book review on chronicles of narnia

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The chronicles of narnia by cs lewis [a review].

The Chronicles of Narnia are classics of children’s and fantasy fiction with a strong and enduring following. Its clever fusion of Christian, Pagan and Classical elements, with easy storytelling, magic and talking animals, make it easy to enjoy. Yet it is common to hear people say they do not enjoy them as much in adulthood. The stories certainly contain elements that are more noticeable and less endearing to those old enough to question what they are told. My patience with it lasted until the final book. After that, I could not longer defend it.

I think I ought to start by saying I’m not going to be offering ‘Spoiler Alert’ warnings throughout this post. This post is mostly to offer food for thought for those of us who, like me, enjoyed The Chronicles of Narnia as children, but perhaps have not returned to it as adults or found it less enjoyable when we did.

I had expected that I would not enjoy them as much as I did when I was a child (though I did not read all of them as a child). For one reason, I did something CS Lewis would have hated – I grew up. For another, I am no longer a subscriber for the worldview that Lewis is promoting, if I ever was, which is a serious impediment to enjoying his work. Nevertheless, I had expected the storytelling, the fantasy, the adventure, would be enough for me to enjoy them overall.

Once I was part way through the sixth novel, The Silver Chair , I pretty much wrote an entire review. My original review was going to say that while the series has flaws, and they are some big flaws, I still found considerable enjoyment for the adventures nonetheless. But part way through the seventh novel, The Last Battle , I knew I had to start over. The volume and frequency of the flaws became overwhelming and I knew I could no longer support my original conclusion.

The Chronicles of Narnia need no introduction. CS Lewis’ series comprises seven children’s novels where children have adventures in the magical land of Narnia, participating in battles and quests, always under the watchful eye and guidance of Aslan the lion. This edition produces the novels in the author’s preferred order – The Magician’s Nephew ; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ; The Horse and His Boy ; Prince Caspian ; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ; The Silver Chair and The Last Battle . This order places the stories they contain in chronological order but differs from the order in which they were first published.

The order in which they should be read is favourite arguing point amongst fans. The stories that were published later but are set earlier do not assume what the reader may already know from reading in publication order. Personally I prefer the above order, any issues are only minor.

That the stories are Christian allegories, suffused with Christian mythology, philosophy and morality, and with Aslan representing Jesus, is an undisguised fact (though Lewis considered the stories ‘suppositional’ rather than allegorical). The most obvious example is the first story published, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , which mirrors the story of Christ’s death and resurrection. But the stories also contain many Pagan elements – fauns, witches, giants, dwarves, centaurs, etc. Though the Pagan elements are only superficial – they make an appearance but do not greatly inform the themes and messages – they certainly add a great deal of fantasy, magic and enjoyment to the stories. One Pagan theme that does come through is a respect for nature and animals, at least the talking ones, as equals. The Horse and His Boy , with the reversed possessive in the title, and the assertions of talking horse, Bree, probably exemplifies this best.

What is less well known, but becoming increasingly accepted, is that the collection also contains elements of Ptolemaic cosmology and the associated Classical astrology and mythology. It was already apparent that the world of Narnia conforms to a Biblical understanding of cosmology; Narnia is flat, the sun travels around it and the sky is a dome above it. The theory put forward by Michael Ward, in his book Planet Narnia , argues that the seven books also represent the seven spheres of Ptolemaic cosmology. In the order of the books I have given above, the associated spheres are: Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, the Sun, the Moon and Saturn respectively.

So, for example, Prince Caspian is the Mars book. Mars is the Roman god of war and the story concerns a Narnian civil war. Mars is also associated with forests and the sub-plot of the story concerns the rebirth of the Narnian forests which play a role in the decisive battle. Mars’ sibling Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, also makes an appearance, providing drinks for the post-war celebration. Lewis was very knowledgeable on medieval astrology, mythology and their understanding of science and history and almost seems to lament that such a comprehensive and, in his eyes, beautiful, worldview had to be discarded with the advent of modernity once it was found to be false. His last book, The Discarded Image , is a compendium of such ideas. Ward’s theory is certainly compelling but is not without its problems and will certainly continue to generate debate for a long time to come.

The problem I had when realising I needed to re-review The Chronicles of Narnia from scratch was knowing where to begin. The plots weaknesses? The questionable moral lessons? The proselytising? Probable sexism and racism? Gleeful violence? A preference for death over life?

