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89th out of 515 books
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1,244 voters
The Castle of Llyr (The Chronicles of Prydain #3)
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;...more
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;...more
Paperback, 170 pages
Published
May 16th 2006
by Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks
(first published 1966)
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A nice continuation of the series. It was fun to finally get to some characters that I had heard about for some time, and I am curious to read the next two books.
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When I was a boy this was my favorite book in the series, largely because of Taran's developing feelings for Eilonwy. I was a sucker for romance in those days, and Taran's struggle is as much with his deepening love for her as with the machinations of Achren and her conspirators. The potential for romance has been there since the first novel, but it seems as though the two of them have not been forced to acknowledge it simply because there has never been a need to do so. Their lives at Caer Dall...more
The castle of Llyr is probably as well done as the first book in the series, but does not quite compare to The Black Cauldron.
Eilonwy leaves Caer Dallben to learn to be a lady, and Taran goes with her as an escort. This leads to adventures on the Isle of Mona, rather than continental Prydain which reveal more about Eilonwy's background and give Taran, Gurgi, and Fflewdur more opportunities for adventures.
I may have liked this book more if it had more impact on the land o...more
Eilonwy leaves Caer Dallben to learn to be a lady, and Taran goes with her as an escort. This leads to adventures on the Isle of Mona, rather than continental Prydain which reveal more about Eilonwy's background and give Taran, Gurgi, and Fflewdur more opportunities for adventures.
I may have liked this book more if it had more impact on the land o...more
The Castle of Llyr is the third chapter in Prydain Chronicles. Our old favorite characters are developed, as much is learned about Eilonwy. It is enjoyable to learn the background of the main characters even as the story moves forward. In this book we learn a little more of Gwydion, the Prince of Don, who is idolized by our hero, Taran. We learn more of Achren, who was introduced in book #1 as an evil enchantress. In addition, some new and fascinating characters are introduced. It builds t...more
I wasn't too impressed by the first book in this series. I thought the series was going to be a bit boring but WOW did I miss the mark. I was approaching it all wrong and I know I'll have to reread it to see if I appreciate Alexander's work more. I think what confused me was that this series, like The Lord of the Rings, is meant to be approached as one large story, in other words, if you want to get past the superficialities, the important character developments happen as the series progresses a...more
A note on how times have changed: In the author's note at the beginning of this book, Lloyd Alexander puts forth a pre-emptive plea for his readers to not be frustrated with certain villains not getting comeuppance at the end, explaining that there will be more books with which to tie up loose ends. These days we're so used to the idea of fantasy series that such a concern seems rather quaint, doesn't it?
Anyway, I've been tearing my way through the Prydain series, and this was yet an...more
Anyway, I've been tearing my way through the Prydain series, and this was yet an...more
More into character development and giant creatures, this third book in the Prydain Chronicles is not as exciting or as swashbuckling adventuresome as The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron. Interesting to see Taran mature as a character and I admire his sense of responsibility and sensitivity to the suffering of others. His dismay that a newly introduced character, a bumbling prince, may win the heart of Eilonwy, adds complexity to the story and as Alexander writes in the Author's Note, "...more
I more or less devoured this book. Unlike the first two, where there's a well-defined quest to find some object or defeat some foe, this book is a little bit of a mystery, more of a rescue mission, so the stakes are even higher. Adding to the previously established history and drama, this book more prominently ushers in the element of magic, increasing understanding of previously introduced plot points and characters. There's still a lot to learn about this world and its inhabitants, and the ...more
This is the one book in the series that I'm sure I've read before, but having read it I have no memory of it at all. For one thing, I remember it being about an awesome kick-butt princess (I'm sure I remember my copy having a picture of her on the cover), but she's hardly in the story at all. Although the character is pretty good, her part in this is even more limited than her role in the previous two books - she's just the damsel in distress who has to be rescued by two guys who both sort-of ...more
The first three books of the Chronicles of Pyrdain series have all followed a similar path for me as an adult reader experiencing these stories for the first time: Boredom at the beginning, mild interest at the one third mark, and really into it by the end. I supposed the lag comes from the fact that Lloyd Alexander keeps following the same formula with his expositions. Taran is a lowly assistant pig keeper. He wants to be more than that, and nobody respects him. He is envious of the prince...more
OK, I have to be honest, this was a case where reading chidren's literature as an adult didn't really work. I've been charmed by the first two books of this fantasy series, but this third book felt inert and redundant.
