When I initially reviewed 'The Wizard of Earthsea', I gave it a solid four out of five.

However, after reading 'Tombs of Atuan', I began to question if I was perhaps a bit too generous with that rating. Maybe 'The Wizard of Earthsea' was more of a 3.5 that got rounded up?

The bottom line is that I truly adored 'Tombs of Atuan'. Once Ged entered the story, I was completely hooked and could hardly put the book down. It's a captivating tale set in a dark and enchanting setting that oozes with the mystery of ancient places.

Surprisingly, Ged was not the protagonist here. Instead, the story is told from the perspective of a young girl named Tenar, who becomes 'Arha' (The Swallowed One) when the old Priestess dies. Since she was born on the night the old one passed away, she is believed to be the reincarnation.

This situation places Arha in a unique dilemma. She grows up in a world of enviable privilege but without any freedom. She is well taken care of and holds an important position, yet she can never leave the Tombs or abandon the rituals demanded by the ancient darkness that resides there. Essentially, she is a well-cared-for slave.

For the most part, Arha seems to accept her fate, and I can understand why. Her existence is so sheltered that the idea of what lies beyond the Tombs never really occurs to her until she meets Ged. In some ways, her moral anguish over the fate of the men in the chained room reminds me of my own character, Vexis Zaelwarsh.

The exploration of faith and fear in this book is very similar to the theme in Vexis's story in 'Rise of the Archmage'. It almost feels like a strange version of Stockholm syndrome. When offered freedom, Arha doesn't seize it without hesitation. This is probably a realistic portrayal as most of us do have a fear of the unknown.

I particularly enjoyed the rich and emotional exploration of Arha's early life in the Temple. It felt realistic and intimate, and the claustrophobia and darkness of the tombs added to the atmosphere. The ending of the book was also truly gratifying. Instead of taking the easy way out and simply presenting a 'happily ever after' scenario, Le Guin continued to explore Tenar's feelings as they journeyed away.

Another aspect that I found particularly satisfying was the explanation of the strangers Ged met on the reef in the first book. I hope their story isn't over as the more I learned about them, the sadder and more gut-wrenching their tale became.

Overall, I loved this book and enjoyed it far more than the first one. My only minor criticism was that it could have been longer, but that's really just a testament to how much I was enjoying the reading experience.

Paperback: http://amzn.to/2fPKqJ9
Kindle: http://amzn.to/2wwtP0l

Martyn Stanley
Author of: The Last Dragon Slayer (Free to download)

Finally: a Le Guin book I like!

It still features the same ye-olde Biblical-sounding pompous prose style that grated on me so much in The Wizard of Earthsea. However, the tale is so beautiful that it doesn't matter.

There's also still this weird internalized sexism. A woman's coming-of-age tale is told passively. She is constantly led and pressured into her growth. The society of women and eunuchs in which she grew up is toxic. She later develops by trusting and submitting entirely to the guidance of a man who keeps infantilizing her, calling her "little one" despite her being a grown-up, and even making all life decisions for her in the end.

She goes from being the head priestess of her faith to being valued for her prettiness instead, given pretty princess dresses, and told to spend the next few years serving an old wizard who will probably never teach her due to her sex, but at least she can milk his goats and do the household chores.

So why does it work despite all this? Why am I still giving it five stars? Because regardless of those somewhat iffy underpinnings, it's still a very powerful and beautiful tale. It's about someone growing up in a tomb, basically, and in an evil cult. She goes through the painful work of growing out of her brainwashing, gives up her position of authority in this bad, misguided system, and embraces humility and kindness instead.

Ged really does have a lot of wisdom and gentleness. Him pushing her to question everything about herself, her having to go through this painful death of her ego and old persona, and starting her life anew, is - in this case - actually a very positive direction. When he doesn't listen to her self-destructive wishes in the end but decides things for her, it's not because he's a man and she a woman, but because at that moment he actually is wiser and recognizes that she just wants to punish herself instead of having more self-compassion.

So, overall, I loved it because it tells a wonderful story of human growth when you've been utterly wrong and misguided, and need to reinvent and learn to forgive yourself. I can't wait to read the continuation of her story in Tehanu to learn how she will grow into her new self.

P.S. For some more explanation of why I find Earthsea to be sexist, see this article by Athena Andreadis here: http://crossedgenres.com/archives/028...

