Rating: My bookshelf

Reading level: Middle School, (Mid-late Elementary Needs Parent Supervision)

As with the other Chronicles of Prydain books, this book illustrates so many Biblical truths.

Possible Concerns:

  • Youthful Romance. Nothing graphic, but there is certainly some love interest that plays a role and drives the main character to try to rescue his friend.
  • Fantasy. There is the usual fantasy elements (e.g., magic, enchantments, enchantresses, evil warlords, giants with potions, a sasquatch-like creatures, and diviners who meditate most of the day).

Things I like: If you are able to read or listen to this one with your kids, there will be so many themes similar to those of the Bible. (Spolier Alert!) Here are some examples:

  • Forgiveness. Gurgi forgives princess Eilonwy for hurting him immediately before she even asks for his forgiveness. Why do you think he does that? What is similar, and what is different between Gurgi’s forgiving Eilonwy and Jesus asking God while hanging on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing?”
  • Selfish thinking. The Giant, Glew, offers all kinds of reasoning that turns the heroes into villains, and that makes himself the victim. What is it about him that causes him to twist the truth into others being unreasonable or unthoughtful? When have you or those around you ever had reasoning like his?
  • The Deceptiveness of Sin. Achren appears to have made attractive promises to Magg that he will have power. But when she is near to achieving her goals, she snaps at him and threatens him. He appears to understand that her promises were never intended to be kept. Just like Achren, Satan makes promises to you and me—promises he never intends to keep. What have been the false promises that you have been tempted by lately, and what is the real, sad truth at the end of those promises?
  • Growth. How and in what ways does Prince Rhun grow throughout the story, and what events and choices cause this growth? What growth have you seen in your own character lately, and what events or choices have caused it?
  • Jealousy. Have you ever, like Taran, assumed the worst of or been jealous of someone like Prince Rhun, only to learn later when you get to know them that you had made false assumptions about the person’s motives or intentions?
  • Identity. Eilonwy’s bauble is a gift she inherited from her family. The bauble helps her see things and remember who she really is. What/who are the baubles in your life?

I have no major concerns recommending this book, but strongly recommend starting with The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron to get the most out of it. Here are my reviews of other books in the series.

titlelinkratingreading_level
The Book of Threehttps://jesuslovesthebookworms.wordpress.com/?p=2265My bookshelfMiddle school
The Black Cauldronhttps://jesuslovesthebookworms.wordpress.com/2024/07/26/the-chronicles-of-prydain-the-black-cauldron-by-lloyd-alexander/My bookshelfMiddle school
The Castle of Llyrhttps://jesuslovesthebookworms.wordpress.com/2024/05/08/the-chronicles-of-prydain-the-castle-of-llyr-by-lloyd-alexander/My bookshelfMiddle school
Taran Wandererhttps://jesuslovesthebookworms.wordpress.com/2024/05/17/the-chronicles-of-prydain-taran-wanderer-by-lloyd-alexander/My bookshelfMiddle school
The High Kinghttps://jesuslovesthebookworms.wordpress.com/?p=2318My bookshelfMiddle school

*Acknowledgement: This one I didn’t read but only listened to the audiobook, so I may have missed some details or might not have seen some text if the audiobook didn’t include it.