As Le Guin notes in the afterword to this book, Tehanu is a departure from the previous Earthsea books. It is told entirely from a woman's point of view, and an older woman at that. I was really pleased to see that returning character, Tenar, get more attention and dimension after [b:The Tombs of Atuan|13662|The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea Cycle, #2)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659761935l/13662._SY75_.jpg|1322146]. It's also darker and more overtly political and feminist, exploring the gender dynamics of power and punishment. There are a number of themes that deserve a content warning: rape, torture, child abuse. While it was dark and troubling, I knew that Le Guin was building to something beautiful and meaningful, and it did not disappoint.