Rating: 
Summary: A flawed reworking of the past
Review: Le Guin should have taken up a new venue for the ideas in this book. There are some good passages, stylistically and she has some fine character portraits, but they are not portraits with any relation to the characters portrayed in her earlier trilogy. There is a disagreeable deus ex machina ending wheras LeGuin's characters used to win or lose on their own merits. Ged had weaknesses in the trilogy; now he is only weak. Tehar knew what she wanted, though she did not always reckon the price; now she is only bitter. The subplot around the little girl is the worst kind of stereotyping and calls to mind LeGuin's own rather cynical reviews of Katherine Kurtz. Le Guin should have heeded her own advice and listened to the language of Earthsea rather than spinning a superficial expose of gender politics with little reference to her earlier tapestry. Feminism is important, but cheap feminism can only discredit subtler, more realistic treatments. The Dispossessed, Left Hand of Darkness and Tombs of Atuan guarantee her position in literary history, but give this novel a pass. Even if her later work suits you, Searoad and others are better.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but not as good as the others
Review: I have first read the earthsea books when I was about 12, and loved them since. I approched this book with the joy of meeting an old friend, and altugh it is good, it is not as good as the others. I liked the dasker / sadder tone it ad, butr it left too many loose ends. Actualy, it opened more loose ends then it closed.If you haven't read theother earthsea books- go read them now. You won't understand much of this one w/out reading them anyway.
Rating:
Summary: A mature book for all ages
Review: Billing this book as the fourth of the Earthsea books was not fair. The tone, the style, and the subject matter were immensely different. That said, it is a wonderful and concise commentary on heroism, fantasy, and the winding down of a long life. It was fascinating to watch LeGuin taking a new look at the characters of the Earthsea books while remaining true to their original incarnations. However, the book is not without flaws. The plot relied too much on otherwise clever characters ignoring obvious indications of wrongdoing, and the end relied on a deus ex machina. It was still completely enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Oh beautiful... just what the fantasy genre needs.
Review: Yes indeed. Why *not* take one of the fantasy genre's most beloved stories, force it to grow up by writing a harshly different kind of story, and introduce lots of social commentary regarding gender roles, child abuse, and neo-pagan dogma. Then, take this odd beast and market it as the "fourth volume" of what I, for years, thought was a trilogy. Why not? Because it's a stupid idea.
Rating: 
Summary: Enriched in mythogy.. Very sophisticated.
Review: Oh, how can I begin? The undertone in Tehanu is ancient mythology, complimented wonderfully by the fantastic world of Earthsea. Throughout the ancient world, women (goddesses) were symbolized to be bringers of both life and death. Take Eve from the Bible's Creation, for instance. She intoduced death into the world, but at the same time, brought life by giving birth. Now, I find this same mythology in Tehanu. Tenar, the heroine, represents this female mythology. The Cycle of Woman, so to speak, is carried out beautifully by Tenar. First, the Life-Giver is represented when she takes Therru under her wing, and nurses Ged back to life. The Death-Bringer is represented as she, being Ogion's last student, helps him through the last moments of his llife. If I could sum this book up in one sentence, I'd say, "I wish I'd written it." :-)
Rating:
Summary: A mature end to an epic story
Review: I read the earthsea trilogy when I was an adolescent and it wove a mystical spell that was more powerful than simialr titles. I recently discovered that a conclusion had been written and found not my childhood dreams but a realistic story. I was at first saddened but then entranced at how the book challenged ny childhood fantasties with adult and modern themes. I congradulate Ursula LeQuin for been courageous enough to write a realistic end to an epic story.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Although i love the Earthsea books they are nothing compared to Tehanu. It is very emotional. This is one of the few books that makeme cry.
Rating:
Summary: a joy found in sorrowness
Review: This book ends a very magnificent cycle. The others had more of a happy feeling to them so does this one you just have to look for it.
Rating:
Summary: Magical Women Speak With Dragons
Review: While I did enjoy the first three books of Earth Sea I was not amazed by them. They are good, though fairly typical fantasy novels, where a boy (Ged) grows up and gains wisdom. Tehanu is something very different, wonderful, and magical. It is a book about women, how they relate to men, each other, and the ancient powers of the earth. The main character, Tenar, is an incredibly strong older woman. She helps her teacher to die, nurses Ged back to health, and supports the emotional healing of her adopted daughter, Theru. Tenar often feels overwhelmed by the burdens she carries but she works steadily on one thing after another because it is the only hope for crisis. This spirit and determination support Tenar when she is face to face with a dragon. Though men can not look dragons in the eye Tenar does so. Despite her fear she introduces herself and takes Ged from off of the dragon's back. I've read this book so many times that I've memorized it. Some scenes still bring tears to my eyes.
Rating:
Summary: what was that?
Review: I read all the other books and thought they were great, but for some reason I couldn't follow this book. I had to keep rereading every thing she wrote. This book just couldn't keep my attention.
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