The Earthsea Cycle: The Tombs of Atuan (Book 2)

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Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
12+
Release Date
September 11, 2012
ISBN
0689845367
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One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time

The Newbery Honor–winning second novel in the renowned Earthsea series from Ursula K. LeGuin.

In this second novel in the Earthsea series, Tenar is chosen as high priestess to the ancient and nameless Powers of the Earth, and everything is taken from her—home, family, possessions, even her name. She is now known only as Arha, the Eaten One, and guards the shadowy, labyrinthine Tombs of Atuan.

Then a wizard, Ged Sparrowhawk, comes to steal the Tombs’ greatest hidden treasure, the Ring of Erreth-Akbe. Tenar’s duty is to protect the Ring, but Ged possesses the light of magic and tales of a world that Tenar has never known. Will Tenar risk everything to escape from the darkness that has become her domain?

With millions of copies sold worldwide, Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea Cycle has earned a treasured place on the shelves of fantasy lovers everywhere, alongside the works of such beloved authors as J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.

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Not Quite As Good As The First One
(Updated: July 14, 2026)
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Maybe my expectations were too high for this book. A Wizard of Earthsea would be a hard act to follow. Le Guin's language is elegant and spare as always, but this book took a long time to get going. Some fabulous symbolism in the underground labyrinth, as well as a masterful handling of light and darkness - and I love the character of Ged. But I felt like she could have gotten the story off the ground a little faster.
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