The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin

The second installment in Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle, while less epic than the first, solidly continues the themes and expands the world of the first novel. This novel is set entirely in the Kargad lands, which we discover are barbaric in their religion; they worship the dark powers of the earth--powers akin to the shadow Ged loosed and the stone in Oskill. In the Ring of Erreth-Akbe, Le Guin gives a token that works as a reverse of the One Ring of Tolkein (offering unity and wise rule) and like the Sword that Was Broken, in that it must be reforged. Ged appears, but the story focuses on the development of Arha (the one that was eaten) back into Tenar.