The Castle of LLyr

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Continuing on with what is apparently my newest guilty pleasure and pastime, this week saw Taran the Assistant Pig Keeper embark on his most dangerous and dramatic adventure to date in The Castle of Llyr.

The book chronicles the most dramatic adventure Taran and his companions embark upon when Dallben decides that it is time for Princess Eilonwy to learn how to behave like a true lady. Sent away to Mona for instructions in court etiquette and ladylike behaviours, Taran accompanies Eilonwy and is amongst the first to jump to action when the Princess is kidnapped by the evil enchantress Achren. With the help of Gurgi, Fllewdur Flam, and the bumbling Prince of Mona, Taran goes on his greatest and most dangerous adventure yet to save Eilonwy and Prydain from a dark and fearsome future.

It’s a common trend in children’s series such as this that the third book is the one where the real drama gets mixed in: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Wide Window, The City of Rats etc. and The Castle of Llyr is no exception. Amongst the various exciting and dangerous situations that Taran and his companions occasionally find themselves in, there is a great, haunting hint that everything might not end happily for the heroes: that evil’s power might actually prove to be too great and overwhelm everything. I particularly like this and believe that it is important for stories to have these moments of doubt and threat thrown at the reader, otherwise there is no real mystery, suspense, or thrill and, honestly, what’s the point of reading on if nothing presents a challenge to the heroes?

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Alexander’s prose remains simple and to the point, painting perfect and clear images of the world without over-describing and over-explaining everything and allowing the reader’s imagination to take a measure of control.

The Castle of LLyr is an exciting and compelling continuation of an already engaging and imaginative series.

Author: Lloyd Alexander, 1966

Published: Holt, Reinhart & Winston. This edition first published in 2005 by Usborne Publishing Ltd.

The Castle of LLyr is the third book in Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain series.