What do you think?
Rate this book
A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel
Ursula K. Le Guin’s timeless and revered A Wizard of Earthsea is reimagined in a richly expansive graphic novel by acclaimed artist Fred Fordham, creator of stunning adaptations To Kill a Mockingbird and Brave New World.
"The magic of Earthsea is primal; the lessons of Earthsea remain as potent, as wise, and as necessary as anyone could dream." —Neil Gaiman
Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and unleashed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous 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.
Experience the bestselling first adventure of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea Cycle as a masterly crafted graphic novel. Fred Fordham brings new life to Le Guin's iconic fantasy classic with his breathtaking illustrations and thoughtful text adaptation.
"The magic of Earthsea is primal; the lessons of Earthsea remain as potent, as wise, and as necessary as anyone could dream." —Neil Gaiman
Ged was the greatest sorcerer in Earthsea, but in his youth he was the reckless Sparrowhawk. In his hunger for power and knowledge, he tampered with long-held secrets and unleashed a terrible shadow upon the world. This is the tumultuous 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.
Experience the bestselling first adventure of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea Cycle as a masterly crafted graphic novel. Fred Fordham brings new life to Le Guin's iconic fantasy classic with his breathtaking illustrations and thoughtful text adaptation.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2025
60 people are currently reading
7,244 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
March 15, 2025
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 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 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:
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 , Le Guin lays out the racial composition of her characters and addresses the artwork:
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
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 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 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 , 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
January 31, 2025
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
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
February 18, 2025
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!
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!
April 8, 2025
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.
March 29, 2025
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.
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.
April 24, 2025
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.
January 27, 2025
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.
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.
April 15, 2025
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!
April 15, 2025
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
March 23, 2025
Beautiful adaptation ♥️
February 10, 2025
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.
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.
April 17, 2025
4⭐️ for the adaptation!*
a beautifully illustrated and very faithful graphic adaptation of a wizard of earthsea. i think it occasionally relies too heavily on verbatim prose � particularly in the exposition of each chapter. it really hits its stride in moments of silence, and executed all of the emotional and plot related climaxes avec brio. the use of watercolours makes for a perfect palette to earthsea, and the character design is really well done. i loved to see ged grow up throughout. the ending was as beautiful as in the original novel and lost none of its power.
*le guin’s original novel is a 5 ⭐️, of course.
a beautifully illustrated and very faithful graphic adaptation of a wizard of earthsea. i think it occasionally relies too heavily on verbatim prose � particularly in the exposition of each chapter. it really hits its stride in moments of silence, and executed all of the emotional and plot related climaxes avec brio. the use of watercolours makes for a perfect palette to earthsea, and the character design is really well done. i loved to see ged grow up throughout. the ending was as beautiful as in the original novel and lost none of its power.
*le guin’s original novel is a 5 ⭐️, of course.
February 9, 2025
I adore Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series. The first novel, A Wizard of Earthsea, arguably invented many core fantasy tropes, such as a wizard ing school and the importance of names, that would later be popularized by Harry Potter. Le Guin’s lyrical writing gives her tales a sense of timelessness nearly 60 years after the book was published. Yet, Earthsea has had terrible luck with adaptations. The Sci-Fi Channel TV miniseries whitewashed Le Guin’s brown-skinned characters. Studio Ghibli later made a movie that combined plot elements from several of the Earthsea novels (covered in my upcoming book). So I was excited to see how this new graphic novel would adapt the story�
The Earthsea series is set on a fantasy world filled with islands, which Le Guin has said was inspired by Pacific islander cultures. The first novel is about a young wizard named Sparrowhawk (or Ged) who goes to a wizarding school on the island of Roke. While there, he succumbs to temptation to cast a forbidden spell and inadvertently summons a shadow creature. Ged must track down the creature and undo his mistake. Yet, unlike many other Young Adult fantasy novels, A Wizard of Earthsea has little action or typical heroics. Ged’s journey is a quiet, introspective one, and his quest is one of learning rather than combat.
