The Tombs of Atuan cover art

The Tombs of Atuan

The Second Book of Earthsea

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The Tombs of Atuan

By: Ursula K. Le Guin
Narrated by: Aysha Kala
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About this listen

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?

©1970 Ursula K. Le Guin (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group Fantasy Fiction Magic

Critic Reviews

"[This] trilogy made me look at the world in a new way, imbued everything with a magic that was so much deeper than the magic I'd encountered before then. This was a magic of words, a magic of true speaking." (Neil Gaiman)

"Drink this magic up. Drown in it. Dream it." (David Mitchell)
All stars
Most relevant
sublime performance for a beautifully written book. looking forward to hearing the next one bb

sublime

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A book that I had read to me as a child, and in the many years have passed since my first experiencing of the novel, and my second, I found this novel cannot remain stationary. Its ideas have not been condemned to fade into obscurity. With the passage of time I found it with the benefit of years, and the clarity of growing older. The message at the heart of this text was all the stronger. I would happily read this to mine future children. Simply written and thrillingly paste this novel interrogates the importance of knowing one’s self and critiques organisations that seek to control or rob the individual of their own self understanding. Central to the novel is the idea that religion can clouds and concealing reasoning and leads to dehumanising others. The light that dispelled the dark is understood. To Le Guin we should not seal to control but to understand. To Le Guin all life has value. And with this message, combined with a simple and poetic pros cons of doctrine that is slow to condemn and slow to violence. This is. Profound message I’ve carried throughout my life. Where you are a child or a adult this book will feel you with the importance and ore of understanding.

A light in the dark

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this is one of my favourite stories and it was read better than I could have hoped for.
truly a wonderful work.

a perfect reading

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fabulous storytelling, the power of imagination harnessed to perfect prose,the effortless avoidance of the commonplace and cliche, and above all a quiet humanity,Aysha storytelling is mastery, pacing perfect

great book great storytelling

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Le Guin’s prose is succinct and beautiful; the story itself is profound, moving and wonderful. The reader has a pretty voice which is easy to listen to, but she makes little attempt at characterization. You’d hardly believe she’s an actor. How hard would it have been to give Manan a husky voice (as described) or Kossil a harsh, mean voice? Instead, every character speaks with the same sweet, light tones. I guess it’s a personal preference but I like my readers to be good vocal actors, otherwise I’d rather just read the story myself.

Sublime story, average storytelling

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the first book was great so i immediatly got the second, only to find a new narrator who has no talent. the story lost me aswell, moving away from the Ged to someone i couldnt care less about

dissapointing

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It was okay but nothing fantastic. The first book was good but unfortunately this book was a little bit of a letdown.

Meh…

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