Czarnoksiężnik z Archipelagu. Powieść graficzna

by Fred Fordham (Adaptor), Ursula K. Le Guin, Agnieszka Sylwanowicz (Translator)

Czarnoksiężnik z Archipelagu to pierwsza z sześciu części cyklu Ziemiomorze – jednego z najbardziej cenionych dzieł w historii literatury fantasy. To filozoficzna opowieść o dojrzewaniu, odpowiedzialności i pogodzeniu się z własną tożsamością, a zarazem wciągająca historia rozgrywająca się w starannie wykreowanym przez autorkę świecie magii.

Ursula K. Le Guin, uznawana za jedną z najwybitniejszych autorek fantasy, stworzyła dzieło, które porusza czytelników na wielu poziomach – emocjonalnym, intelektualnym i duchowym. Graficzna adaptacja Freda Fordhama ukazuje klasyczną historię w zupełnie nowym świetle, zachowując jej głębię i wyjątkowy klimat.

Genres: Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Young Adult, Classics, Magic

288 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2025

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ursula K. Le Guin is a wizard of speculative fiction, often writing tales that are sociological explorations wedded to sharp, sociopolitical commentary by way of rip-roaring fantastical narratives. Her A Wizard of Earthsea series is a stone-cold classic, beloved by readers of a wide age range and an enduring tale of Ged, once called Duny, once nicknamed “Sparrowhawk” who’s thirst to gain power led him to unleashing a shadow over the world. Now he must travel the archipelago to master his powers, tame a dragon and vanquish the shadow that haunts his past as well as the world. No small feat. But neither is adapting the series and while several attempts have been made to bring it to the screen (including a miniseries that was roundly hated by Le Guin), Fred Fordham’s new graphic novel adaptation is a breath of fresh air and an artistic success that brings the tale to life through a rather faithful rendering into jaw-dropping visual storytelling. The magic and mystery of Le Guin’s imagination pours from every page in engaging art that lovingly captures the epic quality of the story, translates the emotional battlefields, and brings the story to readers in a format that will have you eagerly flipping pages.

Fordham really reaches for the stars and soars here. There are pages sans dialogue that still carry the narrative with wild intensity through a well-paced rendition that never drags or feels overly truncated. While its been awhile since I’ve read the original tale (childhood is long in the rearview now, alas), it feels like a fully formed adaptation that pays excellent homage to Le Guin’s story and vision. And the art will leave you breathless.

I mean, Fordham puts his whole heart and soul into these visuals and they just really pop. There is so much emotion in the character’s faces and so much energy and movement conveyed in his art with a frame rate of art that really fluidly pushes the story along.

What is best is that Fordham respects the authors intentions for her character designs, which have long been ignored by earlier adaptations including the cover art for older editions. The 2004 miniseries adaptation particularly upset Le Guin. ‘When I looked over the script, I realized the producers had no understanding of what the books are about and no interest in finding out,’ the Hugo and Nebula award winning author wrote in a response article to the show, ‘all they intended was to use the name Earthsea, and some of the scenes from the books, in a generic McMagic movie with a meaningless plot based on sex and violence.’ While she sculpted the series from Northern European fantasy traditions ‘most of the characters in my fantasy and far-future science fiction books are not white,’ and her criticism and wishes for the series to correct this went unanswered. It is a major aspect of her books that she feels strongly about, as she wrote in Slate:

‘My color scheme was conscious and deliberate from the start. I didn’t see why everybody in science fiction had to be a honky named Bob or Joe or Bill. I didn’t see why everybody in heroic fantasy had to be white (and why all the leading women had “violet eyes”). It didn’t even make sense. Whites are a minority on Earth now—why wouldn’t they still be either a minority, or just swallowed up in the larger colored gene pool, in the future?’

This is seen in all her books, most notably The Left Hand of Darkness (a huge favorite of mine) where the characters are specifically noted as being either Black or appearing similar to Inuit peoples we have here on Earth. Though the issue occurs in her cover art as well. In an afterword to one edition of A Wizard of Earthsea, Le Guin lays out the racial composition of her characters and addresses the artwork:

‘His people, the Archipelagans, are various shades of copper and brown, shading into black in the South and East Reaches. The light-skinned people among them have far-northern or Kargish ancestors. The Kargish raiders in the first chapter are white. Serret, who both as a girl and woman betrays Ged [in Wizard of Earthsea], is white. Ged is copper-brown and his friend Vetch is black. I was bucking the racist tradition, “making a statement”—but I made it quietly, and it went almost unnoticed. Alas, I had no power, at the time, to combat the flat refusal of many cover departments to put people of color on a book jacket.’

