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The Chronicles of Prydain #2
The Black Cauldron
Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, and his friends are led into a mortal struggle with Arawn and his deathless warriors. Taran must wrest the black cauldron from them, for it is the cauldron that gives them their evil strength. But can he withstand the three enchantresses, who are determined to turn him and his companions into toads? Taran has not foreseen the awful price he will have to pay in his defence of Prydain...
182 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 1965
About the author
Lloyd Alexander
132 books2,017 followersLloyd Chudley Alexander was an influential American author of more than forty books, mostly fantasy novels for children and adolescents, as well as several adult books. His most famous contribution to the field of children's literature is the fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain. The concluding book of the series,
The High King
, was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1969. Alexander's other books have also won the National Book Award and the American Book Award. He was also one of the creators of Cricket Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,043 reviews
June 29, 2023
I can see why this is a beloved children's fantasy.
It's good vs. evil and right vs. wrong, but there is just enough give in the story so that it doesn't feel like the world is uncomfortably rigid.
The characters really are quite lovable. They try to be good and do the right thing. And if they fail at that, then they try to learn from their mistakes.
I'm not terribly sappy but I enjoy this sort of thing when it comes pre-packaged with magic, loyalty, and danger.
The assistant pig keeper, Taran, finds himself on another epic adventure with his friends Fflewddur Fflam, Princess Eilonwy, Doli & Gurgi. This time our heroes are hunting down the evil bucket from the last book- the Black Cauldron. It needs to be found and destroyed before the Death Lord Arawn makes any more of his Cauldron-Born.
And this time around Arawan's plans for the cooking pot of death are worse than before!
There were some very cool new characters in this one, not the least of which were the 3 witches Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch. They were somehow dangerous and hilarious at the same time and I kind of loved them for that.
Not going to ruin anything for those of you who haven't read it yet, but this installment definitely has a lot of heart.
I can see why this series means so much to so many people.
Recommended.
It's good vs. evil and right vs. wrong, but there is just enough give in the story so that it doesn't feel like the world is uncomfortably rigid.
The characters really are quite lovable. They try to be good and do the right thing. And if they fail at that, then they try to learn from their mistakes.
I'm not terribly sappy but I enjoy this sort of thing when it comes pre-packaged with magic, loyalty, and danger.
The assistant pig keeper, Taran, finds himself on another epic adventure with his friends Fflewddur Fflam, Princess Eilonwy, Doli & Gurgi. This time our heroes are hunting down the evil bucket from the last book- the Black Cauldron. It needs to be found and destroyed before the Death Lord Arawn makes any more of his Cauldron-Born.
And this time around Arawan's plans for the cooking pot of death are worse than before!
There were some very cool new characters in this one, not the least of which were the 3 witches Orddu, Orwen, and Orgoch. They were somehow dangerous and hilarious at the same time and I kind of loved them for that.
Not going to ruin anything for those of you who haven't read it yet, but this installment definitely has a lot of heart.
I can see why this series means so much to so many people.
Recommended.
April 7, 2020
Reading this book was like eating a big bowl of ice cream. Its innocent chivalry and intrepid heroism bear the signature of a genius Fantasy writer.
I thought about the Cauldron long and hard. The reasoning by which the characters travel is childish and not really reasonable. But the story is so good.
The other 4 books in the series are ordinary. This one, is not. I really want to reread it again. Don't we all wish that Disney had stuck to the original book? This too applies. Sigh. At least I'm not lactose intolerant to great stories.
I thought about the Cauldron long and hard. The reasoning by which the characters travel is childish and not really reasonable. But the story is so good.
The other 4 books in the series are ordinary. This one, is not. I really want to reread it again. Don't we all wish that Disney had stuck to the original book? This too applies. Sigh. At least I'm not lactose intolerant to great stories.
June 25, 2017
The Black Cauldron (The Chronicles of Prydain #2), Lloyd Alexander, Maryam Siyādat (Translator)
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: شانزدهم ماه آگوست سال 2008 میلادی
عنوان اصلی جلد دو «پاتیل سیاه» بوده که بانو سیادت عنوان «تاران و پاتیل جادویی» را برای آن برگزیده است
عنوان: افسانه های پریداین - کتاب 2 : تاران و پاتیل جادویی؛ نوشته: لوید الکساندر؛ مترجم: مریم سیادت؛ تهران، تندیس، 1385؛ در 218 ص؛ شابک:9648944156؛ جلد 2؛ قرن 20 م
