You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
such a fun story! i missed the narnia components, though.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
adventurous
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
aravis tarkheena you will always be famous
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is one of my favorite Narnia installments, in part because it's an odd misfit even for such a haphazard and eclectic series. The fifth volume to be written, it's also the first time author C. S. Lewis revisits an earlier era as a prequel (followed thereafter by The Magician's Nephew, which of course goes back quite further). It's essentially a "midquel" too, taking place in the portion of his original story The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe when the four Pevensie siblings have temporarily grown up to be kings and queens of the realm. And they make an appearance here, but only as very minor characters, which is a delightful refocusing of narrative attention. We barely see any of their proper Narnian demesne either, instead concerning ourselves with the neighboring countries of Archenland and Calormen.
Shasta's tale there is interesting and exciting, and his gradually thawing relationship with Aravis strikes me as an improved version of what Lewis has previously attempted via the protagonists in The Silver Chair. Moreover, it's refreshing how little of the customary thinly-disguised Christianity is around for once; I think anyone reading this novel on its own wouldn't suspect the writer's usual approach or read into Aslan as a Jesus figure at all. On the downside, the Calormene people and culture represent a bundle of lazy Middle Eastern stereotypes, and it's hard not to conclude a racist intent behind how their dark-skinned barbarism is portrayed. It turns out the most Christian thing about The Horse and His Boy is the Islamophobia!
In terms of other problematic content, this is a children's book that opens on slavery and corporal punishment, and later includes references to suicide, incest, child brides, and similar forced marriage. Those elements again separate the text from its fellows, but it's admittedly heavy material for a swashbuckling adventure that so prominently features a talking horse.
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
Shasta's tale there is interesting and exciting, and his gradually thawing relationship with Aravis strikes me as an improved version of what Lewis has previously attempted via the protagonists in The Silver Chair. Moreover, it's refreshing how little of the customary thinly-disguised Christianity is around for once; I think anyone reading this novel on its own wouldn't suspect the writer's usual approach or read into Aslan as a Jesus figure at all. On the downside, the Calormene people and culture represent a bundle of lazy Middle Eastern stereotypes, and it's hard not to conclude a racist intent behind how their dark-skinned barbarism is portrayed. It turns out the most Christian thing about The Horse and His Boy is the Islamophobia!
In terms of other problematic content, this is a children's book that opens on slavery and corporal punishment, and later includes references to suicide, incest, child brides, and similar forced marriage. Those elements again separate the text from its fellows, but it's admittedly heavy material for a swashbuckling adventure that so prominently features a talking horse.
Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes