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The Tombs of Atuan: The Second Book of Earthsea (The Earthsea Quartet 2) Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars 6,608 ratings

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.

When young Tenar is chosen as high priestess to the ancient and nameless Powers of the Earth, everything is taken away - home, family, possessions, even her name. For she is now Arha, the Eaten One, guardian of the ominous Tombs of Atuan.

While she is learning her way through the dark labyrinth, a young wizard, Ged, comes to steal the Tombs' greatest hidden treasure, the Ring of Erreth-Akbe. But Ged also brings with him the light of magic, and together, he and Tenar escape from the darkness that has become her domain.

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 See full series
There are 6 books in this series.

Product description

Amazon Review

Often compared to Tolkien's Middle-Earth or Lewis's Narnia, Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea is a stunning fantasy world that grabs quickly at our hearts, pulling us deeply into its imaginary realms. Four books A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore and Tehanu) tell the whole Earthsea cycle--a tale about a reckless, awkward boy named Sparrowhawk who becomes a wizard's apprentice after the wizard reveals Sparrowhawk's true name. The boy comes to realize that his fate may be far more important than he ever dreamed possible. Le Guin challenges her readers to think about the power of language, how in the act of naming the world around us we actually create that world. Teens, especially, will be inspired by the way Le Guin allows her characters to evolve and grow into their own powers.

In this second book of Le Guin's Earthsea series, readers will meet Tenar, a priestess to the "Nameless Ones" who guard the catacombs of the Tombs of Atuan. Only Tenar knows the passageways of this dark labyrinth, and only she can lead the young wizard Sparrowhawk, who stumbles into its maze, to the greatest treasure of all. Will she?

Review

One of the top ten audiobooks you must buy --Fantasy Book Review

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00VRT49IC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gateway
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 27 April 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 196 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1473208469
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 6 ‏ : ‎ The Earthsea Cycle
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 years and up
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 6,608 ratings

About the author

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Ursula K. Le Guin
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Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (US /ˈɜːrsələ ˈkroʊbər ləˈɡwɪn/; born October 21, 1929) is an American author of novels, children's books, and short stories, mainly in the genres of fantasy and science fiction. She has also written poetry and essays. First published in the 1960s, her work has often depicted futuristic or imaginary alternative worlds in politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality and ethnography.

She influenced such Booker Prize winners and other writers as Salman Rushdie and David Mitchell – and notable science fiction and fantasy writers including Neil Gaiman and Iain Banks. She has won the Hugo Award, Nebula Award, Locus Award, and World Fantasy Award, each more than once. In 2014, she was awarded the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Le Guin has resided in Portland, Oregon since 1959.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
6,608 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an absolute classic with masterfully wrought tales and classic writing from the author. They appreciate its depth and consider it suitable for both children and adults, with one customer noting it reads like a fireside story.

24 customers mention ‘Readability’21 positive3 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a great series and one of the finest high fantasy series ever written, with one customer noting it reads like a fireside story.

"Great book, thank you" Read more

"Loved the book" Read more

"...And recommend highly, for children and adults alike. It reads like a fireside story and comments on some very deep internal behaviours...." Read more

"I really enjoyed the first part, completely different from the first book, very interesting to read about a different bit of Earthsea and its..." Read more

22 customers mention ‘Story quality’20 positive2 negative

Customers praise the story quality of the book, describing it as masterfully wrought and a worthy successor to previous works, with one customer noting its engaging cliffhangers.

"...I’d say the first two thirds are excellent, the best fantasy I’ve ever read...." Read more

"Wish I had read the Earthsea novels a long time ago, masterfully wrought tales. This is a tale of an ancient land and beliefs. Highly recommended" Read more

"The story is a worthy successor to the first Earthsea novel, but it is a bit predictable. Don’t be put off reading it as you will need it for book 3." Read more

"...of Earthsea I didn’t feel as much tension but the setting and the premise were interesting." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Writing quality’12 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as wonderfully written and classic work from the author.

