The Castle of Llyr
by Lloyd Alexander 
The Chronicles of Prydain (Alexander, Lloyd) (03), The Chronicles of Prydain (03)
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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.Tags
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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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The third book in the Chronicles of Prydain takes Taran, Gurgi and Eilonwy to the Isle of Mona, where Eilonwy is to stay and learn how to be a proper lady. They meet up with Fflewddur Fflam and discover that everything is not as it seems. Eilonwy soon goes missing and Taran and his companions must find her.
This book is the turning point in the series- Taran and Eilonwy are growing up and leaving behind their childhood wishes. The series starts addressing more adult issues and I think it's better for it. I really love how the characters interact in this book. I especially like how jealous Taran is of Prince Rhun and how Rhun acts like Taran did in the Book of Three. I really wish, though, that Eilonwy was more present in the book. show more However, it’s still awesome! show less
This book is the turning point in the series- Taran and Eilonwy are growing up and leaving behind their childhood wishes. The series starts addressing more adult issues and I think it's better for it. I really love how the characters interact in this book. I especially like how jealous Taran is of Prince Rhun and how Rhun acts like Taran did in the Book of Three. I really wish, though, that Eilonwy was more present in the book. show more However, it’s still awesome! show less
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. show more 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. show less
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. show more 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. show less
This is book 3 of the Chronicles of Prydain, and continues the tale of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper and his friends. Princess Eilonwy is to leave Caer Dallben for the Isle of Mona, to learn how to be a proper young lady. Taran knows he is going to miss her, and is allowed to escort her to her new home. But new adventures, old friends and old enemies await, as well as new companions.
I must admit that I read this book in two parts, and the reading went more smoothly after my (inadvertent) break, but initially Gurgi (who seems to be a clone of Gollum from LoTR), constantly moaning about his 'poor, tender head' annoyed me. Later on, I appreciated the way Alexander always finds a couple of appropriate rhyming words for Gurgi to describe show more every action. Overall, it's a well written book, given that it's written for children. It concentrates on the characters (primarily Taran) and their feelings, but sketches in details of events and surroundings. If you take the time and imagination to fill them in, you catch a glimpse of the world of Prydain. ★★★½ show less
I must admit that I read this book in two parts, and the reading went more smoothly after my (inadvertent) break, but initially Gurgi (who seems to be a clone of Gollum from LoTR), constantly moaning about his 'poor, tender head' annoyed me. Later on, I appreciated the way Alexander always finds a couple of appropriate rhyming words for Gurgi to describe show more every action. Overall, it's a well written book, given that it's written for children. It concentrates on the characters (primarily Taran) and their feelings, but sketches in details of events and surroundings. If you take the time and imagination to fill them in, you catch a glimpse of the world of Prydain. ★★★½ show less
Reading this third installment of The Chronicles of Prydain brings back memories. It is at the same time masterful, clumsy, ageless, dated, epic, childish, you get the idea, or you don't. There is a duality of nostalgia. Nostalgia for books printed in the sixties that were treading fresh and uncharted ground.
There is also a feeling for bygone if imaginary eras. The fact that the stories don't figure much bombastic magic, fire and brimstone, the whole 9 yards, reinforce that feeling. Prydain as we see it through the lens of the author, is about powerful spells slowly being erased from the minds of witches and wizards, phoenixes that forget how to get back to the living, Griffins and pixies that die eggless and childless. The book show more doesn't feature all of this, but the unshakable decline clings to the dna of Book Three.
Now for the clumsy stuff. I really thought Prince Rhun was really acting retard. He went full retard so I thought, hey, who is he kidding. But no, he was playing it straight. When Princess Eilowny went with Magg, I thought they were just ambling about. I was adamant that this could hardly be a setup for a quest. Taran doesn't seem to grow in maturity. He is mature only in the last two chapters of each book. Gurgi is the one who changed somewhat, albeit with little gradient. The Bard tells only two lies here so he too has changed. I don't want to analyze the hindrances of Taran's quest because they exude the same flimsy framework of a saga condensed in a child's story. So I give the book 3 stars, because it's so clean, naive, simple, and unapologetic. show less
There is also a feeling for bygone if imaginary eras. The fact that the stories don't figure much bombastic magic, fire and brimstone, the whole 9 yards, reinforce that feeling. Prydain as we see it through the lens of the author, is about powerful spells slowly being erased from the minds of witches and wizards, phoenixes that forget how to get back to the living, Griffins and pixies that die eggless and childless. The book show more doesn't feature all of this, but the unshakable decline clings to the dna of Book Three.
