Scan barcode
A review by katmiranda
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I've always had a soft spot for the Chronicles of Prydain, and I do consider it to be quite foundational in my journey as a fan of fantasy, as I was introduced to this series as a teenager. I love that this series scratches the Welsh Mythology itch for me just as much as The Dark is Rising Sequence scratches the Arthurian legends itch in me, and it struck me that for a book that was written in the 60s, it's quite modern, especially with the spunky Princess Eilowny. I like how the dialogue is so snappy, the characters are fun without feeling too trope-y, and I love that I could just imagine how everything sounded looked and smelled like, without the long descriptive paragraphs of Tolkien, or leaning more into true fairytale-ish fantasy like CS Lewis. Its surprisingly very grounded, and feels real. I have always felt like Taran very much subverts the Chosen One archetype--he's always given a choice and he always goes for the harder but right one, and I like that he's not the one who saves the day in the end. However, without him being the heart & glue of their little band, the main antagonist would have never gotten defeated, even if he wasn't the one that struck the final blow. I also love how he learned how to appreciate the small things in life, like the farm at Caer Dalben.
It's an excellent and quick young adult fantasy read if you are opting to just read it as a stand-alone, but definitely reading it with the intention of reading the whole series really elevates it more. It's more character driven than plot heavy, with the plot being quite straightforward. While this is an excellent introduction to this world and the characters we'll see grow as we go along with the series, I found that I was much more invested in the characters rather than the main plot that the climax portion of the story felt like it was resolved too quickly.
Aside from that, I have no other complaints- a great timeless fantasy story- and a great way to begin one of the best young adult fantasy series of all time.
It's an excellent and quick young adult fantasy read if you are opting to just read it as a stand-alone, but definitely reading it with the intention of reading the whole series really elevates it more. It's more character driven than plot heavy, with the plot being quite straightforward. While this is an excellent introduction to this world and the characters we'll see grow as we go along with the series, I found that I was much more invested in the characters rather than the main plot that the climax portion of the story felt like it was resolved too quickly.
Aside from that, I have no other complaints- a great timeless fantasy story- and a great way to begin one of the best young adult fantasy series of all time.