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E. A Solinas said:
Review by E. A Solinas for The Horse and His Boy (Narnia)
Rating:
Of C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, “The Horse And His Boy” is probably my favorite. Venturing into exotic locations, with a likeable cast and a good thriller format, this is a pretty cool fantasy that gives some insights into what the cast of “Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” were doing during that time before they returned home.Shasta is the son of a poor fisherman, and his life is pretty ordinary until a mighty Calormene (sort of a generic Mideastern civilization) Tarkaan comes to stay at his home. He overhears his father admit that he found the infant Shasta on a raft with a dead man, and the Tarkaan offers to buy him. That night, Shasta escapes with the Tarkaan’s talking Narnian horse Bree, and by chance bumps into a runaway Calormene girl called Aravis, who also has a Narnia horse (Hwin). The four plan to run away to the free land of Narnia. But they run into problems when they enter the city of Tashbaan — the rotten son of the Tisroc (emperor) is planning to kidnap Queen Susan of Narnia and marry her whether she likes it or not. What’s more, Shasta is caught up by the kings of Narnia, who think he’s the prince of Archenland — what’s more, the prince looks exactly like Shasta. With the guidance of the mysterious Aslan, Shasta and Aravis must keep the Calormenes from attacking Narnia.The later books in Lewis’s series are probably a bit better than the first ones, literaturewise. This book introduces new and very interesting characters, as well as bringing back old ones like the kings and queens of Narnia, Tumnus, and Aslan, of course. The Christian subtext is probably faintest in this volume, and it’s probably the least connected to the main storyline that runs through the series. But it’s also a good exploration of stuff that Lewis had introduced, such as the Middle-Eastern Calormen kingdom, and the talking animals. And the writing is superb, especially the scene with Shasta near the tombs.Aravis may be my favorite character in the Chronicles — she’s tough, decisive, independant, and smart. She’s a bit reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Eowyn, or one of Lloyd Alexander’s more serious heroines. Shasta is a nice twist on the boy-with-mysterious past, a likeable kid who is a bit in over his head but keeps working at it. Bree and Hwin are also likeable, with different personalities (Bree is more sarcastic, Hwin is meeker) and after awhile you may forget that they’re horses.Even taken outside the Chronicles (one of the early fantasy series, and one that helped spawn many of the staples of fantasy literature), this is an entertaining story for anybody who enjoys a good story.
# 31 July 2010 at 7:44 pm

NotATameLion said:
Review by NotATameLion for The Horse and His Boy (Narnia)
Rating:
Ok, before you even bother reading my review, buy the book (I’ll wait here).I hope you bought it. If you haven’t, let me tell you why you should: The Horse And His Boy is an outstanding story. And that’s not all-you can read it without having read any of the other Narnia books; not that you’d want to do that. All the Narnia books are wonderful. The Horse And His Boy follows the adventures of Bree (a talking horse) and Shasta (a slave boy) who run away from their masters and journey to the magical land of Narnia. Along the way they meet a nobleman’s daughter, another talking horse, a king and a queen, and a very special Lion (he’s not a tame lion you know). I love this book. I love all the Narnia books. C.S. Lewis is a great writer (now in glory). However, heed this warning: this book is only for children and those adults who are old enough to love fairy tales again. I hope that means you.
# 31 July 2010 at 8:06 pm

Mark Baker said:
Review by Mark Baker for The Horse and His Boy (Narnia)
Rating:
Shasta is about to be sold into slavery when he meets Bree, a talking horse. Together, the two set out for Narnia. But their journey is filled with danger as they are chased by lions. Meeting up with two more travelers, they must get through the town of Tashbaan undetected. That’s where they learn of a plot against the rulers of Narnia, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Will they be able to get there in time to sound the alarm?I can remember being disappointed with this book as a kid, mainly because it doesn’t involve a magical trip from our world to Narnia and we hardly see the four from the first book. When I sat down to reread it, I found that I had forgotten much of the story, so I was captured anew by these adventures. I found myself reading “just one more chapter” to find out what would happen next. And Aslan’s scenes especially moved me as well.If you start this book aware that this isn’t your typical Narnia adventure, you’re sure to find plenty to enjoy.
# 31 July 2010 at 8:25 pm

