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The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander
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The Castle of Llyr (original 1966; edition 1966)

by Lloyd Alexander, Evaline Ness (Illustrator), Charles F. Reasoner (Editor), M. Jerry Weiss (Editor), Dell Publishing (Editor)2 more, Holt Rinehart Winston (Editor), Dell Yearling Books (Editor)

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5,242592,021 (3.98)3 / 118
When Princess Eilonwy is sent to the Isle of Mona for training, she is bewitched by the evil enchantress Achren, so Taran and other friends must try to rescue her.
Member:MeditationesMartini
Title:The Castle of Llyr
Authors:Lloyd Alexander
Other authors:Evaline Ness (Illustrator), Charles F. Reasoner (Editor), M. Jerry Weiss (Editor), Dell Publishing (Editor), Holt Rinehart Winston (Editor)1 more, Dell Yearling Books (Editor)
Info:Dell Yearling Books (1974), Edition: 3rd, Paperback, 206 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:**1/2
Tags:2011/04/28

Work Information

The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander (1966)

  1. 01
    The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells (themulhern)
    themulhern: Glew and the invisible man are in much the same predicament and for much the same reasons. They even both experimented on a cat.
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In which Eilonwy is given a new opportunity, but all is built on sand...

The third book of The Chronicles of Prydain is my favourite thus far. Yet it's a far different beast from the previous two.

I was worried after The Black Cauldron that each book would just be a straightforward quest story reuniting all the same characters. Instead, I longed for a Narnia-esque series in which different aspects of Prydain could be explored. For this novel, we do get a reunion of the main characters, but most of the supporting cast take some time off, which creates a sense of difference here. Eilonwy is one of the series' strongest characters, and it's wonderful to discover her backstory - even if most of it was unknown even to the princess herself. Unfortunately, she's sidelined for most of the novel, but thankfully the young lady has so impressed us in previous books that we genuinely fear for her safety. (Sadly, the 'Big Bad' of the series is also sidelined for the most part, which is a shame since she has a great presence.)

Alexander uses the quest for Eilonwy to explore new parts of Prydain, and to add a lot of history and mysticism. It really works, and creates a sense that things are going to build nicely in the final two books. As always, he mixes a moral quest with haunting reality, and creates genuine obstacles for his characters to overcome.

Still, The Castle of Llyr bears a couple of the same flaws as its predecessors. I listen to a lot of audio plays, and the dialogue here is sometimes similar. Even when they're being chased by a giant mountain lion, the characters speak in lengthy, descriptive passages. Alexander could surely accomplish the same things with passages of prose instead! This is more annoying in this book than previous, because there are some interesting character developments that could have been more subtly handled. Taran is discovering his feelings for Eilonwy, and the new character of Prince Rhun turns out to have a lovely arc. I can see how it would work on television or film, whereas here the arc seems a bit deflated. He develops from fool to fool aware of his status to reluctant hero. Late in the book, it becomes clear that he's realising something exists between Eilonwy and Taran, even as he hopes to be her betrothed. Still, this all comes across in expository conversations, rather than anything more.

Ultimately, The Castle of Llyr is strong enough in its set pieces and quest narrative that it overcomes these weaknesses. The final setting - a half-sunken castle - is gorgeous, and I'll be very interested to see where Alexander takes these characters (both heroes and villains) as we head into the final two novels. There is a slowly growing tension here, but as yet nothing that suggests the series is coming to its end. I can easily see Prydain being further explored for many books to come. Still, I can't wait to experience the next one. ( )
  therebelprince | Oct 24, 2023 |
Better than the second, but damn I really thought Eilonwy was going to get a break this time. ( )
  mmparker | Oct 24, 2023 |
Having read Taran Wanderer many times and seen The Black Cauldron movie more, it's great to see what happened between the two (I'm now going to presume that I remember Taran Wanderer well enough to skip ahead to The High King)
  urbaer | Mar 5, 2022 |
The stories are simple, but the characters are endearing, they’ve definitely grown on me over the course of the series.
( )
  Annrosenzweig | Oct 15, 2021 |
The shortest and also the least of the five Prydain chronicles, but still very enjoyable. Eilonwy is sidelined for much of the book, and is forced to largely play the role of damsel in distress, to the book's detriment. Still, it's a good adventure and we are introduced to several unforgettable new characters. ( )
  usuallee | Oct 7, 2021 |
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» Add other authors (11 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Alexander, Lloydprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Langton, JamesNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lee, Jody A.Cover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ness, EvalineCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Pilhjerta, Ritva-LiisaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Vocke, RolandÜbersetzersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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For the Friends of the Companions, fondly
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In this chronicle of Prydain, following The Book of Three and The Black Cauldron, what befalls the heroine is as important, and perilous, as the hero's own quest. Princess Eilonwy of the red-gold hair does much more than face the unavoidable (and, in her view, absolutely necessary) ordeal of becoming a young lady. As Dallben, the old enchanter, warns: "For each of us comes a time when we must be more than what we are." And this holds true for princesses as well as for assistant pig-keepers. [from the "Author's Note"]
Eilonwy of the red-gold hair, the Princess Eilonwy Daughter of Angharad Daughter of Regat of the Royal House of Llyr, was leaving Caer Dallben. Dallben himself had so ordered it; and though Taran's heart was suddenly and strangely heavy, he knew there was no gainsaying the old enchanter's words. [from chapter 1, "Prince Rhun"]
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When Princess Eilonwy is sent to the Isle of Mona for training, she is bewitched by the evil enchantress Achren, so Taran and other friends must try to rescue her.

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Princess Eilonwy of the red-gold hair is sad when she must leave her friends to go to the Isle of Mona for training as a proper princess. But Eilonwy will face much more than the ordeal of becoming a lady, for she possesses magical powers sought by Achren, the most evil enchantress in all of Prydain. When something sinister and secret befalls the princess, her loyal friends set out to rescue her.

Along the way they have terrifying encounters with the forces of evil, private and sometimes painful revelations — and always, the promise of excitement and magic.

Available online at The Internet Archive:
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