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abijmieds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, and Blood
lyktestolpe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Confinement
eauderat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Murder
Minor: Sexism and Xenophobia
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Tombs of Atuan is pretty different from its predecessor. Unlike the first book, it has a continuous plot and it is darker. It's also notable for having been a high fantasy book with a female protagonist published at a time that was rare.
I liked how this one was deeper than the first book, dealing with ideas of power and redemption as our heroine questions the only life she has ever known. I wish that it was a little longer and that we'd gotten more from the side characters and these themes. I found it a bit too sparse, though well written. I can see why Earthsea series is considered a classic fantasy and one that still holds up well today, notable for it's great writing, deep themes, and surprisingly inclusive cast.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Torture, Xenophobia, and Grief
Minor: Ableism
onalark's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Racism, Torture, Gaslighting, and Colonisation
Minor: Animal death, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
loki's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The only reason this isn't rated higher is because I struggle to read middle grade/YA/etc. and so a lot about it wasn't for me, personally. Also worth mentioning I enjoyed this more than A Wizard of Earthsea - primarily because I felt like the pacing was a lot better in Tombs of Atuan.
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Violence
woweewhoa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Slavery
Moderate: Torture, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racism and Trafficking
kartoffel_00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was not exactly a cheerful book but not exactly a despairing one either. It is simply an exploration of the choices and circumstances of the characters mentioned. Ursula LeGuin for me is an author who's very good at portraying the themes she wants to explore in her books. In contrast to the previous book where Ged is the protagonist, the reader follows a different character here. We view the world through their lens and see them experiences changes and also coming to terms with those changes.
Its a bit hard to precisely place this book in terms of plot and mood. Some might it's terribly bland and some might say the opposite. I rather just enjoyed it for what it was.
I guess for now I can only say I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
final rating: 4/5
Moderate: Confinement, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Religious bigotry
The trigger warnings mentioned are not graphic. They are not the minor in the sense mentioned once and passed over. Just that they are a very present theme without going into gruesome details.afion's review against another edition
Graphic: Confinement and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Drug use, Racism, and Xenophobia
crowcore's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Favorite scene: the entire last chapter
Favorite quote:
""He died because he loved me, and was faithful. He thought he was protecting me. When I was little he was kind to me when I cried-" She stopped again, for the tears rose hard in her, yet she would cry no more. Her hands were clenched on the black folds of her dress. "I was never kind to him," she said. "I will not go to Havnor. I will not go with you. Find some isle where no one comes, and put me there, and leave me. The evil must be paid for. I am not free."
The soft light, greyed by sea mist, glimmered between them.
"Listen, Tenar. Heed me. You were the vessel of evil. The evil is poured out. It is done. It is buried in its own tomb. You were never made for cruelty and darkness; you were made to hold light, as a lamp burning holds and gives its light.""
Tenar my beloved 💗💗💗ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
An examination of gender, religion, nationalism, & power from the point of view of a teenage girl growing up in a nationalist cult. Fascinating additions to the Earthsea series' lore and a compelling & relatable main character. Still definitely more of a YA book than Tehanu, but as I said I my review of the first Earthsea book, it's necessary groundwork for the perfection of the fourth one.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Slavery, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
Religious bigotry and xenophobia are not related to real-world religious or cultural groups