Customer Reviews
A great addition to Narnia 
2008-08-28
It was a very enjoyable read! I didn't want to put the book down. I would have liked to have seen a little more interaction between Caspian and Peter, and a more detailed battle sequence at the end.
Great action 
2008-07-23
Prince Caspian is one of the tales of The Chronicles of Narnia. It takes place after Peter, the high king and his siblings left the kingdom many years before. They returned to find animosity between the realms of prince Caspian and the magical creatures. A knight called Reepicheep that is a talking mouse, a dwarf and the cast off prince find themselves on the same side as the high king Peter and his siblings. After they learn to trust each other, they unite to bring peace to all races and the throne to his rightful heir. A great tale full of action.
Anna del C.
Author of "The Elf and the Princess"
The Elf and The Princess: The Silent Warrior Trilogy - Book One (The Silent Warrior Trilogy)
A Story That Makes Me Kind Of Sad 2008-07-06
I saw the movie first, and I believe that was a mistake. Because once I sat down to read this book, I was expecting the movie to follow the book. I was, of course, wrong.
To read this book, I believe you got to have somewhat of an open mind and be imaginative. The Kings and Queens come back, and they come back many years later. The last time they left Narnia, they were much older...like young adults, and they come back in this book as children again. Narnia has changed and has changed for the worse. But the children, Prince Caspian, and the other Narnians fight to set things right.
Aslan is not throughout the book, but shows up just in time. But I must admit that I was sad to read that Peter and Susan could not come back because they were too old, and the same time, I completely understood why.
Overall, this was an excellent read, and C.S. Lewis writing is such a treasure. But this one was the book I liked the least out of all the books in the series. I guess the movie did ruin it for me.
Thanks.
Back to Narnia 2008-06-12
Imagine if you once saved a magical other world... only to return later and find that centuries had passed, and everything had changed.
Well, since the movie adaptation of "Prince Caspian" is about to come out, it seems appropriate to revisit C.S. Lewis's classic novel, the sequel to his even more classic "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe." While it has some drippily allegorical moments near the end, Lewis does a pretty good job with what must have been a difficult sequel.
When his aunt gives birth to a baby boy, young Prince Caspian finds himself on the run from his usurping uncle Miraz -- and in the hands of Narnia's secret army of dwarves, centaurs, talking animals and nature spirits. Soon Caspian has an army backing his claim to the throne, but in a moment of desperation, he is forced to blow the magic horn of the legendary Queen Susan -- and subsequently pulls the Pevensies back into Narnia.
But while only a year has passed on Earth, centuries have passed in Narnia, and the kids find that it's no longer the place they left -- they and Aslan are distant memories, and their castle lies in ruins. And as they are led by a very skeptical dwarf to help Caspian, Lucy keeps glimpsing Aslan along the way -- a sign that things are about to change drastically in Narnia, both for the human and magical inhabitants...
The Chronicles of Narnia were probably the first books to feature what is now standard in the fantasy genre -- an ordinary person gets dragged into another world. Just take a look at successful, unique authors like Diana Wynne Jones and Garth Nix to get an example of how Lewis' stories have influenced the entire genre.
If you don't like allegory (religious or otherwise), then steer clear of "Prince Caspian," especially the second half. While Lewis's beliefs are presented in a more complicated and subtle manner in his other fictional works, here the parallels to basic Christian beliefs are very obvious. Reportedly even Tolkien, one of Lewis's best pals, found the allegory annoying.
But if you can get past the slightly ham-handed treatment, it's a lovely little read. Lewis interweaves mythical elements -- dwarves, nymphs, talking animals, witches -- with the chatty, slightly precious style of traditional British storytelling. But this one is a bit darker and more action-packed than "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe," with some unexpected twists in the middle of it all. The scene with a strange witch and a werewolf is downright chilling, in fact.
But Lewis' plotting does sag near the end, during a drippy scene where Aslan wanders around fixing life for Narnian subjects. Fortunately after that, he gets back to a mystery that hangs over the whole book -- just where did all these humans come from, if they were such a rarity in the previous adventure?
Peter seems a bit more jaded than before and Edmund a bit more mature, but sadly the girls don't get enough to do this time around. But Caspian is a likable and believable prepubescent king-in-waiting, and surrounded by a bunch of unique Narnians -- a gentle yet fierce badger, a hostile dwarf, a fiery mouse, and the delightfully skeptical Trumpkin, who doesn't believe in lions.