Later editions would make efforts to correct this, but it is nice to see that Fordham respects her wishes in this graphic adaptation of her book. And the art is all-around excellent.

So dive into the magic of Earthsea with Fred Fordham’s wonderful graphic novel. A rather faithful plot and engaging art direction that will satisfy fans of the series and be an excellent entry point for new readers. And honestly, we should all be reading more Le Guin, she was such a fantastic visionary.

4/5

[Louis Muñoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was hard to rate. Ursula Le Guin was a genius and a visionary, and I've been blown away by previous books of her I have read. However, this adaptation never really fulfilled the promise of her work and the graphic novel illustrations were often murky and more than a bit washed out-looking. To be fully transparent, I don't have the best lighting at home, but even going through the book in my work office, where there's much more light, my assessment still seems to hold mostly true. Thus, while I would probably give the book itself 4 or even 5 stars, I give the adaptation only 2.5 stars, maybe 3.

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc.

this is perhaps the most beautiful adaptation of a novel i’ve seen, especially for such an important and beloved one such as wizard of earthsea.

it’s as if illustrator fred fordham painted each scene (i’m not familiar with his works so i don’t know if that’s his method) and the emotion is clear in each frame. i loved the depiction of each character. especially ged's animal companion hoeg. the whole package is absolutely phenomenal.

absolutely worth a read for fans of sci-fi/fantasy and fans of le guin

[Krissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-graphic novel arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not read the Tales of Earthsea series, but figured I would dip my toes in the water before investing in the novels, and after reading the graphic novel, I am 100% in on starting the series!

The story is about a young boy named Sparrowhawk who comes into his magical powers and is determined to learn more and prove himself and become a great wizard. The story leans into self-reflection and is very philosophical in nature. Sometimes the writing is a little "flowery" in the old fantasy way, but it provides a charm to it.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and the illustrator really helped to create a detailed journey with Sparrowhawk.

I think anyone who has read the series will really enjoy this, and even if you're like me and have never read the first book, give it a try as it may pique your interest to start!

[Marta Cava]

Aquest còmic és una molt bona manera perquè tan un adolescent o un adult pugui introduir-se en una de les obres més importants d'Ursula K. Le Guin. I que pugui servir perquè després, corrin a buscar la resta de novel·les de la saga de Terramar que tenen a Indòmita. Si bé és cert, que a mi la il·lustració no m'ha acabat de fer el pes, però el guió sí

[Urbon Adamsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

PT Logo nas primeiras páginas percebe-se que este livro segue a estrutura clássica da jornada do herói.

Ged é o filho mais novo de uma família humilde e, desde cedo, revela uma aptidão invulgar para as artes mágicas. Esse talento não passa despercebido, chegando rapidamente aos ouvidos de feiticeiros de várias paragens, até que um deles lhe surge à porta com uma proposta de treino.

Ambicioso e movido pelo desejo de se tornar o maior feiticeiro de todos os tempos, Ged procura dominar feitiços cada vez mais perigosos, ultrapassando limites que ninguém ousou tocar. No entanto, cedo percebe que esse caminho tem um preço.

Estamos perante um mundo de fantasia povoado por feiticeiros e dragões, e desde o início senti uma enorme facilidade de imersão na narrativa. A forma como Fred Fordham conduz a história é exímia, evitando uma narração pesada. Há vários momentos em que a história respira, sustentada apenas pela força da sua arte, que é, de facto, belíssima.

O confronto com os dragões foi, para mim, o ponto alto da obra — o momento em que Ged revela finalmente a dimensão do seu poder.

A jornada de Ged é envolvente e, no final, deixa a sensação de saber a pouco. Fica a vontade de explorar mais deste mundo, de aprofundar os seus mistérios e de acompanhar novas aventuras da personagem. Permanece também a curiosidade em conhecer outras adaptações gráficas do autor.

Recomendado para fãs de fantasia clássica.

--

EN From the very first pages, it’s clear that this book follows the classic hero’s journey structure.

