This graphic novel makes for a beautiful adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's classic fantasy tale. Ged is young when he first witnesses magic, and is captivated by the power and promise it holds. He story takes him from his time as a young boy learning from his aunt, to the island of Roke, where he learns alongside other young mages and makes a terrible mistake. The watercolor style art is beautiful, and captures the dark shadows and brilliant light that shines out of the pages. This is an adaptation that will appeal to fans of the series, and will draw in new readers as well -- I can report that my kids have been taken in by the story and evocative illustrations already. I hope they continue the partnership and adapt further books in the series, too. I'll be recommending this to fantasy and graphic novel fans of many ages.

This would have been an extraordinarily tough book to turn into a graphic novel—the magic of Le Guin’s world is not visual, generally. The artist created a beautiful visual palette for the world (I got several lock screens out of it), illustrated the invisible magic, and kept the heart of the story. It isn’t always gripping, but neither is the original novel.

I have been familiar with the name Ursula K. Le Guin and aware of her significant contributions in the publishing world but had not read anything but a few of her shorter picture books. I was intrigued by the making of one of her books into a graphic novel. I came into this particular title with no background about the storyline line so I cannot speak to how closely this may or may not stick to the original.

Ged is the main character in this story, a young man who discovers he has powers. Through a series of mentors, he explores those skills (not always with optimum results). The story arch is one of a lonely soul seeking to find himself in a world without parents and the comforts of a constant home. Part of his journey involves attending a wizard school (perhaps the inspo for Harry Potter--the parallels are there). At school, Ged encounters the usual assortment of students, including bullies and allies, and the challenge of learning to tell them apart.

The book has spiritual threads and dialogue that will resonate with anyone on a journey to "find themselves" and to boldly go out to meet a darkness they cannot even name. The story has great depth to plumb for those willing to dive deep. But it can also be enjoyed on the surface as an epic adventure of boyhood into manhood and from innocence into a greater knowledge of good and evil.

It is worth noting that Le Guin was ahead of her time in creating worlds populated with people of color. Her writing offers a highly imaginative world that readers of all ages will be drawn into. While the graphic novel was a visual stunner and very well constructed, there were a few places in the story that I was a little confused. I think a background knowledge of the original novel would make this rendition more enjoyable. Hopefully this version will encourage readers to pick up not only the original but also to explore the other works of Le Guin.

I highly recommend this work. It offers a thought-provoking alternative to the worlds of Marvel and DC and elevates the graphic novel to a higher (and deeper realm). Le Guin is a writer worth studying and reading (in any form) as she has phenomenally impacted children's literature over the years.

For an interesting glimpse into the world of Earthsea, check out this short documentary and others at ursulakleguin.com.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel from HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley for review. No other compensation was received.

This graphic novel is a great adaptation of the novel. The art is incredible and the story flows smoothly. I really loved having the visual representation of the world.

Thank you to Clarion Books and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book.

I didn’t read the original novel, but after reading this I really want to. I thought the storyline was intriguing, with an interesting magic system, and characters that keep you routing for them. The art work in this was stunning and really added to the story.

While I can't speak to this graphic novel as an adaptation because I (shamefully!) have not read the original, this is a beautiful piece of work in its own right.

This was an excellent adaptation of A Wizard of Earthsea. I admit it’s been a very long time I last read it but I do remember the story pretty well and this adaptation does hit the major points well. It doesn’t whitewash the characters like other adaptations have done which is nice. Makes me want to reread the book!

“A picture is worth a thousand words… but I kind of miss the words.”

Look, adapting A Wizard of Earthsea into a graphic novel is a bold move—like trying to paint a sunset with only three colors. Fred Fordham takes a valiant stab at it, translating Ursula K. Le Guin’s deep, lyrical prose into something visual. The result? A beautifully illustrated, slightly hollow retelling of one of fantasy’s greatest classics.

The artwork? Gorgeous. Sweeping landscapes, dramatic lighting, and an overall aesthetic that captures Earthsea’s mystical vibe. But the magic of Le Guin’s storytelling—the introspective depth, the slow burn of Ged’s growth—gets a little lost in translation. The novel’s powerful themes of balance and self-discovery feel rushed, like someone hit the “abridged” button too hard. And let’s be real: if you’ve read the original, you’ll spend half your time filling in the gaps from memory.

Is this a solid introduction for new readers? Maybe. Is it a satisfying companion for longtime fans? Ehh. It’s like getting a slice of cake when you wanted the whole thing—sweet, but missing the full flavor.

The watercolor imagery adds such a mood to Le Guin's story. A wonderful story of growth and magic. A great interpretation of the story made into graphic form. I look forward to selling this to new readers of fantasy as well as seasoned ones.