سری پنج جلدی «افسانه های پریداین» در د‌هه ی 60 سده ی بیستم میلادی برای نخستین بار در ایالات متحده به چاپ رسید‌ه، به نوشته ی مهتاب روشنگران: «لین کارتر»، منتقد مهم اد‌بیات فانتزی، از قول نویسنده ی سری: «ماجراهای پریداین»، نقل میکند، که: جد‌ا از اثرپذیری ایشان از «تالکین»، کار او ملهم از کتابِ مهم د‌یگری در اد‌بیات فانتزیِ قرن بیستم میلادی، یعنی «شمشیر در سنگ» نیز هست (کتابی که به افسانه های «آرتورشاه» می‌پرد‌ازد). همین مهم باعث شده تا سری «پریداین»، علاوه بر د‌اشتن المان‌های فانتزی بزرگسال، به طنز و شوخ و شنگیِ فانتزی‌های نوجوان هم نزد‌یک بشود. در کتاب دوم از پنجگانه ی افسانه های پرایداین، تاران شیفته ی ماجراجویی، با: پرنس کهنه پوشی، که به اصل و نسب و قدرت بازوی خویش میبالید و او را کوچک میشمارد، روبرو میشود. آن دو برای یافتن پاتیل جادویی ـ که دستگاه مولد سربازان نامیرای خدای مرگ است ـ با یکدیگر به مبارزه برمیخیزند. تاران کمک خوکچران از همه چیز خویش برای نابودی پاتیل سیاه میگذرد، اما شرف و مردانگی را زیر پا نمیگذارد. پرنس هم عاقبت به ارزش واقعی زندگی پی میبرد و نام خویش را جاودانه میکند. تاران درمییابد که در وجود بیش تر افراد، خوبی و بدی همچون نخهایی که یک پارچه را میبافند در هم تنیده شده، و نیز درمییابد در زمینی که خوب شخم زده شده، افتخار بیشتری هست تا زمینی که غرق در خون باشد. گفتنی است نویسنده با تصویرسازی ماجراجوییهای همراهان تاران، در این کتاب به این نتیجه میرسد که: تنها چیزی که هرگز شعله اش خاموش نخواهد شد، عشق و صداقتی که در قلب تمامی انسانها موج میزند و این چیزی است که وجودش برای غلبه بر شیطان ضروری است. ا. شربیانی
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: شانزدهم ماه آگوست سال 2008 میلادی
عنوان اصلی جلد دو «پاتیل سیاه» بوده که بانو سیادت عنوان «تاران و پاتیل جادویی» را برای آن برگزیده است
عنوان: افسانه های پریداین - کتاب 2 : تاران و پاتیل جادویی؛ نوشته: لوید الکساندر؛ مترجم: مریم سیادت؛ تهران، تندیس، 1385؛ در 218 ص؛ شابک:9648944156؛ جلد 2؛ قرن 20 م
سری پنج جلدی «افسانه های پریداین» در د‌هه ی 60 سده ی بیستم میلادی برای نخستین بار در ایالات متحده به چاپ رسید‌ه، به نوشته ی مهتاب روشنگران: «لین کارتر»، منتقد مهم اد‌بیات فانتزی، از قول نویسنده ی سری: «ماجراهای پریداین»، نقل میکند، که: جد‌ا از اثرپذیری ایشان از «تالکین»، کار او ملهم از کتابِ مهم د‌یگری در اد‌بیات فانتزیِ قرن بیستم میلادی، یعنی «شمشیر در سنگ» نیز هست (کتابی که به افسانه های «آرتورشاه» می‌پرد‌ازد). همین مهم باعث شده تا سری «پریداین»، علاوه بر د‌اشتن المان‌های فانتزی بزرگسال، به طنز و شوخ و شنگیِ فانتزی‌های نوجوان هم نزد‌یک بشود. در کتاب دوم از پنجگانه ی افسانه های پرایداین، تاران شیفته ی ماجراجویی، با: پرنس کهنه پوشی، که به اصل و نسب و قدرت بازوی خویش میبالید و او را کوچک میشمارد، روبرو میشود. آن دو برای یافتن پاتیل جادویی ـ که دستگاه مولد سربازان نامیرای خدای مرگ است ـ با یکدیگر به مبارزه برمیخیزند. تاران کمک خوکچران از همه چیز خویش برای نابودی پاتیل سیاه میگذرد، اما شرف و مردانگی را زیر پا نمیگذارد. پرنس هم عاقبت به ارزش واقعی زندگی پی میبرد و نام خویش را جاودانه میکند. تاران درمییابد که در وجود بیش تر افراد، خوبی و بدی همچون نخهایی که یک پارچه را میبافند در هم تنیده شده، و نیز درمییابد در زمینی که خوب شخم زده شده، افتخار بیشتری هست تا زمینی که غرق در خون باشد. گفتنی است نویسنده با تصویرسازی ماجراجوییهای همراهان تاران، در این کتاب به این نتیجه میرسد که: تنها چیزی که هرگز شعله اش خاموش نخواهد شد، عشق و صداقتی که در قلب تمامی انسانها موج میزند و این چیزی است که وجودش برای غلبه بر شیطان ضروری است. ا. شربیانی
December 9, 2019
A slight retread of book 1, but with a sharper driving quest, higher stakes, and bigger character moments for almost everyone. Except for the looming shadow of the big bad villain, the smaller villains are far more nuanced and morally interesting.
There are more of the lovely thoughtful moments that I prize, where people have to consider the price of heroism and reflect on what makes for a good life.
Looking forward to the next book.
There are more of the lovely thoughtful moments that I prize, where people have to consider the price of heroism and reflect on what makes for a good life.
Looking forward to the next book.
April 7, 2020
It’s delightful for me to revisit, 40 or so years later, the adventures of Taran and his companions in this, the second novel in Lloyd Alexander’s classic Chronicles of Prydain. In these uncertain, fraught times, I am comforted by the wisdom, warmth, wit, and courage depicted in these pages. Simply delightful.
April 9, 2019
Heavier than the first novel (The Book of Three) with a lot more on the ball teaching wise and lesson wise. This includes lessons on everything up to self sacrifice.
July 30, 2015
This book is the one that gave the Disney film from the 80s its name--you know, the one nobody saw that was a complete box office disaster--right before The Little Mermaid came out and ushered in Disney's Golden Age. I saw the film once and wasn't impressed with it. It bears almost no resemblance, aside from its characters sharing the same names and a few select characteristics, to the books.
As stated in my review for The Book of Three, I was not very impressed with this series to start off with, but about a third of the way in to The Black Cauldron, it became clear that Alexander had turned his storytelling around a little. Instead of focusing on plot movement and having things happen to the characters all the time, The Black Cauldron is instead a very character-motivated story. Most of the conflict doesn't come from fighting bad guys, but instead from the difficult choices the characters must make.
