Rating: 
Summary: excellent
Review: This book is excellent. I loved it dearly when I read the entire series a long time ago. I want to read all of the books again and again. Great for children.
Rating: 
Summary: An excellent prelude to a fantastic chronicle
Review: I know that this review will most probably attract nothing but negative votes (from flamers, if not from honest readers who take offense). Now you're probably looking at my 3-star rating of The Book of Three and wondering "why".Just for the record: The Book of Three is painfully short, the plot is simplistic, and the characters do not achieve much development. Nevertheless, it is the perfect introduction to the amazingly written Chronicles of Prydain. It introduces you to a slew of believable, three-dimensional characters and Lloyd Alexander's unique kind of heartwarming humor. The Book of Three is short (read: it's too expensive for a hardcover its size). I finished it in about an evening (reading for the first time, carefully paying attention to details and memorizing the Welsh names). In some respects it is a tutorial to prepare the reader for the much more sober and grim books that follow it. What's the plot (or at least its premise)? Taran is an assistant pig-keeper at Caer Dallben, the safest, and perhaps the dullest place in all of the magical land of Prydain. A dark army gathers in the name of the Death Lord headed by a hideous leader, a man so grisly that Hen Wen, the oracular pig Taran is charged with, escapes into the forest. Taran follows it, and, after meeting with a few unique and interesting characters, learns that being a hero is hard and unfulfilling work, and that the only true wealth is that of spirit. This sort of uplifting, deeply spiritual fantasy rarely appears nowaday. You'd do well to pick up this book and the other parts of the quintet, whatever your age might be, if you want to bring the glow of simple pleasures into your life. The Book of Three (and the remainder of the books in the series) are closely based on Welsh mythology, particularly the Mabynogeon, although the good and evil are more precisely defined. There are a number of obscure references to Welsh mythology throughout the series (they don't get in the way of the plot).
Rating: 
Summary: The Wales that never was
Review: _The Book of Three_ begins one of the best children's fantasy series (or fantasy series, period), next to the _Chronicles of Narnia_ of course. It follows what has become a well-worn pattern--hero of humble origin has a series of adventures, involving a struggle against an evil force trying to take over the world, which ends in the hero's discovering that . . . Well, in case you haven't read too many heroic fantasy books, I won't tell you. Anyway, this series stands out from the pack (and yes, I'm afraid I think it is even better than Harry Potter, though I don't expect all you Potter fans to agree with me--check back with me in ten years and we'll discuss it; and yes, I hate it too when people say that to me!). It has lovable characters, humor, and, above everything else, an insight into how we make moral choices and come to be mature, honorable people. Taran starts off wanting excitement, but he comes to realize that if you really want to do things worth doing, you have to care about the thing you're doing more than about the fact that you're the one doing it. Of course, he has a lot of friends to help him in his moral development, especially the feisty princess (and sorceress-in-training) Eilonwy.
Rating:
Summary: Very Cool
Review: The Book of Three was one of the first fantasy stories I ever read, but it was one of my most memorable. The tale of Taran, the pig keeper, who keeps a magic pig -- Henny? Is and always will be fascinating to me. It has spirit, and it's really funny. The characters are very three dimensional, and since then, I have read everything that Lloys Alexander has written, and none of it has been any less than The Book of Three. P.S. I tell you, when I was five and read that book teh first time, I was scared of the Horned King. I'd say, read this book and you will also become an avid fan of Lloyd Alexander's.
Rating:
Summary: COOL BOOK
Review: This book is cool. its got really exciting wars, magic, and lessons to learn. its a great book, and those who like harry potter, and those who wish that magic really did exist and dream of becoming a hero themselves should read this.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Book
Review: A Book of Three is an intriguing story of a young farm hand who dreams of becoming an adventurer. For all of his life, Taran lived at the quaint farmhouse called Caer Dallben. His real adventures start though when he's told to look after the oracular pig on the premisis. The pig escapes and rather than getting in trouble, Taran gives chase into the forest and comes face to face with the enemy of the land. This book, set in the mythical country of Prydian, which uncannily resembles Wales, takes you through an imaginary country with imaginary characters but real adventures throughout. As you read, you'll be pulled into Taran's life. You'll feel the pain as he encounters new troubles all the way to the end of the book. And by the time it's all done you'll be grasping for more. Luckily, Lloyd Alexander continued the adventures in four more books. I haven't read them but if they anything like the first then they'll be worth the time. Lloyd alexanders writing style will draw you in and keep you there. So,if you like to be pulled from reality and thrown into a world of fantasy for a few hours then I suggest you pick up any of the five books within this set by Lloyd Alexander.
Rating:
Summary: My First Foray into Fantasy
Review: When I was in elementary school, I chose this book to write a report about. It was the first fantasy book I've ever read, and I've been hooked ever since. It is a bold, clear writing style that is very accessible to a young reader. I recently re-read the series, and I was hooked as much today as I was 20 years ago. I would liken these to the new Harry Potter series, which hopefully will help hook a new generation of fantasy readers.
Rating:
Summary: The Book of Three
Review: Until I reached the seventh grade reading was boring to me. Then I was grounded to my room for a month(don't ask). I was reading "The Book of Three" in my english class and with all this extra time on my hands I actually read the whole book for once. I was hooked. Then I got the remaining books in the series from my teacher and devoured them as well. I have been reading ever since.The book was just fantastic and I would like to thank Lloyd Alexander for introducing me to a whole other world and showing me how much fun reading is. As a child I felt I could relate to Taran and sympathize as well. I have lent these books to friends and will soon give them to my daughter to read when she and I are finished another set we are reading together.A great read for children and adults.
Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Reading Experience
Review: I received the Chronicles of Prydain as a Christmas gift thispast Christmas, and it was by far my favorite gift. The series is abeautiful chronicling of an incredible adventure. Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper is a character that will stay with me forever, as is Eilonwy Princess of Llyr. The Book of Three is a fabulous book, and the story is one that you will never forget. THIS IS NOT ONLY A CHILDREN'S BOOK! Even when I am an adult (I'm twelve now), I know that I will still adore the Chronicles of Prydain. The characters are wonderfully written (especially Eilonwy), the setting is perfect, and the story is completely flawless. If you want an exciting, beautiful, and just plain awesome book, The Book of Three is definitely for you.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Beggining
Review: I think this is a great beggining to a series of five. There isplenty of action and exitement as the young Taran sets out on ajourney to become a hero. He finds company with a strange group, atalkative princess, a wandering bard, a famous hero, and a creature that's anything but human. They go in search of a very special and important animal who holds the secret to defeating evil, one of Taran's pigs (as he is the assistant pig-herder in Prydain). I would recomend this book to anyone who loves a good fantasy to read for pleasure.
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