Amanda Richards said:
Review by Amanda Richards for The Horse and His Boy (Narnia)
Rating:
This is the third book (chronologically) in the Narnia series, and the fifth one published. It is vastly different from “The Magician’s Nephew” and “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”, given that most of the story unfolds outside of Narnia, and it’s missing the magic that permeated the first two books.
I hasten to add here that it is a richly descriptive novel, my best description being “Moses” meets “The Prince and the Pauper” and “Alladin” in “Arabian Nights “.
Breehy-hinny-brinny-hoohy-hah, aka Bree, the horse in question does not live up to the “star” billing of the title, being a touch vain, proud and conceited and a little chicken in times of trouble, but without him there would not be a story, and Shasta (his boy, as you may have guessed)would still be a Tarkaan’s slave.
They are joined in this adventure by Aravis Tarkheena, assisted by her stable and sensible horse Hwin. Aravis is fleeing an arranged marriage to an ugly old brown-nosing Grand Vizier-designate with a humpback.
Together they defy the odds, fight and squabble a lot, uncover a treacherous plot and finally crawl across the desert into Narnia via Archenland to help save the day.
A grand battle ensues to satisfy the rejection issues of hot headed Tashbaan Prince Rabadash, and Queen Lucy and King Edward (of Book 2) are right in the middle of the fray. High King Peter is off fighting somewhere else, and Queen Susan is staying out of this one, even though she more or less started it. All our friendly mythical creatures appear at this point.
Shasta finds his true identity, his real family, and secures his future job, and everybody lives more or less happily ever after, except Rabadash, who makes a jackass of himself.
No story of Narnia is complete without the presence of the great and powerful Aslan, who appears in various guises throughout the story, guiding, calming, disciplining and protecting his children.
Another compelling story for all ages.
Amanda Richards August 7, 2004

# 31 July 2010 at 9:08 pm

Matt Poole said:
Review by Matt Poole for The Horse and His Boy (Narnia)
Rating:
“The Horse and His Boy” is a bit of an oddity in the Chronicles of Narnia. It is the only book in which the main characters are natives of the fantasy world of Aslan (rather than being from ours), and is set in the era glimpsed in Chapter 17 of “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”.
Shasta lives in Calormen, a very Arabian Knights sort of place south of Narnia, full of beautiful palaces, dark skinned warriors, and citizens who quote their verbose poets and philosophers frequently. Shasta’s lived all his life by the sea, treated cruelly by his “father” and made to do all the work. His humble life changes when a Tarkaan (something like a duke) arrives in town, riding a horse named Bree. Through an overheard conversation, Shasta discovers that his father isn’t really his father, and that he comes from Narnia, a faraway northern country. Curious of his origins, he decides to run away to Narnia, and so does Bree (who is actually a talking horse, taken from Narnia when young, and forced to act tame). They meet up with runaways Hwin and her girl Tarkheena Aravis, (also headed for Narnia) and together they ride northwards, braving bustlings cities, sweltering deserts, and a wild lion that just won’t leave them alone…
I struggled through this book when I was younger (fifth grade), even though I was something of a big reader. There’s a lot of wordy dialogue, like the quotes of the poets, and a lot of political intrigue that a kid won’t neccesarily appreciate, like the motives for Rabbadash’s war and his flirtations with Queen Susan, which go on for quite a bit. I know I didn’t really enjoy those parts back then, and kind of scanned over those chapters. There is much to enjoy though. I loved the landscapes. I could feel the heat of the desert, and the balmy, unpredictable climate of Archenland, and the bustle of Tashbaan.
C.S. Lewis was a devoted Christian, and even though it doesn’t shine through as strongly as in the other Narnian Chronicles, there is still some allegory to be found. The theme, I think, is something close to Proverbs 16v9 in the Bible: “In his heart man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps”. Shasta, Bree, Hwin and Aravis all decide to escape Calormen to Narnia, but it is Aslan who guides their way. Even if it they didn’t know it, it was he who brought them together, kept them safe, and got them to where they were going just in the nick of time.
“The Horse and His Boy” was the fifth Narnian Chronicle to be written, and the third chronologically. Well, that’s not techincally true If you were being really chronological, you’d start with “The Magician’s Nephew”, go on to “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”, stop halfway through Chapter 17 after the children become kings and queens to read “A Horse and His Boy”, finish that, then go back to finish the “The Lion the Witch and The Wardrobe”, then going on normally until “The Silver Chair”, where you’d stop towards the end of Chapter 3, (where “The Horse and His Boy” is told to Jill and Eustace), read “The Horse and His Boy” again, then go back.
But that’s being REALLY picky, and probably a little obsessive. It wouldn’t be much fun at all to read the series like that.
The only book you really need to read before it, I think, is “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”, which explains how the Golden Age of Narnia began.
I’ve been reading the series in the order that Lewis wrote them in, and again I’ve noticed a feeling of a looming end, a feeling that began with “The Silver Chair”. The pieces of “The Last Battle” are falling into place. Apes being associated with deception, the introduction of Tash and the religion of Calormen, hints of Susan being too grown up for Narnia (she stays in the castle, acting like an adult, while her sister Lucy goes to battles), all elements very important for the Narnian finale.
Probably not an essential in the series, but enjoyable enough.
# 31 July 2010 at 9:13 pm

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