The artwork is definitely the highlight of this graphic novel. Fred Fordham’s artwork is pretty close to how I imagined the people and places of Earthsea when I first read the novel years ago. The muted color palette and lack of defined linework fit Le Guin’s ethereal and often morally ambiguous world. In veering away from realism, Fordham’s rendering imbues the story with an almost mythic quality. Even in Le Guin’s text, there’s a strangeness to the world, an impenetrability that the stylized artwork captures. Several pages of the graphic novel have no text, just artwork letting the reader join Ged’s travels across the world.
Importantly, the graphic novel is true to Le Guin’s vision by depicting Ged and most other characters as brown-skinned. To Le Guin, this was not just about skin color. She saw the race of her characters as a way to encourage her predominantly white readership to empathize with people who did not look like them. In a critique of the Sci-Fi Channel version, she wrote:
My people could be any color I liked, and I like red and brown and black. I was a little wily about my color scheme. I figured some white kids (the books were published for “young adults�) might not identify straight off with a brown kid, so I kind of eased the information about skin color in by degrees—hoping that the reader would get “into Ged’s skin� and only then discover it wasn’t a white one.
As much as I enjoyed the graphic novel, I’m not sure I would have appreciated the story if I had not read Le Guin’s novel first. This adaptation has very little text, which means readers don’t get as much access to the thoughts of the characters, which can be a barrier for a story that so introspective. Fordham partly makes up for this with closeups of Ged’s face showing his shame and frustration, but it might be difficult for readers to interpret the images without the context provided by text.
I would strongly recommend reading A Wizard of Earthsea first and then reading this graphic novel. For those who have read the novel, this adaptation is a quick and immersive way to revisit the world.
A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel will be published on March 11. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Earthsea series is set on a fantasy world filled with islands, which Le Guin has said was inspired by Pacific islander cultures. The first novel is about a young wizard named Sparrowhawk (or Ged) who goes to a wizarding school on the island of Roke. While there, he succumbs to temptation to cast a forbidden spell and inadvertently summons a shadow creature. Ged must track down the creature and undo his mistake. Yet, unlike many other Young Adult fantasy novels, A Wizard of Earthsea has little action or typical heroics. Ged’s journey is a quiet, introspective one, and his quest is one of learning rather than combat.
The artwork is definitely the highlight of this graphic novel. Fred Fordham’s artwork is pretty close to how I imagined the people and places of Earthsea when I first read the novel years ago. The muted color palette and lack of defined linework fit Le Guin’s ethereal and often morally ambiguous world. In veering away from realism, Fordham’s rendering imbues the story with an almost mythic quality. Even in Le Guin’s text, there’s a strangeness to the world, an impenetrability that the stylized artwork captures. Several pages of the graphic novel have no text, just artwork letting the reader join Ged’s travels across the world.
Importantly, the graphic novel is true to Le Guin’s vision by depicting Ged and most other characters as brown-skinned. To Le Guin, this was not just about skin color. She saw the race of her characters as a way to encourage her predominantly white readership to empathize with people who did not look like them. In a critique of the Sci-Fi Channel version, she wrote:
My people could be any color I liked, and I like red and brown and black. I was a little wily about my color scheme. I figured some white kids (the books were published for “young adults�) might not identify straight off with a brown kid, so I kind of eased the information about skin color in by degrees—hoping that the reader would get “into Ged’s skin� and only then discover it wasn’t a white one.
As much as I enjoyed the graphic novel, I’m not sure I would have appreciated the story if I had not read Le Guin’s novel first. This adaptation has very little text, which means readers don’t get as much access to the thoughts of the characters, which can be a barrier for a story that so introspective. Fordham partly makes up for this with closeups of Ged’s face showing his shame and frustration, but it might be difficult for readers to interpret the images without the context provided by text.
I would strongly recommend reading A Wizard of Earthsea first and then reading this graphic novel. For those who have read the novel, this adaptation is a quick and immersive way to revisit the world.
A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel will be published on March 11. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2025
I’m a longtime fan of Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea books, and so when I saw this graphic novel adaptation, I jumped at the chance to review an early copy. It absolutely blew me away. I couldn’t have imagined a graphic novel that could so flawlessly encapsulate the magic of A Wizard of Earthsea, but this one does so in gorgeous full-color, immersing me so utterly in this world it felt more like an illustrated version of the original than any sort of adaptation. Each page is such a beautiful, complete work of art that I would honestly love any of them as a poster or screensaver. I don’t recall ever reading a graphic novel where every illustration contains such a precise attention to detail, creating an atmospheric and absorbing experience that I fell in love with all over again every time I turned a page.