Although, yes, there is a plot. Taran and his friends join the massive effort to retake the titular Black Cauldron from Arawn, Death Lord of Annuven, so that he may not make any more of his Cauldron Born warriors (basically magical deathless zombies). Only one problem: when they get to Annuven, the Cauldron has already been stolen, so the companions set off again in search of it, to prevent Arawn from making more Cauldron Born, so that when the final inevitable confrontation that is sure to come does occur, they may at least have a chance in defeating him. This search leads Taran to the the three enchantresses in the Marshes of Morva, Orddu, Orgach, and Orwen. They are honestly delightful (a great example of Alexander's skill at combining humor and actual pathos) and more importantly, they pose Taran his greatest challenge yet. Taran, who wants to be a hero, but doesn't actually know what that means.
This was probably my favorite of the five books, mostly because the enchantresses were so sassy, but also probably because it was such an unexpected improvement over its predecessor.
As stated in my review for The Book of Three, I was not very impressed with this series to start off with, but about a third of the way in to The Black Cauldron, it became clear that Alexander had turned his storytelling around a little. Instead of focusing on plot movement and having things happen to the characters all the time, The Black Cauldron is instead a very character-motivated story. Most of the conflict doesn't come from fighting bad guys, but instead from the difficult choices the characters must make.
Although, yes, there is a plot. Taran and his friends join the massive effort to retake the titular Black Cauldron from Arawn, Death Lord of Annuven, so that he may not make any more of his Cauldron Born warriors (basically magical deathless zombies). Only one problem: when they get to Annuven, the Cauldron has already been stolen, so the companions set off again in search of it, to prevent Arawn from making more Cauldron Born, so that when the final inevitable confrontation that is sure to come does occur, they may at least have a chance in defeating him. This search leads Taran to the the three enchantresses in the Marshes of Morva, Orddu, Orgach, and Orwen. They are honestly delightful (a great example of Alexander's skill at combining humor and actual pathos) and more importantly, they pose Taran his greatest challenge yet. Taran, who wants to be a hero, but doesn't actually know what that means.
This was probably my favorite of the five books, mostly because the enchantresses were so sassy, but also probably because it was such an unexpected improvement over its predecessor.
July 12, 2014
In 4th grade all I wanted to be was Princess Eilonwy from The Black Cauldron.
April 8, 2021
I liked this a little better than the first in the series, I'm certain. The somewhat bland and bog-standard beginning of the Book of Three no longer applies at all: the story has been untethered and allowed to be its own thing, and continues along its own way in this story. It has the same characters I like from the first, along with a passive-aggressive fairy and a particularly mean-spirited ponce. Pretty much every hero is thrown through the wringer, they all learn and grow as they learned and grew in the previous, and unlike the last installment, this one also had more than one good twist to it.
On the second read - in English this time - the prose grabs me better, and the characters and their challenges and woes grip harder into my heart. That gets it an extra half-star from the first.
On the second read - in English this time - the prose grabs me better, and the characters and their challenges and woes grip harder into my heart. That gets it an extra half-star from the first.
August 8, 2008
On of my all time favorites as a kid. Recommended for those who like Diana Wynne Jones and Susan Cooper.
***wondering why all my reviews are five stars? Because I'm only reviewing my favorite books -- not every book I read. Consider a novel's presence on my Goodreads bookshelf as a hearty endorsement. I can't believe I just said "hearty." It sounds like a stew.****
***wondering why all my reviews are five stars? Because I'm only reviewing my favorite books -- not every book I read. Consider a novel's presence on my Goodreads bookshelf as a hearty endorsement. I can't believe I just said "hearty." It sounds like a stew.****
February 28, 2008
Old Shit I'm Revisiting: The Prequel: Part 2
Aw this is more like it. As I said I was a bit disappointed reading The Book Of Three this is more like The Prydain I remember. There are still flaws, writing at times can be a bit flat, and the exposition a bit heavy. But the moral universe of the characters has grown nicely adding shades of grey to what was starkly black and white before, there's room for some apt and surprisingly lovely metaphor (The broach that causes everything to look different is as good a metaphor for loss of innocence as I can think of) and the characters have deepened, though I can still see a bit of the stockness. (blah blah blah classic archetypes yada yada yada collective unconscious, what I can I say I calls them like I see them).
Once again though the heart of the book comes from Alexander's fertile and surprisingly dark imagination. He plays for keeps and he can play mean, the Cauldron Born themselves are a skin crawlingly creepy concept (It's always bothered me how they don't even bleed), The Huntsmen blew my God Damned mind when I was twelve, and the Cauldron itself is creepy as hell. It's a clever idea really, Tolkien always did the thing with the ring where it would purposely hinder transportation or put itself in someone's hand. Well that all well and good, but Alexander does the same thing here with a several hundred pound cauldron, which believe me can do some damage when it doesn't want to be moved. Even the allies are creepy as hell, the three sisters who control the cauldron have the same strange elliptical menace as Gaiman's Kindly Ones from Sandman. In fact I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that this was a major influence on Gaiman's portrayal. (blah blah blah classic archetypes yada yada yada collective unconscious, what I can I say I calls them like I see them).
Anyway it was a significant step up from The Book Of Three. I might see some cracks a bit more clearly now, but I can still appreciate a ripping good yarn.
