Description
A darkly compelling fantasy about a world in which each person has a magical, dangerous gift.
- Author: Ursula K. Le Guin
- Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Published: 2004
- Pages: 288
- ISBN-13: 9780152051235
Gifts
€9.95
Additional information
| Author | Ursula K. Le Guin |
|---|
What the internet says
Aggregated insights from reviews and discussions across the web.
Overall reception: Mostly positive
Gifts by Ursula K. Le Guin receives overwhelmingly positive reception as a young adult fantasy novel, with readers praising its philosophical depth and Le Guin's masterful storytelling. Reviewers consistently highlight the book's spare, poetic prose and its ability to explore complex themes like power, responsibility, and coming-of-age within a deceptively simple narrative framework. Multiple sources note that while marketed as YA fantasy, the novel offers substantial depth for adult readers, with Kirkus Reviews calling it 'compelling' and Fantasy Literature describing it as 'bare unadorned pleasure.' The story follows Orrec and Gry, two teens in the Uplands where families possess hereditary 'gifts' (psychic powers), as they navigate expectations versus personal ethics.
What readers loved
- Le Guin's signature spare, poetic prose that makes 'five words do what most need fifteen for' according to Fantasy Literature
- Deep philosophical exploration of power, responsibility, and the ethics of using inherited abilities
- Complex, three-dimensional characters that feel authentic and relatable despite the fantasy setting
- Effective pacing and suspense despite minimal plot, with readers finding it 'thought-provoking and compelling'
- Successfully addresses coming-of-age themes and family expectations with real depth and nuance
- Lyrical, fairy-tale-like narrative style reminiscent of sagas that enhances the storytelling
- Suitable for both young adult and adult audiences without condescension
Common critiques
- Slow-paced with minimal plot action that may not appeal to readers seeking adventure-driven narratives
- The retrospective storytelling technique (past-tense narration) reduces urgency and 'takes the edge off the excitement' according to Fantasy Literature
- Confusing multitude of names and locations at the beginning that can be initially off-putting
- Characters are not instantly likeable, requiring patience before readers warm to them
- The ending is described as 'a little tidy' by Kirkus Reviews
Based on reviews from
- Goodreads
- Kirkus Reviews
- Fantasy Literature
- Amazon UK
- Fantasy Book Review
Reviews
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