Related categories Skip carousel. Taran cried. Why must it be horseshoes? As if we had any horses! Wait, wait! Not quite the blade for a hero, Coll remarked. It looks like a sick snake, he added ruefully. Coll returned the crooked, half-formed blade to the furnace, where it lost its shape entirely.
Get on with you, said Coll, unmoved. That is for practice. It was I who asked to learn swordplay. The Horned King? Yes, Taran went on eagerly, I know … "There are other things you do not know, Dallben said, for the obvious reason that I have not told you. Even Dallben had spoken it in a whisper. But Arawn did not become ruler of Prydain, Taran said. Who is he? As for being glorious … What of Prince Gwydion? I wish I might be like him! I fear, Dallben said, that is entirely out of the question.
But why? Taran sprang to his feet. I know if I had the chance … Why? Start your free 30 days. Reviews What people think about The Book of Three 3. Rate as 1 out of 5, I didn't like it at all.
Rate as 2 out of 5, I didn't like it that much. Rate as 3 out of 5, I thought it was OK. Rate as 4 out of 5, I liked it. Rate as 5 out of 5, I loved it. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars. Write a review optional. Reader reviews bintarab The whole Chronicles of Prydain series is well-written, imaginative, and was my introduction as a kid to a lifetime love of fantasy fiction.
These books tackle large philosophical issues like bullying, the nature of heroism, social responsibility, altruism, and good vs.
Appropriate for middle-schoolers or even 5th and 6th graders. Based on Welsh mythology, this book tells the tale of Taran, the lowly Assistant Pig-Keeper, who gets wrapped up in a quest to stop the Great Horned King from destroying the land of Prydain. Accompanied by a rugged band of compatriots, including a displaced princess, an exagerating unofficial bard, and a wolf man, Taran feels that every decision he makes on the journey is the wrong one Does the rugged band have what it takes to stop the evil spreading over the land?
LOVED this book. I'm so sad that I didn't have it when I was 12 years old. I loved it now, I would have adored it then. The action starts from the very beginning and doesn't let up. Although it's an involved fantasy, the short chapters make the reading a bit easier.
Alexander has created a beloved and immortal world and I'm so happy that I've finally discovered it. Highly recommended for fantasy fans and those waiting for the big HP. A group of us on the LibraryThing 75 challenge thread are reading the Chronicles Prydain this year. We started in January with the first book, The Book of Three. The first book in the Chronicles of Prydain didn't hold up to the second, The Black Cauldron, which I read many times when I was younger, it was a favorite.
Perhaps these many reads of the sequel are what lead to me not quite enjoying it as much as I would have. We are introduced to quite a cast of characters. Our main being Taran, the assistant pig keeper, and his pig, Hen Wen I love that name, I wonder if it means anything. Taran meets up with an odd assortment of companions in the form of the annoying at least to him girl Eilonwy, and the bard, Fflewddur. They find themselves rushing to beat the bad guy, The Horned King, to the castle so they can warn the good guys about the attack.
The story is enjoyable and easy to follow, but occasionally moved a little too fast for me. I could tell the author was trying to convey a feeling, but he moved on before it had sunk in. Overall I'm glad I read this book, and look forward to reading the sequel, The Black Cauldron, again next month. The first book in Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain is a delightful and easy-reading introduction to a world and set of characters destined to become cherished friends by the end of the series.
The books center around the coming-of-age story of their young protagonist, Taran, an assistant pig-keeper who dreams of glory and heroic adventures. Idealistic, self-centered, and impulsive, he is accidentally thrown into a perilous, high-stakes adventure, and begins the long process of learning what heroism and maturity are really all about. Although the themes of the book and the sequels run deep, the author isn't heavy-handed with them.
The stories are peppered with a cast of colorful, delightful characters and clearly defined villains in the best fantasy tradition. Whether comic relief, foils, future love interest, or role models, they all serve the central purpose of drawing out the qualities in Taran that will goad him on to discovering his own identity, purpose, and destiny.
I have many friends who are fans of the series, and each person has a different "favorite character" - which simply illustrates Mr. Alexander's skill in capturing the various archetypes that we all identify with. Classic fantasy, deserves to be far more popular than it is. Although geared toward the 9-to set, I know more adults who read them annually than kids, who nowadays seem to gravitate toward more gratuitous fare. Point of interest: A reading of the Welsh mythology that inspired these tales will impress those interested with the amount of research the author did, and how often he inserts both obvious and hidden references to the myths in these stories.
Even a quick overview will add to one's understanding and enjoyment of the richness of Alexander's Prydain. This was published the same year I was, born that is. How did I miss this delightful tale and only stumble upon it in my mids? Taran is a precocious bored boy with visions of heroes sword-fighting in his head. He dreams of leaving the small farm where he takes care of a prophetic pig named Hen Wen and lives with Coll and Dallben.
Something frightens the bees, the chickens and the pig so much that they all escape the farm and disappear into the surrounding forest. Taran is sent to find the pig and return her home. Predictably, he gets lost in the forest following the pig and spies a band of men lead by the terrifying Horned King.
Taran barely escapes and flees into the brush, eventually finding Gwydion, a prince and one of the heroes he daydreams about. The danger and adventure are non-stop until the end of the book. Along the way, Taran makes mistakes but learns from them and demonstrates he has the talent to be an inspiring and wise leader. He meets several companions and legendary folk who aid him on his quest to reach Caer Dathyl to warn the Sons of Don about the Horned King and his army.
