You should definitely dig it out. It's quite unlike the Earthsea stories. Chalk and cheese, really. It's the book I always cite when people tell me sci-fi can't be literature.
If you're looking for QUILTBAG SF, you really can't go past The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula le Guin. Not just brilliant sci-fi but one of the most moving love stories I know. OTOH, you've probably read it already.
LoL. I never read YA, or romance, and I generally hate stories about poor boys/girls struggling to fit in with the nobs. In fact, i only read the review because I mistakenly thought it was of Dan Simmons' "Phases of Gravity". However, you make this one sound so good, I might just give it a go. Thanks.
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graywave 
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