Rating: 
Summary: A sad change - the trilogy should have stayed a trilogy
Review: I think this book is the worst of the Earthsea books. Although part of the Earthsea series (trilogy), it has a very different flavor than the other books about Earthsea. I found it to be extremely politically oriented - basically, it had a feminist undertone that ruined the whole point of reading a FICTION book. Who wants to read a tale about a different planet, only to find an opinionated piece on a problem of ours? I certainly don't, and everyone I know that reads fantasy feels the same way. This is a great disappointment for me as well as many other readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Ursula le Guin revolutionizes the fantasy genre
Review: The latest novel of Earthsea is probably the best work of fantasy of this decade. It should not be placed in the same row with the three other books of earthsea, and if you buy it in the hope of returning to the world of earthsea you will probably be disappointed. It seems to me that whole of the trilogy is simply a background necessary to understand Tehanu. Tehanu is a daring fantasy novel, the book asks and answers a simple quesion - What makes a hero? The book explores four heros in a corrupted world. Goha - Flint's widow who was once tenar the priestess of the tombs of Atuan Ogion - An aging wizard who was once Ged's master and powerfull enough to stop earthquakes Ged (sparrowhawk) - Once the most powerfull mage in Earthsea. Tehanu - A little girl that was abused and half burnt by ruffians. The book explores these four heros, each of them had had power once, but is now powerless. In a captivating way it shows that they are heros still. This book is a must for someoe who enjoyed Earthsea as a teenager and now wants to read a more sophisticated literature with a philosophical message.
Rating: 
Summary: A tale apart
Review: With 'Tehanu,' Ursula Le Guin makes the puzzling decision to extend the classic Earthsea trilogy into a quadrology, crafting a book that is quite enjoyable, but wholly apart from the fabric of the original stories.'Tehanu' is not a bad book - not by any means - but when placed alongside the originals, it simply does not feel right. Whereas the original novels were laced with magic and wonder and a vast feel, this one is smaller, more human, and more contained. It is the story of our beloved Tenar, from 'Tombs,' and of her struggles with motherhood, age, and with being a woman. As always, the prose is outstanding, flowing like poetry throughout. Tenar herself is far more flesh and blood than she was in her first appearance, and Ged (who again plays a support role only) is altogether another person, torn by his battles in the realm of the dead. Still, the magic is missing, sapping the life from what could have been an extraordinary book. Had this not been Earthsea part 4, I would have rated it higher...being among such lofty companions, however, it simply ends up being a very good book, and little more.
Rating: 
Summary: A celebration of the power of women.
Review: It is not completely clear to me if Ms. Le Guin planned this book, the sequel to "The Farthest Shore," primarily for a teenage readership, for adults who lovingly recalled the other novels in the series (some of which won awards for children's literature), or both. My local public library has ten copies, all of which are found in the children's section. Apparently, Le Guin had received some criticism years ago from some quarters in the women's movement with respect to the previous volumes in the series. It was felt by some that the women in Le Guin's stories had little impact or power. The men were the ones who directed the action (although that isn't quite true in "The Tombs of Atuan"). Well, with this fourth volume in the series, she has addressed that issue. This is a celebration of the inherent power of women. In this last book in the tetralogy, the wizard Sparrowhawk (or Ged) returns to the island of Gont having lost his powers. This volume is centered about Tenar, who was the young girl in "The Tombs of Atuan." She is now a middle-aged widow whose two children have grown up. She has to help Sparrowhawk find peace as well as help an abused child. Surprisingly, this novel was awarded the 1990 Nebula Award for best science fiction novel of the year although it is clearly not science fiction. It is an excellent novel in speculative fiction and in fantasy. But, it is not the best science fiction novel of the year! The voters in the Science Fiction Writers of America seem to lose their focus every now and then. I wholeheartedly recommend "Tehanu." But, the Nebula Award is going to lose its prestige if the voters aren't careful.
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Summary: A wonderful story of life after the excitement dies down
Review: This was a great book. How often do we get to see characters 20 years after all the adventure? It's crazy to think that their lives will still be exciting and wonderful. We all change, and so has EarthSea. Tehanu tells the story of a woman who used to be someone. She then settled down and had a normal life. Everyone forgot who she had been. But she never forgot who she used to be, and never stopped wondering if her choices were right. How true for all of us. I would reccomend this book to readers who are not afraid of some uncomfortable and depressing parts. It's hard to see a hero cast aside by fate. But really, they're not dead, they just have a new life to begin.
Rating: 
Summary: This one should never have been written.
Review: The Earthsea Trilogy was and is classic- and a trilogy it should have remained. Book four is both unnecessary and completely forgettable.
Rating:
Summary: A Trilogy Gone Sour
Review: This book was a dismaying shock. Having loved the first three books of this TRILOGY and discovering the existence of a fourth, I eagerly read the latest addition. Unfortunately, I found it to be FAR removed from the original set by not only its tone, but it was also written about twenty years after the first three. In fact, the only similarity I detected was that the characters' names and the surroundings were familiar; however,everything had been warped by a set politics and religious opinions that are foreign to the land of Earthsea. This book was as disappointing and repulsive as the the other members of this ill-fated trio were captivating and brilliant. A great trilogy it was, and a trilogy it should have remained. As it is, Tehanu has caused my taste for Ursula LeGuin's works to turn sour.
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Summary: Another great effort from LeGuin
Review: Let's face it: Ursual LeGuin soured on our hero Ged over the years, and in her writing, which is all decidedly feminist, she made EarthSea as well. We cannot fault her for this, making the final(?) chapter in the series so heavily weighted with women's issues. Underneath the politics and brash, strong women is a fine tale of an aging woman who is growing stronger as she gets further along. Beautifully written, LeGuin ties up the loose ends from The Farthest Shore, but leaves the door open for us to imagine and think. I truly think that LeGuin should be remembered as one of the greats of our time!!!
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Summary: This book tugged at my heartstrings...
Review: What a good book! Ged has to face living without power and Tenar has to face taking care of a scarred little girl. In the end, there is a bit of romance between Tenar and Ged...something I'd been waiting to see since they met in "The Tombs of Atuan" I truly enjoyed the comclusion of the Earthsea series.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT!!! A CLASSIC!!
Review: This book holds so much wisdom, so much knowledge, so much power. I have never read anything like it. Not even LeGuin's previous books have held this much energy. She covers child abuse, and we get a glimpse of the powerless Ged. And we also get a little peek into the other aspects of life on this amazing world. Like how women are viewed, and how they should know their "place". LeGuin opens up -- finally -- to allow us to see the previously guarded secrets of her world. This book is a classic, so well written, and all together amazing. There has never been anything like it, nor will there ever be....
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