A fast fun read. The kids and I enjoyed this book. Serious and adventurous with a touch of comedy - a perfect combination.
Reminded me of a less compelling The Dark Is Rising. I didn't find the characters particularly memorable Taran is kind of a dull, hapless hero , and I never felt that they were in any actual peril.
I might've enjoyed it more if I'd read it as a kid--still, I'm withholding ultimate judgment until I read more of the series. It had been quite awhile since I had read this book elementary school to be exact , and when I discovered these lovely new editions, I thought it would be fun to revisit the series and actually read the entire thing through this time I had only ever read through book 2 and I am glad that I did.
While my year-old self may have found some of the plot points a little lacking, overall this is a great fantasy series to read. It does contain elements that are found in many other series of this nature a ragtag group of companions sets out on a quest to defeat the all-powerful evil of the land who remains a more or less enigmatic notion in the background more than an actual physical threat but it still can stand up on its own. I have to admit, I was surprised by how little actually occurs in this book.
It truly is a setup to the rest of the series, but it's a good beginning. Alexander offers up an excellent introduction to each of the characters and where they stand in the land of Prydain. The big battle at the end was practically over before it began, and a good portion of it is told in flashback, and therefore felt a little rushed.
Overall, a really good start to the series. A fun read, but a bit too simplistic and formulaic. To be fair, though, some of those formulas may have been originated by this series. For some reason I got really annoyed by the author using "cried" all the time in dialogue attributions, e.
Loved this series from the day I first read it in the fifth grade. Now, my children are reading it and seem to like it also. Ok maybe not as much as I did, but we live in different times. The story development is wonderful and definitely preps you for the other four books.
Lloyd Alexander was one of the patron saints of my reading youth, and I don't know how many times I checked out the Prydain Chronicles from our local library. The Book of Three is the first in the series and introduces the main characters: Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper; Eilonwy, princess; Fflewddur Fflam, bard and sometime king; Gurgi, nondescript talking creature; and Gwydion, noble prince and warrior. Taran, an orphan under the care of the wise enchanter Dallben, is discontent with his quiet lot taking care of the oracular pig Hen-Wen.
But when Hen senses a malevolent evil and flees, Taran must find her and soon meets enough adventure and danger to satisfy even the most restless of Assistant Pig-Keepers. Along the way he meets the feisty Eilonwy, smelly Gurgi, and mostly honest Fflewddur — all old friends of mine. Reading it now, I see how deeply Alexander was influenced by Tolkien.
More in the second book than the first there's the concept of a single evil weapon that will ensure the Dark Lord's success and can only be destroyed at great personal cost. But there's so much that's different, too, drawing on the rich legendarium of Welsh mythology. A small quibble, but one only strengthened by this mature reread: right in the first chapter, Dallben's detailed discourse to Taran explaining the Book of Three is awkwardly inserted.
Yes, we need to know the info, but the occasion for such a clear info-dump is not convincing. I remember thinking before how awkwardly it was done, and this reread only confirmed it. Thankfully, there are no more such missteps in the rest of the series. So strange that it would land in the first chapter, which is usually given such intense editorial scrutiny. Besides that one qualm, I love this book. The action is engaging, the characters well rounded, the humor funny, the stakes high.
The Book of the Three is a classic young adult fantasy tale that opens a series of equal quality. I can't wait for my children to experience it the first time! In it the hero, Taran the Assistant Pig Keeper, has to leave home for the first time in quest of his roaming oracular pig. While abroad, he has many adventures and meets important and interesting people. Recently read this aloud with my wife.
The Welsh inspired names are a mouthful, but giving the characters their own voice is pretty easy and fun. The Chronicles of Prydain, while written for children, is a series of books I love and re-read at least once a year.
In the first book, we meet Taran, the central figure in the series, and share in his experiences as he begins his way down the path to manhood. Assistant Pig-Keeper, Taran, loses the truth telling pig Hen Wen as an evil king sets out to destroy the land; Taran sets off on an adventure to warn the kingdom and find Hen Wen. The characters in this book are well defined and vivid, such as Gurgi a half man, half animal creature that desires attention and loving.
The story flows well, with a plot that is easy to follow, yet complex enough to keep you wanting more. The book takes place in a mythical land that is magical but still believable. Overall this book would be great in a public library setting. When I was in the fourth grade, my teacher forced me to read this series because she wanted me to try different genres. I was so angry that I had to read something as stupid as fantasy, when all I really wanted to do was re-read the Little House books.
However, I ended up loving this series and have thought on it with fondness all these years. I thought I would re-read it to see if it was as good as I thought when I was in fourth grade. While I enjoyed it this time, it was hard not to compare it to The Lord of the Rings because there are really so many similarities, and it was left wanting in that comparison. So I guess you could call it The Lord of the Rings -lite.
My fourth grade self would have given it 5 stars DMCA and Copyright : The book is not hosted on our servers, to remove the file please contact the source url. If you see a Google Drive link instead of source url, means that the file witch you will get after approval is just a summary of original book or the file has been already removed.
Loved each and every part of this book. I will definitely recommend this book to fantasy, young adult lovers. Your Rating:. Your Comment:. Looking for a very specific book? I take requests! Just tell me what book you are after, and I will do my best to find it and add the text to the digital collection. Global Grey is an ongoing project. That means I am constantly updating the online library. My site is maintained on a weekly basis, and you can typically see new books added each week as well.
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