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Summary: Lloyd Alexander's High King
Review: Have you ever been betrayed by someone who was once your ally? Well, in a fantasy book called The High King, by Lloyd Alexander, the story is about morality and loyalty.
The setting of this wonderful book is during the Middle Ages, in a land called Prydain, a land existing only in the imagination of the reader. From the beginning of the book to the end of the book, about six to twelve months passes by. The setting of the Middle Ages affects the story because there was no form of fast transportation and strong long ranging weapons during the era. If there were forms of fast transportation, and long ranging weapons, Taran and his army wouldn't have had to take a long time and travel to Annuvin.
First, the House of Don is betrayed by Lord Prderi, who was thought to be an ally of The House of Don. Lord Prderi and the army of the House of Dog fight, and Lord Prderi's army wins. Although Lord Prderi takes over Caer Daythyl, the main character Taran stays loyal to the house of Don, and continues the battle for good, which supports the thesis. Later in the book, Taran and his army head toward Annuvin, the land of evil.
The main character Taran is very moral, determined, and loyal. One insight I developed about Taren is, he will never betray others. (Details that led me to my conclusion are, Taren has a chance to join Lord Prderi and betray the house of Don, however he stays loyal until the very end.) Taran also takes big sacrifices to help the army of the House of Don to defeat evil and show loyalty. This action also supports the main idea statement.
This book is very exiting, and I will give it Five Stars. This book is one of the best books I've ever read, and I think everyone will like it. I made this conclusion because, this story is very exiting, and the ending is never given away. I hope my book review was helpful to you.
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Summary: An Ok Book
Review: I sort of liked this book. It did have a lot of descrition and a really good story line to it. It also had imagination to it the was really good. I didnt like some on the names rhe were used because they were really wierd like Fflewddur and Gwystyl. Some of the book was really hard to understand because i didnt read the books leading up to this one, even tnhough the author said it would be ok to do this. I also didnt like how much it skipped around. I mean at one point you were with one caracter and in the next chaper you were with a different caracter in another part of there country.
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Summary: Wonderful, sorrowful, and epic
Review: This is the last and most complex of the Pydain Chronicles. There are a lot of battles, including 2 major ones, and a lot of inner choices that the characters must make. I didn't find the end that saddening, because of Eilonwy's choice, but I did sit in amazement at Flewdder,s sacrifice. This book is almost lost of humor, and is the telling of the final battle for Prydain. This is a must read book.
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Summary: The High King
Review: The High King
By: Lloyd Alexander
Lloyd Alexander's The High King is a very good book. It is filled with action and adventure. The main characters name is Taran, and assistant pig keeper. He is asked to go on a quest with Prince Gwydion so the can defeat Arawan The Death Lord and regain the sword of legend Dyrnwyn.I really enjoyed the book. Like most good books it keeps you in suspense and is hard to put down. I liked in particular the way the Princess and Taran had fallen in love and how she would irritate him. My favorite part of the book is when the Princess had been captured and was rescued by wolves and bears. They then used these forces to attack Arawan's men, and delayed and weakened them. I like the idea of a girl taking charge and causing damage to enemies.
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Summary: The High King
Review: The High King
By: Lloyd Alexander
Reviewed By: JGagnier
Period 1 Lloyd Alexander's The High King is a very good book. It is filled with action and adventure. The main characters name is Taran, and assistant pig keeper. He is asked to go on a quest with Prince Gwydion so the can defeat Arawan The Death Lord and regain the sword of legend Dyrnwyn. I really enjoyed the book. Like most good books it keeps you in suspense and is hard to put down. I liked in particular the way the Princess and Taran had fallen in love and how she would irritate him. My favorite part of the book is when the Princess had been captured and was rescued by wolves and bears. The then used these forced to attack Arawan's men, and delayed and weakened them. I like the idea of a girl taking charge and causing damage to enemies.
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Summary: Best Book Yet to be found
Review: All I have to saw is, if your going to read this book, good luck trying to stop!
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Summary: A parable of life
Review: As the other reviewers suggest, this series must be read in order. Read them as a story of Taran's growing up. Without giving too much away, may I suggest that Taran's choice of a kingdom of sorrow over a kingdom of happiness is the final step in his growing up & coming of age: his acceptance of the adult responsibilities he has come to feel toward others. Remember his thoughts of the fallow fields, the unfinished seawall, and so on. Consider each of the books as stages in a young man's life. I'm now in middle age. I can't tell you how many times I've re-read the series. In seeking my career, for many years I felt stuck in Taran Wanderer. I remember the "Castle of Llyr" stage. My thoughts drift back to this series even now, far more often than one might expect for a set of kids books. "At the end of knowledge is wisdom" (Ok, that's from the Foundling.) Read or give this series as a gift of both instrospection and perspective; of wisdom.
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Summary: The End - but not really
Review: After reviewing the previous four books of the Prydain cycle, you would think I would have run out of steam by now, but I'm not done yet! The High King proves to be the best saved for last (or at least as outstanding as the others). Lloyd Alexander can finally stretch his wings here with the marvelous heroes and heroine all grown up and ready to face the world - together. All the great characters that gave the stories their extra sparkle are back, including enemies. Taran, Eilonwy, and Company face the greatest danger to Prydain when Arawn, Death Lord steals a legendary guardian sword. This is probably the most obvious of the books regarding good vs. evil, but don't slight its impact. Alexander has amused, enthralled, and drawn us in with his unique interpretation of ancient Welsh myths as only a master storyteller can. You will laugh and marvel as usual, but there are moments of bittersweetness. You may hate these for being heartrending, but then realize that they couldn't be otherwise. Alexander is in fine form with his quirky, yet beautiful rendered prose. It is simplistic, soothing, and haunting, making the Chronicles perfect reading for all ages. Kids can handle him and adults can appreciate the poetic rhythm. Additionally, lessons (wise, but not preachy) unfolding in previous books culminate in the last. Answers to questions and mysteries and personal histories are revealed (not to be missed if you read any of the others!). While The High King can stand alone the most of the series, it's merely a good book without the other four. All together, it is the ending to perhaps one of the most meaningful and moving fantasy series - ever. I do not exaggerate, these are books that can change your life, and will continue to reveal wonders and wisdom every time you pick them up again. Highly recommended for everyone, at any age.
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Summary: The best fantasy series for kids I've had the pleasure of re
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 this, 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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Summary: my favorite author second to J.R.R Tolkien
Review: A good novel finishing the Prydain Chronicles. I enjoyed it well
, though i quite didn't much care for the ending....(i'd enjoyed
it much better had Gurgie stayed with Taran, & Fflewddur, my favotite character, besides Gwydion, had also remained behind to compose his best songs yet. Prince Rhun's death was also a little
dishearting.....but all in all, it was a good book
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