Should I Give the Book to Earana?

When It Makes Sense

• You want the Fingers of the Mountain spell. Earana is the NPC who deciphers the book and points you toward a hidden shock spell. If your character relies on Destruction magic, the spell gives you an additional ranged option and is the main mechanical reward of her path. It also fits characters who collect unique abilities or who are willing to bend guild rules in exchange for arcane knowledge. The spell is especially attractive if you have already invested heavily in Willpower and Destruction skill and intend to use magic as a primary combat method.
• You are not in a hurry to enter the Arcane University. The Chorrol Mages Guild recommendation is just one of several required to unlock the Arcane University. If other city recommendations remain unfinished, you can safely give Earana the book first, learn the spell, and complete the guild turn-in later. This sequence lets you experience the alternate branch of the quest without immediately losing standing with the Mages Guild.

When You Should Avoid It

• You are racing through the Mages Guild questline. Teekeeus completes the Chorrol recommendation, which contributes to the set of recommendations needed to access the Arcane University. If you hand the book to Earana first, the recommendation stays open until you recover and deliver the book to Teekeeus. For a mage build that wants early access to university trainers, spell merchants, or the next phase of guild content, the delay can be a meaningful setback.
• You are roleplaying a loyal or lawful guild member. Teekeeus represents the official Mages Guild request, while Earana is an independent sorceress with a grudge against the guild. Returning the book to Teekeeus is the more lawful resolution and may feel more appropriate for a character who respects guild hierarchy, follows orders, or avoids siding with outcasts. It also avoids the extra pickpocketing or deception steps that a both-rewards route may require.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• You can learn a unique shock spell. After Earana reads the book, she directs you to the Cloud Top ruin, where placing a Welkynd Stone on a pedestal around midday triggers the event that teaches Fingers of the Mountain. For Destruction-focused characters, this spell is often the strongest reason to choose her path. It also provides a satisfying payoff for exploring the quest’s hidden branch.
• Both rewards may be attainable in one playthrough. In many cases, after Earana has finished reading the book, the item can be recovered and returned to Teekeeus. This allows a careful player to earn both the Fingers of the Mountain spell and the Chorrol Mages Guild recommendation. Save before attempting this, because whether the book remains a quest item or can be pickpocketed depends on your current quest state and platform.

Cons

• The Chorrol recommendation remains incomplete. Until Teekeeus receives the book, you cannot count the Chorrol recommendation toward Arcane University entry. If this is your last remaining recommendation, handing the book to Earana means extra travel and recovery steps before you can move on to the next major guild chapter.
• Earning the spell requires extra travel and a timed step. The ritual involves returning to Cloud Top, possibly dealing with hostile creatures, and activating the pedestal at the right time of day. Low-level or non-magical characters may find the detour difficult, and the timed element adds inconvenience compared with simply walking into the guild hall and handing the book to Teekeeus.

Decision Checklist

• Which reward fits your current build and goals? Decide whether a unique Destruction spell matters more than a completed guild recommendation and the access it provides.
• Do you have a recent save before turning in the book? Quest branches in Oblivion are usually reversible only by reloading, so saving just before the hand-in lets you compare both outcomes without repeating the entire quest.
• Are you willing to attempt the both-rewards route? If you want the spell and the recommendation, plan for possible pickpocketing or item recovery after Earana has read the book, and make sure your Sneak skill and saves are ready.

Alternatives to Consider

The most straightforward alternative is to give the book directly to Teekeeus. This immediately completes the Chorrol recommendation, awards gold, and preserves a clean Mages Guild path, though it means skipping or delaying the Fingers of the Mountain spell. Another option is to hand the book to Earana, learn the spell, and then return the same book to Teekeeus if the game state allows, collecting both rewards in one playthrough. If you are not a Mages Guild member or your character already has powerful custom spells, you can ignore the quest entirely and rely on other shock damage sources. Finally, a warrior or stealth-based character may find neither reward essential and can simply choose based on roleplay or whichever path offers more interesting dialogue.

Final Recommendation

If your character benefits from a unique shock spell and you do not mind extra travel and a timed ritual, give the book to Earana first. Once you have learned Fingers of the Mountain, attempt to return the book to Teekeeus so you can also secure the Chorrol Mages Guild recommendation. If your priority is fast Arcane University access, or if you are playing a guild-loyal character, give the book to Teekeeus and accept that you will miss or delay the spell. Because this is a single-player game decision, no professional advice is necessary; use a save file to test both paths and choose the one that best matches your character and playstyle.