When Tenar is chosen as high priestess, everything is taken from her. This is a powerful statement that sets the tone for Ursula K. LeGuin's "THE TOMBS OF ATUAN". Ms LeGuin might think my interpretation of this book, the second in her long-running "EARTHSEA" fantasy series, is far from her intended mark. And other readers may have different opinions and completely disagree with me. However, I saw "THE TOMBS OF ATUAN" as a scathing allegorical critique of the evils of organized religion. It also exposes the self-perpetuating nature of the patriarchy that created religion in the first place, the misogyny that is the fallout of almost every religion, and the resulting mental enslavement and denigration of self-esteem in adulthood caused by the doctrine that brainwashes children from an early age.

\\n  “When Tenar is chosen as high priestess … everything is taken from her.”\\n


The first half of the novel initially seemed plodding and repetitious to me, and I almost set it aside. But upon finishing, I now view it as a metaphor for a sacred scripture laying the tedious groundwork for an organized religion's theology and outlining its doctrines. Ged Sparrowhawk's arrival is like a metaphorical stand-in for the life circumstances that give rise to the realization, courage, wisdom, and strength to question the beliefs pounded into us since infancy. Tenar ultimately understands her self-worth, that the gods she dedicated her life to offered nothing and took everything, and that they were not really gods at all.

For lovers of plot-driven sword and sorcery medieval fantasy, I caution that "THE TOMBS OF ATUAN" may not be to your taste. But for fantasy readers willing to think deeply and draw conclusions from what they've read, I highly recommend the "EARTHSEA" series. Whether your thoughts align with mine remains to be seen. Definitely recommended.

Paul Weiss

One of my all-time favorite books is a truly remarkable piece of literature.

I have probably read this book over two dozen times, and each time I discover something new and profound.

It presents a deceptively simple story, yet it holds the kind of simplicity that all great truths possess. It is allegorical, meaning it can be applied to every aspect of our lives.

This book tells the story of growing up, of claiming freedom and independence, and all the complex emotions that come with it, including fear, pain, and joy.

But it is also the story of Tenar, also known as Arha, the priestess of the Nameless Ones and mistress of the Undertomb. She is a girl who believes herself to be hard, cold, and powerful.

And then there is Ged, the young wizard who finds himself at her mercy.

The story is about finding compassion and realizing that true strength does not lie in the dark and restricted ways or in bringing death. Instead, it lies in having the courage to admit vulnerability and in daring to step outside of all that is taught to find one's own way to the light.

The writing in this book is simply beautiful. Some of the descriptive passages are unparallelled, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind.

It is truly a perfect book that I would highly recommend to anyone.

This is an extremely fine fantasy. I describe it as fine because it elicits numerous magnificent labyrinthian images, as well as the ancient, ancient traditions of sacrifice to the Dark Old Ones. Eventually, there is freedom from the same.

There is an abundance of beauty here. While I didn't love it to quite the same extent as Ged's original journey in the first book, it is mainly because I preferred the core theme better.

Other readers will undoubtedly extract different layers from this book. I can state that with confidence because there are some truly beautiful and distinct layers interwoven here.

The past and the evil within the past can be shattered and escaped. That which was broken can be rejuvenated.

Moreover, so much of it is related to our own perceptions! Of course, isn't it always? :)

Our main character is the high priestess of an ancient cult and Ged does make an appearance halfway through. It is truly quite amusing to witness just how effortlessly she toys with the poor "greatest wizard". However, I admit to having a much greater liking for this book after that point.

It is truly remarkable to see how clear and accessible this is to read in comparison to a great deal of modern fantasy. What's even more interesting is that it withstands the test of time. Le Guin definitely possesses great skill. :)

Every reader is different, and I believe we can all agree on that. We all seek different things in a book. My taste surely differs from yours. Many readers look for themes, social commentary, and a reflection of the real world's state in the books they read.

However, I do not. For me, nothing surpasses the writing, the plot, and the ability to engage me as a reader. That is what I seek in all of my books.

I did not write a review for the first installment in this series, The Wizard of Earthsea, because I wanted to be more confident before making a comment, as I understand that this is a classic series and is highly regarded. Between the first book and the second book, I managed to read a few fantasy books, both current and some older ones, and so I really do feel that I can be a bit more certain of what I say about this book. And I just wanted to restate that before delving into the real part of the review. So, let's get started!!