Now for the clumsy stuff. I really thought Prince Rhun was really acting retard. He went full retard so I thought, hey, who is he kidding. But no, he was playing it straight. When Princess Eilowny went with Magg, I thought they were just ambling about. I was adamant that this could hardly be a setup for a quest. Taran doesn't seem to grow in maturity. He is mature only in the last two chapters of each book. Gurgi is the one who changed somewhat, albeit with little gradient. The Bard tells only two lies here so he too has changed. I don't want to analyze the hindrances of Taran's quest because they exude the same flimsy framework of a saga condensed in a child's story. So I give the book 3 stars, because it's so clean, naive, simple, and unapologetic. show less
Third in the Chronicles of Prydain, The Castle of Llyr takes a step back from the dark, heady events of the previous book for a more lighthearted and humorous scene on the Isle of Mona. There Princess Eilonwy must go to receive proper training as a lady and also, incidentally, remove herself from the sorceress Achren's reach. Achren, who wishes to exploit the girl's latent magical abilities, will stop at nothing to regain the power she once exercised over the land of Prydain. And even on Mona it seems Eilonwy is not safe, as Taran and his friends soon learn.
This story introduces Prince Rhun, the lovably clumsy heir of Mona's throne who seems to have a soft spot for the spunky Eilonwy. Taran, dimly aware of his own feelings for her, show more naturally doesn't take an instant liking to his rival, who nevertheless becomes very hard to dislike as the story goes on. Though his accidents and dull wits cause the company more than one mishap in their quest to rescue the princess, under his irrepressibly cheerful disposition Rhun knows it. And it's hard to hold it against him. Lloyd Alexander again presents his readers with a subtle moral example of learning unselfishness and making the right decision even when it doesn't mirror how we feel. And Taran's never a goody-two-shoes about it, either; he acts very much as we might and when he does make a selfless choice, it's never easy for him.
Though I enjoy this story, it was always my least favorite of the Chronicles (one of them had to be). Eilonwy's absence for much of the tale is a minus. However, I found I appreciated it more on this reread as Alexander continues to develop Taran's character and set up the romantic angle for the next books. Young adult fantasy readers can do much worse than visit Mona with Taran and Eilonwy! show less
This story introduces Prince Rhun, the lovably clumsy heir of Mona's throne who seems to have a soft spot for the spunky Eilonwy. Taran, dimly aware of his own feelings for her, show more naturally doesn't take an instant liking to his rival, who nevertheless becomes very hard to dislike as the story goes on. Though his accidents and dull wits cause the company more than one mishap in their quest to rescue the princess, under his irrepressibly cheerful disposition Rhun knows it. And it's hard to hold it against him. Lloyd Alexander again presents his readers with a subtle moral example of learning unselfishness and making the right decision even when it doesn't mirror how we feel. And Taran's never a goody-two-shoes about it, either; he acts very much as we might and when he does make a selfless choice, it's never easy for him.
Though I enjoy this story, it was always my least favorite of the Chronicles (one of them had to be). Eilonwy's absence for much of the tale is a minus. However, I found I appreciated it more on this reread as Alexander continues to develop Taran's character and set up the romantic angle for the next books. Young adult fantasy readers can do much worse than visit Mona with Taran and Eilonwy! show less
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.
This is the third book in the Chronicles of Prydain, and in my opinion, the weakest of the five books. However, the weakest of these five books is still a great book. In the book, Dallben decides that Eilonwy (who has been living at Caer Dallben since the end of The Book of Three) should go to the island of Mona and learn to become a lady. Taran and Gurgi escort her through the journey, and meet Prince Rhun, who captains the ship they take to the island. Once there, Taran finds that both Fflewddur and Gwydion are there too, and Gwydion tells Taran that Eilonwy may be in danger.
Of course, Eilonwy is kidnapped, and the intrepid companions with Prince Rhun and several soldiers set out to find her. Taran, Fflewddur, and Gurgi find an show more abandoned house, a mysterious blank book, and are trapped by a giant housecat. They escape but are later trapped by a giant dwarf named Glew, and have to escape again. Finally they track Eilonwy to Caer Colur, an abandoned tower by the sea where Aachren has ensorcelled Eilonwy. Secrets are revealed concerning the blank book and Eilonwy's bauble and Aachren's power over Eilonwy is broken.
After the far-reaching adventure of The Book of Three and the intensity of The Black Cauldron, the plot of The Castle of Llyr seems like something of a let down. While the pursuit and recovery of Eilonwy turns out to be a significant affair, the side quests involving the cat Llyan and the dwarf Glew are silly enough to detract from the rest of the story, which gives this tale a light-hearted quality that seems out of place in between The Black Cauldron and Taran Wanderer. On the other hand, if all five books were dark and brooding, then the story would probably be dragged down under its own weight, so the tone of the book is probably necessary.
