Ursula Le Guin creates the wonderful world of the Earthsea archipelago with love and a subtle understanding of the laws of nature and magic. The reader is involved in a journey through an unknown world, meets wise heroes, each of whom has his own difficult story.
The new book, "Atuan Tombs" is a continuation of a series of novels about enchanted worlds. In it, the reader will again meet with the wise magician Guesde. He has already met this character in the story βThe Wizard of the Earthseaβ. There will be new heroes with no less powerful capabilities.
Great Amulet of Peace
The tombs of Atuan were built hundreds of years ago, when the history of the Cargad Empire was only in its infancy. They have their secrets, which are protected by priestesses and dragons. In the Great Treasury of the Tombs, according to legend, for a long time there is a part of the magic ring, which was broken and lost its strength. This unit has remained lying there ever since the time when High Priest Intatin brought it there after a fight with the wizard.
The second half is with the magician Ged. But he learned about this recently from the Dragon, so he gathered in the Holy Great Labyrinth to steal the missing part of the ring and, combining both parts, become the owner of the mysterious force that binds the earth and people. But the fact is that only the One can go through the Great Labyrinth and get out of it, avoiding the tragic fate.
The magician penetrates the Atomic Tombs using his abilities and meets the fifteen-year-old Priestess of the Silent - Aru. She was supposed to kill the stranger, but did not, neglected her duties. The girl noticed in the light of the incorrect reflections of the flickering light of the wanderer's staff what she had long wanted to see. On his chest hung the second half of a broken amulet ring, which she knew could bring happiness to the world.
Priestess who has a heart
The girl was preparing for great honor from the age of five and reached unprecedented heights. Ara has studied ritual dances and sacred chants all her life. And now she was entrusted with a high position in the management of the Holy Labyrinth of Atuan's Tombs. Having met the wizard in the Labyrinth, Ara went against the will of the Nameless and gave Geda life. And it was he, who was looking for a part of the amulet in the Holy Dungeons of the Labyrinth.
Year after year, Ara learned more about the Labyrinth, but not all of his secrets were revealed to her. The darkness did not dissipate, and it was not known where to go where the girl decided. She lacked knowledge, although she felt her ever-increasing strength. She would like to see that part of the amulet that is hidden in the bowels of the Labyrinth, and she would not refuse to know the fate of the second half.
Labyrinth Strength
In his book The Tombs of Atuan, Ursula Le Guin endowed these places with great power, like everything that belongs to them. The ring, in the search for a part of which Guesde set off, is the bearer of a runic symbol, long ago lost by humanity. This sacred rune means Peace, possession of it makes it possible to unite people on earth, giving them peace and quiet happiness.
The tombs of Atuan will be able to realize the human dream of a life without war, but for this Are and Geda need to leave the Labyrinth and leave the Temple in search of truth. The young priestess regained her name given to her at birth. Tenar, that was the name of her mother and father until she was imprisoned in the walls of the Temple in order to prepare for the role of the successor to the Grand Priestess.
Going on a journey through the magical world, Ged and Tenar went through many tests side by side and became close to each other like two people who have different destinations in life, but their fate pushed them on the same narrow road, can be close.
To be continued
The story of the wizard Ged does not end with the last words in this novel. It has a sequel that forces the reader to follow the magician further, following his adventures. Following Ged out of the dark gloomy dungeons, the reader finds himself in wonderful lands where magic and justice reign. There, where strange flowers grow and unprecedented animals live.
Where will the hero of the novel be in the next story? What fate awaits him and with whom will he have to meet on the next trip? And the continuation, according to all the laws of the genre, certainly follows. The fantasy world gives Ursula Le Guin, a famous writer, a wealth of space for creating magical stories. They capture, do not let go, make them wait for the continuation.