The heart of this series is the interaction between Taran and Eilonwy, and since she spends most of this book as an object of affection or the victim of a kidnapping, that doesn't happen here. The book needed a bit of that girl power to make it work. Instead, we're left...more
The heart of this series is the interaction between Taran and Eilonwy, and since she spends most of this book as an object of affection or the victim of a kidnapping, that doesn't happen here. The book needed a bit of that girl power to make it work. Instead, we're left...more
This is the third book in The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander. In a way, this is Princess Eilonwy's tale, where she is sent off to the King and Queen of Mona to learn to be a young lady. Naturally, that involves lots of needlework and hairwashing and dancing about and listening to other young ladies prattle and Eilonwy hates it. Can you blame her? So it's not surprising that she runs off with Magg, the evil chief steward and gets herself into a bad spot with the dreaded Queen Achren...more
12/6/11 - 4/10
I originally read the Prydain series in elementary school and remembered liking them. I had mentioned them in the past to my daughter and she's been wanting to read them for a while. So the whole family decided to read them. Unfortunately, they were not nearly as good as I remembered. The stories were pretty simplistic and childish with not a lot of detail. The characters were one dimensional with repetitive descriptions based off a single characteristic. A couple charact...more
I originally read the Prydain series in elementary school and remembered liking them. I had mentioned them in the past to my daughter and she's been wanting to read them for a while. So the whole family decided to read them. Unfortunately, they were not nearly as good as I remembered. The stories were pretty simplistic and childish with not a lot of detail. The characters were one dimensional with repetitive descriptions based off a single characteristic. A couple charact...more
This continues my rereading of the Prydain Chronicles, and I'm still having as much fun as ever, plus enjoying the audio versions. What's interesting is seeing which details are familiar and which come as a surprise. In this book, Taran and Eilonwy really start to feel like teenagers, although the action of the book is still at a level that younger readers can grasp and appreciate. There are more complex themes at play (and if I remember correctly, this continues in the final two books as wel...more
(Genre:Children's fantasy) The 3rd installment in the Chronicles of Prydain. Princess Eilonwy is sent to the Isle of Mona to stay with the King and Queen there and to learn proper princess behavior. Taran and Gurgi travel with her on the journey and discover that Eilonwy is in danger. They work to keep her safe and to discover who is after the princess and why. This is almost a side-adventure in the series that Alexander uses to help set the stage for the next book. It is Taran's growing feeling...more
The good:
* Taran's and Rhun's character development was particularly well done
* I enjoyed learning more of Eilonwy's background
* The book contained more of the same delightful mix of humor and adventure that characterized the first two books.
* The animals: Kaw and Llyan.
The not-so-good:
* The plot itself wasn't as gripping...while I certainly cared about Eilonwy's fate, the author could have done a better job of raising the stakes.
* Eilonwy's absenc...more
* Taran's and Rhun's character development was particularly well done
* I enjoyed learning more of Eilonwy's background
* The book contained more of the same delightful mix of humor and adventure that characterized the first two books.
* The animals: Kaw and Llyan.
The not-so-good:
* The plot itself wasn't as gripping...while I certainly cared about Eilonwy's fate, the author could have done a better job of raising the stakes.
* Eilonwy's absenc...more
I think the "Book-a-Minute" review from rinkworks.com sums this one up nicely:
Prince Rhun
Hullo, hullo, hullo, hullo, hullo, hullo.
Princess Eilonwy
Why, that's like climbing a tree to keep a camel from biting your ear.
Queen Teleria
Hi -- yes stand up straight don't dawdle bow a little lower if you please hands out of your pocket thank you speak up don't mumble do tuck your tunic in, it looks so und...more
Prince Rhun
Hullo, hullo, hullo, hullo, hullo, hullo.
Princess Eilonwy
Why, that's like climbing a tree to keep a camel from biting your ear.
