A new love for the Chronicles of Narnia
581944
The Chronicles of Narnia are probably my favorite books of all time. I have loved them since I was a young kid, and I have a box set with all the books. And as an adult I haven't stopped reading them over and over. Many people are fans of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, and for decades readers and experts alike have tried to figure out what is behind these books. They have a sense of mystery and no one has been able to crack Lewis' "code". Michael Ward thinks he has done just that, and he documents his finds in The Narnia Code.

The Narnia Code by Michael Ward is a book that helps to shed light on the secrets that C.S. Lewis cleverly hid in his beloved Narnia books. Ward has studied Lewis' life for a long time, and after much research the answer dawned on him. He believes he has cracked the code that connects the clever and imaginative books. He outlines Lewis' connections to the seven planets of medieval cosmology- Jupiter, Mars, Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus and Saturn and how they play into each book of his series.

From a Christian perspective Ward takes us through each book from the Chronicles of Narnia to share his code breaking theory. I loved hearing his ideas and how detailed the stories are to each theme. It was fun to see a little bit into Lewis' life and love of medieval cosmology and how he used that to write one of the world's greatest children's tales.

If you've always been curious about the Chronicles of Narnia you will enjoy this book. I feel like it opened my eyes to so many great new wonders from these books. I just read through the entire series last year, and I'm ready to pick them up again. Michael Ward has opened a whole new view for me, and I believe it's made me even fonder of the Narnia books.<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Narnia-Code-C-S-Lewis-and-the-Secret-of-the-Seven-Heavens/dp/1414339658/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Narnia Code: C. S. Lewis and the Secret of the Seven Heavens</a>
2001185
The Magician's Nephew (1955) is a children's fantasy novel, the sixth in C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. Decades before the events of the other books in the series, two children (one of whom is Professor Digory Kirke from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) travel to magical worlds, inadvertently free the witch Jadis, and witness the creation of Narnia.

The Magician's Nephew often has a lighter feel than the other books in the series. Lewis, who draws to a great extent upon his own childhood, is involved in the narrative in a more playful way than we've seen since The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. And while Jadis is an imposing and terrible figure, her attempts to conquer London are more comical than anything; Lewis does a good job striking a balance with her and not making the character ever seem silly, in spite of what's happening.

Lewis's imagination has free rein in a number of places in the story, most notably the Wood between the Worlds, the dead city of Charn, and the birth of Narnia. And with references to fairies, Atlantis, Arthurian legend, and the like, this book has something of the feel of a traditional fairy tale. The total effect is that for the most part, The Magician's Nephew is refreshingly different from the other books in the series.

In addition to Lewis's nostalgia for the Edwardian days and bygone social mores (the good and the bad), there are other moral themes at work here. The one that Digory is faced with time and again throughout the novel is integrity. And as The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe contained strong parallels to Christ's Passion, The Magician's Nephew parallels the biblical account of Creation and the Garden of Eden.

It has been the fashion recently to read The Magician's Nephew as the first in the series (since it is, after all, chronologically first). This is fine, I guess, but to my mind it works better after the reader has finished The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the "Caspian trilogy." Here, Lewis assumes that the reader already has a familiarity with Narnia, and while that isn't mandatory to enjoy the book, there are a lot of little moments that the reader will not fully appreciate if he or she hasn't read the other books first.

The Magician's Nephew is a fun, imaginative story. But don't read it first.
3262626
I would recommend it to lovers of the Chronicles of Narnia and the Ranger's Apprentice. My biggest gripe with books in a series is that they are usually one book too long. Though I enjoyed them all, the series might have been stronger had it been one book shorter.
4009563
This story was pure magic, I really loved this story. I am a huge fan of fantasy and The Grotto Under the Tree ticked every box of what I would expect in a fantasy story, including magical creatures and action throughout the story. This story reminded me of Narnia in some ways, which made me enjoy it even more.

The writing was captivating and really draws you in. I think readers of any age would enjoy this story. I loved the way the story ends, but was a little sad it ended, I loved it so much I just wanted to keep on reading.

