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.

The powerful and brash young wizard, Sparrowhawk, trying to prove himself at his school of wizardry, summons a shadow with no name. His quest to put it to rest will teach him more than he could ever predict.

GODDAMN! What an absolutely beautiful adaptation of the OG boy at wizard school novel. Le Guin’s Earthsea saga books were among the first of my introduction to the world of fantasy, and they have set my expectations for every fantasy book since then. Reading such a faithful adaptation, capturing the story of a jealous, hotheaded young man learning and growing into a capable and empathetic man was such a joy.

The beautiful, soft watercolor illustrations are the perfect pairing to the world of Earthsea. I want to put copies of a few pages on my walls. Everything feels ephemeral and otherworldly. Reading this made me want to start an immediate reread of the entire Earthsea saga.

Many, many thanks to both NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the opportunity to review this arc!

Fred Fordham - you are a treasure! An amazing graphic reimagining of Ursula Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea. Highly recommend this graphic novel.

Beautifully illustrated graphic novel brings A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin to life. The pictures are stunning and tell the story without needing the accompanied words. The artwork is phenomenal, The fantasy novel has been given new life but stays true to the original tale. I highly recommend purchasing this graphic novel.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Clarion Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was my first time reading A Wizard of Earthsea and the is graphic novel was positively stunning. Beautiful details and gorgeous artwork left me wanting more. Definitely would recommend this for any fantasy or comic book lovers

Thank you to NetGalley, Fred Fordham and Clarion books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly never heard of the original novels prior to this so I went into this book blind and really enjoyed it. The art was very subdued and had a watercolor feel to it. Some panels had no dialogue and let the art speak for itself. We follow Ged and his journey through self discovery, finding where he and his magic belong. I don’t think it was fast paced but it still told a complete story along with beautiful transitions.

I highly recommend checking this out when it debuts.

The art style used for this graphic novel adaptation of A Wizard of Earthsea is just absolutely gorgeous. There are pages and panels that are works of art, and I don't think any readers will be disappointed in that regard.

As an adaptation of the story told in the novel, this gets a lot more right than it gets wrong. Ged's journey from a prideful young man to that of a humbled wizard is told with clarity and strong pacing. However, there were two segments of the story that I felt needed to be strengthened. The chapter about the twins on the deserted island likely did not need to be included because it did little to further the overall plot of the story. (Although the pictures are haunting and beautiful in their starkness.) The chapter in which Ged visits the Court of Terrenon was extremely confusing for me, and I'm not even sure what happened at that point of the story.

However, aside from these two small blips, the graphic novel was a treat to read and I look forward to purchasing the physical version when it is released.

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

The artwork is really nice. It's all done in a watercolor style with mostly muted colors. The scenery pages are just pretty. As far as the story goes, it was pretty interesting. But then when the end came, it just felt so lame (and predictable) and then was followed by more narration that was supposed to sound profound, as if that made the conclusion better.

A stunning adaptation steeped in atmosphere and mystery. Frank Fordham's illustrations convey deep feeling even when absent completely of dialogue. I have not read Le Guin's original text, but I now desperately want to. A beautiful introduction to the Earthsea Cycle for new readers and fans alike. As much worth it for reading as for an art book.

A very well done adaptation that made me want to go back and reread this classic and look for more graphic novels by this artist.

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!

I have never read Ursula K. Le Guin's book A Wizard of Earthsea, so I cannot compare it, but this is a beautiful, beautiful graphic novel. I read a digital copy and cannot wait to have the physical copy in my library. The story follows the young boy Sparrowhawk who becomes the great sorcerer Ged through his turmoils of growing into his powers. In his pride, he released a shadow on to the earth. To resolve it he must go on a journey of learning and travel through beautiful landscapes and many characters including dragons, familiars, and demons. I cannot stress again how beautiful this art is! I am thankful to the publishers and Net Galley for this ARC.

Fred Fordham’s art style lends itself well to the world of Earthsea for this graphic novel adaptation of such a beloved fantasy classic. The watercolor artwork was especially compelling in depictions of the sea and sky and, of course, the Ged’s encounter with dragons.

I loved seeing different parts of this story come to life with the art, and it was interesting to see how Fred interpreted what happens to Ged. I also appreciate that the dialogue and text is taken directly from the original novel.

My only complaint is that sometimes the side characters blended together, and I wanted a little more distinction with their designs. I appreciate that Fred stayed true to Le Guin's original vision for a diverse world, though.

Overall, the artwork is stunning and this adaptation is a great supplement to the original story, but it shouldn’t be read as a substitution.

This adaptation of A Wizard of Earthsea features beautiful watercolour illustrations, I spent a lot of time lingering over several of the pages to enjoy the artwork - particularly scenes of boats in the ocean, and the dragons. It really is gorgeous. There was a nice, gradual build-up in the story, which features mainly original text from the novel and is all the stronger for it, though I did feel like the ending felt rushed. I flipped through the last few pages again to make sure I hadn't missed something and skipped a page by mistake. All in all, a great adaptation, one I think any who have read the novel will appreciate and admire.

Abosolutely stunning. Each panel is so highly detailed and many pages have details that stopped my reading to appreciate the artwork. Forham has captured Le Guin's work so marvelously that I can see myself reding this over and over again.

I was excited to see a graphic adaptation of Ursula K. LeGuin's work, and explore her worlds. However, I was hesitant to read an adaptation by Fred Fordham, as I was disappointed by both his Great Gatsby and Brave New World.

The adaptation and pacing of the story were done well, showing the contemplative side of a fantasy world. But I was bothered by the contrast between the gorgeously illustrated ocean page-spreads and the panels too dark to see what was happening. Living in a world of darkness is fine, but I couldn't tell who is doing what in many of the panels. The climax felt like a letdown as I flipped through multiple pages of shimmering lights...?

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books, Clarion Books, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. I really enjoyed this graphic novel adaptation, probably even more than the original. The illustrations are stunning and are very much in tune with the text, sticking very close to the original. Those who pick up this copy and are unaware that the original story came way before, would never know. That’s how seamlessly the story and art intertwine. Looking forward to the rest of the series in this format!

GORGEOUS take on A Wizard of Earthsea. Highly recommend for anyone who loved this series growing up as a kid. I don't think the text was edited too much, and that art is beautiful

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!

Beautiful adaptation of the beloved series! I am a longtime fan of Ursula K Le Guin and especially the Earths series, so when I saw that it was getting a graphic novel adaptation, I was thrilled. This is perfect for new and old fans alike!