It took me a while to figure out what my first Gem post should be on.  I have several books that are important to me that I feel are not well known or at the very least not often spoken of.  Also, I have several other books that have, over the past years, become important to me because I am now a mother and always on the lookout for books that my kids will enjoy while also being of good worth and quality.  Yet none of the one’s I thought of seemed to feel right for my first Gem post.  Then, as I was cleaning up my eyes landed on a very old book and I knew.  Again, I should simply start at the beginning.

The very first chapter book that I remember reading on my own is The Book of Three from the Prydain Chronicles.  I chose to read this book because my mom had read it to me and my brothers out loud at some point, although at the time of my reading I couldn’t remember what it was about.  I quickly fell in love with the book, as well as the rest of the series, and it has been a source of comfort and inspiration for my entire life. 

While the Prydain Chronicles is written simply enough for elementary students the actual ideas presented within the stories are much more far reaching.  Even as an adult I can not help but be impressed with the themes and motifs that Lloyd Alexander portrays and expresses in the Prydain Chronicles

The Book of Three starts out simply enough about a boy who wants to have adventures and be a hero.  Tarran, the boy, ends up thrust into the midst of an adventure when trying to chase after and find the oracle pig, Henwen, that he is responsible for taking care of.  He finds himself meeting his hero Lord Gwyddion as well as a creature named Gurgi. Both encounters lead him into the time and true troup of not being able to judge someone solely based on appearance, especially in a fantasy series.  Lord Gwyddion tells Taran of his mission, about learning about an evil creature called the Horned King and his hunt.  The Horned King is cutting a swath of evil through the land and is seeking out Henwen as well.

When they are captured by the evil witch Achren Taran meets the girl Elionwy and in an attempt to escape accidently rescues the bard Fflewdurr Flam.  I love how this continues the theme of needing to get to know people for who they are and not always just what they seem. Taran also has to come to realize that he must be more clear in what he says and in how he communicates with people.

As they were escaping the castle that Achren had taken over Eilonwy and Taran found some very old tunnels underground where there was a barrow and Eilonwy, in  all her innocent sweetness, took the dead King’s sword as her weapon of choice.  The sword was magical and connected to the castle.  Upon their exiting of the castle the entire thing came crumbling down.

The small group, now free yet missing the prince, must decide on what to do.  In the end they give up the hunt for Henwen as they have no idea where to begin looking after being captured and instead decide to carry out Gwyddion’s mission of returning to the High King and warning him of the Horned King.

I won’t reveal the rest of the story, just in case anyone might be interested in reading it for themselves or to their kids.  However, one of the things I do love about this series is how intrinsically magic plays a role in these stories without being flashy or over the top.  While I do love mage’s with fireball’s and magic missiles I really also love how much magic is just a part of the land and the things in it in Prydain.  It is talked about often in the series how magic is dying out in Prydain, much like in Middle Earth, yet it is still very present and gives the world a feeling of being just that little bit of other. 

I also like the old forms of magic, such as a person’s true name being important and giving power, as well as things like being a good person protects you from certain types of magic or allows you to use them.  I think sometimes in modern day fantasy’s that are very saturated with ideas from video games and Hollywood that we forget about the old myths and lore.  Again, I certainly love magic that is more akin to video games or D&D but I also miss that old school magic that makes it seem as though nature itself is simply magical and that someone doesn’t have to be a badass warrior to gain power or do something amazing.

Gwydion is the most powerful of the characters that is active in the main story of the plot yet he is absent for much of The Book of Three, as well as the rest of the series.  And although he appears at several key instances to save the day the story is mostly driven and accomplished by characters that are deeply flawed and lacking in many ways.  Yet they succeed by being good, respectful, loyal, and when applicable bringing to bear their talents where they are needed.

The rest of the series is much like The Book of Three although each book focuses slightly more on one aspect of the human condition and the struggles and questions everyone must face in life.  Some of the greatest life lessons I’ve ever learned were learned young through these stories.  Sometimes I still revisit these books to remind myself of what’s important, to return to memories of childhood, and to live one more time with my oldest friends.