I fell in love with this new world in a matter of pages and I fell in love with the characters as well. As the reader, you get transported from our world into a whole new world. I enjoyed this world that Theo created and could just get lost there for hours. This is a story that I could read over and over again and still enjoy. Everyone should pick this up for a quick fantasy story.

Reviewed by Lauren Currie for The Bookish Blog
233480
Third book printed, fifth book chronologically.

I began re-reading the Narnia series after coming across a beautiful boxed set of all seven novels.  Mainly this was out of nostalgia, as these were favourites when I was young, and I was interested to see how they held up as adults.  I found them all to be written very clearly with provocative descriptive prose, and narrative that often draws the reader immediately into the story.

This one's a fine companion to "Prince Caspian" and feels more like the second half of that novel rather than a novel in its own right, but this doesn't stop the enjoyment of the tail despite the feeling of implausibility that the reader gets at times.  The growth of the characters following previous instalments is tangible and feels authentic however, and the whole thing is as entertaining as the books set before it.

7.5/10
688336
The Chronicles of Narnia by accaimled author C.S. Lewis is worth every penny. I bought a copy for myself, but I am saving it for when my son learns to read. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe will move you if are you 25 or 5 and the story is a of such a kind--that you are the better for reading it!
2697651
I'm almost finishing reading the Chronicles of Narnia to my daughter and I'm seriously considering introducing her to this series next. Great themes, great story line, and enjoyable for both parents and kids.  I read it in 3 evenings and enjoyed every minute.  The characters are well drawn and I didn't feel like I was reading a kids book--it was very satisfying. There was rising conflict and great world building.  Honestly, the only reason I may not read it aloud yet (my daughter is only 5) is because of the names.  Shard (the main character) is easy enough, but like so in many fantasy works, the author creates difficult names as part of the world building.  It's not a complaint and is certainly genre appropriate, but the longish list of characters may be difficult for the younger listeners to keep track of.  That said, I'm ready for the next book in the series and I know I would have loved this novel if I had found it when I was 8 and even when I was 18.
268626
I never was interested Narnia, but I simply talked with one person long about Narnia books and decided to buy them all and read. And this was first book in my country which I read. I fell in love with easy reading, I read this book during about 6 hours without non stop reading because I couldn't put it away. My childhood was such misery without these books. I even cried many times reading it. I always cried when Aslan appeared in plot, I do not know why, but he made me cry from joy.
I think it is good book for children, all serie is great, I read all 7 books in two weeks during my summer vacations and I woke up in morning just to take book and read more and more. I read every sentence and every sentence made me think : "What will be next?". Adventures made me very interested because I love adventures, fantasy and such worlds never existed. I like to simply read books, I hate books which I read and think what the hell author wanted to say. But Narnia was easiest books I have ever read, interesting, simply and made me feel happy every day. They lifted my grumpy mood I have every day.
4347750
My version of Harry Potter. (Didn't grow up with them and have tried reading them before but couldn't, don't kill me. Proud Hufflepuff tho.)

Magical, beautiful and infuriating... in a good way.

Wonderful and accessible writing, vivid world building. And for the fact that they are pretty chunky books, i found them to be fast paced. Didn't want them to end. I still feel a bit in trance and i finished reading the 3 books about a month ago and i am STILL thinking about them and the chracters. I am a huge fan of disney animated films and for me, this scratched the itch i've been searching to scratch while messing with my head a little bit, which i loved. An excellent introduction to getting into reading other stuff than just contemporary as i very much used to do. These played in my head as a dreamworks movie. Highl recommend. Will admit that they might feel a little dense for some people tho. Give the first chapter of the first book a try and then decide for yourself if you have ever been interested in this series.
4916839
I'm an avid reader(and writer), and I have read MANY books, both well-known and unknown. But after a few days of reflection, I decided that "Tales of Goldstone Wood" was my favorite fantasy series of all time! (Topping even the Lord of the Rings books for enjoyment anyway.) I had to share them, so I read them to my mother. She loved them, though at first concerned that they dwelt on darkness. (It didn't.)