Aw this is more like it. As I said I was a bit disappointed reading The Book Of Three this is more like The Prydain I remember. There are still flaws, writing at times can be a bit flat, and the exposition a bit heavy. But the moral universe of the characters has grown nicely adding shades of grey to what was starkly black and white before, there's room for some apt and surprisingly lovely metaphor (The broach that causes everything to look different is as good a metaphor for loss of innocence as I can think of) and the characters have deepened, though I can still see a bit of the stockness. (blah blah blah classic archetypes yada yada yada collective unconscious, what I can I say I calls them like I see them).
Once again though the heart of the book comes from Alexander's fertile and surprisingly dark imagination. He plays for keeps and he can play mean, the Cauldron Born themselves are a skin crawlingly creepy concept (It's always bothered me how they don't even bleed), The Huntsmen blew my God Damned mind when I was twelve, and the Cauldron itself is creepy as hell. It's a clever idea really, Tolkien always did the thing with the ring where it would purposely hinder transportation or put itself in someone's hand. Well that all well and good, but Alexander does the same thing here with a several hundred pound cauldron, which believe me can do some damage when it doesn't want to be moved. Even the allies are creepy as hell, the three sisters who control the cauldron have the same strange elliptical menace as Gaiman's Kindly Ones from Sandman. In fact I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that this was a major influence on Gaiman's portrayal. (blah blah blah classic archetypes yada yada yada collective unconscious, what I can I say I calls them like I see them).
Anyway it was a significant step up from The Book Of Three. I might see some cracks a bit more clearly now, but I can still appreciate a ripping good yarn.
January 27, 2022
This book was weird.
I have not seen the movie (though we plan to watch it now) and really had no idea what I was getting into here. My husband had not read this since he was a kid, and while he enjoyed it, it was more enjoyable as a child for him. I think I agree that this would hold more intrigue as a kid.
As an adult the pacing was all off for me. The first 98% of the book feels dragged out, and they wrap up waaay too much in the last 15 pages for my liking.
I did adore the 3 enchantresses and will be looking for anything more to do with them.
This is part of a series, but can totally be read as a stand alone.
I have not seen the movie (though we plan to watch it now) and really had no idea what I was getting into here. My husband had not read this since he was a kid, and while he enjoyed it, it was more enjoyable as a child for him. I think I agree that this would hold more intrigue as a kid.
As an adult the pacing was all off for me. The first 98% of the book feels dragged out, and they wrap up waaay too much in the last 15 pages for my liking.
I did adore the 3 enchantresses and will be looking for anything more to do with them.
This is part of a series, but can totally be read as a stand alone.
April 27, 2022
A marked improvement over the first book, The Black Cauldron was a great coming-of-age story of Taran the Assistant Pig-Keeper. Having known the characters from the previous book also helped. I found Eilonwy to be way less irritating, and even thought she's a good companion for Taran. Gurgi, of course, was as cute and loyal as ever. Fflewddur Fflam (that's really how his name was spelt), the bard whose harp strings break whenever he embellishes tales of his own prowess (hilarious), I've always liked and his presence was a welcome. All-in-all, a quick and enjoyable read which kept me interested to read the rest of series, especially given that the Disney animated movie ended here and the story from henceforth will be an unknown to me.
October 5, 2021
I originally read this long ago, but have revisited it with my mini-me.
Now you have to understand as a child and young man I disdained reading. It was a chore and stupid. I didn't have adults in my life that read; much less peers who did. I also didn't have siblings or friends who played D&D either. So even though I didn't have an external influence, The Prydain Chronicles was my springboard into all things speculative fiction-namely fantasy.
In 7th grade Mrs. Hughes had a boxed set of the Prydain Chronicles paperbacks in her classroom. I don't know what prompted me or drew me to them but from the art on that box I knew I really wanted to read this story. She let me borrow each one. After The Book of Three I was hooked and devoured the whole series.
Many years later, the SFBC released an omnibus collecting not only the five books from the series, BUT also some short stories also set within the world of Prydain! I had to have this. At this point of course I had to re-read it.
Fast-forward a few more years. We read every night to my eldest as she came up. Although, with her, the transition from picture books to novels was of her own doing. I lent the omnibus to her and she read it on her own. It was actually 'lost' for most of a school year because she had taken it to school and misplaced it. I was upset, but stuff happens. Thankfully it was located later that year and returned home to me.
Fast-forward to now. My youngest still wants a bedtime story. He is honestly too old for them, BUT what is it really hurting? He's grown tired of the repetitiveness of the Goosebumps stories we've been reading until now. So of course I pulled out the massive Prydain Chronicles omnibus. He exclaimed that there was no way we could read a book so large. We just finished up The Black Cauldron and are set to begin The Castle of Llyr. He's hooked.
Maybe this old worn hardback book will get read a few more times in my lifetime. Hopefully to some grand-littles of my own.
As a jaded middle-aged man I would give The Black Cauldron a solid three stars, but because of nostalgia and the love of sharing it with my children it gets all five stars!
Now you have to understand as a child and young man I disdained reading. It was a chore and stupid. I didn't have adults in my life that read; much less peers who did. I also didn't have siblings or friends who played D&D either. So even though I didn't have an external influence, The Prydain Chronicles was my springboard into all things speculative fiction-namely fantasy.
In 7th grade Mrs. Hughes had a boxed set of the Prydain Chronicles paperbacks in her classroom. I don't know what prompted me or drew me to them but from the art on that box I knew I really wanted to read this story. She let me borrow each one. After The Book of Three I was hooked and devoured the whole series.
Many years later, the SFBC released an omnibus collecting not only the five books from the series, BUT also some short stories also set within the world of Prydain! I had to have this. At this point of course I had to re-read it.
