The Black Cauldron

My copy is paperback, [b:The Black Cauldron 17313575 The Black Cauldron (The Chronicles of Prydain #2) Lloyd Alexander https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405994056l/17313575.SY75.jpg 1122077] but the cover matches the hardcover. [bc:The Black Cauldron 295493 The Black Cauldron (The Chronicles of Prydain #2) Lloyd Alexander https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405379076l/295493.SX50.jpg 1122077]

Like The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron is an excellent tail of magical events, brave people and difficult decisions. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. For me, it endures as much in my fifties and it did in my early teens.

I think I might have enjoyed this more if I'd read it right after book 1. I suspect I'd have really enjoyed this one as a young teen.

Better than the Book of Three but also just awful. The WAR BAND leaves behind Eilonwy and Gurgi because they will be useless. Eilonwy and Gurgi disagree and come along on the adventure and then have no purpose for the whole book. No joke, I forgot Gurgi existed for several chapters because the narrator forgot about him too—Gurgi said nothing and did nothing for chapters at a time.

But then I suppose really this book is all about Taran. Reading this as a kid I liked Taran, but coming back through this I wish he'd just shut up and let the adults talk. He receives a magic item from a dying man that lets him do magic things but in the least literarily-interesting way imaginable, and then sells it, even though he promise the man he'd give it to the dying man's wife. After a move like that it's kinda hard to respect him as a character.

I get that like the fate of the world is at stake if he doesn't sell the magic item, but at least let him pretend to give a shit about this promise, especially when the end of the book is all about Taran and HOW HE ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES NO MATTER WHAT.

After revisiting two of these books, I don't feel the need to read the third.

Picking up where The Book of Three leaves off, The Black Cauldron is a tale that is on a torrid pace, compared to its predecessor.

Adaon (moral ideal) and Ellidyr (morally corrupt) serve as foils to each other, with Taran somewhere in the middle, and with the potential to become one or the other, depending on the choices he makes. Or, in psychology terms, Id, Ego, Superego, though not in that order.

Adaon's brooch adds an interesting aspect to the story. SpoilerWhile I was sad that Adaon died (and died willingly, at that), it allowed Taran the opportunity to bear the brooch - the wonders of dreaming a cryptic future, as well as the responsibility and burden of owning this knowledge.

SpoilerIn contrast, Ellidyr is a miserable, selfish character, and yet, his redemption is complete when he sacrifices himself in order to destroy the cauldron... but really, who did not see that coming?

I enjoy the nonsensical banter that we get upon entering the Marshes of Morva. It adds a lighthearted dimension to an otherwise serious tale of high stakes. It is somewhat refreshing that the witches are outside of time, and are less concerned with what these mortals are so consumed by - Orwen, Orddu, and Orgoch don't have a vested interest (or at least, they don't let on that they do) in the outcome of that which happens outside their Marsh, and yet, readers get the feeling that they have the potential to be a great ally to Taran and his Companions. Perhaps, in their own way they are.

In terms of adventure and excitement within the Chronicles of Prydain, I would say that The Black Cauldron is second only to that of The High King.