The adaptation of the text itself is also superb. Fred Fordham was clearly fiercely committed to Ursula K. Le Guin’s work; nearly every line is pulled verbatim from the original text, and the changes that are made—whether abridgements or alterations—are so seamless that the reader scarcely notices their presence. Upon finishing this book, I didn’t feel as though anything was missing; rather, it was although, through the illustrations, I had been able to absorb all the details and moments of the story not explicitly spelled out. This is truly the most beautiful graphic novel adaptation I’ve ever read. Whether you’re new to Earthsea or an enduring fan, I can’t recommend A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
The adaptation of the text itself is also superb. Fred Fordham was clearly fiercely committed to Ursula K. Le Guin’s work; nearly every line is pulled verbatim from the original text, and the changes that are made—whether abridgements or alterations—are so seamless that the reader scarcely notices their presence. Upon finishing this book, I didn’t feel as though anything was missing; rather, it was although, through the illustrations, I had been able to absorb all the details and moments of the story not explicitly spelled out. This is truly the most beautiful graphic novel adaptation I’ve ever read. Whether you’re new to Earthsea or an enduring fan, I can’t recommend A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel highly enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
March 10, 2025
I received an ARC copy of this book via NetGalley but all opinions expressed are my own.
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 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.
April 14, 2025
4.5 stars--This is a thoughtful story set in a high-fantasy world of magic and sorcerers. You don't have to be familiar with the source material; the graphic novel is well-told and understandable.
The illustrations are done in lovely watercolor; however, some panels are so dark that I wonder if they were printed a shade or two off from the original art.
The illustrations are done in lovely watercolor; however, some panels are so dark that I wonder if they were printed a shade or two off from the original art.
March 5, 2025
I recently reread A Wizard of Earthsea in preparation so that I could appropriately compare this graphic novel adaptation with the original.
I have to say I was so pleasantly surprised. This adaptation really does Le Guin's story justice, and Fred Fordham's beautiful art only adds to the richness of the world and its characters. The graphic novel is faithful to the original work and leaves out none of the important milestones of Ged's journey. I very much enjoyed following along with the tale again, even though I'd just read the original a few days ago.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read to A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin with art by Fred Fordham in exchange for my honest feedback.
I have to say I was so pleasantly surprised. This adaptation really does Le Guin's story justice, and Fred Fordham's beautiful art only adds to the richness of the world and its characters. The graphic novel is faithful to the original work and leaves out none of the important milestones of Ged's journey. I very much enjoyed following along with the tale again, even though I'd just read the original a few days ago.
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read to A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin with art by Fred Fordham in exchange for my honest feedback.
March 23, 2025
Obsessed, smitten, captivated. I don’t usually go for graphic novels but this was super great and the artwork was stunning. I have not read the original book so I hope this was a good adaptation.
April 18, 2025
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.
March 11, 2025
As much as the story still remains a masterpiece even though the first in this series is not the best book in my opinion, I found the manga version better. The drawings in this graphic novel are beautiful, but in my opinion they weigh down the story.
Per quanto la storia resti comunque un capolavoro anche se il primo di questa serie non é secondo me il libro migliore, io ho trovato piú bella la versione manga. I disegni di questa graphic novel sono belli, ma secondo me appesantiscono la storia.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
Per quanto la storia resti comunque un capolavoro anche se il primo di questa serie non é secondo me il libro migliore, io ho trovato piú bella la versione manga. I disegni di questa graphic novel sono belli, ma secondo me appesantiscono la storia.
I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.
February 3, 2025
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.
March 22, 2025
I've been enjoying exploring the work of American author, and have, in fact, read all but one of the fantasy series. But when I saw the graphic novel version of written by , I had to give it a try.
My review of the original novel can be found here. /review/show...
