The Tombs of Atuan
Arha's isolated existence as high priestess in the tombs of Atuan is jarred by a thief who seeks a special treasure.
Themes & atmosphere
What you might want to know about The Tombs of Atuan
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
At five, Tenar is taken from her family on the Kargad island of Atuan and renamed Arha, the Eaten One, as the new One Priestess of the Nameless Ones. She grows up alone in their dark Tombs and underground Labyrinth, until a wizard named Sparrowhawk slips inside looking for half a broken ring.
The Tombs of Atuan is the second book in Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea cycle, after A Wizard of Earthsea. It introduces Tenar, who becomes a major recurring character across the later novels.
Yes. The Tombs of Atuan won a Newbery Honor in 1972. The Earthsea series as a whole has won numerous fantasy awards across decades.
The Tombs of Atuan is 173 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, The Tombs of Atuan takes most readers 3 to 4 hours to finish.
The Tombs of Atuan is a standalone novel by an unknown author, not part of a series.
The Tombs of Atuan is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.