This is the story of Ged, the greatest sorcerer of Earthsea. When he was young, he was known as Sparrowhawk and he was hungry for power. In his quest to gain more power, he accidentally unleashes a shadow onto the world. See how he learns to master his power, tame a dragon, and eventually conquer his shadow.

Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for an advanced copy of A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, adapted by Fred Fordham. It’s been awhile since I read A Wizard of Earthsea, but I thoroughly enjoyed this adaptation! From what I can remember, it does a good job of hitting the main themes and feel of the original story.

I was super impressed with the art in this. Fordham does a great job bringing this story to life, and the art is so detailed. There are multiple sections with no words, but the story is still carried forward with the art. Graphic novel artists are definitely bringing their A game when it comes to art this year.

This seems like it would be a good introduction to Ursula K. Le Guin if you haven’t encountered her work yet. As someone who doesn’t remember a lot from the novel, I didn’t feel like I was lost at any point. The characters and the world come to life nicely in this format, and I’m hopeful that they’ll continue with her other books as well.

If you’re a fan of fantasy graphic novels, definitely check this one out when it comes out in March!

I love the illustrations in A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel by Ursula K Le Guin. The illustrator did a great job on them. The story's plot about the greatest sorcerer named Ged was also nice to read. I definitely recommend reading this.

I'm a huge fan of the original Wizard of Earthsea, and while I thought this was a nice interpretation... The pacing felt off, much slower than the original and the emotional beats didn't hit as hard because of it. The text and dialogue felt a little stale too which I think is a trap that typically hits adaptations and unfortunately this one was not immune.

Also, and okay this is a purely me issue so feel absolutely free to ignore. The artwork itself is beautiful but it's not my favorite for a graphic novel which made it a little harder to get into.

Still it is Earthsea so 3/5

This adaptation is… fine. It’s not how I pictured it when I was reading the book. It doesn’t match the Studio Ghibli adaptation. It’s not the most beautiful artwork I’ve ever seen in a graphic novel. It’s okay. Ultimately, I’d rather reread the book.

I didn’t feel like there was enough of a change in wording from the novel to justify this adaptation. And with the lackluster art style, I’m left wondering why it was even made. If the goal is to get new, young readers interested in the world, I guess it could work? It’s definitely simple enough for a middle grade audience. But the Studio Ghibli movie, while a poor adaptation, is infinitely more attractive to look at.

So, I guess it’s fine. It’s average. It’s not what I would reach for on the shelf to buy. I would rather buy the collector’s edition of the whole series again, or a special illustrated edition of the first book.

I came to the Earthsea Cycle, (and Ursula LeGuin’s books in general) just a few years ago, and immediately fell in love. Her world of Earthsea - with its people, and the magic that bound it all together - immediately felt confidently fully-formed in rich complexity the moment that I entered it, and I only became fully immersed from there, hungrily devouring most of the series within the span of just a month or so.

This graphic novel adaptation is a wonderful return to that world, and everything that I wanted it to be. It’s the realm of Earthsea in a vivid new visual dimension that allows me to temporarily inhabit it in an entirely new way. In many ways it is as I have imagined it, and in many ways it’s a wonderful surprise due to the personal creative decisions that Fred Fordham has taken.

I hope that those who have never read “A Wizard of Earthsea” will enjoy it. But I know for a fact that those already familiar with this work will most definitely adore it.

This graphic novel is gorgeous. The watercolour illustrations, particularly during the travel scenes across the oceans, were stunning. It complimented the story so well.

I had never ready anything from Ursula K. Le Guin, and I thought the graphic novel would be an easy first step for me. I fell in love with the voice and the characters almost instantly. It's been so long since I read a classic fantasy like this, and I'm ready for more.

It's easy enough to read that I would recommend it when you're in a reading slump, but also complicated enough that you'll be sure to remember it.

A beautiful interpretation of Ursula Le Guins novel. The story follows Ged as he seeks to become a powerful wizard. But, he ends up facing the consequences of delving too deep. It is a wonderful retelling that keeps to the original story and presents it i. A great mediums for teens to read. The watercolors style art is whimsical and a little melancholy. This perfectly reflects the tone of the book and adds to magic of the graphic novel. Hopefully this will lead to more readers enjoying the full series of Earthsea novels.

