I love Le Guin - the voice just didn't fit to me.

I love Le Guin and have read the Earthsea series many times. The readers voice when in the characters of the Priestess and Wizard just didn't fit to me -but as a narrator she did build atmosphere.

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Why a different narrator?

It's lovely, I'm loving this series but A) why get a different narrator for the second part of the trilogy when the other narrator had done the first and the third? I'm not sure why this is the case. And B) perfectly nice reading but there are no accents or different voices as with the other narrator which was disappointing!

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In the Darkness Live the Nameless Ones

Out of all Le Guin's Earthsea novels The Tombs of Atuan is probably the slowest and (if I recall correctly) the only one where Sparrowhawk isn't the main protagonist. That being said the story of Tenar, a young girl taken from her home as a toddler, raised as the reincarnation of the ancient priestess of the tombs is engaging and wonderful.
This novel, much like its predecessor, is a wonderful character study. Shining light on the loneliness and isolation of a child separated from all family and raised to be a High Priestess. I'll not say anymore about the story as I want everyone to experience it for themselves.
The choice of narrator for this Audible release was genius. Aysha Kala sounds just right as the young Tenar and gives the book a life my inner middle-aged white dude simply cannot manage.

1 person found this helpful

The books that every fantasy lover should read 2.

This time we get to know a mysterious cult and the secrets they keep in their dark labyrinth. Let the voice of Aysha Kala/Tenar guide you, for she's the only one who knows the way

Difficult to get into

It’s the casting and directors fault, but the actress lacks the depth to her voice and the story telling quality needed for good narration. She doesn’t command the story and everything is very sing song and airy, even when talking about quite dark subject matter. There is no differentiation or characterisation between protagonists, which makes the story hard to follow.

couldn't get into this book compared to the first

I read the Earthsea trilogy back kn the 80s but didn't recall this one, without Ged as the main character at all. Not as engaging as the first book.

Not as good as book one, and narrator dull

Not as good as book one, it often dragged. The narrator was dull and the accents seemed wrong

Excellent

Captivating story nicely read. I like the change in narrator from the previous book to reflect the change in main protagonist.

Focus on world building

Ged, now middle-aged, well-travelled and well-renowned, accompanies the the young prince Arran on a quest to investigate a dark brooding force that is engulfing the world. Through rich dialogue, Ged acts as a philosophical guide both to Arran and the reader. Thoughts are on responsibility/duty, the limited nature of life and balance. The Farthest Shore may be the best in the series so far.

From the first book to the second there was a real shift in style; that is from lonely venturing across numerous locations to a geographically constrained plot with a focus on world building. We're back to that original style but The Farthest Shore is more mature and feels like a more complete and more traditional fantasy tale.

Despite the style shift, some worldbuilding does take place. We're introduced to an intriguing people 'The Children of the Open Sea', a sea-dwelling culture the likes of which hasn't really been explored before in the genre. Moreover, dragons feature quite heavily and not just in passing but as individual characters.

It has to be said that Ursula K. Le Guin really knew how to write a solid ending and it's no different here. It's atmospheric, symbolic, contemplative and complete.

Superb

A beautiful book which has changed the way I think! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and Aysha Kala is the perfect voice for Arha/Tenar. Definitely recommend it.