"...Ursula LeGuin’s writing is as excellent as ever, with beautifully crafted prose and unusual words...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the characterisation and the descriptive power of the writing, to be made to understand the layout and feel of an unlit tomb and labyrinth..." Read more

"...Very pleased with result, appears to have been proof read by a person who can read and not a piece of software, has just a couple of minor typos...." Read more

"Another fantastic creation. Masterfully written. I find these books challenge something deeper than just a fictional story. Super...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Age range’4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's age range, with one customer noting it's suitable for both children and adults, while another mentions enjoying it as an older child.

"I'll read it again. And recommend highly, for children and adults alike...." Read more

"An excellent read - great fun, and for the genre an exciting and compelling story...." Read more

"...Loved it as an older child and still find it great as a much older person" Read more

"Among the best children's fantasy novels. Rereading it as an adult has been a real joy...." Read more

4 customers mention ‘Depth’4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the book, with one mentioning how Tenar adds complexity to the narrative.

"...Ged supplies the breadth of this series, but Tenar gives it depth...." Read more

"...This story is a simpler tale than the original, but deeper, and more adult...." Read more

"...Gentle, simple and deep. Life transforming." Read more

"...imaginative, the world of Earthsea is brilliantly created and explored." Read more

Affordable hardback of a classic
4 out of 5 stars
Affordable hardback of a classic
Product review, not a book review! This was new to me - I knew Gollancz had collaborated with the late Sir Terry Pratchett to produce affordable hardbacks of the Discworld novels. This appears to be a continuation of the same format with Ursula K Le Guins Earthsea cycle - certainly they don't look out of place side by side on the shelf. Just a minor niggle - I ordered all four of the Earthsea quartet in this format, of these all came with easy-peel price stickers on the reverse, apart from The Toms of Atuan, whose sticker was not easy peel, leaving a sticky residue that wasn't easy to remove (any chemical that removes glue will also remove dye from the absorbant cloth cover) - this is the best I could do removing it. I really don't understand why Gollancz thought it would be a good idea to apply stickers to a cloth cover.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 June 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Great book, thank you
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I started reading this in my early teens and got nearly half way through it, then read it again in my forties after re reading the first book a couple years ago. I’d say the first two thirds are excellent, the best fantasy I’ve ever read. It’s a very non judgemental look at someone growing up who’s been picked to be the high priestess of the Nameless Ones, and really gave me the shudders at times. Content warning - the first book is pretty dark, but this gets a lot worse: not gratuitous, but the priestesshood Tenar serves is very sinister, and if you are phobic of either the dark or enclosed spaces you will find this hard going! I do feel it loses it about two thirds in when Ged comes into it, but I will have to read the next Earthsea book (and the rest of them) as what felt like a disappointing section may make more sense in context.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 February 2025
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Loved the book
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 April 2023
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I'll read it again. And recommend highly, for children and adults alike. It reads like a fireside story and comments on some very deep internal behaviours. Ursula knows what she's doing.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 April 2023
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Product review, not a book review! This was new to me - I knew Gollancz had collaborated with the late Sir Terry Pratchett to produce affordable hardbacks of the Discworld novels. This appears to be a continuation of the same format with Ursula K Le Guins Earthsea cycle - certainly they don't look out of place side by side on the shelf.
    Just a minor niggle - I ordered all four of the Earthsea quartet in this format, of these all came with easy-peel price stickers on the reverse, apart from The Toms of Atuan, whose sticker was not easy peel, leaving a sticky residue that wasn't easy to remove (any chemical that removes glue will also remove dye from the absorbant cloth cover) - this is the best I could do removing it. I really don't understand why Gollancz thought it would be a good idea to apply stickers to a cloth cover.
    Customer image
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Affordable hardback of a classic