Fast-forward a few more years. We read every night to my eldest as she came up. Although, with her, the transition from picture books to novels was of her own doing. I lent the omnibus to her and she read it on her own. It was actually 'lost' for most of a school year because she had taken it to school and misplaced it. I was upset, but stuff happens. Thankfully it was located later that year and returned home to me.
Fast-forward to now. My youngest still wants a bedtime story. He is honestly too old for them, BUT what is it really hurting? He's grown tired of the repetitiveness of the Goosebumps stories we've been reading until now. So of course I pulled out the massive Prydain Chronicles omnibus. He exclaimed that there was no way we could read a book so large. We just finished up The Black Cauldron and are set to begin The Castle of Llyr. He's hooked.
Maybe this old worn hardback book will get read a few more times in my lifetime. Hopefully to some grand-littles of my own.
As a jaded middle-aged man I would give The Black Cauldron a solid three stars, but because of nostalgia and the love of sharing it with my children it gets all five stars!
May 21, 2018
I loved this book as a child, and now that I’ve read it again as an adult, I found a great degree of humor I may not have caught as a child. The storytelling is excellent and has aged well.
July 12, 2009
Book 2 of the Chronicles of Prydain series, which I sort of worshipped as a kid. I really wish that my copy of the book features the cover pictured with this review, as it seems to ignore Taran completely and just features Eilonwy doing something badass, which is pretty cool.
Also, I will repeat a warning I made in my review of The Book of Three: The Walt Disney Corporation, in a well-intended but disasterous move, decided to make an animated movie called The Black Cauldron several years ago. The plot is a bastardization of the first two books in the series, and under no circumstances should anyone watch it, ever. Everything is wrong, but what I remember most of all was that they made Eilonwy a fucking blonde. NO. She gets called "Eilonwy of the red-gold hair" at least once in every single book, and the fact that Disney decided to ignore this made me furious when I saw the movie.
It may not seem like a big deal, but even as a kid I was always painfully aware of how rare redhaired heroines are. I wanted us to be represented, dammit.
Also, I will repeat a warning I made in my review of The Book of Three: The Walt Disney Corporation, in a well-intended but disasterous move, decided to make an animated movie called The Black Cauldron several years ago. The plot is a bastardization of the first two books in the series, and under no circumstances should anyone watch it, ever. Everything is wrong, but what I remember most of all was that they made Eilonwy a fucking blonde. NO. She gets called "Eilonwy of the red-gold hair" at least once in every single book, and the fact that Disney decided to ignore this made me furious when I saw the movie.
It may not seem like a big deal, but even as a kid I was always painfully aware of how rare redhaired heroines are. I wanted us to be represented, dammit.
May 7, 2016
Odlicna knjiga, jos bolje nego prethodna a to nisam ocekivao. Mracnija, opasnija i na momente brutalnija. iskreno ova knjizica ima puno bolnih momenata i cini se odraslijom nego mnoge grim dark knjige iako su doticne prepune nasilja, smrti i sexa.
Veliki plus u ovoj knjizi je tj sto je fokus daleko vise na samim likovima a ne naa putovanju i to se isplatilo.
Obavezno stivo a ako imate nekog mladjeg u okolini slobodno mu kupite.
Sad odo da odgledam crtani, dugo nisam :)
Veliki plus u ovoj knjizi je tj sto je fokus daleko vise na samim likovima a ne naa putovanju i to se isplatilo.
Obavezno stivo a ako imate nekog mladjeg u okolini slobodno mu kupite.
Sad odo da odgledam crtani, dugo nisam :)
May 28, 2018
This is the second of 5 books & I liked it better than the first. It was more focused in large part because the characters & world needed no introduction. Most were well known from the first. Fun characters, although there's a continuous moral behind each that's obvious. It's great for kids, a little much to take as an adult at times. Still, I enjoyed the simple story immensely & am looking forward to the next. Well narrated, too.
January 27, 2018
Still one of the best childhood reads. Damn I liked hardcore books as a kid.
Aspiration, pride, loyalty, self-knowledge and sacrifice - this takes on growing pains with a vengeance as Taran continues to try to Do Good in the face of a bewildering line-up of the evil, the self-interested ...and powers he may never understand.
Aspiration, pride, loyalty, self-knowledge and sacrifice - this takes on growing pains with a vengeance as Taran continues to try to Do Good in the face of a bewildering line-up of the evil, the self-interested ...and powers he may never understand.
June 19, 2022
Much darker than the first book.
April 28, 2022
Actual rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up.
The Black Cauldron is the second installment in the Chronicles of Prydain series. Picking up almost immediately after the ending of The Book of Three, this novel is probably the most well-known of the series, as it was the basis for the 1985 Disney animated feature of the same name. Taran and the friends he made in the first book embark on a new adventure here, this time to help capture, and hopefully destroy, the Black Cauldron, which can birth unkillable zombie warriors and thus raise an unbeatable army if left in the hands of Arwen, their enemy.
I have to say, I enjoyed this book a good deal more than The Book of Three. I didn’t find the characters nearly as annoying. Taran has already gone through a good deal of character development by the end of this second novel, and has grown on me tremendously. He’s not nearly as annoying as when he was first introduced, though his temper can still run away with him when he isn’t looking. Eilonwy has grown on me a bit, as well, though she is still often snide and shrewish in ways that make me roll my eyes. But my favorite characters are actually supporting roles: Fflewdur the errant bard with the lie-detecting harp; and Gurgi, the much furrier, cuter, sweeter, braver Gollum-esque being. Gurgi is just freaking adorable. I was iffy on him in the first book, though his manner of speaking softened me up to him. By this book, however, I was a huge fan, and very excited to see him again.
