Rating:  -
I'm not sure why so many lovers of the original trilogy have lambasted this book. I agree that the rest of the series after _Tehanu_ (starting with _Tales from Earthsea_) swerves away from the originals in terms of tone, plot, writing style/quality, etc.; they lack the grace and power of the trilogy and take on an unsatisfyingly revisionist bent, adopting a strange sort of misplaced feminism that made me think Le Guin no longer understood what the original books were all about. And although _Tehanu_ does dig away a little at some of the assumptions upon which the world of Earthsea is founded, it does so in a thoughtful, quiet, respectful, and graceful manner. This book shares the simple, poetic prose of the originals, and it has the added benefit of taking us into the thoughts and daily goings-on of an older person--a welcome addition to the trilogy's focus on the inner workings of younger characters. This allows Le Guin to delve into certain areas that the earlier books could only hint at. Revisiting the character from _Tombs of Atuan_ is welcome as well, since she is a deep well of story to draw from given her background and the fact that she had to give up all she new and live among strangers in a foreign land. But most important of all, the writing itself is just splendid--quiet, profound, and very much in the spirit of the originals (with, I might add, a new adult layer of depth that is inappropriate for younger readers). That's the biggest problem with the subsequent books: their attempts to overturn all our beliefs about Earthsea might be forgivable if they were actually well-written, but most any reader can readily see the specific elements that make the prose of the later books inferior. Fortunately, _Tehanu_ doesn't suffer from that problem; although its more adult and female-centric narrative might bother some readers, that's more of a personal problem on the reader's part than a literary flaw:-). As for the oft-criticized ending: I agree that the final scenes regarding the title character (the little girl Tehanu) are a bit abrupt and incoherent, but the end situation of our dear old characters (Ged and Tenar) serves as a satisfying, fitting end to one of the best series in fantasy writing, even if Le Guin decided not to let it be the end (no disrespect intended to such a great writer:-).
Rating: -
I've loved all the Earthsea books, but Tehanu stepped outside of the environment of destiny-changing magic, battles, and journeys. It was pleasing to have the entire story contained on Gont, and just a few cherished characters introduced or reintroduced.
It's beautiful in a more quiet and still way than the three predecessing books are, and focuses inward to the family and the few people involved, instead of to a whole world. All "themes" aside, LeGuin lovingly reveals what life AFTER the adventure is like... reality, as it were, to Tenar, Ged, and even Arren. Where the battles fought are with those closest to you, instead of with the nameless evil... those hardest battles of all.
I cherish Tehanu for all the ways it is unlike the three previous books.
Rating:  -
This is a novel that brings the series full circle. It is one that shows that there is life after death, and that what you may perceive as a handicap, may not be a handicap when veiwed by others. It also shows that life is only as full and wonderful as you make it.
Ms. LeGuin's writing style is unmistakable, and always wonderful. She has proved that she doesn't need to write about magic to make an enchanting tale. This novel is very different from it's predecessors, but still kept my attention and holds a place in my heart.
If you are looking for a novel exactally like those of the previous Earthsea books, and will not be able to go into this book with an open mind, than don't waste your time as you will be setting yourself up for dissapointment, and this isn't the book for you. If you don't have any trouble veiwing the whole picture, and seeing a "coming of age" or watching a re-birth of sorts than you will probably find many life lessons and an ending to an enjoyable saga between the two covers of this book.
Rating:  -
Many people are giving this book bad reviews. I prefer to give a 3 for mediocre, as most of Le Guin's books are mediocre, but certainly not bad.
Tehanu is alot different from the previous 3 books. The story is about Tenar, or Goha as she is called in Middle Valley of Gont. After going their(that is, Ged and Tenar) seperate ways in "The Tombs of Atuan," Tenar goes to Gont and marries a farmer named Flint. She has two children, Apple and Spark. Spark goes to sea and isn't seen for many years.
Tenar takes care of a young child named Therru who is abused by a "gang", a group of men that includes a man named Handy. She was thrown into a fire I think, although it certainly had to do something with burning. Therru is blind in one eye, and she often tries to hide herself due to the scars that can't be healed even by magery.
Later, there is news that Ogion is going to die. And indeed he does, and he gives Tenar his true name, Aihal. Whenever Tenar speaks of Ogion, she often calls him by his true name of Aihal. But there is something very important that Ogion tells Tenar. "Teach her Tenar. Teach her all!"
After making that statement, Ogion dies. For a long time, Tenar is left to ponder. Does it mean teach Therru the art of magery? To teach her the Language of the Making? Is Therru the next archmage? King Lebannen(Arren, now a King, though I don't know if he is the king of earthsea yet) comes to Gont in search of Ged. Ged has abandoned his role as archmage, and as a mage entirely. Ged returns to Gont on Kalessin, who brought Ged from Selidor I think. Ged is in a bad state, and Tenar takes care of him.
Instead of leaving Gont, Ged goes farther up into the mountain for a while. Tenar and Therru have an encounter with a man named Handy, who was one of the members of the gang who abused Therru. Later, Tenar makes a brutal encounter with a wizard named Aspen, who puts a spell on her. Aspen is a cruel and arrogant wizard, and treats Tenar with the least respect.
Many surprises at the end of the novel, as I don't want to spoil the end for those who haven't read it. I must say though, Therru doesn't turn out who she is to be. She is named Tehanu, after the name of a star. And Kalessin becomes very important to the relationship with Therru.
The things that are bad about this book is essentially no real plot. And as the past stories may have been about Ged, it was probably Tenar who was the protagonist of this story. There is no magery or tales of spells in this book. What makes it good is the emotion, and how we shouldn't treat others just because of their gender. This book has some very feministic moments, as Le Guin herself seems to be a feminist herself. Lots of lessons and morals in this book. It wasn't too bad and was well rounded out.
Rating:  -
I thoroughly enjoyed Le Guin's first three books in this series. I thought they were excellent fantasy. This one however, is just bad. There is no other way to describe it. It plods along, it is preachy, it ends terribly, nothing exciting ever happens.
Le Guin is a first rate author and I really liked The Left Hand of Darkness and The Dispossessed. This is one to avoid, however.
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