Maybe I should start with the aspects I actually enjoyed!

The seemingly seamless combination of Christian, Pagan and Classical elements certainly gives Narnia enormous potential, though some, notably Tolkien, found the mixing of mythologies aggravating. Though it is difficult to know which were intended and which coincidental, people are continually finding more potential references. One day when browsing our shelves, having begun The Last Battle , I picked up Aesop’s Fables , turned to a page at random and found the story of An Ass in a Lion’s Skin . That being said, the considerable borrowing from other sources means that some aspects of Narnia are rather derivative and it may have been given more credit for imagination and originality than it deserves.

Lewis does have a good appreciation of how to make stories that are appealing and relatable to children. Within The Chronicles of Narnia , we have children who enjoy exploring hidden spaces, children tormented by bullies, the youngest child not taken seriously by their elder siblings, the middle-child denied both the attention of younger siblings and the power of older siblings and children wronged by adults in various ways and seeking liberation and self-importance. It makes the characters relatable in a way that will always resonate.

That is not to say that the stories are timeless though. The first two published – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian – open with clear evocations of wartime and post-war England. This, and language used by the Earthly children – “By Jove!”, “I do declare”, “I say!”, “Oh, do lets!”; give the stories a certain antiquated charm.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was probably my favourite book of the series, though it is difficult to put my finger on exactly why. Perhaps being the first book written; the sense of wonder, mystery and adventure is better achieved. Perhaps the characterisation of the Pevensies, the Witch, Aslan and others, feels more considered. Perhaps it is just nostalgia for the memory of enjoying it as a child. The others I enjoyed most were The Voyager of the Dawn Treader , with its plot structure borrowed from The Odyssey , and The Silver Chair , where events go less according to plan and are more unexpected, than elsewhere.

My favourite characters were often talking animals such as the noble if proud Bree, from The Horse and His Boy ; the brave and chivalrous Reepicheep, in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ; and most of all, Puddleglum, the eccentric pessimistic Marsh Wiggle from The Sliver Chair . In comparison, the human characters from Earth tended to be dull, annoying, occasionally even self-righteous.

Children’s books, particularly less recent ones, tend to suffer from a reliance on unlikely coincidences, easy outcomes and obvious plot holes. Narnia certainly suffers these issues in abundance but the easy readability helps smooth them over for the reader. As you would expect from stories with Christian themes, set in a medieval feudal world; the themes of prophesised kings, returning kings, missing heirs and princes feature heavily. In fact, they are an aspect of most of the stories. By the time I got to The Silver Chair , I wished for a bit more variety in plot.

Many of the plot issues in Narnia are superficial. However, I do want to make an example of an important one – Aslan’s resurrection. While the inclusion of Father Christmas in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was silly, the explanation given for Aslan’s resurrection – ‘Deeper Magic’ – given after the fact, is not as satisfying to adult readers as it may be to young children.

Did Aslan know he would be resurrected before he offered himself for sacrifice? If he did, how is his death – as unpleasant as it must have been – a sacrifice? What is ‘death’ to someone who knows they will live forever – not a different life in another place but a continuation of the same one? Was it ethical to not tell those who care for him and allow them to agonise over his death? On the other hand, if he did not know he would be resurrected, then you would have to say that Aslan does not know everything and perhaps we should be more sceptical about what he tells us. Yet, despite what he may not know, if you don’t trust him implicitly, you risk damnation!

Essentially, it is problematic to have both a sacrifice and a miracle. If Aslan stayed dead, you’d have a sacrifice but no miracle. Since he rose again, you have a miracle but no sacrifice. Even the pain and torture he experiences will be nothing compared to what he will inflict on those who don’t do as he sees fit (Aslan even ‘eats’ children!). Or perhaps we are to believe that Aslan is our superior, therefore for him to suffer at all is a greater wrong than anyone else’s suffering.

Why was sacrificing himself the only option open to him? Aslan seems pretty omnipotent; he could probably destroy the witch and restore Narnia anytime he wants to yet he chooses not to. He seems to want events to proceed in a specific way and at a specific time no matter how many suffer in the meantime. To what purpose? The only one I can see is that he wants people to feel they owe him something.