Queen Teleria
Hi -- yes stand up straight don't dawdle bow a little lower if you please hands out of your pocket thank you speak up don't mumble do tuck your tunic in, it looks so und...more
"The Castle of Llyr"--the third volume in Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles--again confronts the evil that menaces the land of Prydain but on a much smaller scale. The princess Eilonwy has left Caer Dalben to learn to be a proper lady. When she disappears, Taran and faithful Gurgi go in search of her. Like Alexander's earlier books in this series, the story is fast-paced and fully imagined. Those expecting to learn more about Eilonwy, however, may be disappointed; although we learn ...more
Okay so I decided to read ahead in the series because it takes so long to read books aloud. The Castle of LLyr is my favorite book in the series. I like that Lloyd Alexander didn't neglect Eilonwy's character. Frequently, the main male character gets all the development and the female lead is supposed to just end up being good enough for him in the end. I liked to see the choices Eilonwy makes. I have read this series many times but it has become more meaningful for me each time I read it with m...more
A fun third book in the Prydain series. Eilonway travels to another castle to be taught to be a princess. She is the last in the line of enchantress's from the Castle of Llyr. Achren attempts to control her so that she might be powerful again, but her attempt fails as Eilonway destroys her castle and the chance to be an enchantress. Taran, Gurgi, and his other companions help to save her. Taran understands his feelings for her and in the end Eilonway realizes her feelings for him. This boo...more
The characters are wonderful, each having the same distinctive characteristics of the other books, only they are growing more mature. The reader especially sees that growth in Princess Eilonwy and Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper. Prince Rhun, a rather weak young man who becomes Princess Eilonwy's intended husband, much to Taren's distress, enters the story. The group sets off on a dangerous mission to rescue Princess Eilonwy from an evil enchantress in all of Prydain. A gripping, well-writte...more
I found this to be the hardest of the series to get through, perhaps because Taran's confliction about his low heritage is pretty far remote from how we would approach such a situation today. Eilonwy's new suitor, the inept Price Rhun, subjects readers to all manner of idiocy. We are also exposed to Glew, who is defined by his long-winded, insufferable rants. Let all writers of fantasy learn from the error inherent in these characters: to introduce deliberately boring characters is to make your ...more
Short review: This third book in the series marks a turning point. Taran realizes that he actually has feelings for the Princess, but not until she is sent to live with some relatives to learn how to be a lady. While this is still mostly an action/quest oriented book, it is the most romantically oriented of the series. It is a good change of pace. Reading these again as an adult I am really impressed with how nicely the series is put together, not just how well written the individual books ...more
Not my favorite of the series so far (possibly because Eilonwy was absent and I love her chattering character), but definitely very good. I love the way that Alexander is doing his characterization; it's logical, slow enough to be realistic and obvious and also artful. I can see where he's taking Taran and all the companions, and his build up to what I sense is a pretty epic finale is coming along great. The plot was a little too disjointed for me though at times, I thought there could have been...more
My mom read the Chronicles of Prydain aloud to my brother and I when we were 11 and 12. I was fairly positive I would name my one-day daughter Eilonwy, because I loved them all so much. I actually ran the name past my Welsh husband, but he vetoed it, and our daughter is called Gracie instead.
If you haven't read anything by Lloyd Alexander, DO IT. The Castle of Llyr is my favorite, but all of his books are completely fantastic. And if you have mid-grade aged kids, consider reading th...more
If you haven't read anything by Lloyd Alexander, DO IT. The Castle of Llyr is my favorite, but all of his books are completely fantastic. And if you have mid-grade aged kids, consider reading th...more
This book feels like it dropped out of a completely different series. It's not bad, exactly, just simplistic and silly in a way that the rest of the Prydain Chronicles are not. The characters don't feel like the same people as in the earlier (and later) books.
My advice is to pretend this is a book from another series, and just remember the few bits of plot that matter for the final books. You'll enjoy it more that way. (I was given this warning by my husband, and I think it let me en...more
My advice is to pretend this is a book from another series, and just remember the few bits of plot that matter for the final books. You'll enjoy it more that way. (I was given this warning by my husband, and I think it let me en...more
Logan Andersen
added it
this is a good book it is the book that follows after the black cauldron. taran likes the girl that he has been traveling with throughout the other books. she has to go to the castle that she grew up in but doesn't want to so taran comes along with her while they are there she gets kidnapped. so he goes and finds the people that kidnapped her but she is under a spell that only he could break. so he breaks the spell and takes her back to the castle but sadly he has to go to his home far away and ...more
It wasn't until this book in the Chronicles of Prydain that I realized a) how much I love this series and b) how much I love individual characters in the series. I'm still not exceptionally keen on Eilonwy, but Fflewddur Fflam, Llyan, Doli, and even the prince of Mona have a special place in my heart. This book in particular was neat because it took something of a step back from the ongoing battle against the Death-Lord of Annuvin and instead brought Achren back into play, a character we haven't...more
Arec
rated it
One of the more interesting novels of the series because it did not have to deal with Arawn directly yet still progressed the storyline in that sense. Despite Eilonway being my second to last favorite character due to her annoying chatter, I still loved reading about her story and history. Alexander actually made me feel pity for both Eilonway and Archen while wanting for Taran to desperately come to terms with his feelings.
Rhun was a light-hearted addition to the cast. he was a temp...more
Rhun was a light-hearted addition to the cast. he was a temp...more
Leonardo
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Arthurian literature
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Lloyd Chudley Alexander (January 30, 1924 - May 17, 2007) was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series, The High King, was awarded the Newbery Medal i...more
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“Child, child, do you not see? For each of us comes a time when we must be more than what we are.”
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“...alas, raising a young lady is a mystery even beyond an enchanter's skill.”
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