Despite a few rough spots, "Prince Caspian" is a slightly darker, more intricate story, and its finale marks a turning point in the Chronicles of Narnia. Definitely give it a read before you see the movie.
Not the same when read as an adult 
2008-06-04
It's funny, how you come at these books as an adult and take something completely different away from them than you would as a child. I read these books about 20 years ago when my uncle gave me a complete set for my birthday. As a child, I think I read them simply as a fantasy/adventure story. As an adult, I can see the subtle religious references sprinkled throughout, and while some may see this as a hindrance to the story, at least through the first 2 books (I go by the original published order, not the new chronological order), I can look beyond that to the story underneath.
However, in the case of Prince Caspian, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of story. It seems to me that the book can be broken up into two sections: the first being the Dwarf relating Caspian's understanding of his role of Narnia's future leader (the entire importance of this seems to be related to him over the course of one evening while star-gazing) and the second being Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy's trek through the jungle to get to Caspian. The ending seemed too contrived for my liking and far too rushed. It was all build up and no follow through as far as I'm concerned.
Looking at the story differently, it is a story about faith; about how faith can be hard to see sometimes, but it's always there and as long as you believe in that faith, it will lead you where you need it to. Overall a good moral to the story, if a little didactic in the telling.
A Tale of Duty, Compassion, and Heroism 2008-06-03
A prince fights for his crown
Narnia ... where animals talk ... where trees walk ... where a battle is about to begin.
A prince denied his rightful throne gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.
Another lovely addition to the Narnia series! 2008-05-31
It's difficult for me to assign a star-rating to this book. I think because I'm so used to "epic" youth fantasy that I find this lacking. But, I must remember that it is a "children's" book, and I must take it for what it is.
The book reads a bit more like a beautiful outline. Some things are delved into, but for the most part situations and characters are only touched on the surface. But, this does make for a fast and intriguing read. And for whatever reason I do feel invested in the story and characters. A few sections seemed a little overlong or confusing but those were very few, and for the most part the story flows quite effortlessly. And Lewis manages another batch of delightful friends (or "DLFs")! I'm still a little unsure of the ending, but perhaps it will be explained further in the next story. And as always, there is something so special about the world of Narnia and Aslan the lion!!
Not as good as the rest of the series 2008-05-30
Just to be clear, the Narnia Series is one of the best children's book series ever written. However, I found Prince Caspian to be much less compelling of a story than Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The book was good and I give it 3.5 stars, but it is not great. The Christian allegory is still there, but it is much less obvious. Nevertheless, this is still a good book and children will really enjoy it.
It's About Aslan 2008-05-26
To say this is the worst of the series is rather to say how great the series is. This book is highly recommended, but the other six even more so. Prince Caspian is simply less engrossing as story. It is a book about bringing justice to the disenfranchised. It is perhaps the most character-driven of the Narnia books, which is probably why it would be difficult to make into a movie. And the primary character is of course Aslan.
The book focuses on Aslan throughout, whether or not he is there. Indeed, the overarching theme is trusting in Aslan, whether or not you see him. Pervading all the scene is Aslan- discussions about him, discussions about how he doesn't exist, and a presence that can't be seen but some know is there. Character develops in response to the dilemma of the unseen Aslan.
Aslan isn't the only character though. We are entertained by beautiful descriptions, like a bear who must put his foot into his mouth (suck his paws), or a giant who is always putting his foot into his mouth (metaphorically). Indeed, battle plans are drawn up precisely because of the characters of the different participants. And we are introduced to perhaps the finest character of the Narnia series- Reepicheep, the valiant Mouse.
But while character-driven, Lewis seems to have taken a step back from writing good character in this novel. There are good insights into the nature of belief, but the characters don't quite ring true. And while it makes sense that Aslan would save the day, as after all, the novel is about him, we don't get enough of a connection between the presence of the Pevensies and the salvation of Narnia at the end of that day.
Thus there are two excellent reasons to read this book. Dawn Treader doesn't make sense without it. And for the lessons on faith that are gently told through story, as only a story can.
weakest of a delightful and enchanting series, but worth the read 2008-05-26
The Pevensie children are called back to Narnia in order to save it from the tyrannical rule of Prince Caspian's uncle, who has destroyed almost all of the magic and wilderness from Narnia. Aslan also joins the children. Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund all return to their roles of Kings and Queens of Narnia. Not as clever and imaginative and exciting as the first book in the series, but still very magical and delightful. The enchanting and complex characters of Reepicheep (the brave mouse) and Trumpkin (the conflicted dwarf) definately make the journey worth it.
