Taran stays awake the rest of the night in silent thought, and whenever Taran spends a night in silent thought, I know he’s going to make a decision I’m not happy with. In the morning, everyone is preparing for the journey to the Summer Country, …
Read MoreThe High King, Chapter 20 – The Gift
We fast-forward through the journey home: the Sons of Don bear Taran and his companions to Avren harbor aboard their golden ships, “with Kaw proudly perched on the highest mast,” and then they ride beneath the banner of the White Pig until they arrive at …
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The High King, Chapter 19 – The Death-Lord (Part 2)
Welcome back! Before the break in this action-packed chapter of The High King, Taran had just tried – and failed – to kill Arawn. He runs into the Great Hall where the rest of his companions are, “crying the warning that Arawn still lived and …
Read MoreThe High King, Chapter 19 – The Death-Lord (Part 1)
Taran is clinging helplessly to the side of Mount Dragon when the gwythaint sinks its talons into his shoulders and starts to pull him away from the cliff face. He sees its “head, deeply scarred by an old wound” and notices that its “blood-red eyes” …
Read MoreThe High King, Chapter 18 – Mount Dragon
Welcome back! It’s been a while since we visited Prydain (in book form, anyway). As we approach the climax of the final book in the series, things have gotten much colder and darker for Taran and his friends… literally. They survived a deadly snowstorm only …
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Wales: As close as it gets to visiting Prydain!
Sorry for the unannounced hiatus, folks. I’ll be back with a new chapter recap next week, but in the meantime, I want to share some photos of my recent trip to Wales, on which Lloyd Alexander based much of Prydain’s mythology and geography. I’ve always …
Read MoreThe High King, Chapter 17 – The Snowstorm
The companions journey laboriously through Annuvin, leading their horses over the treacherous rocky terrain, which only Llyan manages with ease. Doli’s pace begins to slow down, and soon he starts to stagger and can’t catch his breath. Turns out he’s not as immune to the …
Read MoreThe High King, Chapter 16 – The Enchanter
In this “bottle episode” chapter, we’re whisked away to Caer Dallben, where Dallben is drowsing over the books on his table. At his feet, Hen Wen (who is allowed indoors, I guess?) starts whimpering, agitated by something that Dallben can’t hear at first. Dallben says …
Read MoreThe High King, Chapter 15 – The River of Ice
The sudden light from Eilonwy’s bauble frightens the Huntsmen, and they fall back. Seeing their numbers, Taran realizes what a close call they’ve just had, but he’s mostly just overjoyed to know Eilonwy is still alive. Fflewddur wisely restrains him from going after her then …
Read MoreThe High King, Chapter 14 – Daylight
Another POV shift! In this chapter we find out what happened to Eilonwy. Gurgi saved her life during the battle by dragging her away from the action, then found a cave for the two of them to spend the night in. The next day, as …
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