A transformative and enriching experience. I can think of no better way to journey back to Earthsea after years away than our story of young Ged paired with truly jaw-dropping art. Easily, one of the most beautiful graphic novels I have read, there are few things more rewarding as a graphic novel reader than revisiting a beloved story in a new medium; and seeing how this new medium delivers or falls short. This is certainly a novel that delivers. While one would never doubt Le Guin and say her novel falls short, there is a special something to see the scale and passion brought to the artwork that brings this telling to a whole new level.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The graphic novel adaptation of A Wizard of Earthsea is stunning and one of the best adaptations of an original book I have seen in a while. The graphic art is clean and really helps to draw the reader in to a book that has been around for a while! The only reason I didn’t rate this book higher is because at times while reading, it felt like it was geared towards a younger age like middle grade instead of young adult into adult. Nevertheless, it was amazing and renewed my love for this book!

Of course a fantastic story, but the graphic novel adaptation was very thoughtful and the artwork was superb.

This graphic novel rendition of the classic is absolutely gorgeous. So much is said through the moody and expressive paintings on the page. The images set the mood, reveal the characters, and move the story along. The landscapes and changing colors were my favorite part. The art really captures the quiet, seeking journey of Ged.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the digital advanced reader copy of this novel.

This edition takes the words written y Ursula K. Le Guin and blends them gorgeously with illustrations from Fred Fordham.

Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was reckless. He was known as Sparrowhawk in those days, and in his hunger for power and knowledge he did the unthinkable. He released a shadow, terrible and ruthless, into the world when he tampered with long-buried secrets. This is the tale of his testing, his taming of an ancient dragon, and his crossing of death’s threshold to restore the balance of the world.

I will start by saying that I have not read the original Earthsea novel. I chose to request this ARC because I love fantasy and thought the synopsis combined with the artwork fit my preferred reading material. I was impressed with how well the dialogue was used throughout the novel. There were panels that needed no words and they were given the space to breathe. The dialogue used was well written and improved the overall atmosphere of the story rather than the words becoming distracting. It was very well done.

The images in this graphic novel are simply beautiful. I loved that the characters were mostly people of color and that the whole vibe of being in a world of islands was very obvious. It felt as if I were being submerged in the atmosphere. Everything is done in muted earth tones that lend a heavy but somehow comforting feel to the story.

I would recommend this graphic novel adaptation to anyone who loves magic, mystery, and immersion into the world that Le Guin built with her fantasy novels.

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

I’ve never read Earthsea, so this is all I have to base things on. I think the art was great for the story, capturing a loneliness and the expanse of the world quite well. I do wonder feel a bit may be missing, especially in the magical aspects. Still, this was a great story and the graphic novel successfully conveys a lot just with images.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful graphic version of Ursula K. Le Guin's classic, A Wizard of Earthsea. The world building is top notch, and the artist really captures the feel of loneliness, frustration, trying to prove oneself, and adventure.

As a kid I loved this book, so picking up an ARC for the graphic novel brought back a lot of fond memories. To start with the good (and it’s very good) the artwork is lovely. The water colors add a softness and a more natural feeling, and the landscapes — especially the ocean — was perfect. The vastness of it, the smallness of Ged’s boat, the size of the sky, it was all beautiful to look at.

However, I’m not sure this really captures as much of the book’s spirit as I would have liked. Due to the nature of the adaptation a lot was lost because it’s all visual rather than introspective. The artist managed to get a lot of the story done in a way that felt respectful to the story and the characters, but I’m not sure if this would bring in someone who wasn’t already a fan.

However, if you are already a fan, then this is a wonderful companion piece. Thank you so very much to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

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.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun graphic novel. This was a great reading experience and I really enjoyed it.

Stunningly beautiful artwork of a classic. The brush strokes gave a water color feel to the story that made it feel like a classic. I loved it.

stunning work. absolutely does le guin’s masterwork justice. the earthsea cycle, as a whole, is such a sharp but delicate work, both like a warm wind and crystal-clear ice. i adore it, and i feel it inside my chest at every page. the illustrations here are each their own masterpieces. i dearly hope this series is continued in this format.