"Moonblood" is a story of love, grace, forgiveness, and redemption. The main character, Lionheart, wants to be a good guy, but he's a people pleaser, and the people hate his best friend, the mysterious veiled girl, Rose Red, who terrifies the kingdom of Southlands. Afraid of losing his kingdom, Lionheart reluctantly banishes her to the dreaded Wilderlands. Soon afterwards, the rest of Lionheart's life falls to shambles. It is then that the second part of the book returns to a familiar character: Prince Felix, whose condition of dragon poisoning is becoming worse and worse. It his story that leads us to the land of Arpiar, a place of artificial beauty, overseen by the divinely beautiful King Vahe, and guarded by the evil, but haunted, unicorn. It is in Arpiar, the land of the Veiled Folk, that we are reunited with Rose Red, who has hardened her heart against the Prince of Farthestshore and Lionheart. Meanwhile, Lionheart bumbles his way through adventures with an unlikely guide: the cat Monster, otherwise known as Eanrin. (Or "sir," or "Your Grace", or "Your Eminence.") Eanrin likes Lionheart little, and Lionheart hates cats, so the two get on each others nerves in a hilarious way, especially when Lionheart learns Eanrin's secret. In this book we also re-meet, Lady Imraldera, who has a fascinating past strongly intertwined with Eanrin's. And we re-meet Sir Oreic, the ugly but noble knight, with a dark past that traces right back to Arpiar.

The author weaves all of these stories and more into a tapestry of adventure, beauty, and truth. The story draws to a pulse-pounding climax in which Lionheart attempts to earn absolution for his sins. But there is none who can redeem save the Prince of the land called Farthestshore...

Not only are these books well-written, they are remarkably clean!  I LOVE the characters, and there is plenty of surprises woven into these tales of a fey world.

I'm dying for the prequel covering Imraldera and Eanrin's past, "Starflower" and the book after that "Dragonwitch."

Please read these books with an ready-to-learn mind, because if you resent Una and Lionheart, you might be more like them then you want to admit.
Congratulations to Anne Elizabeth Stengel! She is an author blessed with the chance to change lives.
3550219
I love these books I don't know why it just feels like I'm reading a actual life and magic and adventure my love for it poured out like a river of tears
It felt like I was reading a sad,happy,funny,charming joke oh and scary too
Anyway I just loved it love it I been reading it 3 days straight :D
1489038
C.S. Lewis takes you on a voyage of your soul when you read these books.  You become totally immersed as you travel along with Peter, Edmund, Lucy,  Susan, and plenty of other unforgettable characters.  You forget what is  around you, what worries you, and have a fresh, excited feeling when you  are done reading.  Each book is wonderfully written with elegant  storytelling, dynamic characters, and details so real, it isn't hard to  imagine you are there at all.  Better yet, the whole series of books is  constructed so that you can read one book, and still understand references  to earlier events in other books.  The whole legend really comes together  in "The Last Battle", and if you are of a religious type, there  are many parallels throughout the series that really make you think. Learn  to love these books, at a young age, or old age; it makes no difference.  Truly, every time you read one of "The Chronicles of Narnia", you  find yourself noticing details you never saw before.  But most of all, you  really wish that Aslan is in all of us, and that Narnia is real.  Who  knows?  Maybe it is...
2136287
This book was the first in the series that I actually had to go read the fairy tale before I read the book. I mean, everybody knows Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel & Gretel, and The Little Mermaid (even if they only know the Disney versions). The Snow Queen, though? I'd never even heard of it. And that's such a shame, because the original story is actually really good and more kids should know it.

That being said, this book was absolutely phenomenal. Jackson Pearce has done it again, and I think her conclusion to this series was by far the strongest book of the whole set. Like the others, it follows the original tale pretty closely, but still has a unique, modern, spin. Having read The Snow Queen immediately before reading Cold Spell, I definitely picked up on some parallels and references that I might otherwise have missed, and I think that made me enjoy it infinitely more.

Another thing that I really loved about Cold Spell was how interconnected it is with all of the other books in the series. Sure, you could read this as a standalone. The cross-over characters are given enough background so that you don't have to know who the Reynolds are or how important they are in the fight against the Fenris, and you don't have to know anything about the ocean girls and how they're related to the Fenris, or anything else in order for this book to make sense. But I loved seeing mentions of Rosie March and Lo's favorite ship in Fathomless and just all of the other subtle things. Seriously Jackson, well freaking done.