This review has also been posted to my blog Dreaming About Other Worlds. show less
Of course, Eilonwy is kidnapped, and the intrepid companions with Prince Rhun and several soldiers set out to find her. Taran, Fflewddur, and Gurgi find an show more abandoned house, a mysterious blank book, and are trapped by a giant housecat. They escape but are later trapped by a giant dwarf named Glew, and have to escape again. Finally they track Eilonwy to Caer Colur, an abandoned tower by the sea where Aachren has ensorcelled Eilonwy. Secrets are revealed concerning the blank book and Eilonwy's bauble and Aachren's power over Eilonwy is broken.
After the far-reaching adventure of The Book of Three and the intensity of The Black Cauldron, the plot of The Castle of Llyr seems like something of a let down. While the pursuit and recovery of Eilonwy turns out to be a significant affair, the side quests involving the cat Llyan and the dwarf Glew are silly enough to detract from the rest of the story, which gives this tale a light-hearted quality that seems out of place in between The Black Cauldron and Taran Wanderer. On the other hand, if all five books were dark and brooding, then the story would probably be dragged down under its own weight, so the tone of the book is probably necessary.
This review has also been posted to my blog Dreaming About Other Worlds. show less
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***Group Read: The Chronicles of Prydain (Spoiler) in 75 Books Challenge for 2010 (May 2010)
***Group Read: The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander in 75 Books Challenge for 2010 (May 2010)
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Author Information
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Lloyd Alexander, January 30, 1924 - May 17, 2007 Born Lloyd Chudley Alexander on January 30, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Allan Audley and Edna Chudley Alexander, Lloyd knew from a young age that he wanted to write. He was reading by the time he was 3, and though he did poorly in school, at the age of fifteen, he announced that he wanted show more to become a writer. At the age of 19 in 1942, Alexander dropped out of the West Chester State Teachers College in Pennsylvania after only one term. In 1943, he attended Lafayette College in Easton, PA, before dropping out again and joining the United States Army during World War II. Alexander served in the Intelligence Department, stationed in Wales, and then went on to Counter-Intelligence in Paris, where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. When the war ended in '45, Alexander applied to the Sorbonne, but returned to the States in '46, now married. Alexander worked as an unpublished writer for seven years, accepting positions such as cartoonist, advertising copywriter, layout artist, and associate editor for a small magazine. Directly after the war, he had translated works for such artists as Jean Paul Sartre. In 1955, "And Let the Credit Go" was published, Alexander's first book which led to 10 years of writing for an adult audience. He wrote his first children's book in 1963, entitled "Time Cat," which led to a long career of writing for children and young adults. Alexander is best known for his "Prydain Chronicles" which consist of "The Book of Three" in 1964, "The Black Cauldron" in 1965 which was a Newbery Honor Book, as well as an animated motion picture by Disney which appeared in 1985, "The Castle of Llyr" in 1966, "Taran Wanderer" in 1967, a School Library Journal's Best Book of the Year and "The High King" which won the Newberry Award. Many of his other books have also received awards, such as "The Fortune Tellers," which was a Boston Globe Horn Book Award winner. In 1986, Alexander won the Regina Medal for Lifetime Achievement from the Catholic Library Association. His titles have been translated into many languages including, Dutch, Spanish, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Serbo-Croation and Swedish. He died on May 17, 2007. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Lloyd Alexander has a Legacy Library. Legacy libraries are the personal libraries of famous readers, entered by LibraryThing members from the Legacy Libraries group.
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Dell Yearling Classics (1125)
Arena-Taschenbuch (1464)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Castle of Llyr
- Original title
- The Castle of Llyr
- Alternate titles*
- Taran und die Zauberkatze
- Original publication date
- 1966; 1966-03-03
- People/Characters
- Taran; Eilonwy; Gurgi; Fflewddur Fflam; Achren; Glew (show all 15); Rhun (Prince); Kaw; Coll [in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain]; Dallben; King Rhuddlum; Queen Teleria; Magg; Llyan; Gwydion
- Important places
- Prydain; Caer Dallben; Isle of Mona; Dinas Rhydnant; Caer Colur
- Dedication
- For the Friends of the Companions, fondly
- First words
- 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... (show all) 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 str... (show all)angely heavy, he knew there was no gainsaying the old enchanter's words. [from chapter 1, "Prince Rhun"] - Quotations
- "Child, child, do you not see? For each of us comes a time when we must be more than what we are."
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"At least," Eilonwy added quickly, "not for a little while."
- Original language
- English
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
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- Fiction and Literature, Fantasy, Kids, Tween
- DDC/MDS
- 813.54 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999 1945-1999
- LCC
- PZ7 .A3774 .C — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
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