Ged is the youngest son of a humble family and, from an early age, shows an unusual aptitude for the magical arts. His talent does not go unnoticed, quickly reaching the ears of wizards from distant lands, until one of them appears at his door with an offer to train him.

Ambitious and driven by the desire to become the greatest wizard of all time, Ged seeks to master increasingly dangerous spells, pushing beyond limits no one has dared to cross. However, he soon realizes that this path comes at a cost.

This is a fantasy world inhabited by wizards and dragons, and from the very beginning I felt an incredible ease of immersion in the story. Fred Fordham’s storytelling is masterful, avoiding heavy narration. There are several moments where the story breathes, carried solely by the strength of his artwork, which is truly beautiful.

The confrontation with the dragons was, for me, the highlight of the story—the moment when Ged finally reveals the full extent of his power.

Ged’s journey is compelling, and by the end it feels all too brief. It leaves you wanting more—more of this mysterious world, more of its lore, and more of Ged’s adventures. It also sparks curiosity about exploring other graphic adaptations by the author.

Recommended for fans of classic fantasy.

[Sara the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the truest test of any graphic novel adaptation of a beloved novel is whether the original author likes it or not. I am sorrier than I can say that Ursula K. Le Guin didn't get the chance to see this truly elegant reimagining of the first in her "Earthsea" series but I am one hundred percent positive she would have loved it.

[Silvana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the melancholic and painting-like artwork so much, I want to have a hard copy of this graphic novel. The story was okay, more coming-of-age since this is a first-in-a-series. At least finally I got to read this classic tale. I think I will continue the series.

[Gerald Larocque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea has long been celebrated as a cornerstone of fantasy literature, and its graphic novel adaptation does not disappoint. The artwork beautifully complements Le Guin's rich storytelling, bringing the world of Earthsea to life in vivid detail.

The illustrations are both enchanting and haunting, capturing the essence of the various landscapes, from tranquil islands to the depths of the ocean. The character designs effectively convey the depth of Ged's journey—from a reckless youth to a wise and powerful wizard. Each panel is meticulously crafted, enhancing the emotional resonance of Ged's struggles and triumphs.

The adaptation skillfully distills the story's themes of balance, personal growth, and the interplay between light and darkness. While some nuances of the original text may be lost in translation, the graphic novel captures the heart of the narrative.

Additionally, the pacing is well-structured, allowing readers to fully engage with the story while maintaining a flow that keeps the pages turning. The dialogue remains true to Le Guin's lyrical style, further enriching the reading experience.

Whether you’re revisiting Earthsea or discovering it for the first time, this adaptation is sure to leave a lasting impression.

[Wick Welker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Le Guin and have read 10+ novels by her including the entire Earthsea cycle. I was very excited to read the graphic novel but I was pretty disappointed with the quality of the print. The images are blurry and way too dark which is a shame because the artwork is gorgeous. They really fumbled the print of this book which I'm sorry to say worsened my experience.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just as Ursula K. Le Guin’s son says in the preface of this graphic novel adaptation, I thought the task of adapting the Earthsea series would be impossible. The major strengths of Earthsea are Le Guin’s writing, character work, and its beautiful world and magic, the former two of which the graphic novel medium tends to struggle with.

So how did it do?

Although the art is beautiful and the main steps of the story are there, it just couldn’t help but read like a synopsis of A Wizard of Earthsea. Major events in Ged’s life such as the summoning of the shadow spirit and the naming ceremony are glossed over in 2-3 small panels, and so, lose a lot of the weight that surrounds them in the novel. Though, even with that said, I did really enjoy reading this adaptation, it was great to experience the story and the magic again. The art style was beautiful at times, but overly simple at others. So, at major moments it shone, while during the smaller moments (which, in my opinion, define Earthsea) it fell flat.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read and I definitely wouldn’t dissuade anyone from picking it up as it could prove to be a fitting gateway into one of the greatest fantasy series of all time.

[Ian Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the novel A Wizard of Earthsea and absolutely loved it, and was really interested in this graphic novel adaptation. So I don’t have the experience of reading the graphic novel on its own - but it is a superb companion to the novel. The artwork is absolutely beautiful and, surprisingly, really captured how I had imagined Earthsea and its inhabitants when I read the novel.

