Book –Earthsea trilogy -2- The tombs of Atuan

Book –Earthsea trilogy

Author:  Ursula Le Guin

Score: 7/10 

Year: 1979* (trilogy first published in 1979 but the parts comprised in it are from 1968, 71 & 74)

Publisher: Penguin

ISBN 0140050930

Pages : 478 (this review for pages 169-300 The tombs of Atuan) 

Language: English

The tombs of Atuan takes a detour from the first novel's protagonists, though it does eventually tie-in with the world that is Earthsea, despite first appartenances. 

The story told centers on Tenar, who is believed to be reincarnation of the High Priestess in the service of the Nameless Ones, the official religion on the isle of Atuan. She is selected for this position from a very young age, taken from her family and given a new name : Arha, the Eaten One.

She is taught her duties, rituals, the ways and passages of the undergrounds and labyrinth - under the temple of her gods - which she has to traverse in darkness, with no source of light. 

This second book in the Earthsea series (it continued after the release of the trilogy) was far less enjoyable to read for me. 


Indeed, the language wasn't as rich as the first, and had a lot of repetitive wording. Also, part of the rituals Tenar/Arha must perform are blood sacrifices - of animals as well as of men, who aren't supposed to walk in these dark underground labyrinths. 

However, once those elements are passed, and her paths cross those of a wizard (which is the element that ties-in with the first book of this series, it becomes much more interesting and I could see why those plots had been used for Tenar's story. 

The tombs of Atuan renews with psychological and philosophical subjects, much like A wizard of Earthsea. 

There are several opposing elements in this novel :

Life and Death are again intricately linked, much like the path of a person through the Dark learns to be Reborn in the light. 

The tombs of Atuan added 3 others elements to the first novel : 

• that of Gender and Power. Indeed, throughout this novel, Tenar/ Arha, a girl, is High Priestess of the official local religion. Women teach her all her duties and how to navigate the mazes bellow the temple. Although a girl at first, she does come of age, and the dark tombs as well as her role become her prisons. She cannot be who she would normally wish, and she starts to miss some of her duties... 
• in the subject of genders, it's difficult to avoid spoiling, but I will say this : there is a strong message about Unity of the two genders, so don't expect a dazzling prince to save the damsel in distress... 
• the third element is that through her coming of age, Tenar is forced into a position where she must question the Faith she had been locked in so early in her life. 

There are so many differences between the first and the second book in this series, in narrative style, characters and possible symbolism that is linked to the dark undergrounds, which aren't present at all in A wizard of Earthsea. 

I liked the linking of those two stories, and the underlying messages, in very subtle ways - especially in the last 4-5 chapters (there are 12), and the open ending. 

Despite my early difficulties, I still suggest reading the tombs... ; it's language may not be as rich in the beginning, but does become philosophical and offers a faster pace in the last third or so of the novel.