The High King: The Chronicles of Prydain, Book 5 (50th … (2025)

The High King (The Chronicles of Prydain #5), Lloyd Alexander

The High King (1968) is a high fantasy novel by Lloyd Alexander, the fifth and last of The Chronicles of Prydain. It was awarded the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1969.

The series follows the adventures of Taran, the Assistant Pig-Keeper, as he nears manhood while helping to resist the forces of Arawn Death-Lord. In the concluding volume Taran and companions join the rest of Prydain in a great effort to defeat Arawn directly. Finally Taran must decide whether to be High King.

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و ششم ماه آگوست سال2008میلادی

عنوان: افسانه های پریداین - کتاب پنج : تاران و فرمانروای بزرگ؛ نوشته: لوید الکساندر؛ مترجم: مریم سیادت؛ تهران، تندیس، سال1385؛ در286ص؛ شابک9789648944198؛ جلد پنج؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده20م

عنوان اصلی کتاب پنجم، از سری پنج جلدی «پریداین»؛ «د های کینگ»، است، که مترجم آن را به «تاران و فرمانروای بزرگ» برگرانیده اند؛ سری پنج جلدی «افسانه‌ های پرید‌این»، د‌ر د‌هه‌ ی شصت سده ی بیستم میلاد‌ی، برای نخستین بار، در «ایالات متحده آمریکا»، به چاپ رسید‌ه، به نوشته ی سرکار خانم «مهتاب روشنگران»، «لین کارتر»، منتقد‌ مهم اد‌بیات فانتزی، از قول نویسنده ی سری «ماجراهای پریداین»، نقل می‌کند‌، که جد‌ا از اثر پذیری ایشان، از «تالکین»، کار ایشان، ملهم از کتابِ مهم د‌یگری، د‌ر اد‌بیات فانتزیِ سده 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 اِلِمانهای فانتزی بزرگسال، به طنز و شوخ و شنگیِ فانتزی‌های نوجوان هم، نزد‌یکتر شود‌

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 27/11/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 21/11/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

I may have teared up quite a bit during the reading of this one.

Man, the final installment in The Chronicles of Prydain has so much heart.
When you talk about bittersweet endings - this!
And I don't mean that I was sad, or that I would have wanted it to end any other way. At least, not now that I think about it.
But damn.

I've said it before, but I'm continually amazed at how strong a character Eilonwy was for the time. I mean, you could pretty much plop her down in modern books and she would fit right in. What an incredible thing for Alexander to have done for little girls in 1968.

Oh, and after all he had put me through with this book, I really thought Alexander was going to break my heart in half right there at the very end.
If Eilonwy & Taran hadn't been able to stay together?!

A lot of childhood classics don't hold up these days, but it was a real treat to read this series again. I enjoyed it more as an adult than I ever did as a kid. Ah I wish I liked this final book as much as I loved Taran Wanderer, but the grim focus on war and preparing for battle was just not for me.

Still it was nice to see all the pieces come together from throughout the series. There was room for everyone to have an important part to play.

I'll miss the companions, but I have a feeling I'll be visiting them again before too long. Assistant pig keepers of the world, see you next time!

There are times in life where everything seems to go right, and then there are the times where everything seems to go wrong. The High King is both of these. There were times I wanted to throw the book down and times I couldn't even bear to close it at night. The book, while a fairy tale, is life.

Nothing in life is free and all things come with a price, even the price of gifts that we wish we could keep. And the gift that requires the greatest price is that of love. People change, move, and die. Those we love do not forever remain with us and love is not without its trials and pain. But though we may give up what we think we desire in life, in the end--if it were for love--we know that it was worth it.

There are many examples of forgoing one's heart's desire in order to do that which is for the "greater good." In the end, our lives can either be lived for our own good or for the good of those who come after: I know which life I will choose to lead. How about you?

So ends the saga! The evil is destroyed, the rightful king draws the sword, and at the end the elves leave into Undying La- uh, Summer Country. Also, a lot of friends die. It's all very tense and thrilling while it still happens, sad and bittersweet once it's all done with, and on the whole a pretty much perfect finisher for a great series.

