The Horse and His Boy is a fantasy story that follows a boy named Shasta who escapes his unhappy life to embark on a journey with a talking horse named Bree. Together, they uncover a deadly plot by the Calormen people to conquer Narnia, leading to a race against time to warn the inhabitants of the impending danger and save them from certain death. The book delves into themes of adventure, bravery, and the battle between good and evil, all while weaving in religious allusions and moral elements.
The narrative of The Horse and His Boy is centered around the escapades of Shasta and Bree as they navigate through different lands, encountering challenges and forming unlikely alliances. The story also touches on themes of destiny, courage, and the guidance of a higher power, embodied by the presence of Aslan. The book is praised for its imaginative storytelling, vivid imagery, and engaging characters, making it a captivating read for both children and adults alike.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers may include elements of racism, colonialism, and depictions of slavery.
Has Romance?
There is a medium level of romance, particularly between Shasta and Aravis.
From The Publisher:
This is the story of an adventure that happened in Narnia and Calormen and the lands between, in the Golden Age when Peter was High King in Narnia and his brother and his two sisters were King and Queens under him. It is during this glorious era in Narnian history that Shasta, a young boy living in Calormen with a cruel man who claims to be his father, dreams of traveling to the unknown North. One night he overhears his "father" offering to sell him as a slave, and Shasta decides that now is the time to begin his journey. When he meets Bree, a Talking Horse of Narnia who is a slave himself, the two decide to escape together.
The pair soon encounters Aravis, a high-born girl escaping a forced marriage, and Hwin, another Talking Horse. The travelers must combine their wits and all their strength to reach the freedom they long for. And when they discover a Calormene plot to conquer Narnia, they must also race against time. The battle that ensues matches in excitement any of the adventures described in C.S. Lewis's previous two books of The Chronicles of Narnia. Assisted by the majestic Aslan, the Kings and Queens of Narnia, first introduced in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, once again rise to the occasion to defend their kingdom.
The Horse and His Boy was the fifth book written by C.S. Lewis in the Chronicles of Narnia series, but it is considered to be the third in the series by those wishing to read the books in chronological, rather than publishing, order.
Ratings (86)
Incredible (22) | |
Loved It (26) | |
Liked It (17) | |
It Was OK (19) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (113):
Read It (95) | |
Want To Read (13) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (4) |
4 comment(s)
I have a mixed reaction about this book. First half was a little dragging and slow. But liked the secound up and story catches up. The main characters of Narnia are in background in this story. I can only give 2/5 :)
This is the third book I've read from the "Chronicles of Narnia". I'm reading these books out of order, because it is the order in which C.S. Lewis wanted them read. "The Horse and His Boy" was a pretty enjoyable read. Maybe not as much of a classic as "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", but still an enjoyable contribution to the Narnia legacy.
The writing in this one takes a big jump forward. While the story feels like it was written for kids (it was) the writing itself is a lot more mature than TLTWATW. Unfortunately the story itself is a little bit thin.
In my mind, the big thing that prevents this story from being elevated to 5 star status is the fact that the protagonist and the antagonist never interact until the very end of the book, and even that is only tangentially.
Some direct conversation, conflict, or interaction between these characters would have done a lot for the plot by raising the stakes a bit.
All in all, this is a fun little adventure story with some good twists and turns.
I read this series numerous times as a child. I didn't especially care for
The Horse and His Boy, probably because it feels so different than all the other books in terms of setting, plot, and character: if memory serves, it takes place in an arid climate with a single main character who is a Narnia native. I don't even remember much about the plot. I still liked it, but it wasn't a series standout.
What can you read after
The Horse and His Boy?
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