I felt like the narration and plot both made more sense in The Black Cauldron than in The Book of Three, and that the pacing was more on point. I read this little book in the span of 24 hours, and I never felt like it dragged in any section. There were plot twists that I predicted from very early on in the story, but instead of being annoyed by having guessed so early, I was gratified when proven correct. This removed some of the tension from the story, but I don’t think that would be the case for the age range that are the intended audience.
While this isn’t a series that I was familiar with in my own childhood, I can see why it holds such a special place in the memories of others. Including my husband, who loved these books as a child. If you’re a lover of epic fantasy and looking for an easy-to-digest version through which you can introduce the kids in your life to the genre that holds your heart, this would be a fantastic choice. I’m interested to see where Taran’s journey takes him and his friends next.
The Black Cauldron is the second installment in the Chronicles of Prydain series. Picking up almost immediately after the ending of The Book of Three, this novel is probably the most well-known of the series, as it was the basis for the 1985 Disney animated feature of the same name. Taran and the friends he made in the first book embark on a new adventure here, this time to help capture, and hopefully destroy, the Black Cauldron, which can birth unkillable zombie warriors and thus raise an unbeatable army if left in the hands of Arwen, their enemy.
I have to say, I enjoyed this book a good deal more than The Book of Three. I didn’t find the characters nearly as annoying. Taran has already gone through a good deal of character development by the end of this second novel, and has grown on me tremendously. He’s not nearly as annoying as when he was first introduced, though his temper can still run away with him when he isn’t looking. Eilonwy has grown on me a bit, as well, though she is still often snide and shrewish in ways that make me roll my eyes. But my favorite characters are actually supporting roles: Fflewdur the errant bard with the lie-detecting harp; and Gurgi, the much furrier, cuter, sweeter, braver Gollum-esque being. Gurgi is just freaking adorable. I was iffy on him in the first book, though his manner of speaking softened me up to him. By this book, however, I was a huge fan, and very excited to see him again.
I felt like the narration and plot both made more sense in The Black Cauldron than in The Book of Three, and that the pacing was more on point. I read this little book in the span of 24 hours, and I never felt like it dragged in any section. There were plot twists that I predicted from very early on in the story, but instead of being annoyed by having guessed so early, I was gratified when proven correct. This removed some of the tension from the story, but I don’t think that would be the case for the age range that are the intended audience.
While this isn’t a series that I was familiar with in my own childhood, I can see why it holds such a special place in the memories of others. Including my husband, who loved these books as a child. If you’re a lover of epic fantasy and looking for an easy-to-digest version through which you can introduce the kids in your life to the genre that holds your heart, this would be a fantastic choice. I’m interested to see where Taran’s journey takes him and his friends next.
May 30, 2023
Review #1 - December 2019
Returning to a favorite! I really enjoyed listening to The Book of Three so I thought I’d continue on. So far, I’m enjoying it as much as I did 10+ years go which is how long it’s been since I last read the series.
Taran and his friends are on a new adventure to find the Black Cauldron. It gives people the power to create an undead army and is nearly impossible to destroy. I love when they encounter the three enchantresses. I quite enjoy those three.
To be honest, I finished this over a month ago and I can’t remember how it ends right now. Lol. I remember all the events but not how it actually wraps up. I have a terrible memory.
I have book 3 checked out right now and I’m excited to start listening!
Review #2 - May 2023
Taran is determined to capture the black cauldron before the bad guys can. He finds it in an unlikely place - three surprising enchantresses. I like the three sisters because you never know what to expect from them. Are they good or bad? It's hard to say.
As usual, this book is a lot of fun. I like how quick this series moves and I love the chemistry between all the main characters. I highly recommend this fantasy series for adults and kids alike
Returning to a favorite! I really enjoyed listening to The Book of Three so I thought I’d continue on. So far, I’m enjoying it as much as I did 10+ years go which is how long it’s been since I last read the series.
Taran and his friends are on a new adventure to find the Black Cauldron. It gives people the power to create an undead army and is nearly impossible to destroy. I love when they encounter the three enchantresses. I quite enjoy those three.
To be honest, I finished this over a month ago and I can’t remember how it ends right now. Lol. I remember all the events but not how it actually wraps up. I have a terrible memory.
I have book 3 checked out right now and I’m excited to start listening!
Review #2 - May 2023
Taran is determined to capture the black cauldron before the bad guys can. He finds it in an unlikely place - three surprising enchantresses. I like the three sisters because you never know what to expect from them. Are they good or bad? It's hard to say.
As usual, this book is a lot of fun. I like how quick this series moves and I love the chemistry between all the main characters. I highly recommend this fantasy series for adults and kids alike
April 2, 2007
The first book in the Prydain series didn't exactly impress me. I was afraid the whole lot of them would be stories where this motley crew of adventurers makes one mistake after another because they're silly and self-righteous but somehow manages to magically win in the end.
The Black Cauldron changed my mind. While the characters didn't get too much smarter, they matured quite a bit. Their bumbling isn't quite as tiresome, and they seem to learn a lot quicker and think less about themselves. So there go all the problems I had with the first book. I finally felt as though these characters deserved to get to the end of their story.
But don't worry, Eilonwy is just as snarky, but not quite so obnoxious.
Some of Alexander's propensity for coincidences and Deus ex machina remains, but it's not really a fault. It's a style. What he's created in The Black Cauldron is an elegant story about trust, honor, and sacrifice. It's 1,000 times better than The Book of Three, so give it a try. It's easy and light and will take you like 20 seconds to read.
