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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 Classics Fantasy Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction & 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)
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Out of all Le Guin's Earthsea novels The Tombs of Atuan is probably the slowest and (if I recall correctly) the only one where Sparrowhawk isn't the main protagonist. That being said the story of Tenar, a young girl taken from her home as a toddler, raised as the reincarnation of the ancient priestess of the tombs is engaging and wonderful.
This novel, much like its predecessor, is a wonderful character study. Shining light on the loneliness and isolation of a child separated from all family and raised to be a High Priestess. I'll not say anymore about the story as I want everyone to experience it for themselves.
The choice of narrator for this Audible release was genius. Aysha Kala sounds just right as the young Tenar and gives the book a life my inner middle-aged white dude simply cannot manage.

In the Darkness Live the Nameless Ones

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A new favourite for me. A story within a tale making for great world building.
I love lore and I feel this series is a tale of the lore of the beloved Sparrowhawk. I've watched the anime many times and need something light. Tales of earthsea has a heavy tone but manages to break it up really well.
Initially I thought it would be more traveling and politics as most fantasy books seem to delve into especially on the second book. But its take a complete 360 and focuses another character entirely. I think more authors should take note of this change in tone. Which kept me listening till I finished the book 48 hours later.......I have a library of books I cant finish so this says alot.
As the narrator was female I found sparrowhawks voice jarring due to just finishing book 1.
This is just a personal issue and shouldn't put you off listening to this book.
Earthsea is a beautiful, harsh and intriguing world.......the cartoon does it no justice sadly.

A refreshing fantasy tale

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I love the books and this narrator has a nice tone but I just couldn't enjoy Ged with an inner city accent. Neutral would have been fine or if he's a village lad a county UK accent would do too but as it was very distracting all the way though.

Like others I found the narration jarring

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I read The Tombs of Atuan for the first time as a twelve year old. It made a great impression on me, and is the Earthsea novel I’ve always remembered.

This is the first time I have read the book as an adult and it has lost none of its power.

That is quite an achivement, and I believe this book will still find an audience generations from now.

Timeless classic, by a master author

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It's lovely, I'm loving this series but A) why get a different narrator for the second part of the trilogy when the other narrator had done the first and the third? I'm not sure why this is the case. And B) perfectly nice reading but there are no accents or different voices as with the other narrator which was disappointing!

Why a different narrator?

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