My summary of the plot for the novel was this:

This is the story of a 13 year old boy, Ged, who, having shown a natural aptitude for magic, is taken in as apprentice to the local Mage Ogion. Ged’s curiosity, talent and restlessness lead him to overstep his skill under Ogion’s mentoring, loosing an evil shadow that Ogion overpowers. Ogion sends Ged for formal training at the School of Wizards, but the shadow that Ged unleashed continues to haunt him. The story then follows Ged’s growth as a wizard over the following years, and the people and communities that he helps on his journey. But he is always drawn to identify and ultimately confront the shadow.

The novel had a depth of emotion that ran through Ged’s journey from impetuous youth to the mature young man and the regret and reflection of his actions brought to him. The graphic novel captures this perfectly, with some of the story beats being surprisingly moving. It’s difficult to say whether this was from the graphic novel alone, or whether it was also channeling the emotion that I felt when I read the novel - but either way, it was very welcome.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded down

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books for the e-ARC. All opinions are honest and my own.

I have watched Studio Ghibli's Tales from Earthsea a few times, which I know vastly differs from A Wizard of Earthsea, as it is an amalgamation of several books in the series and they take liberties. Shockingly, this was the first Ursula K. Le Guin book I've ever read, but this has definitely motivated me to read more of her works. As a graphic novel I do think this does a good job portraying the story in terms of tone and voice, there is a fair bit of dialogue on each page but it does not detract from the illustrations. It seems the art style is watercolor, and while the art itself is lovely, it actually was not my favorite for the story. I'm sure there was intention behind it, but I do judge the art and my enjoyment of the story derives from how much I vibe with it. This is particularly the case with graphic novels and manga, as it is a primary component of the story and this one felt a bit robotic at times. For landscapes it was beautiful and portrayed the setting, but for character visuals and development, especially for younger characters, like our protagonist, Ged, it felt a little lacking for me. For clarity, I read this graphic novel on my iPad, in color, which is a typical way for me to read stories of this medium, so that did not impact my review in any negative manner.

Essentially, as this is the first book in The Books of Earthsea it starts us off with the origin of Ged, his discovery of magic, his desire to master it, and the lessons he must learn due to his youthfulness and hubris. The original paperback ranges around the 210 page mark, whereas the graphic novel is around 288 pages. I would assume that this reads like a pretty complete story of the original novel. However, as I previously mentioned I have not read it yet, so I will not be the best source for comparison. If you're someone new to Le Guin or a longtime fan of this series looking to enjoy the story in a new manner that this is worth the read. Personally, this is not one I would but for my shelves, but I would certainly borrow it from my library or request they add it to their catalogue. Going back to the art for a bit, there was a good variation in the paneling. Some pages had many smaller panels, typically in more action heavy scenes, so you were able to discern a scenario rather fully upon each page term. There are also sweeping landscape panels that tend to be wider and length and take up the majority of the page, oftentimes without any dialogue so one can simply take in the beauty of the scene, the stillness of the moment. Overall, I liked the flow of the story in the panels and how we got to see the beginning of Ged's supposed hero's journey. Can't wait to read the novel and then maybe update my review with a full comparison.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Fred Fordham for the opportunity to read the graphic novel adaptation of A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel in exchange for an honest review.

Based on the first novel from the Tales of Earthsea series, published in 1968, this graphic novel adaptation introduces Le Guin's groundbreaking fantasy novel in a fresh visual light for today's contemporary audience.

The story follows Sparrowhawk, a young boy who learns of his own power and wants to gain more, though his power-seeking leads to a quest to fight his own evils. The story is rather philosophical in its magic system and lessons learned. The art is almost like a water color style that is very distinct and atmospheric of the archipelago in Earthsea.

This is a great graphic novel adaptation for middle grade (though it might be just slightly advanced) and teen readers, as well as adults who grew up with Earthsea and want to enjoy a new approach to a classic or share with their families.

[Aylin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yerdeniz serisi 6 kitaptan oluşuyor. Bu serinin ilk kitabı olan Yerdeniz Büyücüsü, Fred Fordham’ın uyarlaması ve çizimleriyle grafik roman formatında yeniden hayat buluyor. Grafik roman; yıllar önce okuduğum kitabın bendeki duygularını yeniden canlandırması, hikâyeyi yalın ama etkili bir şekilde aktarması ve karakterlerin duygularını görsel olarak güçlü biçimde yansıtmasıyla keyifle okuduğum bir eser oldu. Buna karşın, bazı sahnelerde görsel vurguların beklediğim kadar keskin olmaması, özellikle önemli anların daha çarpıcı betimlemelerle desteklenmemesi ve baskı kalitesinin orijinal eserin altında kalması eleştirilerimi oluşturuyor.

