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Summary: If you like Harry Potter...
Review: While waiting for the next Harry Potter book like so many others, I've been shopping around for a good series of books to read since HP rekindled my love of reading (and left me hanging slightly depressed at the end of the fourth book that the story was "temporarily over" until the next book comes out). Most of the recommended series (like Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events) just didn't cut it. After the excitement, vivid imagery, and unforgettable characters of Harry Potter, they all seemed boring and shallow. Not so with Lloyd Alexander's marvelous Prydain Chronicles! My introduction to these books came several years ago (BEFORE our little wizard friend) when I saw Disney's animated film "The Black Cauldron." Remembering that movie, I went to my local library several weeks ago intending to check out the first of the Prydain Chronicles, "The Book of Three." Our library had five copies--and every single one was checked out. Rather than waiting, I purchased the book at a local bookstore and began reading it right away.What an amazing book! The characters have real depth, and the story moves quickly. From its beginnings in Caer Dallben, Taran's country home, the story takes us to an evil castle, dungeons, a secret underground village, and many points in between. With gentle humor woven in (Fflewddur's harp, for instance) and believeable characters in dangerous and exciting situations, this is among the best books I've read in the past several years. I finished the book quickly, then headed back to the bookstore to buy the next installment in the Prydain Chronicles, "The Black Caulron" which I'm enoying now. Harry Potter is a tough act to follow, but this book, written nearly 35 years earlier, does a remarkable job. It probably isn't fair of me to compare Harry Potter to The Prydain Chronicles, for the two are from different generations and tell very different stories. However, they are alike in the sense that both tell exciting coming-of-age stories with plenty of magic, humor, and terrific supporting characters. And, if you like "The Book of Three" there's no waiting for the rest of the Prydain Chronicles to be written and published--they were written in the 1960s and so, they're all available! You can read them just as fast as you like without having to worry about when the next will be available.
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Summary: Beautifully written fantasy to take you into another world
Review: I was given this book by a friend when I was ten years old. At that time I wasn't a big reader, but I kept the book around. I recently was going through some old boxes and found this book along with the rest of the Prydain Chronicles. I started reading the book thinking it would bore me, being a book for middle readers. But I loved it, and couldnt put it down. I ended up reading the whole series and loved them all. This just shows that you are never to old for a good fairytale. Read this book, its great.
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Summary: a review of a good book
Review: The book of three is an exciting tale of heroism, triumph and persistence. Like all good fantasy book it is a tale of an insignificant person rising above his or her containment's. In the case of this tale; it is Taran, an assistant pig keeper. Taran is the main character of this book, however had it not been for his friends and companions he wouldn't have gone far. He was rushed from his home on a small quest and found himself on one that held the fate of his world in its relevance. Taran is a humble yet dreaming young teenager, who finds that any one can evolve and change for the greater or the worse given the right circumstances, and time is not needed for these changes. In my opinion an exciting book not only needs a good plot, but good evolution as well. In the book of three one can watch the characters evolve and change to suit their situations and to learn from each one. I think that the way that the characters in this book learn and express their new knowledge of how the world works can be used to better ones own life. If I learned as fast as the characters in this book did I would get straight A's in school. The pace at which the characters evolve is a quite bit fast then it would be for the rest of us, but it doesn't hurt the story in The book of three to a great extent. I think that all in all the book of three is a good book with a great story and is interesting to many fantasy lovers.
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Summary: This is so good !
Review: This is one of the first booksI read .And one of the best .I could not put it down , I was too interested Tarans' adventures to even try . I began it when I was eight and considered it the best book I'd ever read until I read some other things .I addor it!
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Summary: The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
Review: This story is about Taran a young assistant pig keeper who is [eager] for excitement and adventure until his pig runs away. While searching for the pig in the woods he gets into great danger for there is evil around in the land of Prydain. On his journey he discovers new friends and fights for good to overrun the evil, he also fights so that his home will not be distroyed.
I very much reccomend this book to almost everyone. The author describes what is happening so well that it almost feels like you are in the book. The story is full of adventure fantasy and suspense; when you start reading it you can not put it down because you always want to know what will happen next or how it will happen. That is why I highly reccomend this book. I hope if you read this you will enjoy it just as much as I did.
Rating: 
Summary: Perhaps for Young Children...
Review: After hearing and endless amount of praise for these novels I picked them up and attempted to read them and I was dropped on the first book. Besides the simliarities to Tolkien which were quite eerie, Alexanders tone and pacing is erratic, extremely elementary and uninteresting. The lack of real depth to any of the characters makes me unable to become attatched to them. I reccomend this only because it's a classic.
