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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
I loved this series as a child, but on my first re-reading as an adult, I found [b:The Book of Three|24780|The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain, #1)|Lloyd Alexander|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1388187408s/24780.jpg|1149593] pretty disappointing. Book two, however, certainly did not disappoint. This book displayed significantly more complexity and moral nuance, and shows us the main characters actually developing and growing.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
The second book in the Chronicles of Prydain, I'd put these books up there near The Chronicles of Narnia. Fantasy, young fiction, yet with strong moral lessons. My husband was introduced to these when his 3rd-grade teacher read the first two books aloud and has loved them ever since. This was my second time reading them.
In the Black Cauldron, the companions go on a quest to destroy the Black Cauldron, an evil device that turns dead men into warriors that can't be killed.
Rated G.
In the Black Cauldron, the companions go on a quest to destroy the Black Cauldron, an evil device that turns dead men into warriors that can't be killed.
Rated G.
adventurous
funny
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
Simple enough read and fun to read after seeing the movie .
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this book slightly less than, "The Book of Three", the first book in the chronicles of Prydain. I found parts of the writing flat and some of the action just happening as if it were to allow the story to proceed to the next point. The characters in this have grown from the first book, apart from Doli, I believe, his character was pretty much a rehash of himself in the first book. Although to be fair he was missing a lot for most of the tale.
The Black Cauldron starts off much faster than the Book of Three does, and I always forget that it does. Alexander assumes you've read his earlier book, or are smart enough to keep up if you haven't, which is nice. The prose is still the same style, so if you weren't a fan of the fairy-tale-esque narration in The Book of Three, that hasn't changed at all.
The Black Cauldron might be the superior tale, though. It's the same sort of quest, with companions and tasks and goals set out from the beginning and never really deviated from, but the scope is broader and more relatable, and there is better conflict, both on a grand scale (Gwydion vs. Morgant) and on a personal level (Taran vs. Ellidyr). There is also a lot less character introduction in this book, which helps keep the plot moving at a fair pace.
The quest in this book is to find and destroy the Black Cauldron, the giant, evil cauldron the Lord Awran uses to create his undead warriors. Taran, Eilonwy, Fflewdder, Doli, and Gurgi all end up together, questing for the Cauldron. Additional companions Adaon and Ellidyr serve as wise mentor and competition, respectively. The plot is simple, but Alexander uses his charm and his storytelling capability to keep your interest and mix the ridiculous and the light-hearted with the heavy and sad.
The Black Cauldron might be the superior tale, though. It's the same sort of quest, with companions and tasks and goals set out from the beginning and never really deviated from, but the scope is broader and more relatable, and there is better conflict, both on a grand scale (Gwydion vs. Morgant) and on a personal level (Taran vs. Ellidyr). There is also a lot less character introduction in this book, which helps keep the plot moving at a fair pace.
The quest in this book is to find and destroy the Black Cauldron, the giant, evil cauldron the Lord Awran uses to create his undead warriors. Taran, Eilonwy, Fflewdder, Doli, and Gurgi all end up together, questing for the Cauldron. Additional companions Adaon and Ellidyr serve as wise mentor and competition, respectively. The plot is simple, but Alexander uses his charm and his storytelling capability to keep your interest and mix the ridiculous and the light-hearted with the heavy and sad.