Basically, a young man, Ged, gets training as a Wizard on the island of Roke. While there, another student goads him into raising a dead spirit. Ged does this but at the same time a shadow comes through, that being an evil shadow of course. This shadow is linked to Ged. Ged leaves Roke after becoming a wizard. He becomes wizard of a small island and chases away a family of dragons that is threatening the island.
Ged meets with the shade again and after going back home to his home island, decides that he has to finally deal with this shadow. That is the rest of the story and follows Ged's journey to find and confront this shadow.
So now to compare the book to the graphic novel. Fred Fordham shows great respect to the book, in fact was chosen by Le Guin's son after he saw Fordham's graphic novel of To Kill a Mockingbird. Fordham's graphic novel definitely has the pace and feel of the book. There is not a lot of dialogue in the book itself, it is more descriptive and Fordham does create that same feeling. Some of his illustration is just beautiful, almost like paintings. Some of the full page pictures, especially when Ged is alone at sea, are stunning and create a feel of the expanse and loneliness. Some of the other illustrations I found kind of dark, but that could just be that they are at night and the lighting in my room isn't all that great (and NO, it's not that my vision is getting worse with my extreme old age). I found that when I sat out in the sunshine reading it, the pictures were much clearer.
Anyway, I have to say that I enjoyed this graphic novel just as much as the book; nicely paced, with a similar feel and with beautiful artwork. I hope Fordham continues to illustrate the Earthsea books. (4.0 stars)
My review of the original novel can be found here. /review/show...
Basically, a young man, Ged, gets training as a Wizard on the island of Roke. While there, another student goads him into raising a dead spirit. Ged does this but at the same time a shadow comes through, that being an evil shadow of course. This shadow is linked to Ged. Ged leaves Roke after becoming a wizard. He becomes wizard of a small island and chases away a family of dragons that is threatening the island.
Ged meets with the shade again and after going back home to his home island, decides that he has to finally deal with this shadow. That is the rest of the story and follows Ged's journey to find and confront this shadow.
So now to compare the book to the graphic novel. Fred Fordham shows great respect to the book, in fact was chosen by Le Guin's son after he saw Fordham's graphic novel of To Kill a Mockingbird. Fordham's graphic novel definitely has the pace and feel of the book. There is not a lot of dialogue in the book itself, it is more descriptive and Fordham does create that same feeling. Some of his illustration is just beautiful, almost like paintings. Some of the full page pictures, especially when Ged is alone at sea, are stunning and create a feel of the expanse and loneliness. Some of the other illustrations I found kind of dark, but that could just be that they are at night and the lighting in my room isn't all that great (and NO, it's not that my vision is getting worse with my extreme old age). I found that when I sat out in the sunshine reading it, the pictures were much clearer.
Anyway, I have to say that I enjoyed this graphic novel just as much as the book; nicely paced, with a similar feel and with beautiful artwork. I hope Fordham continues to illustrate the Earthsea books. (4.0 stars)
March 24, 2025
To begin with, this is one of my all-time favorite stories, so when I got the notification that they were putting out a graphic novel version, I pre ordered immediately! It arrived a few days after my birthday, which felt like a gift from the universe, and I enjoyed revisiting this story from a slightly different angle. The story is still the wonderful tale I've loved, and the illustrations are good and the characters do an amazing job at conveying the way they are written by LeGuin... however....
I felt like the panels were all static pictures; they didn't feel like they had life and movement to them, and I feel like LeGuin's writing is so alive! Also, I thought the pacing of this adaptation was off. There are a couple of points in the book where time passes, and LeGuin conveys the passage of time to great affect, while this version didn't make it feel like there were those spaces... I don't know, I guess it's hard to describe, but the time passing was so powerful in the original that the lack of it was sorely missed; almost as if they left out all the buildup, making the conclusions far less satisfying. In some ways, it felt more like a cliffnotes version more than a full adaptation; all the key points are there, but all the flourishes and artistry are missing.
In the end, this book is good because LeGuin's original is great! So if you want to see, what i think are accurate character depictions and are curious about a slightly different angle on the storytelling, or if you simply don't like to read traditional books and prefer graphic novels, this is definitely worth a look... for anything else, though, I can't recommend enough to simply go read LeGuin's original.