Alternatively, Aslan may not be as omnipotent as he may seem. In The Last Battle , he seems to suggest that he cannot save the Dwarves from damnation. Aslan, therefore, is perhaps more of an enforcer, a referee, than an omnipotent agent. He may be as beholden to the laws of the Emperor as everyone else. Indeed, his self-sacrifice in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in the place of Edmund comes about because of rights due to the Witch which he cannot deny. The difficulty for Narnians is in following rules that can seem unjust and may be applied arbitrarily, through believing in someone who is possibly not entirely omniscient, not entirely omnipotent, yet they will suffer terribly if they do not.

The Narnian stories are of course morality tales as well. But it is a very antiquated sense of morality and one based on blind unquestioned faith and authoritarianism.

My least favourite book, until The Last Battle , was Prince Caspian . The early parts of the book, giving us the back story of Caspian, and the latter parts, covering the decisive battle, were enjoyable. But the middle section, covering the Pevensie’s difficulties in reaching Caspian’s camp and making up about half the story, was quite dull. The purpose of this section of the story seems to be to instruct the reader on the virtues of blind faith. Literally, as Aslan is present to guide the Pevensies but he is only visible to Lucy – the most easily trusting and least questioning of the Pevensies. Lost in the wilderness, it is only by trusting meek, naïve, Lucy when she says she can see Aslan, that the children can find a way out, each of them coming to see Aslan once they take that leap of faith.

Lewis seemed to abhor the idea of ‘growing up’, preferring the ease with which young children can obey and believe without question. Frequently in Narnia, characters are told that there are things they are not meant to know, they are ‘someone else’s stories’, none of their business, or Aslan will ask if you really need to know. This is deeply problematic, especially when you consider the consequences of doing the wrong thing.

Consider the case of Aravis. In The Horse and His Boy , Aravis, a young woman, escapes from her stepmother’s house by drugging a slave who, unknown to Aravis, is consequently whipped. Aslan later mauls Aravis and explains this by saying it was in return for the harm done to the slave as a result of Aravis’ actions, giving Aravis equivalent wounds. In other words, Aslan appears to be applying reciprocal justice – an eye for an eye – here.

(I suppose one could argue this is in keeping with the reciprocal justice of the Old Testament (such as Leviticus 24:19-22). But then again, didn’t Jesus refute the reciprocal justice of the Old Testament in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:38-42)? But then again, this refutation comes right after he says he is not going to do away with the Old Testament laws (Matthew 5:17-20)! Like attempting to explain why Aslan’s resurrection is not a plot cheat, we could go on and on without getting anywhere while missing the point – such is Theology. It is worth noting that there are a number of objections to The Chronicles from Christians as well. Mostly about the mixing of pagan and Christian elements or the portrayal of Christ as a powerful, terrifying, lion rather than the more traditional mild, meek, lamb. There are objections to some of the moral lessons as well by those Christians who have different interpretations of the religion. I imagine that the geological changes in Narnia that speak to the passage of time – peninsulas become islands, hill streams become gorges – would also aggravate those who insist on a young Earth!)

You may instead wonder why Aslan holds Aravis fully accountable for something she did not directly do, did not intend to do and may not have foreseen? Or why Aravis must be mauled while Aslan will sacrifice himself for Edmund? Is that what ‘Deep Magic’ has to say for Aravis’ case? Or why he does not punish those that whipped the slave? Perhaps he did, but neither Aravis or the reader would ever know of it – Aslan would tell us it is ‘someone else’s story’.

To hold people under your power in ignorance and yet punish them so harshly for unintended or unforeseen consequences seems extreme. Aslan’s moral teaching is very much authoritarian – ‘do as I say, not as I do and don’t expect an explanation’. Does Aslan do good? Sure, some. Could he, or someone else with his power, do better? Definitely. Does anyone get a choice in the matter? No. Without an explanation you may only be doomed to commit and repeat offences, even to the extent of being denied salvation when the world of Narnia ends. A heavy price to pay.

Consider the Dwarves Aslan couldn’t/wouldn’t save. Their crime? They abandoned their faith after their faith was taken advantage of. It seems the Dwarves couldn’t win. To question is to lack faith, but to take things on authority and not question leaves them vulnerable to those who would take advantage of their unquestioned faith. Nor can the agent of the ‘true’ faith reveal himself to guide them since that would negate the need for faith; it would cheat the test.