The Black Cauldron changed my mind. While the characters didn't get too much smarter, they matured quite a bit. Their bumbling isn't quite as tiresome, and they seem to learn a lot quicker and think less about themselves. So there go all the problems I had with the first book. I finally felt as though these characters deserved to get to the end of their story.
But don't worry, Eilonwy is just as snarky, but not quite so obnoxious.
Some of Alexander's propensity for coincidences and Deus ex machina remains, but it's not really a fault. It's a style. What he's created in The Black Cauldron is an elegant story about trust, honor, and sacrifice. It's 1,000 times better than The Book of Three, so give it a try. It's easy and light and will take you like 20 seconds to read.
July 4, 2021
Enjoyed this second one a bit more than the first of the series, which I thought was perfectly fine. The Black Cauldron moves into the action a little quicker. Many a delightful character returns. New entertaining ones are introduced. Same as in the first book, there are times here when I wish Alexander spent a few more lines on setting in order to the root the scene more physically. It's but a quibble over an otherwise very good read! Now I'm looking forward to finishing a series I'm about 35 years late in reading.
October 21, 2021
Taran finds himself on a quest to steal the black cauldron and is reunited with some familiar faces. I enjoyed the story but found myself getting a few characters mixed-up due to similarities in their names.
January 7, 2023
“Is there not glory enough in living the days given to us? You should know there is adventure in simply being among those we love and the things we love, and beauty, too.”
Wow, this series is really getting good! The Black Cauldron captivated me from beginning to end, and I loved all the characters and themes. So many LOTR-inspired moments!
Also, Taran is growing up, and it��s so sweet watching him grow from a boy into a man, not only in stature, but in wisdom and heart. And Eilonwy’s growth is great, too, as she’s becoming less judgmental and more tempered in her emotions.
Content:
Some violence, but nothing graphic.
**spoiler**
I’m so not okay that my favorite character in this book died, but his death was foreshadowed enough that I saw it coming. Still, RIP 😭
Wow, this series is really getting good! The Black Cauldron captivated me from beginning to end, and I loved all the characters and themes. So many LOTR-inspired moments!
Also, Taran is growing up, and it��s so sweet watching him grow from a boy into a man, not only in stature, but in wisdom and heart. And Eilonwy’s growth is great, too, as she’s becoming less judgmental and more tempered in her emotions.
Content:
Some violence, but nothing graphic.
**spoiler**
I’m so not okay that my favorite character in this book died, but his death was foreshadowed enough that I saw it coming. Still, RIP 😭
April 7, 2022
In case you missed my review on book one , which has all of my thoughts on the beginning of the series.
As I said in that review, book two is more interesting both plot-wise and in the character development portion. Here we see Tarran actually recognizing his mistakes and working on making things right in the future.
We also have a trope I enjoyed since I was a kid and my mom was reading me fairy tales in bed: three witches in a cabin with a deal for the main adventurer.
Besides that, we have a healthy dose of realism in form of political betrayal – a good start for future Joe Abercrombie fans.
In conclusion: Not bad for a middle-grade fantasy book, would read it again.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
That one passage about squirrels saving food for later reminded me of elementary school essays of Autumn - silly and unnecessary. 🤷🏻♀️
As I said in that review, book two is more interesting both plot-wise and in the character development portion. Here we see Tarran actually recognizing his mistakes and working on making things right in the future.
We also have a trope I enjoyed since I was a kid and my mom was reading me fairy tales in bed: three witches in a cabin with a deal for the main adventurer.
Besides that, we have a healthy dose of realism in form of political betrayal – a good start for future Joe Abercrombie fans.
In conclusion: Not bad for a middle-grade fantasy book, would read it again.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
That one passage about squirrels saving food for later reminded me of elementary school essays of Autumn - silly and unnecessary. 🤷🏻♀️
December 29, 2017
In the second part of this series, the heroes we met in the first are back in action, taking on with the help of a few more warriors a very difficult mission, particularly crucial for the outcome of the fight against evil. As part of this mission, they are confronting great dangers but also themselves and are connected even more through all these difficulties. In the end, however, they find that evil can have many more forms, as well as good, which makes things much more complicated.
These developments give the author the opportunity to offer us another fascinating adventure that allows also several very emotional moments. There is, of course, again an intense element of humour, as the genre imposes, but the narrative, however, gets a darker mood. Also, there are some clichés in the plot, but I have the impression that the author handles them in a very meaningful way.
So the conclusion is that this book is an ideal continuation of the series, another book that is very difficult to leave it of hands before the last page.
Στο δεύτερο μέρος αυτής της σειράς οι ήρωες που γνωρίσαμε στο πρώτο επιστρέφουν στη δράση αναλαμβάνοντας με τη βοήθεια μερικών ακόμα πολεμιστών μία πολύ δύσκολη αποστολή και ιδιαίτερα κρίσιμη για την έκβαση του αγώνα ενάντια στο κακό. Στα πλαίσια αυτής της αποστολής γνωρίζουν πολύ μεγάλους κινδύνους, έρχονται αντιμέτωποι με τους εαυτούς τους και δένονται ακόμα περισσότερο μέσα από όλες αυτές τις δυσκολίες. Στο τέλος, όμως, διαπιστώνουν ότι το κακό μπορεί να έχει πολύ περισσότερες μορφές, όπως αντιστοίχως και το καλό, κάτι που κάνει τα πράγματα πολύ πιο περίπλοκα.
