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Book Review of The Tombs of Atuan (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 2)

The Tombs of Atuan (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 2)
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In a small community a girl child is born on an auspicious day. This is the day the old priestess of the Tombs of Atuan dies. It is believed that the priestess is born again as a baby on that day. Named Tenar, the baby girl is destined to lose her home, family, and possessions, in short everything. When she reaches her fifth birthday a group of priests and soldiers come to her home and take her away. She is given the name of Arha, the Eaten One. Stripped of her past, she is to serve the nameless ones. These are dark powers that she learns are cruel and vengeful.

Her life is one of study until she discovers an intruder into the labyrinth of the kingdom. She knows that this man must be a sorcerer and sets out to find him. Of course, Arha finds him and through interactions with him begins to understand more about the temple and powers that she serves which are unsettling to her. The man is a wizard named Ged who seeks to combine two parts of an instrument that will bring peace to his country. Confused, Arha spends more and more time with him. What occurs within and without the tombs are for every reader to discover.

The creativity, imagination and writing of this author have long been important to me. I urge anyone interested in fantasy to check out Ursula K. LeGuin's work and discover her talents for themselves.