Writing

I think I have finally figured out why I struggle with most classic books. I believe it is because most of them read like a history textbook, telling us facts that occurred in the distant past. They have a plain, emotionally detached way of addressing you, and that is something that bothers me. Like the author is talking at you. And Ursula is no different in this regard. Some might call this writing style beautiful, but I won't. I call it extremely dull and incapable of captivating a reader like me.

The way it is written is like a continuous flow of words being thrown at you without any weight, rhyme, or reason behind them. Things just happen, and it is the author's solemn, sworn duty to convey those "facts" to us, nothing more.

In short, it is a really boring way of writing a story and it definitely is not Storytelling.

Characters

The problem with the writing extends to this point, and this point affects the overall enjoyment value of the book. There is no character building to speak of in these books. There are just historical figures whose actions we are reading about, but they are nowhere near being real humans. They do not act in any way a human would, resulting in a disconnect with the readers that cannot be bridged. And that is that!

Plot

More like the lack of a plot! I found it to be an unrealistic and unconvincing plot at best, and at worst, a forced book. I know many people would disagree with me, and they are free to do so, but this is just how I feel. Everything about it was unconvincing, and I think that is, again, mostly due to the writing style.

Now I know people would say things like "look at the allegorical value, Anish", "look at the female-centric themes, Anish", etc. And to all of that, I have to say two things:

A. Like I said before, for me, themes and social commentary mean nothing until there is a strong plot and a decent enough writing style that makes me feel something and engages me. Until then, I don't care. I don't read fantasy books to read social commentaries. I just don't.

B. I don't see any themes there, just like there is no bunny-shaped cloud in the sky. It's all wishful thinking. There, I said it.

Magic System

There is no magic system. It's just magic being used as a plot device and a plot convenience. Nothing more.

World Building

I'm not sure where, but somewhere I read that Ursula is a master at world-building. She might be, in your opinion. In my opinion, this world is like a bubble. It doesn't take on even one city or a village at a time, but only one small place at a time, and even then, not putting much effort into building that.

Hate to sound like a broken record, but again, this is something I believe is inherent in the writing style, which is so much like a history textbook. It just was, and you just have to believe it. Simple.

Overall Impact

Zero. Zilch. Nothing. There is no impact. This story failed so much that it didn't even leave me with a single line in the story that I would like to use as a quote in the review. For me, this book, this story, shows how far the fantasy genre and writers have come in terms of their work.

Overall, I didn't get any enjoyment from this book and this series so far. Not to say that I hate it or anything. No. In fact, I'm going to continue with the series to see if it improves, but I just didn't find anything in this book/series so far that has the ability to capture my attention and keep it, and that is just disappointing!

The second book of the Earthsea series is truly remarkable, and I found myself liking it even better than the first.

It takes the readers on an even more captivating journey through the magical world of Earthsea. The story is filled with richly developed characters and complex plotlines that keep you on the edge of your seat.

The author's vivid descriptions bring the landscapes and creatures of Earthsea to life, making it easy to imagine oneself in this fantastical realm.

The themes explored in the second book are also deeper and more thought-provoking, adding an extra layer of depth to the overall narrative.

Whether you are a fan of fantasy literature or simply looking for a great read, the second book of the Earthsea series is definitely worth checking out.

Maybe I have been spoiled by fantasy on a large number of pages, but these one hundred and thirty pages, no matter how beautifully written (and they really are; a style like Legvina's is rarely encountered), don't seem like much to me. I don't even have time to get to know the characters when it's over. And somehow it all seems similar to the previous part, just from "the other side of the window." But perhaps with time, as was the case with The Magician, The Tombs of Atuan will become dearer to me, because the images are certainly impressive enough, as I think (and I will only really get to know) Ursula's life was. And the books remain as witnesses.

It's true that sometimes we have initial impressions of a book that may change as we grow and gain more perspective. Maybe upon a second or third reading, I'll discover new layers and nuances in The Tombs of Atuan that I missed the first time around. After all, great literature often reveals its true depth over time.

I'm looking forward to seeing how my relationship with this book evolves and what else it has to offer. Who knows, it might end up being one of my all-time favorites. Only time will tell. 3+

I'm pretty sure that when I first read this in my younger days, I was rather confused. It was especially so after reading A Wizard of Earthsea. The first book, at least on the surface, was an enjoyable adventure. It was about a boy who discovers his magical powers and sets off to learn to be a wizard. However, if you delve even a little deeper, you'll find something much more profound and true. It's a story about the perils of hubris and the significance of taking responsibility and mending the things you break.

