoughtful I have read in most fantasy series.
Some other interesting content provided in this volume is Le Guin’s expansion of dragons as they interrelate to humans. Most special is that her dragons often reveal more about the human condition than their cliché counterparts as antagonists in traditional fantasy novels. As events reached the end, this tale in many ways felt like a sunset—which is both the gentle ending this series deserves, but still left me with a feeling that all was inevitable—for better or for worse.
The final volume of any series is always challenging and seldom pleases, but I quite enjoyed The Other Wind and definitely recommend fully finishing this series for anyone who has come across one or more of the previous entries.
Rating: 3.5 stars
My favorite characters of this series are easily Tenar, Ged, and Tehanu (with [b:Tehanu|13661|Tehanu (Earthsea Cycle, #4)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924581l/13661._SY75_.jpg|2902890] being my favorite book of the series). Other characters were introduced that further tied the expanded Earthsea from what was gleaned in [b:Tales from Earthsea|13659|Tales from Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #5)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1309202073l/13659._SY75_.jpg|65982] though my main criticism would be the story’s occasional straying in focus of the three main characters. Their unlikely family is one of the best and most thoughtful I have read in most fantasy series.
Some other interesting content provided in this volume is Le Guin’s expansion of dragons as they interrelate to humans. Most special is that her dragons often reveal more about the human condition than their cliché counterparts as antagonists in traditional fantasy novels. As events reached the end, this tale in many ways felt like a sunset—which is both the gentle ending this series deserves, but still left me with a feeling that all was inevitable—for better or for worse.
The final volume of any series is always challenging and seldom pleases, but I quite enjoyed The Other Wind and definitely recommend fully finishing this series for anyone who has come across one or more of the previous entries.
Rating: 3.5 stars