Hikâye, Yerdeniz’in en güçlü büyücüsü olacak Çevik Atmaca’nın çocukluğu ile başlar. Cadı olan teyzesi sayesinde kuşları çağırmayı öğrenen Duny, Onakçağaç Köyü’nde bu yeteneği nedeniyle Çevik Atmaca adını alır. Köyün tehlikeye düştüğü bir gün çağırdığı güç, sessiz bilge Ogion’un dikkatini çeker. Çevik Atmaca' nın öğrenme isteği ve yeteneğini fark eden Ogion, onu büyü eğitimini almak üzere Roke Adası’na gönderir. Roke; isimlerin gerçek gücüne hâkim olmanın temel olduğu, büyü dünyasının derinliklerine açılan bir eğitim yeridir.

Okulda başarısı ile Ustaların dikkatini çeken Çevik Atmaca’nın kendini kanıtlama arzusu ve gururlu yapısı, onu çağrılmaması gereken karanlık güçlerle yüzleşmeye sürükler. Bu yüzleşme, onun için bir içe bakışın, anlam arayışının ve dönüşümün başlangıcını oluşturacak, bilinmeyen bir gücün kapısını aralayacaktır.

Varlıkların gerçek isimleri üzerine kurulu büyü sistemi, varoluşu ve kimliği sorgulatan yönleri ile Yerdeniz Büyücüsü Yerdeniz evrenine yeniden dönmek isteyenler için güzel bir tercih olabilir.

[Raül · Rating 4 out of 5]

La història de com un jove de l'illa de Gont s'enfronta a les seues pròpies pors i les supera per començar el camí per convertir-se en el més gran mag de la història de Terramar.

Molt bona adaptació al còmic d'una novel·la de referència, tant dins l'obra de l'autora com per la seua rellevància en la renovació de la literatura de fantasia. Encara que hi ha moments que el dibuix m'ha semblat massa fosc, la narrativa gràfica —pausada i reflexiva— adapta molt bé el llibre. L'edició en tapa dura és excel·ent. Molt recomanable per als fans de l'autora i per amants del còmic fora del corrent dominant més comercial.

«Només en el silenci, la paraula
només en la foscor, la llum
només en la mort, la vida:
resplendent el vol del rapaç
al cel buit.»

[Hacer Karayigit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tam hayal ettiğim gibi olmuş 🫠
2026 Hugo finalisti olmuş, kazanmayı da hakediyor bence. Yer/mekan çizimleri çok başarılı. Karakter gelişimini ve Ged ile gölgenin mücadelesini kitaptaki kadar derinlikli hissedemiyoruz evet ama okuyucusunu kitap serisine yönlendireceğini düşünüyorum. Ki zaten amaçladıkları da buymuş.
Çizimlerin bazıları çok karanlık ve zor anlaşılır gelince gidip çizerin internet sayfasına baktım, çok daha aydınlık ve anlaşılır örnekler vardı sayfasında. Sanırım baskıdan dolayı karanlık çıkmış.
İlk kez grafik roman okuyorum, çok beğendim. Çizerin cesur yeni dünya ve bülbülü öldürmek kitap uyarlamaları da var.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the original Wizard of Earthsea a million years ago and didn't think much of it, probably being more in tune with the Harry Potters of the world, not the old-fashioned wizardry that required patience, sacrifice, and a lot of quiet reflection. Thank goodness this graphic adaptation came along to make me revisit the series. Turns out, it wasn't really meant for kids!

I mean, kids should still read it, but the tales of Ged becoming a wizard unfold slowly and thoughtfully, rarely broken up by a sudden burst of action. Mostly, the book is about Ged making a foolish, prideful choice early in his magic career and then spending a long time and many lonely journeys addressing the evil he's let into the world. It takes patience from the reader to follow along.

Fred Fordham's adaptation distills the story smartly - the pacing is smooth and engaging. His art is...sometimes evocative, sometimes a bit too much like bad CGI (character expressions especially can be rough).

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really lovely graphic adaptation of a fantasy classic. If you find Le Guin’s dialogue to be cumbersome to get through in Earthsea (as I often did) this format helps a lot. The trade off is that the action scenes (the dragons, the finale) that Le Guin wrote so well fall a little flat here. But overall, delightful!

