book review #2: The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

Title:The Black Cauldron (Chronicles of Prydain book #2)
Author: Lloyd Alexander

    Taran and friends adventure once again in the second book of The Chronicles of Prydain, which takes place shortly after the events in The Book of Three. Prince Gwydion calls upon the leaders of Prydain to carry out a dangerous quest: destroying the Black Cauldron which the dark lord Arawn has used to produce Cauldron-Born warriors (made from the bodies of the deceased).
    Feeling de ja vu right about now? So did I as I was reading. The formula is familiar. Good versus Evil. Young boy becomes wizened hero. An epic quest in a fantastic land! Despite the predictability of the plot and the one-dimensional characters, The Black Cauldron still managed to keep me glued till the very end. There are some interesting artifacts that come into play, particularly a brooch that gives the wearer incredible instincts in the wild. Most of the new characters, however, are one-hit wonders whose fates even a six year old can figure out.