I also really liked that this book is told from 1.5 perspectives. We mostly see Ginny's side of things, and we're in her head and trying to save Kai right along with her, but we also get a few glimpses of what Mora is doing and why she does the things she does. Although she's the villain in Ginny's eyes, I really found myself enjoying the chapters about her and actually feeling kind of sorry for her. I do wish we had gotten to see a little bit more of her past and her human life, but I guess we can't really know what she doesn't really remember.

I could really go on about how much I loved every part of this book for a really long time, but I think you should just go read it yourself. But first, read Sisters Red, Sweetly, and Fathomless, and familiarize yourself with Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen." I know, that's a lot of reading just to read one book... but trust me. It will be worth it. Anyone who loves fairy tales and/or retellings of them should definitely check out this series while I go cry in the corner because it's actually over. 5/5!
80608
I can't really explain the immense enjoyment that i got from reading the Lord of the Rings.  I was reading during a very rough time, and it was a great help for me to get my mind off things.  Tolkein's stories are fascinating, and i can't use any big words like most people here, but all i can say is that this novel is held close to my heart, and i imagine showing my children and grandchildren the wonders held in this book, when i have them.  The only thing i have to say about the 7 set black books is that for me, a school student, it was very easy to travel with.  But, the box that they come in broke after a month.  I would not buy this set unless you planned on leaving the box at home in it's own place.  The books are lovely only for the use of traveling with them and the book doesn't seem so overwhelmingly long with it broken up smaller, so it all depends on you really.  If you don't buy this set, at least buy some kind of set, I'd rather live with this set then nothing, for this is the greatest book i have and probably will ever read.  I was so sad for days after i finished the last page, and i couldn't figure out why.  I thought and thought, and it was because i had finished it, it was that good.  I had made a routine of reading it during class, after tests, even during PE.  I couldn't keep my eyes off of it.  You really get attached to Gandalf, and Frodo, even little Pippin grew on me.  Please consider buying some kind of set of this book, you won't regret it.
1527849
This novel felt like something I'd read before though I never had. Perhaps it was the thinly veiled Christianity guiding the story and the quiet stab at suggesting heavenly beings that reminded me of C.S. Lewis' works, both fantasy (Chronicles of Narnia trilogy) and sci-fi fantasy (Perelandra trilogy). Delightful and a quick, easy read for an adult, this was a fun, happy jaunt preceding the film adaptation's release, 10 years after 'Engle's death.  I hope the film does the novel justice in all the right ways.
1243721
I hadn't picked up this book until I was in 6th grade.  Before then, I was mindlessly infatuated with the Harry Potter series, which I regret now.  I remember I was in the movie theaters and one of the previews was for "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", and all I could think was that it was really a rather strange looking movie.  The boys in my grade were all beginning to read the LOTR series and I was wondering what all the fuss was about.  So I bought the books and before long I fell in love with them.  They were the most fascinating, amazing books I have ever read in my life, and they were pretty much the only books that have ever touched me.  In fact at the end of ROTK, I cried the whole night, mostly because I felt like my journey through Middle Earth and the time with its inhabitants had ended.  Tolkien did an amazing job at engaging his readers and indeed by the end I felt like I had shared in all of the characters hardships as well as their joys. I am now 13 and still love Lord of the Rings and was able to relive all the magic and glory in Peter Jackson's amazing movies.  Yet, I was a bit disappointed in ROTK because they never really elaborated on many of my favorite parts of the book. But all in all the LOTR trilogy were the best movies ever made.  I have never read a book yet that has lived up to the standards of LOTR, and I know I never will.
4849848
When I saw this set I sent it straight to my cart. I've been a bibliophile as long as I can remember and it's thanks to great writing like Lewis. A wonderful mix of fantasy, imagination and morality, this book series has created a standard against which other children's books are set. I'm proud to have this set in my collection, and i'm planning on buying a second to put away for my children so they can discover reading like I did when I was a little girl.