I couldn't believe Taran at the end is the same moronic little child we started with, if I had not read through these books one by one to see his growth first-hand. He's come a long way. I'm proud of him. I'm proud of the lot of them.

The High King

A page-turning thriller
With a deeply moving ending,
That draws the threads of the first four books
And strengthens them in the blending.

I never read this as a child, and now that I have just finished it, I'm not crying, you're crying, shut up.

The Prydain Chronicles deserves its place in history as a classic children's fantasy series, although I wonder just how well-known it truly is. It is certainly not at Narnia-level recognition, and I was not really aware of it until I started perusing the children' fantasy section at the library starting at 'A' and reading about the history of fantasy publishing, but that may have been solely my own ignorance. Regardless, I now know this to be a timeless tale of bravery, duty, honor, nobility and sacrifice. I hope my own children will read it in the coming years, and the voices of the characters (as they sound in my head) cry out for a read-aloud some day.

I loved how Taran struggles to become the noble man that he becomes. Ultimately he exemplifies the aforementioned qualities of nobility, bravery, and goodness, but never without frequently battling fear, jealousy, pride, and guilt. As is stated in these books, all men's hearts contain both good and evil, and it is how they face that fact that determines the person they are.

The High King provides a beyond-satisfying finale to the series. Every character has an ending, every question is answered, and not everyone survives. It is definitely heavier in tone and content. There are several unexpected heartbreaking moments throughout the book, in which I felt the losses as deeply as Taran did. There was even the threat of rape at one point, which was very shocking in this setting, although handled very delicately and, I think, should not scar younger readers who won't understand this implication. And rightfully, the offender gets his throat ripped out immediately.

Overall, the strongest books in my mind are books 2, 4 and 5 (The Black Cauldron, Taran Wanderer, and The High King respectively), if it is allowable for 60% of the series to be my favorite, although books 1 (The Book of Three) and 3 (The Castle of Llyr) are great too. The first book was only weaker in comparison to the rest since the beloved characters were already established in the sequels.

My only mild reservation is that the series skews very boy-heavy in both characters and interest. There is nothing preventing girls from enjoying this book and gaining the same lessons as a boy might, but as a father and a feminist, I always hope to see more and better representation of female characters in the books that I would like to expose my children (both girl and boy) to. Now, Eilonwy is no slouch. She brooks no fools, unabashedly refuses to be left behind or kept out of action, is revealed to harbor great power, and has many of the best quotes arising from her creative similes. But, she is the only female member of "the companions", and the other women in the series are not quite positively relatable; Achren is vicious and mad (mostly), while Orwen, Orddu and Orgoch are... not human. Ah, I almost forgot Dwyvach the weaver, who is fine but a very minor character. So, needs more girls. In the grand scheme this is a minor complaint against an otherwise highly positive series.

This one felt more rushed than the others. some of the big reveals were really disappointing. like other books in the series, more time is spent on their daily trivialities than the big picture. the death of the main antagonist of the entire series was addressed in a fight lasting no more than a page. it felt anticlimactic. arawn was killed too easily. lesser villains were given better fights and deaths. I hated glew, better characters than him died whilst we had to endure his whining for an entire book. the ending was somewhat similar to lord of the rings, but not as impacting or meaningful. overall I would've been happier if I had skipped this one and dreamt up my own ending for the companions, which is really a shame. the characters were crafted with love and personality, but by the end, it just falls flat.

Vrlo lep zavrsetak za jedan jako lep serijal. Imamo svega ovde, i srece i tuge, delova da stane srce delova da se opustimo. Manje vise sve je razjasnjeno, svi likovi su dotaknuti i nagradjeni prema zasluzi. Sta drugo reci, citajte.

Jedino sto mi smeta sto je ceo serijal nekako prekratak. Mozda je to do moje profesionalne deformacije da skoro svi fantazi romani imaju knjige od 500+ strana, ali kolko sam uzivao citajuci prosto mi je zao sto je gotovo.

Some may see similarities between this and the Lord of the Rings books, but I can definitely say that even though both books have some roots in mythology around the British Isles, there is definitely enough differences that I can say that this series isn't some rip-off or anything.

