The Tombs of Atuan

The Second Book of Earthsea

By: Ursula K. Le Guin

Narrated by: Aysha Kala

Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

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

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)

One of the greatest Fantasy Stories written.

Fantasy lovers must have read/listened to this book series. A typical heroic story of a wizard from young and naive to wise and powerful.

Great how here the series takes a different perspective and tells the story of another character who takes an enormously important role.

Highly recommend this version, the narrator gives the story a wonderful sparkle and interpretation.

Enjoyable book 2 of series.

The narrator was good for Aha but as the original Male narrator for Ged was not used in this book it never quite felt the same as her female voice couldn’t match the great narrative for Ged as in Book 1. I understand Later books switch back to the original narrator which I look forward to.

I did know this before buying it, and although it would’ve been better with Ged narrated by him it was not ruinous. Still a good story and takes me on towards Book 3.

I love Le Guin - the voice just didn't fit to me.

I love Le Guin and have read the Earthsea series many times. The readers voice when in the characters of the Priestess and Wizard just didn't fit to me -but as a narrator she did build atmosphere.

Why a different narrator?

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!

Difficult to get into

It’s the casting and directors fault, but the actress lacks the depth to her voice and the story telling quality needed for good narration. She doesn’t command the story and everything is very sing song and airy, even when talking about quite dark subject matter. There is no differentiation or characterisation between protagonists, which makes the story hard to follow.

Not as good as book one, and narrator dull

Not as good as book one, it often dragged. The narrator was dull and the accents seemed wrong

In the Darkness Live the Nameless Ones

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.

A wonderful book

I disagree with some other reviews- I loved the voice actress, and I love this book as much as the first one. It sets the world beautifully, and doesn't follow the path of most fantasy books. It made me feel so many emotions, and the language flows beautifully. It's sometimes difficult to listen to one of your favourite books in audio format, but I think the reader did a wonderful job and it had the same feel as when I read it in paper format.

The books that every fantasy lover should read 2.

This time we get to know a mysterious cult and the secrets they keep in their dark labyrinth. Let the voice of Aysha Kala/Tenar guide you, for she's the only one who knows the way

couldn't get into this book compared to the first

I read the Earthsea trilogy back kn the 80s but didn't recall this one, without Ged as the main character at all. Not as engaging as the first book.

Excellent

Captivating story nicely read. I like the change in narrator from the previous book to reflect the change in main protagonist.

Focus on world building

Ged, now middle-aged, well-travelled and well-renowned, accompanies the the young prince Arran on a quest to investigate a dark brooding force that is engulfing the world. Through rich dialogue, Ged acts as a philosophical guide both to Arran and the reader. Thoughts are on responsibility/duty, the limited nature of life and balance. The Farthest Shore may be the best in the series so far.

From the first book to the second there was a real shift in style; that is from lonely venturing across numerous locations to a geographically constrained plot with a focus on world building. We're back to that original style but The Farthest Shore is more mature and feels like a more complete and more traditional fantasy tale.

Despite the style shift, some worldbuilding does take place. We're introduced to an intriguing people 'The Children of the Open Sea', a sea-dwelling culture the likes of which hasn't really been explored before in the genre. Moreover, dragons feature quite heavily and not just in passing but as individual characters.

It has to be said that Ursula K. Le Guin really knew how to write a solid ending and it's no different here. It's atmospheric, symbolic, contemplative and complete.