I felt like the panels were all static pictures; they didn't feel like they had life and movement to them, and I feel like LeGuin's writing is so alive! Also, I thought the pacing of this adaptation was off. There are a couple of points in the book where time passes, and LeGuin conveys the passage of time to great affect, while this version didn't make it feel like there were those spaces... I don't know, I guess it's hard to describe, but the time passing was so powerful in the original that the lack of it was sorely missed; almost as if they left out all the buildup, making the conclusions far less satisfying. In some ways, it felt more like a cliffnotes version more than a full adaptation; all the key points are there, but all the flourishes and artistry are missing.
In the end, this book is good because LeGuin's original is great! So if you want to see, what i think are accurate character depictions and are curious about a slightly different angle on the storytelling, or if you simply don't like to read traditional books and prefer graphic novels, this is definitely worth a look... for anything else, though, I can't recommend enough to simply go read LeGuin's original.
April 16, 2025
"A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel" is a perfectly paced and beautifully illustrated volume that brings Ursula K LeGuin's original story to life with vivid and captivating imagery. The book narrates the early life, frequent failings and ongoing adventures of a the boy Ged, prior to his meteoric rise to wizarding greatness. Relying mostly on dialogue taken directly from the original book, this volume avoids unnecessary embellishments or deviations from the original story. Additionally of note, the book also restores LeGuin's original intent for the depiction of her characters by portraying significantly more diversity than has been shown on previous book covers or in graphic novel and film adaptations.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books | Clarion Books, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 stars out of 5 rounded to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books | Clarion Books, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 stars out of 5 rounded to 4.
March 23, 2025
This is definitely not my genre of choice and I have never read this series by Le Guin, which had me struggling at times to understand the plot, but overall I enjoyed this graphic novel! The artwork is gorgeous and the pacing was decent, even if it was a bit too quick for me. (I've just never been great at keeping up with fantastical names and elements, which is why I'm not a big fantasy reader to begin with). I figured tackling the graphic novel version of this book would be a better transition into this classic for me.
March 30, 2025
There was a couple of things that just didn't work for me.
I've been wanting to read these books for a while and thought that the graphic novel would be the perfect place for me to start. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me.
I was not a fan of the art style at all. And so much of this relied on the art so it was hard for me to push through. I also really struggled getting in touch with the main character. I did not like his personality at all.
While this had the effect I wanted in really picking up the original series - it just wasnt in the way I was hoping for
I've been wanting to read these books for a while and thought that the graphic novel would be the perfect place for me to start. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me.
I was not a fan of the art style at all. And so much of this relied on the art so it was hard for me to push through. I also really struggled getting in touch with the main character. I did not like his personality at all.
While this had the effect I wanted in really picking up the original series - it just wasnt in the way I was hoping for
April 1, 2025
Today, amidst some especially trying times, I accepted a picnic invitation from my friend. It was delightful to finish the first Earthsea novel in the sun. Both of us got a kick out of the hilarity that was me, rambling about the book's ending, only to take out the graphic novel to "finish it again."
I enjoyed this rendition of what has already become one of my favorite stories. I will say, I found the visuals very dark and the way the characters' eyes were painted a tad uncanny. These critiques are small, and overall the impression was one of symmetrical beauty to the book's meaning and message.
I enjoyed this rendition of what has already become one of my favorite stories. I will say, I found the visuals very dark and the way the characters' eyes were painted a tad uncanny. These critiques are small, and overall the impression was one of symmetrical beauty to the book's meaning and message.
March 30, 2025
Ursula K. Le Guin’s prose has rarely felt so lush and resonant as it does here, brought to vivid life through Fred Fordham’s masterful art. His art capture the quiet wonder and deep magic of the first volume with remarkable grace and immense talent and mastery. May he journey on through the rest of Earthsea.
April 14, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this tale. In fact, it makes me want to read the original series!
This coming-of-age story is filled with magic, darkness, hope, friendship, and wisdom. I hope they make the entire series into graphic novels like this one.
This coming-of-age story is filled with magic, darkness, hope, friendship, and wisdom. I hope they make the entire series into graphic novels like this one.
April 16, 2025
The water colored landscapes *chefs kiss*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.