"Would You Have Me Set Her Free Only to Wed a Witless Prince?"

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	• The Castle of Llyr (The Chronicles of Prydain) Lloyd Alexander Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks, 2006 - 208 pages average customer review:based on 56 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Wonderful

So, a certain character must learn to become their station in life. Of course, someone decides said character is better dead. And, of course, the rest of our intrepid band do what they can to make sure said person survives. There is a lot going on here in the head of certain main characters, feelings they had from the beginning but were able and willing to disguise and hide in the first two books. But they start to play a bigger role in our story. To be continued in book 4.

Great books

I read the Prydain Chronicles as a child and still find them enjoyable today. I look forward to one day sharing these tales with my children.

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"Would You Have Me Set Her Free Only to Wed a Witless Prince?"

Lloyd Alexander's five-part "Chronicles of Prydain" is essential reading for anyone, regardless of age, gender or reading preferences. Although they are classed as both fantasy and children's literature, these books can be enjoyed by everyone, not just for its fantastical elements and the broad good vs. evil conflict, but for their gentle humour, loveable characters and vindication of humanity over, not just fantasy-evil, but the more base qualities of greed, ignorance, spite and pride. At their core, the books are a coming-of-age story for our protagonist Taran, as he journeys from boy to man in troubled times, acquiring wisdom, humility, kindness and responsibility as he goes. The best part is that this process is gradual, but not stagnant. In each book, Taran has grown, and yet there's always more to learn on the path to becoming a man.

As such, this third volume of the series "The Castle of Llyr," concerns Taran's developing feelings for his friend and companion Princess Elionwy, who is being sent to the Isle of Mona in order to become a proper lady. The enchanter Dallben, with whom the young people live with, has himself ordered it. Neither are particularly pleased with the decision, and Taran is even less pleased to discover that Elionwy's new guardians have plans to betroth her to their son. Prince Rhun of Mona is hapless and clumsy, and jealousy rears its ugly head when Taran becomes acutely aware of his position in life as an Assistant Pig-Keeper.

And yet all that must take a backseat when Elionwy is kidnapped, and Taran must work with Rhun, along with harpist Fflewddur Fflam and the faithful Gurgi, in order to bring her safely home. Their journey takes them into subterranean caves and across mysterious islands, only to find that the object of their adventure has been bewitched by the evil enchantress Achren who plans to use the Princess's latent powers to reclaim control over Prydain.

As well as this, there are other familiar faces, such as the warrior Gwydion and the talkative crow Kaw, (though sadly, Doli doesn't make an appearance) and several other characters that play a part in the action both here and in stories to come: Glew, the "smallest" giant in fiction, the beautiful cat Llyan (who Alexander called "the prototype of cat-greatness") and Prince Rhun, whose clumsiness is offset by his endearing cheerfulness and awareness that he isn't quite the prince he should be. We learn more about Elionwy's heritage, particularly the purpose and nature of her glass bauble, though the full story of her people won't be fully explained until Taran Wanderer (The Chronicles of Prydain). And of course, we get the first romantic overtures between Taran and Elionwy that are both poignant and typically awkward, as you'd expect from adolescents.

The entire series takes place in the land of Prydain, which is heavily influenced by the mythology of Wales, as found in The Mabinogion (Penguin Classics). Though it sounds like your typical fantasy-setting, there is a particular charm to this series, born out of Alexander's love and respect for life, his wit and wordplay, and the wisdom that he manages to infuse into his story without ever sounding preachy or pretentious. These five books, and the companion anthology of short stories set in Prydain's past, are essential reading for any child, to be put on the shelf right next to The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6).

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Not as good as the first two, but still a fine series.

Lloyd Alexander, The Castle of Llyr (Yearling, 1966)

The third book in Alexander's classic series takes Taran and friends to Ireland (excuse me, Llyr) when Eilonwy is given over to their regents for a more rounded education than she can get with a couple of old men and an assistant pig-keeper. Things get complicated when Taran, who has started to fall in love with Eilonwy, meets the Prince of Llyr, who becomes an immediate rival for Eilonwy's affections. Worse yet, when they actually get to the Castle, they find an old adversary they thought long dead is still around, and wants Eilonwy as much as either of the boys, though for very different ends. This sends the company on another adventure.

It's as fun as the other books in the series, but it is kind of depressing to see such a well-worn, clichéd way of keeping a series alive woven into a series that's become such a backbone of juvenile fantasy literature. Still, the adventure is well-paced, as always with Alexander, and the writing is still solid. A minor dip in the series, hopefully rectified soon enough. *** ½

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A terrific love story

The Castle of Llyr is the third book in the Chronicles of Prydain, a series with such interesting characters and wonderful storytelling that each book is better than the last. This entry is something of a love story between Taran and Eilonwy, whose feelings had been hinted at in the first couple of novels. Eilonwy is forced to learn how to be a lady, all the while seeking to sneak away from her new castle home and go back to adventuring. She gets her wish, only to be kidnapped. As such, it is up to Taran and his companions to rescue the princess.

As is usual for the Chronicles of Prydain, the plot is familiar but the story is not. Lloyd Alexander takes standard fantasy tropes, in this case the "rescue the princess" plot, and turns them into something unique and charming. In addition to returning supporting characters like Gurgi and Fflewdur Fflam, Alexander adds several new characters that are as unique and entertaining. The world of Prydain is alive not only with locations and history but with characters that you will grow to love.

As the focus of these novels is on Taran's journey from adolescence into adulthood, you will see more development along those lines from him. This growth of character is not forced or sudden, and the end of the novel will leave you feeling like he has more growing to do. He does, in fact. Fortunately, the Chronicles of Prydain continue with another book following this one. By the time you finish The Castle of Llyr, you'll be thinking of little more than reading the next book in this wodnerful series.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

The Newbery-winning fantasy series now available in gorgeous new paperback editions!

Since The Book of Three was first published in 1964, young readers have been enthralled by the adventures of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper and his quest to become a hero. Taran is joined by an engaging cast of characters that includes Eilonwy, the strong-willed and sharp-tongued princess; Fflewddur Fflam, the hyperbole-prone bard; the ever-faithful Gurgi; and the curmudgeonly Doli?all of whom have become involved in an epic struggle between good and evil that shapes the fate of the legendary land of Prydain. Released over a period of five years, Lloyd Alexander?s beautifully written tales not only captured children?s imaginations but also garnered the highest critical praise.

The Black Cauldron was a Newbery Honor Book, and the final volume in the chronicles, The High King, crowned the series by winning the Newbery Medal for ?the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.?

Henry Holt is proud to present this classic series in a new, redesigned paperback format. The jackets feature stunning art by acclaimed fantasy artist David Wyatt, giving the books a fresh look for today?s generation of young fantasy lovers. The companion book of short stories, The Foundling is also available in paperback at this time.

In their more than thirty years in print, the Chronicles of Prydain have become the standard of excellence in fantasy literature for children.

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