A Wizard of Earthsea

A Wizard of Earthsea is a coming-of-age fantasy novel by Ursula K. Le Guin, which follows the story of a young boy named Ged, who lives in the archipelago of Earthsea. Ged discovers at a young age that he has magical powers and eventually attends a school for wizards on the island of Roke. There, his arrogance leads him to unleash a shadowy entity during a magical duel. The rest of the book follows Ged's journey as he comes to terms with his own power and responsibility, while being pursued by the malevolent shadow. He travels across Earthsea, learning from different hermits and mages, as he seeks a way to repair the damage he caused and confront the shadow. Ultimately, Ged's quest is one of self-discovery, as he learns that the shadow is a part of himself and can only be defeated by acknowledging and accepting it. The novel explores themes of balance, wisdom, and inner growth, laying the foundation for the Earthsea series and Ged's further adventures.