Tehanu is the fourth book in the Earthsea cycle, and the second one from the point of view of Tenar, the girl who brought the Ring of Erreth-Akbe to Havnor from the Kargish Lands with the Wizard Sparrowhawk.

By the time of this story, Tenar has lived as a wife and mother, and sees many things she does not like about people, and men. The way that they cannot hear anything a woman says, the way they dismiss women from matters of importance.

Tenar cares for a young girl who was burned in a fire, and is dismayed that people judge the girl for being maimed. As though there is something wrong with her, that she deserved it.

When Sparrowhawk comes to the mountain, bereft of power, she begins to question the nature of power, and the difference between men's power and women's.

This is a very powerful book, and quite different in style to the other Earthsea novels. Although the others dealt with quite deep issues, this one is driven more by them than by the plot, even though the plot is just as complex and intriguing as the earlier ones.

Although the main character is a woman, and her constant frustration at the thoughtless arrogance of men is apparent, Le Guin also shows how she struggles herself with the norms of her community.