My first exposure to this series was Disney's Black Cauldron movie when I was a kid, so as an adult I decided to give the books a try, and I wasn't disappointed. Personally, I think Arawn is a better villain than Sauron, and I liked Taran/Elionwy better than Frodo and Bilbo.

Overall this is a pretty fun series, and I think one that deserves more recognition.

2022 reread:

I cried no less than six times while I was reading this book. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, but yet so satisfying. I’ve thought about it a lot and I would have to say that this is my favorite book of all time.
______________________________

2018 reread:

Update 6/12/18 -

_______________________________

Original Review:

Let me begin by saying that I very seldom give 5s. To me, a book that gets a 5 is a book that changed my life and a book I have to reread over and over again. This book is a true 5 for me. I can't even count how many times I have read it and I have loved it each and every time I have read it.

I just love the way Lloyd Alexander writes. He doesn't get bogged down in flowery language and instead uses a minimum of words to somehow convey a perfect description.

I love the character development of Taran. He really grows up and matures from the beginning of the series and the end. Eilonwy is one of my favorite female characters ever. She's strong and smart and funny and independent. Gurgi is so cute with his crunchings and munchings. Fflewddur Fflam is funny and of course I love Gwydion. Arawn is a great villain too.

And the story!!! Everything fits together so perfectly and all the loose ends are tied up.

I could go on and on about how wonderful this book is, but really you need to experience the whole wonderful series for yourself.

Favorite quote: "every man is a hero if he strives more for others than for himself alone." <3 perfection!!!

I don’t think there’s been a more beautiful ending to such a wonderful series (aside from LOTR)🥹

The High King was heart wrenching as much as it was hope filled. I loved how this book jumped different POVs depending on the scenario, which I think served the plot so well.

There were so many layers to peel back, and they all unfolded in the end. Alas, I now understand why the first book is called The Book of Three; it makes so much sense.

And all the characters? Gosh, I cried at the scene with Fflewddur’s harp. I loved Kaw and Coll 😭 and Lliono and the Clay-Shaper! And that ending?? Gahh, truly one of the most beautiful and moving things.

The Chronicles of Prydain truly embodies hope amidst a dark and cold world. There is so much light and beauty in these stories, and it’s safe to say it’s now become one of my all time favorite series. I love all the books, but books 4 and 5 are tied for the top!

Some favorite quotes:

“Is there worse evil than that which goes in the mask of good?”

“For the deeds of a man, not the words of a prophecy, are what shape his destiny.”

“A shade of sorrow passed over Taliesin's face. 'There are those,' he said gently, 'who must first learn loss, despair, and grief. Of all paths to wisdom, this is the cruelest and longest. Are you one who must follow such a way? This even I cannot know. If you are, take heart nonetheless. Those who reach the end do more than gain wisdom. As rough wool becomes cloth, and crude clay a vessel, so do they change and fashion wisdom for others, and what they give back is greater than what they won.”

“Every man is a hero if he strives more for others than for himself alone.”

“What you may seek and what you may find are not always one.”

“It is harsh enough for each man to bear his own wound. But he who leads bears the wounds of all who follow him.”

Highly recommend!!

Content:
Some violence, no gore
Lots of death 😭

4.5 stars

In my quest to read all Newbery Medal winning books (only 6 to go!!), I was dreading the Chronicles of Prydain. After all, the book in the series that won the Newbery was the very last book in said series, and there's nothing I tire of more quickly than high fantasy.

And boy, are the Chronicles of Prydain high fantasy.

So. Much. Questing.

So. Much. To-ing and Fro-ing.

So. Many. Episodic. Chapters.

I was assured that I didn't have to read all of the other books in the Chronicles to understand the final book. Even Lloyd Alexander points to this in The High King's Author's Note.

But I am nothing if not slightly obsessive and incapable of doing anything half-assed.

And I also heartily disagree. The High King is a veritable Greatest Hits of Prydain, reuniting literally everyone Taran has encountered on his adventures. It's overwhelming how many story threads Alexander weaves together. Even I who had read all the preceding books occasionally found myself thinking, "Wait, who is this character?" and referencing Wikipedia to remind myself.