It is very difficult for anyone in Narnia to be saved. You can have no foreknowledge of what might see you saved or condemned, the rules are somewhat arbitrary and inconsistent and the agent who polices them refuses to explain himself. Blind luck may be more apt than blind faith with severe consequences for the less fortunate. As the late, great, Christopher Hitchens might have said, living in Narnia would be like living in an other-worldly North Korea.

We could go on and on here as these issues repeat themselves frequently in the books. If you subscribe to Lewis’ worldview, then you may not have liked what I have had to say. As someone who does not subscribe to that worldview, these are issues of plot and theme for me, more than issues of theology and faith. But more than that, I also cannot agree with Lewis that blind faith and an authoritarian moral system are virtues. I believe the enormous improvement made by the West, in improving the quality of life of its citizens, since the end of the medieval period is largely due to the exact opposite – questioning authority.

Let’s move on. While Christian themes dominate the stories, do the stories proselytise? For the most part I would say ‘no’. A reader not familiar with the Christian stories and mythology would read past it without necessarily sensing the author’s attempt at influence. Although they do tread a fine line, especially the resurrection story of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , Aslan hurting us to help us in The Horse and His Boy and the moral of blind faith in Price Caspian already discussed. There is also the Ontological Argument presented by Puddleglum in the crucial scene of The Silver Chair and the moral of death being preferable to life in The Last Battle .

There are a couple of points where the stories perhaps do cross the line into proselytising because they encourage the reader to make the connection between Narnia and Earth themselves. One comes at the end of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader . At the end of the World, the characters encounter Aslan (briefly as a lamb, possibly in response to critics who took issue with the portrayal of Jesus as powerful, terrifying lion) who tells Edmund, Eustace and Lucy that he exists in our world, but goes by another name and tells them to seek him out.

“But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”

As well as being proselytising, this scene breaks the metaphor and I guess lends support to Lewis’ claim that the stories are suppositional not allegorical. Another occurs in The Last Battle , where Lucy points out the similarity of the stable to another stable in our world.

More than just promoting his own worldview, Lewis also takes the opportunity in the stories to criticise those he disagrees with. I say ‘criticise’ but it is really a case of taking cheap shots and I found it to be unnecessary. I don’t necessarily have an issue with an author being critical of aspects of society he disagrees with; it is the chosen style and method that I found to be in poor taste. In the beginning of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader , we are introduced to Eustace and his parents who seem to be some bad stereotype of a progressive family. ‘Up-to-date and advanced people’, they are vegetarian, non-smokers and teetotallers. Eustace collects beetles, like a young Darwin, likes books on information, is a bit of a know-it-all and calls his parents by their first names. The inference is that these are far from admirable qualities.

In The Silver Chair , we are given considerable details about the school Eustace and Jill attend. It is a co-ed school where the Bible is not taught, the children have no knowledge of Adam and Eve and girls are not taught to curtsey. Not by coincidence, we are told it is also a horrid place.

As the years have gone by, other criticisms have arisen, accusing the series of being racist, sexist, xenophobic and more. Such claims have been made by esteemed authors and academics and if you want to find evidence for their claims in the books you do not have to search far.

Naturally, a number of counterclaims have arisen as well. Most tend to focus on finding examples of more progressive interpretations of characters and events in the stories, as if one excuses the other, or they point out that many of the negative words and deeds are performed by villains or more complex characters, or they search for defensive arguments from Lewis’ other writings. On the surface these counterpoints are not completely without merit and it could be said that these are unresolvable issues of alternative interpretation. But I believe the apologist argument falls down for three reasons.

First, there are instances where Lewis is explicit about what he means. These deserve more weight than passages which are open to interpretation. Further, given that he felt compelled to offer clarification in such instances, we must ask why he did not in others. The apologist argument instead relies on assumptions about what Lewis may be implying while not giving greater weight to his explicit comments and failing to explain his silence elsewhere. If there are areas where characters say things that can be misinterpreted as sexist or racist, why doesn’t Lewis clarify the situation, especially since the stories are aimed at children who will require clarification? An obvious answer is that it might make for poor storytelling, but that has never stopped Lewis!

An example of Lewis offering clarification occurs in The Silver Chair . Here, Jill struggles with orientation to which Eustace remarks that “It’s an extraordinary thing about girls that they never know the points of a compass”. In the next chapter, Lewis clarifies that Jill, in particular, has difficulty with orientation but, contrary to Eustace’s comment, this is not necessarily true for all girls (or rather, he says ‘I don’t know about girls in general’). By the next book, Jill has become skilled at orientation thanks to time in the Girl Guides.

