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.

Ursula K. Le Guin consistently tops the list of grand fantasy authors. Sadly, I know more that mentions her and yet still haven't read her work. Earthsea is her first great, and I always wondered what it would look like if her publishers hadn't pushed her to target it toward teens. Earthsea is a coming-of-age wizard's tale as Ged grows into the knowledge and experience between power and death. This version is lovingly crafted by the artist Fred Fordham. Ursula would have been proud. I credit Netgalley for gifting me with an advance copy to review.

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperColllins Children's Books for a graphic novel adaptation of a a classic fantasy story about a boy finding his gifts, making mistakes and doing his best to try and fix them, no matter what the cost.

Growing up my town was really a mecca for books. Our library was well stocked, and even better had bag sales almost every other month, where one could fill a bag of books for a buck. From this amassed a huge amount of books, most of which I still have, plus learned how to pack things without ripping the container they were in. I remember seeing the box before I registered the title. A box from Bantam books, a plus at the time, with a dragon sleeping on a town. With Wizard in the title, I was sold, Upon reading the collection, I found a lot more going on then the usual find a dragon kill a dragon story. Sure there were dragons, but there was a lot of moments of making mistakes, of hiding, or doing things wrong. Of dealing with questions that well Dungeons and Dragons hadn't really trained my brain for. I wasn't sure what to think, and six months later needing something to read, started the books again. And enjoyed them immensely, for all the reasons I had been confused about before. Ursula K. Le Guin soon became an author I looked for, though some of the books took years for me to appreciate. This is a graphic novel retelling of the classic tale, one which readers can tell meant much to the illustrator, as much as it means to this reader. A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel was written by Ursula K. Le Guin and illustrated and adapted by Fred Fordham and tells of a young man finding magic in the world, making a mess, and doing his best to make things right.

A young is born in a small village, soon to be without a mother. The boy's father is a village smithy, as hard as the steel he makes, and the boy grows up without much love, or a sense of family. One day the boy sees an aunt talking to animals, and the animals responding. The boy tries this trick and finds the animals come running to him, as in a stampede. This is his first taste of magic, and first mistake in magic. The boy's aunt teaches him her ways, but it is wild and without discipline, something that is helpful when the boy hides the village from marauders, but nearly dying from the magic. Saved by a local wizard, the boy is given a choice, learn the ways of magic from the wizard or travel to a school, to become powerful. The boy chooses the school, and in an act of bravado, sets loose a great evil, one that scars him, and sets him roaming. The boy learns that only by facing his troubles, can he be free of his mistake, no mater what the cost.

The graphic novel is very faithful to the book, which was overseen by Le Guin's daughter. The story holds up well, and still has the power to amaze and touch the reader. This is the first of two trilogies, and I can' recommend the books enough. The adaptation is beautiful Fordham really understands the assignment, capturing the characters, their skin colors, their actions and emotions. There are scenes of environmental beauty, long vistas of land and ocean. Villages that seem lived in, cities that catch the eye, and boats the seem to float on the page. Fordham can do quiet moments as well as action. One of the best comic adaptations I have read in a long time, and I have read quite a bit starting with the old Classics Illustrated.

A wonderful story, made even more beautiful. I am enjoying the recent adaptations made of classic works, as these serve as great introductions to works that might be hard to interest young minds in today. I know it works for me with my nephews. If one likes Le Guin, one will enjoy this, and serves as a good jumping on place for new readers. Also this serves as a good place to learn more about Fred Fordham, a person who I can't wait to see and read more of.

I didn't like this as much as I was hoping I would.

I think the art work is slightly disturbing, far too realistic resulting in some truly insane looking reactions.

The narration was way too dense. I know it's based on the book but I would've preferred if it was more condensed.

Not my cup of tea from someone who hasn't read the original, but I could imagine longtime fans of Earthsea would love it.

Loved it. Images are amazing and the color just makes them pop. Perfect balance between words and pictures. Literally feels like watching a movie while reading it.

I had really high expectations of this graphic novel of A Wizard of Earthsea. However, they were not met.

The art is very dark, making it hard to read and follow visually. The words are taken directly from the novel, which sounded like something I would love but did not fit all that well with the graphic interpretation.

I wanted an interpretation but instead got a regurgitation of a beloved book.

I don't consider A Wizard of Earthsea to be a children's book. I would not add this to my library.

Thank you to Net Galley, Clarion, and Harper Collins Children's Books for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this, but unfortunately I just wasn’t able to get into it. I have not read the original text, so I cannot personally attest to how faithful of an adaptation this is, though the introduction claims that most of the text in this graphic novel is taken directly from the original novel. A Wizard of Earthsea is truly a classic adventure story full of travel and magic. I do appreciate this adaptation's goal of restoring the diverse representation to a story that has previously been whitewashed by adaptations.

I do think the landscapes in this graphic novel were stunning. However, the color palate was very muted, and the facial expressions were a bit lackluster in my opinion. I think having brighter colors or more exaggerated facial expressions would have made this book feel much more lively.

4 out of 5

This graphic novel is a great and beautiful way to experience Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea, in a brand new and fun way.

This was a nice change of pace from the other books I've been reading recently! The story definitely felt timeless, but my favourite part was actually the gorgeous art.

A stunningly beautiful work of art.

The time and skill that went in to bring this story to life is awe-inspiring. It truly breathes life into the characters and gives scale to their feats and travels. A must read for lovers of art, fantasy, and graphic novels.

While I haven't read the novel this story originates from, but I don't think it is necessary to still get a complete story from this graphic novel adaptation. The art in this is well done and fits the story it wants to tell. You can tell the artist really put their heart into making this into something worthy of being made.

I do think, as with any adaption that has to cut things down from the original work, that there is something missing, and I see this in the dialogue. I would be interested in continuing this adaption, but I think I am more interested in going back to the original novel form.

I first read A Wizard of Earthsea many years ago and have been pondering a reread of the entire Earthsea cycle when I came across this adaptation. Lets be clear, this is an adaptation and not the entire text. And as such, I would not read it instead of the novel, but think that it is an excellent compliment. This is a quite faithful adaptation if my memory of the original holds and the art is quite fitting in the spirit of the story. The watercolor images and muted earth and sea tones illustrate the story in the subtle and unassuming spirit that echoes the tone of the original prose. This is a great way to revisit this classic tale but may also serve as a nice introduction to it especially for kids or young adults that are not quite enthused about reading text.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books - Clarion Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

read A Wizard of Earthsea years ago, and I remember loving it. I don't remember many of the details, so I can't speak to how faithful this adaption is. That being said, this graphic novel is gorgeous. I love the beautiful watercolor illustrations, and felt like they did a great job with this classic. The writing was still magical, and I did not find myself missing the full text. (Although I should definitely reread at some point) Overall, a really well done adaption and beautiful book!

Thanks to NetGalley, the Le Guins, and HarperCollins Children's for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!

A gorgeous and faithful adaptation of the beloved book, this graphic novel belongs on the shelf of every Earthsea fan. I love the original book, and when I saw that there was going to be a graphic novel adaptation, I was so excited; and it was even better than I imagined. The story remains true to the book, even using the exact wording in many places, while Fred Fordham’s illustrations beautifully capture the fantastical world of Earthsea. This is an adaptation that will satisfy even the most ardent fan, while also providing an accessible introduction to the beloved story to new readers as well. I will definitely buy a print copy of this beautiful graphic novel when it publishes!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc! All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.