So if you want to be a Newbery completionist like me, I highly recommend reading the Chronicles of Prydain chronologically.

Because if you do, you will be richly rewarded.

The High King is a marvelous capstone to the series. It eschews the episodic structure, and instead follows multiple quests that all culminate in a battle that, if not as exciting as, say, the defeat of Voldemort, still feels well-earned and deeply satisfying. I'd reveal some of my favorite parts, but I think it's best left for a reader to discover those on their own. I was never less than pleased while reading this book, and even had some terrific gasps - especially during one of the climatic scenes with the Cauldron-Born.

Taran himself had become a far more engaging character (after Book #4, which was an absolute treasure, focusing more on character than on plot), and the prophecies of both Hen-Wen and The Book of Three made me appreciate the earlier installments even more. It almost makes me want to go back and re-read the entire series knowing what I now know.

Honestly, at the risk of sounding super-repetitive, I can't overstate how grateful I am that I read all the books rather than just The High King. The Newbery Committee of 1969 sure took a gamble with awarding this title the medal. Had I not read the other books, I probably would have been so confused and lost, I'd have awarded a single star out of pure frustration.

So don't do that. Read them all and know that your perseverance will be rewarded.

Here's my definitive ranking of the Chronicles:
1. The High King
2. Taran Wanderer
3. The Black Cauldron
4. The Book of Three
5. The Castle of Llyr (Honestly, if you skip any of them, it should be this one. You'll only miss who Megg is)

Taran nodded. "So be it," he said. "Long ago I yearned to be a hero without knowing, in truth, what a hero was. Now, perhaps, I understand it a little better. A grower of turnips or a shaper of clay, a Commot farmer or a king--every man is a hero if he strives more for others than for himself alone. Once," he added, "you told me that the seeking counts more than the finding. So, too, must the striving count more than the gain." (PG. 238)

Newbery Award Winner- YA- 1968

I am so bad at books that are series. For some reason I end up reading the last one first. The author did a great job of helping me understand what was going on so I was never confused and he didn't keep going back in time to the other books unless he had to for the purpose of the story. This was great Welsh mythology. I didn't even think the Welsh have their own mythology stories, my ignorant mind. Every country and people's have their way of telling the ways of man and the mysteries of the world.

I liked the characters and the twists. I'm not so much into this fantasy genre but Alexander did a fantastic job of having the reader envision the good vs. bad and Taran, the underdog, becoming a real hero defender of Prydain. His fate was written.

Fact: Book 2 in this series is a Newbery Honor book while book 5, The High King, is a Newbery Winner.

Great ending to a great series! I think my final ranking is:
1. Taran Wanderer
2. The High King
3. The Black Cauldron
4. The Book of Three
5. The Castle of Ilyr

Lloyd Alexander succeeded in pulling all of the various threads together across the entire series, weaving characters back in who seemed long forgotten, and answering questions that I had even forgotten were posed earlier in the series. The whole series is worth reading, even as an adult, although now I'm excited to share them with my daughter!

No matter how many times I read this book, the final chapter always rips me in half. And what a time to go through that again.

The fifth and final part of this splendid series and as is customary in this all accounts are closed by an epic battle in many stages. Its description is more than staggering, as the author is creating breathtaking combat scenes, who also are making us more emotionally involved with our beloved heroes, who overcome their limits due to the sense of duty and the love they have for each other. In the end all this adventure leads us to a dramatic climax followed by one of the most moving finale I have read in the field of fantasy but also in general.

That's how I came to the end of this story and to the completion of the reading of the five books that as small as they are is their size so big are in emotional depth. That is why I'm in the very rare situation to get to the end of a series and feel a sadness because there in nothing more to read. It does not matter, however, what is left is that the fullness that the author so generously offered me will always be somewhere inside me and the heroes of these books will forever be my literary friends. And somehow, with this overwhelming sentiment that has flooded me - and I did not wait to pass in order to write a more objective review - I seriously state that this is one of the best high fantasy series ever written and I will suggest to everyone to read it, or, better, I will express my sorrow for all those who have not yet done so.

��My fantastic greetings to everyone and one of the last criticisms I'm writing in 2017 I wish for a fantastic year to come.

