Reviews with content warning for Confinement - Os Túmulos de Atuan

Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Os Túmulos de Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin

24 reviews

loki's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful medium-paced

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 thing I have loved about the Earthsea books so far is the emotion is conveyed in a book written from a somewhat detached, third-person perspective. Although we see very little of the character's interiority, their internal life shines through clearly via their actions and their speech. Le Guin creates vidid characters who live through and respond to problems that would be familiar to an audience of children and preteens, even dressed as they are in a fantasy setting.

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.

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woweewhoa's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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kartoffel_00's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-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

4.0

5/12/22:

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

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afion's review against another edition

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crowcore's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious medium-paced

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

Themes/motifs: gender & power; religion & power; yin/yang symbolism; coming of age & escaping abuse

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 💗💗💗😭😭😭
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.

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