Arha was the name given her, the Eaten One; and with the giving of the name, everything was taken away--home, family, and possessions--so that her whole life might be spent as high priestess to the ancient and nameless Powers of the Earth. She was to spend her life at the desolate Place of the Tombs in the deserts of the land of Atuan.
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?
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Earthsea Always Satisfy's.:
Book one The Wizard of Earthsea was required reading for a children's literature course I did back in 1999. I enjoyed it so much I read all the books and collections of short stories set in that world. Yet even though this novel finishes by revolving again around Ged, it is really about Tenar/Arha, a young girl believed to be the reborn High Priest of the unnamed ones. (Nameless ones.) Her name is taken from her at 6 years of age, a year after she was taken from her family and home. She is given the... more info
A disappointing follow-up to "Wizard":
This book contains the elements of writing that have made LeGuin such a popular author--readability, substance, style, etc. However, this book pales in comparison to its predecessor, "A Wizard of Earthsea." My main critique of this particular volume is that the story simply takes too long to get off the ground. Almost the first half of the book is dedicated to setting up the main plot, which begs the reader for more patience than should be required. Once things get moving, it is an enjoyable tale with rich... more info
on audio:
The Tombs of Atuan is very different from A Wizard of Earthsea. It focuses on a young woman who has spent her life cloistered in the tombs of gods who she serves but doesn't know. Just as the reader feels completely miserable at the state of this disillusioned young lady, Ged (who nobody would describe as particularly cheerful or up-beat), arrives and brings with him a much-needed ray of sunshine, even though he spends most of the book under the earth. After Ged's arrival, things start to slowly make more... more info
the tombs of Atuan:
This is the second book of the earthsea cycle. The main character is not Ged the mage, but Tenar the first priestess of an old cult. It's an uncomplicated story about human feelings (particularly the coming of age of the main character, the crucial choosing of one's future and trust). The magic is present all through it without any extraordinary manifestations, such believable is Le Guin's wizardry. It's an easy reading that can be easily accomplished in a full day.
This edition is a sturdy one and... more info
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