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Summary: First of a wonderful series, "The Prydain Chronicles"
Review: Assistan Pig-Keeper Taran is on the verge of manhood and as such young men do, he dreams of adventure and battles. Or if anything to get away from the too peaceful Caer Dallben. Unfortunately, as his 'title' suggests, his only role in life is to assist in taking care of the oracular pig, Hen Wen. But Hen Wen one day panics then runs away from Caer Dallben for no apparent reason. From then on, Taran is thrust into an adventure to help the land of Prydain from destruction. Long ago the Sons of Don had kept off the forces of evil King Arawn, Lord of Annuvin, from taking over Prydain. Now the High King Math and his son Prince Gwydion, descendents of the House of Don, are being threatened by Arawn's powerful warlord, the Horned King. Will Prydain be saved from a terrible fate? With a band of strange yet the best kind of friends anyone could ever have, Taran finds himself fighting so good can have victory over evil, so that Prydain will be safe from the hands of evil? Lloyd Alexander, author of the "Prydain Chronicles", wrote this series which resembles a bit of Welsh mythology and legends. Though under the category for young adults, I can truly say that even adults would probably find the world of Prydain fascinating. Victories in battle, good versus evil, relationship between friends, and responsibilities, "The Book of Three" has many good morals which we should have in real life. With lots of adventure, magic, humor, and excitement, "The Book of Three" has it all! The characters are what really draw you deep into the story. Taran is your average hero who is reaching the age of adulthood and is far from perfect. A bit cocky and rash in the beginning, he still possess courage and enthusiasm which makes him all the more likable. Then there are plenty more terrific characters who each have their own quirks: the wise and courageous Prince Gwydion, the funny creature Gurgi with his 'crunchings and munchings', Fflewddur Fflam the prince who wants to be a bard, Princess Eilonwy of the golden hair who is charming and a motor-mouth, Doli the dwarf who wants to become invisible, Dallben the wise, and Coll the warrior now farmer. And these characters are only the good guys! Of the bad people, I like Queen Achren the most, a very powerful witch who in beginning gave King Arawn his powers. Well, I can't really tell you anymore about the story except that the book doesn't end the story! The Chronicle continues the adventures of Taran as he grows up in "The Black Cauldron", "The Castle of Llyr", "Taran Wanderer", and "The High King". My favorites are the first three books though the last two books are a must read, too. And if you are wondering, yes, most of the same characters show up in the rest of the books and plenty more new ones! Have fun reading "The Prydain Chronicles"!
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Summary: This whole series is really superb.
Review: I would recommend it for any child or any adult. Taran, assistant Pig-Keeper, is a smart sympathetic character. The love between him and Princess Eilonwy is humor-filled and sincere. Taran's mentor, the wizard Dalben positively inspires. And Taran's charge the prophetic pig Hen Wen is just outrageously loveable. Other characters to look out for: the dashing High King Math, the nasty beautiful and complex Queen Achren, and the prince turned bard, and maybe he's not that good a bard, Fflewddur Fflam. This is an affectionate and magical series.
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Summary: These books changed my life
Review: It's the truth. My sister read these books when her English teacher let her borrow them ,and she promptly decided that all people should look them over. For my seventh Christmas, she bought me The Book of Three. I just let it sit on my desk for about a month, but I finaly picked it up and read it. It was above my reading level, but I made it through and needed to have more. The adventures of Taran, Elionwy, Fflewder, Gurgi, Doli, Gwydion and all the others are irresistable to all who read them. Every person I've ever made read these books got hooked and went into considerable depression when they came to an end. I hated reading before this, but every since I finished these marvelous books, I haven't been able to read enough. It teaches that there is glory and joy to be had for all people if they'll just look around. As the books progress, one finds that the reading level increases (much like Harry Potter) and the subjects more mature. It begins woth a simple longing for adventure and adulthood. It then gets into what it truly means to be a hero. It teaches how to let go of someone close to your heart and about what love is. You learn that glory and honor aren't always gained on the battlefield. An old woman weaving cloaks or a farmer caring for his family are as heroic as any soldier. Taran, the protaganist, learnes what it is to be a man and a leader. Elionwy, the young, beautiful enchantress, learns that she has as much courage, strenghth, and intelligence as any man and learns how to be happy. Fflewder, the king who just wants to be a bard, shows us that joy can be found in the simple things, but that one must work to acheive what they wish. He also learns the value of honesty in any situation. Gurgi, the kind-hearted hairy creature, teaches of loyalty, love, and the power of a good deed done. Gwydion serves as an example of what a man should be. The many other characters all have something to teach the reader about life. Everyone should read these books. They are, in my opinion, simply the greatest books a young person can read. I've read them dozens of times (A quick reader can read the whole series in a day) and every time found something magical about them. While Harry Potter, Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, and other great works are all wonderfull reads, all pale in comparison to the place these books hold in readers' hearts. Parents and teachers, have your children read these books, but read them yourselves as well. If you don't like fantasy, I still urge you to take a shot at these. You'll likely change your mind after this. They are timeless classics for all ages and I hope you all come to love these books as I have.
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Summary: The best series of children's fantasy
Review: A friend of my father's brought me a box full of used books when I was 9 or 10. Tucked away in the bottome was The High King, the last in the Prydain Chronicles....it sat for quite awhile in my bookcase before I picked it up and began reading. What an experience it turned out to be! The adventures of Taran (Assistant Pig- Keeper), Eilonwy, Gurgi, Prince Llyr, and all the other charming charaters in their quest to beat the evil Horned King opened my eyes to the wonderful world of fantasy in children's literature. Indeed, after reading the High King I ran out and spent all my allowance (preciously saved) on the rest of the 5-book series. Lloyd Alexander writes with a refreshing and unpretentious stye, neither speaking down to kids nor falling into any of the cliched storylines or dialogue of many writers of fantasy literature. Indeed, I believe many authors of modern adult fantasy would greatly benefit from studying Mr. Alexanders writing style. I credit this series for the beginning of my 25+ years of affection for Celtic, Gaelic, and Welsh mythology and would strongly recommend this series for any lover, young and old, of fantasy and mythology.
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