[Kurt Neumaier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story I love told in a new and beautiful way. I'm going to go back and stare at the pictures. The library will not be getting this one back early.

[Selin Anter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yerdeniz Büyücüsü’nü grafik roman olarak okumayı özellikle tercih ettim; çünkü fantastik dünyaların içine girmekte ve o dünyalarla bağ kurmakta genellikle zorlanıyorum. Görsel anlatımın, Yerdeniz’i benim için daha erişilebilir kılacağını düşünmüştüm. Fakat beklediğim gibi olmadı.

Öncelikle şunu söylemem gerekiyor: Metnin arkasındaki dünyanın ne kadar zengin ve derinlikli olduğu, grafik roman uyarlamasında bile çok net hissediliyor. Bazı cümleler ve diyaloglar gerçekten çok güçlü; Le Guin’in yalnızca bir fantastik dünya kurmadığını, bunun üzerinden oldukça güçlü düşünsel katmanlar da oluşturduğunu fark ediyorsunuz. Bazı sahnelerin görsel olarak işlenişini de gerçekten beğendim.

Ama çizimlerdeki karanlık ve bulanıklık benim için ciddi bir sorun oldu. Zaman zaman ayrıntıları seçmekte, hatta sahnede tam olarak ne olduğunu anlamakta dahi zorlandım. Le Guin’in, oğlunun da bahsettiği üzere, okurun zihninde kurduğu dünyayı kendi hayal gücüyle tamamlamasına önem verdiğini düşününce, bu tercihin bilinçli olup olmadığını da merak ettim. Belki de amaç, her şeyi açıkça göstermek yerine okura kendi Yerdeniz’ini kurabileceği bir alan bırakmaktı. Tam olarak bilemiyorum. Fakat sebebi ne olursa olsun, bu görsel dil benim için atmosfer yaratmaktan çok belirsizlik yarattı.

Bu yüzden 3 yıldız. Muhtemelen doğrudan romanını okumuş olsaydım bu dünyayla daha güçlü bir bağ kurar ve 4 yıldız verirdim.

Yerdeniz dünyasını merak edip okumak isteyenlere, grafik roman yerine doğrudan kitapla başlamalarını tavsiye ederim.

[Lauren James · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautiful graphic novel adaptation of a sci fi 'chosen one' classic. Writing graphic novels well is a really hard thing to pull off, but this does it effortlessly. a master craftsman at work

[greta ❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful art! A great visualization of the story (except I didn’t like the way the people were drawn, i thought they looked a little scary)

[Quela Font · Rating 4 out of 5]

«Encendre una espelma és projectar una ombra…»

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I contemplated reading this many times, but always decided against it, as I am not a big fan of YA or coming-of-age stories. Reading a version of it as a graphic novel sounded like a good option to get a feel for it.

Story ★★★½☆
Artwork ★★★★★

Very pretty watercolors. Great two-page layouts. Great use of light and shadow and empty spaces. Great drawings as well.

The story, as expected, was good but I wasn‘t in love with it. It was very episodic. It felt more like a short story collection than a novel, with a red thread running through it. Is the novel the same?

🧙🪄🐉⛵️¼

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful art that stayed truthful to the original text. So much so that it really made me want to reread 'A Wizard of Earthsea'

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

this looks like it would have been a gorgeous adaptation if the print quality of the book weren’t so awful that I straight up could not see half the art :(

[İrem Hira Yuca Vurucu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serinin hayranları için hızlı bir tarama ve özlem giderme, bilmeyenler için fragman kadar. Sonra büyük bir merakla hepsini okutur🫠

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful adaptation ♥️

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Ged's journey is one with which many incoming readers may be quite familiar, but they won't have experienced it in this format previously.

As a graphic novel, this contemporary classic really comes to life.

Since fantasy isn't my top genre, when I first encountered the original version of this work many years ago, I struggled to connect with the characters and general storyline. This version, I know, would have sent me on a different path and helped me establish more affinity for this great work much earlier. While I wish it had come sooner, I'm glad I got to connect in a new way through this distinct experience.

I really appreciate the note from the author's son at the start of the text, covering the decisions made and the journey to arrive at this final product. The conversation about Ged's representation is particularly meaningful.

This graphic novel version will add a lot to new and seasoned readers' experiences alike.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.