For my first book review on this blog I’ve decided to go ahead and write a review of the entire Wizard of Earthsea trilogy, rather than each book individually. If you are going to read one of them, you really should read them all.
I remember reading the first book, The Wizard of Earthsea, some time ago. I think I was in middle school. I remember enjoying it, but definitely not in the same way I enjoyed it while reading it again a few weeks ago. I finished the book in about a day and it was so good I immediately launched into reading the next one, and then the third after that. All three books are a very quick read, altogether taking about the same amount of time it might take to read a single more contemporary fantasy novel of what is considered a normal length today. I also enjoyed them immensely, so that contributed to my finishing them so quickly. I couldn’t put them down.
The stories all center around a wizard named Ged, also known as Sparrowhawk. In the first book you learn Ged’s origin story and follow his adventures from boyhood to that of a young man. The second and third books talk about his adventures in middle age and as an old man. I’m intentionally being light on details so as not to accidentally give spoilers, even though they were all published in the late 60s, early 70s and why haven’t you read them yet?
I really enjoyed these books and I highly recommend them. You should be able to find them in your local library or an independent used bookstore for really cheap. There were many different printings and I believe it is still in print today since it is still a popular series. I refer to these as a trilogy because back when the editions I own were printed, it was only a trilogy. There are more books in The Earthsea Cycle that I plan to get my hands on soon. So look forward to those reviews when I get to them.
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