abeorning's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jandi's review against another edition
4.0
Second book of the series. Ged heads to a foreign land to retrieve a treasure, and encounters Tenar. What is really foreign?
wassercommaeric's review
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
beccadominique's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
amess's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
My favorite of the Earthsea Cycle. The Tombs of Atuan focuses on Tenar, a priestess for the Tombs of Atuan, who was raised there as a child and stripped of her name and identity. When Ged shows up to steal from the tombs, Tenar is forced to reckon with the worldview that was forced upon her and the hungry darkness that she serves.
I loved Tenar's journey and loved being able to view Ged from another character's perspective- especially a character outside of Ged's culture, one who views Ged as the antagonist. I also loved how the priestesses of Atuan operated as a cult that Tenar was brainwashed by and that we were privy to seeing.
I loved Tenar's journey and loved being able to view Ged from another character's perspective- especially a character outside of Ged's culture, one who views Ged as the antagonist. I also loved how the priestesses of Atuan operated as a cult that Tenar was brainwashed by and that we were privy to seeing
Spoiler
those views challenged and Tenar eventually gaining autonomy. Tenar's reaction to her subsequent freedom felt very real and did not feel like a neat storybook ending, since Le Guin delved into how this newfound freedom impacted her psychologicallytashshaw's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
robyncoleman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Honestly this book was a bit … (dare I say…) boring and dull for the first 50%. Very bleak and dreary. But then Ged comes along and it’s great! 3 stars
kenreid's review
5.0
Starts off rather slow but once the pieces come together this is a deep story with hidden layers. The more I consider the representations of the choices taken by the characters the more meaning I take from this book. Unlike the first in the series this passes the Bechdel test within a few pages. Fairly short but well worth the time. I thoroughly enjoy the magic system and the teachings of wisdom earned.