Ursula K. Le Guin is my favorite writer. That is why I advise you: do not read this book. It is surely the worst of Le Guin's novels and I hope the author is ashamed of it and wants to forget that she ever wrote it. (But I am not sure if my hope is well located.)

I enjoyed this book. It showed inventive ideas and was very inspirational. I hope you will also read The Word For World is Forest, because it also shows hope for oppressed peoples. I have only read three of her books, but this was by far the best.

While this novel may not rise to the level of her very best work, prose-wise, it nonetheless is well-written--and its explorations of nonviolence, its challenges and the ways in which it can both succeed and fail, were highly influential on me, and have had a long term effect on how I view conflict. This one is well worth reading, and is as worthy of Le Guin's name as any of her better-known works.

I have always been amazed by the depth and substance of the original Earthsea series. The 3 books that looked at 3 pivotal points in the life of Sparrowhawk remind me of the riddle of the Sphinx. The last scene of Ged on the back of the Dragon brought to an end a trilogy that was the equal of "Lord of the Ring". Tehanu ruins it almost completely, we find out that the Maker is Kasselin the dragon which destroys entire mythic quality of the series. By talking to the creator directly somehow removes any real questions about existence and reality. The magic of the original series always lay in the portrayal that balance was the key phsyically and mystically, That Segoy was some remote enity that created the Earthsea. Where was this being when Ged fought Hob in the Farthest shore? Its amazing by giving us more insight into Ged as a man the Authour has actually reduced him as a character. I also find it hard to believe that this was written Ursula le Guin the writting is so different from the original series. To say I found this book a disappointment is an understatement.

I am loath to compare this book to the rest of Earthsea, because it was written so much later, and from a different perspective. I was excited to find that Tenar was the main character, and that the book was written from her very personal perspective. It was hopeful at a refreshing break from the male-dominated plots of the first three books.

I was, however, somewhat disappointed. The idea was a great one: to show that women, too, have a place in the world of power and magery, but that their power is different. My main problem with "Tehanu," though, is how long it took for Le Guin to make this point. Most of the book could have been summarized in a two or three dozen pages, while still maintaining the very personal and emotional exploration of Tenar's life. Furthermore, I felt a bit lost as to exactly what point Le Guin was trying to make--we saw very little actual strength or power exercised by the women in the story. Indeed, near the end, we see that the male still has much more power than even the witch next door.

My other main problem was with the end, which seemed completely incongruous with the rest of the story, as well as confusing. I don't want to spoil anything for new readers, so I won't go into detail. Suffice it to say that I put down the book feeling confused as to exactly what Therru's role was, and why she was "given" her other name. Further, was the power exercised at the end the power of women as a group, or just this one particularly special girl...who might not have been a girl, at all?

Le Guin is a fantastic author, so I felt like this book could have been so much more.

Tehanu was different from all the other Earthsea books, but that doesn't necessarily mean I liked it any less. It seemed so real - I could almost see the dragon Kalessin. It was very odd to see Ged portrayed as a simple man when the previous books make him seem so much more powerful. Tehanu made Ged seem much more realistic to me.
Another issue brought up in Tehanu is the woman's role in Earthsea. Both Tenar and Therru are strong characters. I loved to see women making changes in the society of Earthsea, which before Tehanu put men first and foremost in everything. I can see how people with narrower views didn't like this, though.
If you're looking for a book exactly like the other Earthsea novels, brace yourself; Tehanu is very different. If you don't mind the difference, you'll love Tehanu. It's an exciting and refreshing read.