Πέμπτο και τελευταίο μέρος αυτής της υπέροχης σειράς και όπως συνηθίζεται σε αυτό κλείνουν όλοι οι λογαριασμοί μέσα από μία επική μάχη σε πολλά στάδια. Η περιγραφή της είναι κάτι παραπάνω από συγκλονιστική, με τον συγγραφέα να δημιουργεί σκηνές μάχης που κόβουν την ανάσα αλλά παράλληλα μας κάνουν να εμπλακούμε περισσότερο συναισθηματικά με τους αγαπημένους μας ήρωες, οι οποίοι ξεπερνάνε τα όρια τους εξαιτίας της αίσθησης καθήκοντος αλλά και της αγάπης που τους δένει. Στο τέλος όλη αυτή η περιπέτει�� μας οδηγεί σε μία δραματική κορύφωση που ακολουθείται από ένα από τα πιο συγκινητικά φινάλε που έχω διαβάσει στο χώρο της φαντασίας αλλά και γενικότερα.

Κάπως έτσι έφτασα στο τέλος αυτής της ιστορίας και στην ολοκλήρωση της ανάγνωσης των πέντε βιβλίων που όσο μικρά είναι τόσο μεγάλο είναι το συναισθηματικό τους βάθος. Για αυτό συμβαίνει το πολύ σπάνιο πράγμα να φτάνω στο τέλος μιας σειράς και να νιώθω μία θλίψη που δεν υπάρχει συνέχεια. Δεν πειράζει, όμως, αυτό που μένει είναι ότι αυτή η πληρότητα που μου πρόσφερε τόσο απλόχερα ο συγγραφέας θα υπάρχει πάντα κάπου μέσα μου και οι ήρωες αυτών των βιβλίων θα είναι για πάντα λογοτεχνικοί μου φίλοι. Και κάπως έτσι, με αυτόν τον υπερβολικό συναισθηματισμό που με έχει πλημμυρίσει - και δεν περίμενα πρώτα να περάσει για να γράψω μία πιο αντικειμενική κριτική - δηλώνω στα σοβαρά ότι πρόκειται για μία από τις καλύτερες σειρές υψηλής φαντασίας που έχουν ποτέ γραφτεί και θα προτείνω όλοι να τη διαβάσυν, ή, καλύτερα, θα εκφράσω τη θλίψη μου για όλους αυτούς που ακόμα δεν το έχουν κάνει.

Τους φανταστικούς μου χαιρετισμούς σε όλους και μια από πού είναι η τελευταία κριτική που γράφω για το 2017 εύχομαι να έρθει μία φανταστική χρονιά.

Because I listen to my audiobooks in the car, I went for a drive Saturday evening just to finish this book. Time and gas well spent. Really enjoyed making my way through this series over the last month and a half. Some of the best children's fantasy I've read. Wish I would've read it as an actual child.

Aside from a couple of minor complaints, The High King was a really good ending to this series.

Arawn and his minions have stolen the magical sword Dyrnwyn from Prince Gwydion, tipping the balance of power in his own favor. Gwydion, Dallben and the kings of the realm all gather to form a plan to defeat Arawn before his huntsmen and Cauldron Born can take over the realm, but they are soon betrayed by one of their own, and Taran his companions are drawn into the fight. At this point, it's pretty much a slaughter. Seriously, characters dropping right and left. Alexander doesn't shy away from showing the consequences of war, but it's very much not what I was expecting.

All of the companions, even Gurgi and Rhun, get their chance to be badasses. And even though I thought that ultimately the actual showdown between Taran and Arawn (because of course that was always going to happen) is kind of anti-climactic, it almost doesn't matter because the focus isn't so much on beating Arawn as it is in Taran growing into his own destiny (a destiny, I note, of his own choosing, which is the best kind of destiny in fantasy stories, as far as I'm concerned).