Tombs, on the other hand, is an entirely different matter. Do you want grimdark? Well, here it is. Tenar, at around five years old, is taken from her parents to become the High Priestess of the Nameless Ones in the Tombs of Atuan. Even her name is taken away, and she becomes Arha, dedicated to serving the terrifying, slumbering powers in a distant corner of the world. Her life is disrupted when a stranger finds his way into the labyrinthine depths of the Tombs in search of something lost many years ago.

And has there ever been a place more claustrophobic and nightmarish than the lightless underground of the Tombs and the adjoining Labyrinth?

Now that this stranger, who calls himself Sparrowhawk, has brought light (both literally and figuratively) into the darkness, Arha must make a choice.

When I was a teenager and first attempted to read this, I simply couldn't get past 50 pages. The reason? I was eagerly waiting for Ged (also known as Sparrowhawk), the hero of the previous volume "A Wizard of Earthsea", to make an appearance and follow him on new adventures. Instead, I was presented with a story about an entirely new protagonist, a young girl named Tenar, who leads an oppressive life on the island of Atuan. Being the young fool that I was, I didn't continue reading until the middle of the book where Ged does show up, albeit this time as the secondary character. If only I had been more patient, I would have realized that this second volume of the Earthsea trilogy is even better than the first.

The pacing of "The Tombs of Atuan" is much more measured compared to "A Wizard of Earthsea". A significant portion of the first half of the book is dedicated to elaborate world building, developing the insular and claustrophobic setting of Atuan. However, Le Guin's remarkable skill in character development and the elegance of her prose managed to hold my interest during the slower-paced early part of the story. Tenar is a wonderful character, intelligent, resilient, and resourceful. I truly loved how her character evolved as she gradually uncovered the truth about the things she had dedicated her life to serve and worship. For me, Ged is like the engine that drives the plot of the story. As soon as he suddenly appears, the story takes off and gallops forward.

This book is considerably darker and more mature than its predecessor. The scenes set in the pitch-black Labyrinth are highly evocative and略带creepy. Even though I was reading on a sunny afternoon, I could still sense the encroaching darkness. Thankfully, Ged's feeble mage light provided some relief! Although the "big bad" Nameless Ones never actually emerge from the shadows to展示us their dripping fangs, cyclopean eyes, tentacles, or such, Le Guin still manages to make their evil presence palpable.

In conclusion, I don't want to write an overly long review for such a short book. In fact, I'm still longing for more Earthsea adventures, which is why I'm currently engrossed in reading the third volume, "The Farthest Shore".

Update: After finishing "The Farthest Shore", I believe it is my favorite book of the original trilogy. I'm simply captivated by the dark and claustrophobic atmosphere in this one. Judging from a few other reviews, it seems to be a fan favorite as well.

Interesting French cover.

As the previous book, this one presents a classic fantasy that breaks away from the typical classical fantasy tropes.

The characters find themselves in a battle not against an external 'Dark Lord', but rather against their own inner demons and fears. It is a unique take on the genre that offers a fresh perspective.

The writing style is quite nice, with a vivid and detailed world-building that draws the reader in. The plot is intriguing, filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are also interesting, each with their own unique personalities and backstories.

However, despite all its strengths, it just wasn't my type of read. Maybe it's because I prefer a more traditional fantasy with a clear-cut villain and a more straightforward plot. But I can still appreciate the creativity and effort that went into this book.

Tenar is chosen as a young child to be the Priestess Reborn. At the tender age of 5, she is taken away from her family to become the guardian of the Tombs of Atuan.

One day, as she walks through the labyrinth of her domain, she encounters a young wizard named Sparrowhawk. He is in search of the hidden treasure, the Ring of Erreth-Akbe. Sparrowhawk brings with him the power of magic, which makes Tenar question everything she has been taught.

And at the year's end, she is taken to the Hall of the Throne and her name is given back to those who are her Masters, the Nameless Ones. For she is the nameless one, the Priestess Ever Reborn.

This book was a relatively quick read. Although it took some time for the story to gain momentum, Le Guin does an excellent job of establishing the story and the characters.

It may not be filled with non-stop action, but the writing is truly beautiful. It leaves me wondering what lies ahead in the subsequent books of the series.

And at the year's end she is taken to the Hall of the Throne and he name is given back to those who are her Masters, the Nameless Ones: for she is the nameless one, the Priestess Ever Reborn.