The Companions, as the author frequently calls them, are summoned by Prince Gwydion and the venerable wizard, Dallben, to undertake a perilous quest: to march into the stronghold of the evil Lord of Annuvin, to remove and destroy the black cauldron of heavy iron, which Arawn uses to spawn a vicious breed of Middle World Undead. We are pleased to meet again our old friends from THE BOOK OF THREE: Taran, the Assistant Pig Keeper, who longs to be considered a man, Princess Eilonwy with her ready tongue, the story-stretching bard with his fickle harp, and other faithful followers. Yet this book, #2 in a series of 5 Prydain Chronicles, retains its integrity when read alone.

Alas, pride and treachery are rampant in the land bordering Annuvin, whence the dark lord of evil reigns and schemes. Our hot-tempered hero must use both his wits and his heart his to gradually acquire wisdom in this difficult and dangerous odyssey. The small company of adventurers are eager to prove their valor and gain honor, yet they experience the inevitable personality conflicts. How will the companions ward off attacks by The Hunstmen and the foul Cauldron-born who do Arawn's bidding? And who can defeat the black beast that travels on Ellidyr's tattered shoulders?

Yet there is much more to this book than a mere succession of adventures, traps and twists of fate. Many serious themes bubble up between the mayhem that Alexander has set in motion. One reminded me of a later book, THE GIVER: "Give us--the nicest summer day you can remember!" Ah, but is it easy to part with something intangible like a dream or a memory which has become a part of onesself? And this black Crochan, as it is called, emanates evil and possessiveness towards those who think they own it--reminiscent of the ring in THE HOBBIT. Evil can completely dominate one's neutral or natural personality. Just how much will Taran sacrifice or allow his friends to sacrifice for him, in order to obtain and destroy the Black Cauldron?

This book as written by Lloyd Alexander was a very thrilling and mysterious story. Like most titles of this genre it entails what seems to be a great quest or search for a tangable object. It is the second book in a series called the pyridian tales. In it a prince Gwydion leads this treacherous route to find and destroy the cauldron because of its possible horrendous applications. Even though this is deemed as a childrens book it seems that most people on all levels of reading can enjoy this story. the descriptions are intense during the battles and even the way the dark leader arawn makes and sends out his evil demons to the world. With this cauldron Arawn seems impossible to beat anf for this reason the cauldron must be captured or destroyed. I felt this was an very fun book, which kept me intersted and wanting to read more and more. i give it two thumbs up.

The Black Cauldron is just an amazing sequel to The Book of Three. Somewhat darker than the original, this book has several twists and unexpected surprises. Taran joins a band of warriors to seek and destroy a magic cauldron that has the power to raise undead warriors that cannot be defeated. The same characters as in The Book of Three are in this book, as well as characters who both like and despise Taran. The ending is amazing and bloody. I remember seeing the Disney version once when I was like 5(I'm 20), and from what I remember, I liked it then. I haven't seen it again since, but I could tell from its'storyline, that it is a mangled blending of the first two books in the Prydain Chronicles. Maybe it's still a good film by itself, but I think not as a reference to Lloyd Alexanders' creation. Read this one if you read The Book of Three.