I was kind of soured on the ending--as fitting as it was, especially since it completes Taran's arc so nicely, and also because the parts with Eilonwy are freaking adorable--because of the way it unnecessarily and beyond my powers of suspending my disbelief echoes the ending of Lord of the Rings, without any of the buildup that would have made it okay. To spoil the whole thing, because Arawn has been defeated, basically all magic and magical creatures and people (including Gwydion and the Sons of Don and Dallben) retreat to "the summer kingdom" where they will all live forever with no sickness and disease and peace, but Taran refuses the gift of coming along with them as one of the heroes who saved Prydain. He chooses to stay in memory of those who lost their lives and were never given the chance to go to the summer kingdom. He chooses to stay and rebuild Prydain, shepherding mankind into a new magic-less era. For this sacrifice, Dallben anoints him High King.

Like I said, that Taran stuff was good, but seriously, Alexander? The magical people had to go

Oh, except for Gurgi. So annoying.

Single review for the Chronicles of Prydain, as they are similar in style and quality and could have been produced as a single large volume of five sub-books.

The Chronicles of Prydain are children's books. Some children's books hold up well when read by an adult, but these are definitely for kids and do not carry any added depth. The adventures are amusing but flat. You might smile at Eilonwy's sass and moxie and Fflewdur Fflam's tall tales. But you're probably also going to cringe at Taran's extreme earnestness and do-goodery, or Gwydion's noblest-of-all-nobles nobility, and maybe you'll tire a bit of Gurgi, who is Prydain's very own Jar Jar Binks. If you're reading this and you're already grown up, it might be too late to get full enjoyment out of these books.

The Welsh mythology Alexander spins into the stories adds some nice color, and in fact now having read these books (I read the first two when I was much younger, and the last three for the first time recently) I am interested in reading the Mabinogion, the Welsh medieval folk stories from which Alexander drew much inspiration. I suspect a grown-up audience might find these richer and rawer, just as a grown-up audience might prefer reading the Bible over one of those bowdlerized "children's Bible stories" collections.

Try these if you haven't hit your growth spurts yet, but for my time and money I'd rather have simply re-read the Lord of the Rings.

Okay, I am going to do a review for the entire series here, because it’s the last book in the series. I own these books, and they were some of my favorites growing up so I thought it was time for a reread. Did they stand up to my nostalgia, as some other books (notably Sabriel by Garth Nix and the His Dark Materials trilogy) have? The answer is partially, but not entirely. Here’s why:

The characterization of Eilonwy bothered me a bit. In the first few books she is quite independent and free-minded but as the books go on the male characters insist on making her into the princess she doesn’t want to be, and they often don’t listen to her. And –although I really hate to admit it—I found her a bit annoying. Frustrated by these things, I found a great article about this very question in the journal Mythlore, called “Isn’t it Romantic? Sacrificing Agency for Romance in Prydain” by Rodney M.D. Fierce. He basically makes the point that Eilonwy is a halfway point between science fiction and fantasy writing where women have no agency at all (see: Arwen) and writing where they are able to make their own choices, even in a patriarchal society (see: Katniss, Sabriel, Lyra). So I can respect Lloyd Alexander for that in 1968, even if it seems a bit dated now.

I have also heard folks complain about the writing style, which I actually don’t have that much of a problem with. It’s not that flowery and is also a bit old-fashioned, both because Alexander was writing about a mythical medieval Wales and also, I think, because he was writing in the 60’s and I have memories of Nancy Drew books seeming similarly stilted to me. I think it lends the books an elevated tone, which makes sense for an epic fantasy adventure, and is also just slightly more readable for a YA audience. It really doesn’t bother me at all (although Alexander does seem to overuse the word “fling” just a tad…).

But honestly, I’m just a sucker for a well-done hero story, which is what this series is at its heart. But the thing that sets it apart for me is the humor and heart. Alexander clearly loves these characters, and it really comes through. The books are also quite humorous and manage to be poignant and have the hero learn his lessons without seeming preachy, which is quite a feat. Alexander clearly loves his source material and wanted to create something unique out of it, which I believe that he has done.

So do these books have their flaws and occasionally seem a bit dated? Yes, of course, but they are also a great fantasy epic which remain enjoyable even fifty years after they were written. I really don’t think they’ll be going away anytime soon.

