I am going to be honest here and say I have not read The Books of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. Any of them. I had heard of them, of course, but it is only now in my mid-twenties that I possess a copy of them. This copy has already shocked and surprised me with its illustrations, especially the glossy full colour ones at the start of each novel, and I can see myself holding onto this for many decades. It is my challenge, over the next few months, to read all of the stories in The Books of Earthsea collection, and to fill in the gaps in my children’s book knowledge.

Ged, the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, was called Sparrowhawk in his reckless youth. Hungry for power and knowledge, Sparrowhawk tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death’s threshold to restore the balance.

Let me shout my praises for the illustrator Charles Vess because his work in this collection of stories does wonders for bringing the world to life. As this world is incredibly rich and detailed, it can be a little challenging to picture all the elements. Charles Vess’s drawings have made that so easy, not to mention provide such a beautiful addition to the stories. They are stunning, and I think it is only right that acknowledgement is made. If you haven’t seen any, I implore you to look them up online or find copies of the books where they are available.

A Wizard of Earthsea is the first of the collection, and as such, has a lot of weight on its shoulders. It is the first glance at this world, the sheer expanse of it, and the book the establishes the tone, direction, and narration style. I think it does a fantastic job at that, especially considering this is meant to be a children’s fantasy book. As I mentioned earlier, I have not read these throughout my younger years, so I am going into it strictly with adult eyes. My reader tastes are geared more towards the mature, layered, and complex, yet A Wizard from Earthsea is not only holding my attention but drumming up excitement and praise while doing so.

A Wizard of Earthsea feels very mature, even with its language choices and plot elements being suitable for children’s reading. Ged, our young character who learns and grows into the man he is to become, has is recklessness and his pride, wants things that make him naive or narrow-minded, and lacks patience to see the finer details of life. But the commentary and narrative style make these aspects of his character and personality feel understood, human, and less like flaws that make him bad. I really like this, especially in children’s books, as it shows there is good and bad qualities in every hero, especially in their youth. Instilling this knowledge in young readers is so important, and I am sure there are more than a handful of other lessons I will learn as I continue this series.

I may be wrong, because I also haven’t read the series yet, but The Books of Earthsea feel like they could have been a great inspiration for the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. I know, deep breaths, everyone. I have owned copies of The Inheritance Cycle in recent years, but never got around to reading them, so I sold them. I want to though, so once I have finished The Books of Earthsea, I will get them out from the library and tick off another childhood staple series.

If you are like me and hadn’t read A Wizard of Earthsea or any of The Books of Earthsea yet, then take this as your sign to do so. Add A Wizard of Earthsea to your library requests, look around for a secondhand copy at your local op-shops and bookstores, or consider getting one of the gorgeous copies available new. These could be rereads for you that will take you back to your own childhood, and I know it will be a big healing moment for many to return to Earthsea and experience the magic once more.