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 April 2023
    Product review, not a book review! This was new to me - I knew Gollancz had collaborated with the late Sir Terry Pratchett to produce affordable hardbacks of the Discworld novels. This appears to be a continuation of the same format with Ursula K Le Guins Earthsea cycle - certainly they don't look out of place side by side on the shelf.
    Just a minor niggle - I ordered all four of the Earthsea quartet in this format, of these all came with easy-peel price stickers on the reverse, apart from The Toms of Atuan, whose sticker was not easy peel, leaving a sticky residue that wasn't easy to remove (any chemical that removes glue will also remove dye from the absorbant cloth cover) - this is the best I could do removing it. I really don't understand why Gollancz thought it would be a good idea to apply stickers to a cloth cover.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 March 2024
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I really enjoyed the first part, completely different from the first book, very interesting to read about a different bit of Earthsea and its customs and religion.
    Then Sparrowdouche turns up and it loses all intrigue. He's now perfected his holier than thou act plus as with the first book, after a point, pacing goes out of the window and it's such a rushed conclusion.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 May 2023
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Wish I had read the Earthsea novels a long time ago, masterfully wrought tales. This is a tale of an ancient land and beliefs. Highly recommended
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 February 2018
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Good to get the whole series in Kindle format.
    However, the missing star is due to the fact that the map at the beginning of each volume are VERY POORLY reproduced.
    Their low definition makes it virtually impossible to decipher the names of the islands.
    In addition, the missing middle map section deletes some of the islands, or parts of them, which makes it all but unusable.
    A reader who doesn't have a hard copy to refer to, or who wouldn't make the effort to download a high quality map from the author's website, would be hard put to follow the travel of the protagonists.
    The map sections should be resampled as a matter of urgency, as they are essential to the understanding of the story.
    Customer image
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    A great series and a classic

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 February 2018
    Good to get the whole series in Kindle format.
    However, the missing star is due to the fact that the map at the beginning of each volume are VERY POORLY reproduced.
    Their low definition makes it virtually impossible to decipher the names of the islands.
    In addition, the missing middle map section deletes some of the islands, or parts of them, which makes it all but unusable.
    A reader who doesn't have a hard copy to refer to, or who wouldn't make the effort to download a high quality map from the author's website, would be hard put to follow the travel of the protagonists.
    The map sections should be resampled as a matter of urgency, as they are essential to the understanding of the story.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Esmé
    3.0 out of 5 stars Taller than the other paperbacks in this series
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on 31 August 2021
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    If you are like me; buying all the mass market paperbacks of this wonderful series, because you love the covers and want the books all to be in the same size: think again. They don’t come in the same size. This book is 19 centimeters long instead of the 17 cm advertised. A bit of a dissapointment
  • Carla Cerdan
    5.0 out of 5 stars The tombs of Atuan
    Reviewed in Spain on 13 November 2017
    Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Ja feia temps que tenia ganes de tenir aquest llibre entre les meves mans i no m'ha decebut gens quan avui m'ha arribat! Tant la portada com l'interior d'aquests són fantàstics.
    Report
  • A.R.
    5.0 out of 5 stars harika bir baskı
    Reviewed in Turkey on 9 October 2021
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    çok kaliteli, teşekkürler
  • GIAMPIERO
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo libro
    Reviewed in Italy on 17 December 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Ottimo e bellissimo libro
  • Gary C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to get through (but worth it)
    Reviewed in the United States on 5 July 2024
    Currently reading all the series that are linked to the Legends anthologies (with the exceptions of Stephen King and Anne McCaffrey, as I'm in the process of reading all of their works [and I've already read all of the Dragonrider stories written so far... Todd, I'd LOVE to see a continuation of the sort of cliffhanger Anne left with her last solo novel]).

    This one was harder than the first to get through. As she wrote in the afterward (written 40 years or so after the book was originally published), the book was one of the first solo focus books written strictly from a female point of view, and it was written REALISTICALLY, to boot, acknowledging the patriarchal and misogynistic worlds the heroine and the writer both exist in. As a writer, you're advised to write what you know, and the book definitely fits that mold: it's a bleak and disheartening look at a girl that, while ostensibly having autonomous power, is ultimately constrained by the reality she's come to recognize... she genuinely has no REAL power. Yes, she has "absolute" power in her one fiefdom, but outside of that little word, bo one else recognizes it as power. With the help of a protagonist from the first book in the series, she slowly comes to this realization on her own, and learns to trust to help them BOTH become free (her for the first time in her young life).

    Even though it WAS a difficult slog, it has opened my eyes a little bit more to the difficulties women face in just trying to live their own lives, let alone improve themselves. The way things are going, it's looking like the props women have been getting recently are being completely undermined by our society, and that's not good... for ANYone.

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