thejenjineer's review against another edition
4.0
I would have loved this book as a kid. Luckily, my inner child loves to read along with me, and she helped me enjoy it. Our favorite part: Eilonwy, Queen of Apt and Clever Similes (pretty much everyone has a distinctive speaking pattern, and I always admired that ability in a writer). Taran thinks she's chatty and scatterbrained, but I think she's just too smart for him. Her thoughts move too fast for her mouth to catch up to, and he thinks her thoughts are disconnected because he's not making the logical jumps along with her. Well, he's still young, maybe he'll catch up to her in the next book (which I'm definitely reading).
I'm aware that there's a Disney movie named after the second book of the series, but my brother warned me to stay away from that. Sadly - and I know I may regret this because I hate movies that don't do books justice - this only makes me more curious to watch it.
I'm aware that there's a Disney movie named after the second book of the series, but my brother warned me to stay away from that. Sadly - and I know I may regret this because I hate movies that don't do books justice - this only makes me more curious to watch it.
pandacat42's review against another edition
3.0
Characters were a bit argumentative and accusatory. Nonetheless the main characters were supportive and kindhearted really.
dreamreader's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.0
Very cute! Definitely a great middle grade book, and one I would happily recommend to younger readers. I could see a lot of Lord of the Rings influences here, which was nice, and I liked the overall story and the pacing. It lacks the depth and complexity I really enjoy in fantasy, but I can't complain about that, given its target audience. This is a three-star rating from me that definitely means I enjoyed it.
bethanysbooknook21's review against another edition
DNF - couldn’t get into the story but would add to library for future readers
weng's review against another edition
5.0
Classic young adult fiction. So much better than the Narnia stories. Really wish I had discovered this instead. Really interesting characters who are able to reflect and grow over the course of the story.
cluckingbell's review against another edition
5.0
Evidently I read The Chronicles of Prydain a lot as a kid, because listening to this audiobook I kept anticipating words and phrases. I mean, if I didn't watch Ghostbusters for 20-30 years, I'd still be able to say "That's a big Twinkie" just ahead of the actor. It was a little like that.
And it has been at least 20 years since I last reread these, at which time I'd been reading very (now I might say intolerably) lengthy fantasy novels, and these kids' books felt a lot slighter than I'd remembered them. But coming back to them after overblown fantasy has lost its allure and with clear expectations that these are kids' books? Holy crap are they delightful.
Partly owing to nostalgia, of course, but also to the wonderful sass and sweetness of the characters. And this audiobook is a pure delight—EXCEPT for the Gurgi voice. The Gurgi voice is way too deep and guttural for a toadying creature that speaks in yelps and wails and whimpers of whackings & smackings and crunchings & munchings. But otherwise the narrator does a pretty great job with the core accents and characters.
And it has been at least 20 years since I last reread these, at which time I'd been reading very (now I might say intolerably) lengthy fantasy novels, and these kids' books felt a lot slighter than I'd remembered them. But coming back to them after overblown fantasy has lost its allure and with clear expectations that these are kids' books? Holy crap are they delightful.
Partly owing to nostalgia, of course, but also to the wonderful sass and sweetness of the characters. And this audiobook is a pure delight—EXCEPT for the Gurgi voice. The Gurgi voice is way too deep and guttural for a toadying creature that speaks in yelps and wails and whimpers of whackings & smackings and crunchings & munchings. But otherwise the narrator does a pretty great job with the core accents and characters.
the_weirdling's review against another edition
4.0
I skipped the Prydain Chronicles when I was young because I saw Disney's Black Cauldron when I was a kid and was not much moved by it. Well, now I am very sorry I skipped them. Even coming to this book as an adult, I found it extremely enjoyable. It taps well into that quality of all good fantasy where the stories are simple, but the metaphors are big. I think it was C S Lewis who said any book worth reading as a child is just as worth reading as an adult. This is one of the books that proves how right he was.
I will definitely be reading on.
I will definitely be reading on.
shieldbearer's review against another edition
5.0
The Chronicles of Prydain is imaginative and unique. While the plot seems very straightforward, unlike many other fantasy novels with protagonists who long adventure, Taran's mistakes are not excused because of his youth- nor does Taran himself excuse his mistakes. Rather, Taran takes responsibility for his errors throughout the novel and it is extremely refreshing to see this in a fantasy novel, and very sad that it's not seen more often in more recent work. Alexander's writing style is concise and descriptive- detailing the character's surroundings without edging into purple prose.
Alexander also does a wonderful job with the characters. All the characters end up having a key role in the narrative- ie Fflewddur’s experience as a king and his subsequent war prowess which lets the company buy time to escape from the Cauldron Born, Gurgi's man/beast nature and Eilonwy's talkativeness and courtly training. Each of the characters are unique in actions, thought process, and speaking patterns and they defy archetype characterization. Eilonwy as a character in partcular gets a shout out- her talkativeness is never used as a sign of vapidness or foolishness (in fact, it aids the protagonists at a key moment in the story) and her unique was of using simile combined with her strong personality makes her quite a charming character.
I also really appreciate the small crumbs of wisdom woven through the book- ie, how Dallben points out that Taran has to come to his own conclusion for it to have real meaning to him, the whole ‘a prince is not his trappings’ moment with Gwydion, kindness being more important than cleverness and the importance of taking responsibility for one's mistakes, to name a few.
Many have compared Prydain to The Lord of the Rings. It is an apt comparison, but to claim that Prydain is 'a rip off' is simply absurd. Prydain is a coming of age tale, and the many comparisons made between the characters and plot simply do not fit, and it's rather clear that most are drawing from the film version of the LOTR books. Prydain is its own thing, and to dismiss it as a mere Lord of the Rings copycat is unfair to this masterpiece and to yourself.
Alexander also does a wonderful job with the characters. All the characters end up having a key role in the narrative- ie Fflewddur’s experience as a king and his subsequent war prowess which lets the company buy time to escape from the Cauldron Born, Gurgi's man/beast nature and Eilonwy's talkativeness and courtly training. Each of the characters are unique in actions, thought process, and speaking patterns and they defy archetype characterization. Eilonwy as a character in partcular gets a shout out- her talkativeness is never used as a sign of vapidness or foolishness (in fact, it aids the protagonists at a key moment in the story) and her unique was of using simile combined with her strong personality makes her quite a charming character.
I also really appreciate the small crumbs of wisdom woven through the book- ie, how Dallben points out that Taran has to come to his own conclusion for it to have real meaning to him, the whole ‘a prince is not his trappings’ moment with Gwydion, kindness being more important than cleverness and the importance of taking responsibility for one's mistakes, to name a few.
Many have compared Prydain to The Lord of the Rings. It is an apt comparison, but to claim that Prydain is 'a rip off' is simply absurd. Prydain is a coming of age tale, and the many comparisons made between the characters and plot simply do not fit, and it's rather clear that most are drawing from the film version of the LOTR books. Prydain is its own thing, and to dismiss it as a mere Lord of the Rings copycat is unfair to this masterpiece and to yourself.