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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
fast-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
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
sad
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
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is the one that gave the Disney film from the 80s its name--you know, the one nobody saw that was a complete box office disaster--right before The Little Mermaid came out and ushered in Disney's Golden Age. I saw the film once and wasn't impressed with it. It bears almost no resemblance, aside from its characters sharing the same names and a few select characteristics, to the books.
As stated in my review for The Book of Three, I was not very impressed with this series to start off with, but about a third of the way in to The Black Cauldron, it became clear that Alexander had turned his storytelling around a little. Instead of focusing on plot movement and having things happen to the characters all the time, The Black Cauldron is instead a very character-motivated story. Most of the conflict doesn't come from fighting bad guys, but instead from the difficult choices the characters must make.
Although, yes, there is a plot. Taran and his friends join the massive effort to retake the titular Black Cauldron from Arawn, Death Lord of Annuven, so that he may not make any more of his Cauldron Born warriors (basically magical deathless zombies). Only one problem: when they get to Annuven, the Cauldron has already been stolen, so the companions set off again in search of it, to prevent Arawn from making more Cauldron Born, so that when the final inevitable confrontation that is sure to come does occur, they may at least have a chance in defeating him. This search leads Taran to the the three enchantresses in the Marshes of Morva, Orddu, Orgach, and Orwen. They are honestly delightful (a great example of Alexander's skill at combining humor and actual pathos) and more importantly, they pose Taran his greatest challenge yet. Taran, who wants to be a hero, but doesn't actually know what that means.
This was probably my favorite of the five books, mostly because the enchantresses were so sassy, but also probably because it was such an unexpected improvement over its predecessor.
As stated in my review for The Book of Three, I was not very impressed with this series to start off with, but about a third of the way in to The Black Cauldron, it became clear that Alexander had turned his storytelling around a little. Instead of focusing on plot movement and having things happen to the characters all the time, The Black Cauldron is instead a very character-motivated story. Most of the conflict doesn't come from fighting bad guys, but instead from the difficult choices the characters must make.
Although, yes, there is a plot. Taran and his friends join the massive effort to retake the titular Black Cauldron from Arawn, Death Lord of Annuven, so that he may not make any more of his Cauldron Born warriors (basically magical deathless zombies). Only one problem: when they get to Annuven, the Cauldron has already been stolen, so the companions set off again in search of it, to prevent Arawn from making more Cauldron Born, so that when the final inevitable confrontation that is sure to come does occur, they may at least have a chance in defeating him. This search leads Taran to the the three enchantresses in the Marshes of Morva, Orddu, Orgach, and Orwen. They are honestly delightful (a great example of Alexander's skill at combining humor and actual pathos) and more importantly, they pose Taran his greatest challenge yet. Taran, who wants to be a hero, but doesn't actually know what that means.
This was probably my favorite of the five books, mostly because the enchantresses were so sassy, but also probably because it was such an unexpected improvement over its predecessor.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-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
A wonderful continuation of the book of three. I’m glad to see all the same characters return together and have another adventure.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I had no idea Disney's "The Black Cauldron" was based on a book, not to mention the second book in a series (they never made the first). I haven't seen the movie in eons and hardly remember it, but this book is a wonderful continuation of the story from The Book of Three. I'll read the rest of this series.
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced