The Tombs of Atuan

By Ursula K. Le Guin

Part of the Earthsea Cycle series

A priestess guards a dark secret; a wizard seeks forbidden treasure. Will she defy her fate?

4.1/5 Goodreads · 140,403 ratings

187 pages· 45,931 words· Est. 4.5 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

In the shadowy Tombs of Atuan, Tenar, now called Arha, serves as high priestess, stripped of her past. Her duty is to protect the Ring of Erreth-Akbe, a treasure sought by the mysterious wizard Ged. As Ged's magic and stories of distant lands awaken something within her, Tenar faces a choice: remain in darkness or risk everything for freedom. Can she trust the stranger who promises a world beyond her own? Discover the gripping tale of power, destiny, and the courage to change one's path in this captivating Earthsea adventure.

From the publisher

One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time The Newbery Honor-winning second novel in the renowned Earthsea series from Ursula K. LeGuin gets a beautiful new repackage. 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? With millions of copies sold worldwide, 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. Now the full Earthsea collection–A Wizard of Earthsea, The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore, Tehanu, Tales from Earthsea, and The Other Wind–is available with a fresh, modern look that will endear it both to loyal fans and new legions of readers.