Reviews with content warning for Death - The Black Cauldron

Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

7 reviews

the_reading_time_traveller's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I liked this book much better than the first one, The Book of Three. I think that is it is because the characters are more grown up and less annoying (specifically Eilonwy, she is not as combatative). Taran, the main characte , has some great character development in this one from the first book.
One thing I liked about this book is that because Taran is more grown up (or is growing up) the book is darker than the first. The main premise is that the people of the realm is going to steal a cauldron that the basic king of the underworld uses to raise the dead, using dug up corpses! I was not expecting such a dark concept to be in a book for middle schoolers (it isn't too perpetrated on but if you catch on to the implications, it's dark).

I put misogyny and sexism in the content warnings, but there is a few here and there sexist comments towards the female main side characters, Eilonwy. They're always along the lines of "you should go back to working in the scullery" or "I shouldn't take advice from a girl." They are kind of just casually said to her face 🙄 but can you expect anything more from a book written in 1965?

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12dejamoo's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I'm definitely a fan of the Chronicles of Prydain and it's so fun to return to them after all this time. The finale of this book is one of the key moments I remember from reading this book as a kid and it was so exciting to come back to. So many interesting characters in this one

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celey's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A great second entry in the Chronicles of Prydain! All the favorites are back, with some very compelling new characters as well. This book gets a little deeper into what it means to be a hero, without losing any of its sparkle and action.

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ijustreallyliketrees's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I read The Book of Three when I was twelve and am only just getting around to continuing the series now. I liked this one even more than my reread of book one and will be borrowing the rest from the library soon!

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