I was so excited when I first saw this ARC was available because I loved the original Earthsea novel. The artwork in this graphic novel adaptation is gorgeous and each page blew me away. I fell in love with the story all over again and I think this adaptation is a great way to introduce a reluctant reader to LeGuin’s novel. I cannot wait to order a copy for the libraries I work at and will be recommending it to everyone I know.

I requested this ARC because the title sounded familiar and I wasn’t sure why.
I didn’t realize that it was based off of a novel!
Now I’m intrigued and want to read the actual series
The artwork is beautifully done, the characters portrayed appropriately pensive and moody.

I wasn't a huge fan of reading Earthsea the first time I tried it, so I was looking forward to this graphic novel adaptation! Unfortunately, it still didn't click for me.

I'm not sure if it's because it's the classic fantasy story or the art style, but I just wasn't swept up or sucked in like so many other stories I read in the fantasy genre. I think if you are already an Earthsea fan you will enjoy this a lot, it's definitely gorgeous art that isn't cartoony and fits the original work well. But if you, like me, were hoping that the same story in a different format would make it more appealing or engaging, you will probably be disappointed like I was.

It has been a long time since I read this story in written form, as a small, worn paperback checked out of the library alongside a pile of other fantasy books, most forgotten by name at this point. I read so many books that oftentimes stories may blend or meld together, or fade behind the fresher memories of more recently browsed tales, but Le Guin's works tend to leave an imprint not just on the mind but on the soul, a memory of emotions more than words.

This beautifully illustrated adaption perfectly captures one of her most famous works in gorgeous art, unfolding at a gentle but riveting pace which keeps the reader glued to the page from first to last. Not only does it hold true to the original novel, but it carries that same stamp of emotional impact, and other lovers of fantasy like myself are likely to walk away a little quiet, a little breathless, as they dwell on the story long after they reach the end.

A Wizard of Earthsea is a tried-and-true favorite from my childhood. Some of my fondest memories with my father are of watching the show based on the book. The way the story was blended with the art felt well-framed and easy to read. The variation in panel layouts made the book feel more dynamic, and the ability to finish pages at different speeds gave the sense of reading faster. The gradual addition and subtraction of color really felt like it mirrored Ged’s journey—both with himself and with magic. The panoramic landscapes (and some of the more abstract panels) are stunning and really suit the watercolor art style.

That said, my rating is lower because so much is lost in this style. I really wish there was more definition, especially in the faces. Expressions often felt limited, and a lot of the time, characters’ eyes seemed to either stare in opposite directions or just look kind of dead. The art as a whole is beautiful, but the human characters really could have used a second pass to give them more depth. It absolutely kills me to give this three stars, but in the end, it was just an okay/good experience—not really more than that.

Before Ged is the greatest Wizard of Earthsea, he is a boy called Sparrowhawk who must learn the truths of magic and himself.

I read A Wizard of Earthsea when I was a child and didn't remember much of the story, so this was a wonderful way to be reintroduced to the book. The art is really beautiful, and I thought both the art and the dialogue that was brought in did a wonderful job of bringing the story to life while maintaining the same mood of the original book.

I love how timeless the work of Ursula K. Le Guin is. This is a lovely adaptation of her novel, and the graphic novel format has great appeal with the younger audiences! At times the art was a little too dark to make out what was happening, and it was difficult reading the ebook version on a small screen, but I suspect the print version wouldn't have these issues!

A captivating read for anyone seeking a timeless tale of self-discovery, growth, and the pursuit of wisdom, as Ged's transformative journey through the magical world of Earthsea offers a potent reminder of the importance of balance, humility, and the responsible use of power.

Really enjoyed the adaptation of Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea. Really enjoyed the books, and this brings it even more to life. Hopefully there will be more of these adaptations from the series. #AWizardofEarthseaAGraphicNovel #NetGalley

Gorgeous graphic adaptation of one of my favorite books! Great use of color, especially as the intensity and vibrancy shifts over the course of the story. I will absolutely be using and recommending this in my classroom and it will appeal to students across a wide variety of reading levels. Thanks for the ARC and so excited!

Before Ged became the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, he was the ambitious and wild Sparrowhawk. This is the story of how he grew in power and notoriety, adapted into a graphic novel.

I have never read A Wizard of Earthsea or anything else by Ursula K. Le Guin, but it was always on my list of books to read. I was really excited to receive this graphic novel, thinking it would be a good starting point to push me into reading the series. Maybe because I didn't have that foundation of knowing the source material, though, this book did not work for me. The story felt both rushed and slow at the same time, with scenes passing quickly but the actual plot dragging. The characters also weren't really engaging. I found that I didn't care much about what happened to any of the characters, even the main one. Without knowing the source material better, I can't say if that's a criticism of the story or the adaptation, though. However, the art was beautiful! The vibrant landscapes and detailed character designs were what kept me turning the pages. The artwork did a great job describing the story and setting. I think someone who has read A Wizard of Earthsea before will find this a nice return to a story they once loved.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.