Penny, The Review Group's reviewer Penny for Your ThoughtsThe Review Group
Series ✦ Penny’s Take

The Other Wind

Ursula K. Le Guin Β· 2023
76/100
πŸ‘ Worth It

Le Guin uses this World Fantasy Award-winning finale to Earthsea to do something rare: she goes back and questions the foundations of her own mythology, asking what the land of the dead really is and whether it's right. The result is quiet, philosophical, and deeply satisfying for readers who have followed Ged's story β€” Publishers Weekly called it superb, and the Economist included it in Books of the Year. Not a standalone; not an action story; but a genuinely moving capstone for those who've made the journey.

✦ Penny’s Take β€” this is The Review Group’s own editorial assessment. Penny’s analytical review line researched this book from real sources and scored it across the lenses shown below. It’s an honest first-party read β€” not a page-by-page personal one. The gold βœ“ Penny Tested mark is reserved for books Penny reads cover to cover herself.
⚠ Parent note β€” our reviewers flagged: pervasive magic and wizardry Β· non-Christian afterlife cosmology Β· spirit realm/dragon mythology Β· philosophical treatment of death and soul's fate. We still scored it 76; these are context for your family, not an automatic skip.
As an Amazon Associate and Audible affiliate, Penny earns from qualifying purchases. This never affects the verdict β€” see our affiliate disclosure.
Show the math
Verdict receipt0–100
Faith & family safety65
Substance / usefulness83
Craft & writing85
Originality80
Evidence & accuracy81
Hype vs delivers79
Age-fit80
πŸ‘ Human-eye gut-check73
Penny’s verdict76
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