Αυτές οι εξελίξεις δίνουν στο συγγραφέα τη δυνατότητα να μας προσφέρει άλλη μία συναρπαστική περιπέτεια που η μορφή της επιτρέπει και αρκετές ιδιαίτερα συναισθηματικές στιγμές. Υπάρχει, φυσικά, και πάλι έντονο στοιχείο του χιούμορ, όπως επιβάλλει το είδος, η αφήγηση, όμως, έχει μία πιο σκοτεινή διάθεση. Επίσης δεν λείπουν και κάποια κλισέ στην πλοκή αλλά έχω την εντύπωση ότι ο συγγραφέας ακόμα και αυτά τα χειρίζεται με έναν πολύ ουσιαστικό τρόπο.
Οπότε το συμπέρασμα είναι ότι αυτό το βιβλίο είναι μία ιδανική συνέχεια της σειράς, άλλο ένα βιβλίο το οποίο πολύ δύσκολα αφήνεις από τα χέρια σου πριν την τελευταία σελίδα.
These developments give the author the opportunity to offer us another fascinating adventure that allows also several very emotional moments. There is, of course, again an intense element of humour, as the genre imposes, but the narrative, however, gets a darker mood. Also, there are some clichés in the plot, but I have the impression that the author handles them in a very meaningful way.
So the conclusion is that this book is an ideal continuation of the series, another book that is very difficult to leave it of hands before the last page.
Στο δεύτερο μέρος αυτής της σειράς οι ήρωες που γνωρίσαμε στο πρώτο επιστρέφουν στη δράση αναλαμβάνοντας με τη βοήθεια μερικών ακόμα πολεμιστών μία πολύ δύσκολη αποστολή και ιδιαίτερα κρίσιμη για την έκβαση του αγώνα ενάντια στο κακό. Στα πλαίσια αυτής της αποστολής γνωρίζουν πολύ μεγάλους κινδύνους, έρχονται αντιμέτωποι με τους εαυτούς τους και δένονται ακόμα περισσότερο μέσα από όλες αυτές τις δυσκολίες. Στο τέλος, όμως, διαπιστώνουν ότι το κακό μπορεί να έχει πολύ περισσότερες μορφές, όπως αντιστοίχως και το καλό, κάτι που κάνει τα πράγματα πολύ πιο περίπλοκα.
Αυτές οι εξελίξεις δίνουν στο συγγραφέα τη δυνατότητα να μας προσφέρει άλλη μία συναρπαστική περιπέτεια που η μορφή της επιτρέπει και αρκετές ιδιαίτερα συναισθηματικές στιγμές. Υπάρχει, φυσικά, και πάλι έντονο στοιχείο του χιούμορ, όπως επιβάλλει το είδος, η αφήγηση, όμως, έχει μία πιο σκοτεινή διάθεση. Επίσης δεν λείπουν και κάποια κλισέ στην πλοκή αλλά έχω την εντύπωση ότι ο συγγραφέας ακόμα και αυτά τα χειρίζεται με έναν πολύ ουσιαστικό τρόπο.
Οπότε το συμπέρασμα είναι ότι αυτό το βιβλίο είναι μία ιδανική συνέχεια της σειράς, άλλο ένα βιβλίο το οποίο πολύ δύσκολα αφήνεις από τα χέρια σου πριν την τελευταία σελίδα.
July 17, 2022
“For each of us comes a time when we must be more than what we are.”
Taran’s home of Caer Dallben serves as a venue for a great council - Prince Gwydion intends on invading the evil kingdom of Annuvin to seize and destroy their source of power; the black cauldron which spawns deathly warriors. Taran feels honoured to march alongside Gwydion but soon finds himself separated from the company. Luckily, his former companions, the Princess Eilonwy and Gurgi, have followed him in secrecy and are now ready to help him once again.
The Black Cauldron takes a much darker turn compared to its predecessor. Many new characters are introduced but also several lost. The new characters are all very interesting and I would be glad to see them in later volumes. I still think that this series provides characters who are all quite different from one another despite the short length of the books.
Taran is still a very likeable main character who is continuously growing. When he acquires a magical brooch that sharpens his senses, his perspective on the world is written in a beautiful manner and generally adds a magical touch to this world.
Although most things appear very bleak in this second volume, the chapter where the three old crones are introduced is hilarious; they also made an appearance in the Disney adaptation in which I cared little for them. In this original format, however, I find them very likeable and just simply fun to read about – I loved Orgoch’s lip smacking!
As already mentioned, there is also quite a loss of characters. I was surprised to see quite a few deaths so early in the series and I was rather sad about them as they counted among my favoured characters. Somehow, it’s always my favoured characters that die!
October 2, 2017
While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I think part of my enjoyment was due to finally diving into such a classic series that had eluded me for so many years. I did enjoy that first book, The Book of Three, but it did seem to meander a little too much for my taste. This time around, I felt the plot was much tighter and focused on just a handful of characters, allowing me to get to know them much better.
I also liked how Taran, the main character, grew through the novel. He is still an assistant pig-keeper but he really grows into his leadership role this time around as evidenced by the high impact moral decisions he must make. Not all of the good guys turn out to be so good and the concepts of honor and leadership are paramount. The scenes with the three enchantresses are especially fun to read as they mix humor with danger.
Looking forward to the next one, The Castle of Llyr.
I also liked how Taran, the main character, grew through the novel. He is still an assistant pig-keeper but he really grows into his leadership role this time around as evidenced by the high impact moral decisions he must make. Not all of the good guys turn out to be so good and the concepts of honor and leadership are paramount. The scenes with the three enchantresses are especially fun to read as they mix humor with danger.
Looking forward to the next one, The Castle of Llyr.
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