This is to date one of the best children's novels I've read in one of the best children's series out there. Alexander draws on a wealth of Welsh mythology to put together a rags to riches story of a pig-keeper, his growth from child to youth to man, and the decisions we are all forced to make in adulthood. There were many different types of closure in the final book -- the first time I read it I cried, which is really rare for me. I found the portrayals of key characters moving as well as the stories surrounding the protagonist (Taran) and his essential core of friends and supporters.

4.5 stars

3.5 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews

Arawn Death-Lord has Gwydion's magic sword, and he has sent out his dread armies to conquer Prydain. With only the slimmest of hopes, Taran and Gwydion must raise an army and strike at Arawn's stronghold to try to end his evil once and for all.

The High King is not the strongest of Lloyd Alexander's Prydain quintet. He's building here on an established foundation, and much of the outcome in a YA adventure is foreordained. Still, for all that there's little suspense, familiar, well-loved characters are here to follow the path marked, and they've grown up a little as they've gone. Taran is wiser, Eilonwy (slightly) less flighty. Gurgi, Fflewddur, Doli, Kaw, and all the crew make their appearances, including some characters readers may have forgotten.

There are a few surprises in the book, which is more somber than its predecessors. And, if much goes as it must, at least it's well done. The ending, however, is disappointing. We all know what will happen, and why - in part because the story echoes so many other familiar tales. I wish that Alexander had worked just a little more magic here, and reached for closure in a somewhat more original way. That may be asking too much from a series that unabashedly drew from many sources, including Welsh mythology in particular.

Aside from a weak ending, the book is a fitting conclusion to the series. And, if you've read the first four books, you're going to read this one. It's not the best of the batch, but it's still good, and it'll do your heart good to know where Taran, Eilonwy, and even Hen-Wen the oracular pig have ended up.

More of a 3.5 star, but it does wrap up everything in a pretty predictable manner. Still, it was fun with a few characters dying that I mourned for. Some others didn't that might have made it more interesting, though. Still, it was a good ending to an excellent YA series. I'm happy to have read it again as an adult. Highly recommended.

If you can find it as an audio book narrated by James Langton, you'll be even happier. He did a great job. Very memorable voices that were the same throughout the series.

Things get dark and things get light here. An older book than some in the series... Undead warriors and prophecies come to pass. These are a good series that will age with kids.

Can...can I give this 100 stars?

Filled with emotion and melancholy this was the perfect ending to this whimsical and surprisingly deep series.

What a great middle grade, high fantasy book series! Check out my BookTube video on The Chronicles of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander, no spoilers! It's an overview and book ranking of best to worst.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhqgF...

“For the deeds of a man, not the words of a prophecy, are what shape his destiny.”

The Chronicles of Prydain kept getting better with each volume - that is until I read this final instalment. I did like it, but not as much as the middle instalments. Both the beginning and ending felt rather rushed - the book could have done well with an extra 100 pages!

Unlike all previous volumes, this one picks up right at the end of the fourth instalment. Taran just arrives home when war is upon them almost immediately. What this book did really well was to tie all the books together. I loved how Taran's role as a war leader would not have worked without all the friendships he made during his wanderings of the fourth volume.

In addition, several bits and pieces from all previous books were picked up again. Almost all characters, who hadn't died in previous volumes, made a comeback in this one! And yet, not all of them live to see the end of it.

Putting Harry Potter aside, I have rarely read a final volume in which so many characters died. There was a death in nearly every chapter. And those who did not have to say farewell through death had to say farewell at the end of the story nonetheless; the majority of the cast is to leave Prydain and journey to a different country. I shall not spoil anything by saying who stays and who doesn't - but it was almost more painful than the actual deaths. Even more so because only a few remain in Prydain and... I am very sorry to say that my favourite character is not one of them.

While the beginning and ending seemed awfully rushed - the middle was very well written. One could feel the characters' struggles and crumbling hopes as their friends fell one after the other.

Although I found this to be a good and deserving conclusion to the chronicles - it did feature the most annoying creature ever: Glew. He was so irritating that it dragged down the quality of the story. It was simply unpleasant to read about him. At least he only has major appearances in the final volume!

All in all, I loved The Chronicles of Prydain! It is very much a character-driven story and I love so many of them.