So, in The Last Battle , when the Dwarves repeatedly refer to a Calorman as ‘Darkie’, the apologist argument has been that by now the Dwarves are fallen, they even attack other Narnians, and therefore their racism is a result of their fall from grace even though Lewis does not make this connection explicit. Unlike the case of Jill’s orientation skills, Lewis offers no clarification here or where else it was needed. Similarly, when the characters apply pigment to their skin in order to disguise themselves as Calormen with the comment from King Tirian that “Nothing but oil and ashes will make us white Narnians again”, where is the clarification? Are there non-white Narnians or are we to understand that all Narnians are white? Why does Lewis feel he needed to clarify Eustace’s comment but not King Tirian’s?

Yet, at the end of The Silver Chair , when discussing the incompetence of the Head of Eustace and Jill’s horrid co-ed school, we do get additional commentary. Here, Lewis feels it necessary to explicitly point out that: “the Head (who was, by the way, a woman)…”.

Clearly there are moments when Lewis feels he needs to clarify what he or his characters mean and moments when he does not. The apologist arguments do not take account of this and instead take liberties in assuming what they think he means elsewhere in an attempt to defend his work from the accusations of racism and sexism.

We must also consider the double-standard on the apologist side in that they are willing to take the text at face value where it suits them but insist on our consideration of extensive extra material where they are on the back foot. We are supposed to think these are arguments are sophisticated and nuanced, but they read as presumptive, convoluted and wishful. This relative difficulty faced by the defenders in making their case is the second failing.

The third failure of the apologist counterarguments is that they forget that The Chronicles of Narnia is a fantasy created to conform to Lewis’ worldview. There is no need for Lewis to adhere to a factual and authentic reality as he would for a historical novel. There are plenty of novels that intentionally contain racist or sexist elements in order to be consistent with a real time and place. There is no such requirement of Lewis in The Chronicles .

Nor is he able to distance himself from his creation. Again plenty of novels contain villains, anti-heroes or complex characters with less than admirable qualities, but, depending on the book, we can feel confident that the author is not expressing their own views or condoning their behaviour but has other intentions in mind; authenticity or thematic considerations most of all. The Chronicles of Narnia on the other hand, was created to impress on us Lewis’ worldview. If the stories contain racist and sexist elements without explanation or clarification, he probably did not notice them, did not think twice about including them or did not think he needed to clarify.

My conclusion on this matter is that The Chronicles of Narnia do contain sexist, racist and other elements and that the defensive and apologist counterargument is unconvincing. Which leaves us with one argument, which is not an excuse but an explanation – it is a product of its time. Narnia , I believe should be treated in the same was we treat The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or Gone with the Wind . That is, enjoyed for what they are, but taken with a grain of salt for where the standards of their time have been left behind. I am currently reading The Canterbury Tales , where The Prioress’s Tale is clearly anti-Semitic and makes for uncomfortable reading, which can be explained though not condoned by remembering that it was written in the 14th century. Why still read The Canterbury Tales ? Because it is an impressive and influential work. That being said, Narnia does require extra care because it does proselytise and it is aimed at children. Enid Blyton (1897-1968), a contemporary of Lewis (1898-1963), whose works are also aimed at children, also with modern accusations of racism, sexism and xenophobia; have received strong censure, even modern revision. The apologists and defenders, I feel certain, will not concede. My suspicion is that their vigour is due less to a love for the text or author, or a consistent defendable theory, but to adherence to a complementary worldview. The same can be said for the series’ enduring popularity.

There is far more to discuss on Narnian ethics; the gleeful violence such as at the end of The Silver Chair ; the ‘Problem of Susan’ and the moral that death is preferable to life in The Last Battle ; but I will have to leave it here.

As I said, as a child I enjoyed those Narnia stories I read, in ignorance of their message or source material and, before the age of reason, I simply enjoyed adventure stories with child protagonists. On re-reading them I had expected to not enjoy them as much, not being an adherent to Lewis’ worldview, but still expected to find some things to enjoy. For about five-and-a-half novels, that was true, and as I said I had written a whole review with a different conclusion. But The Last Battle was the last straw. It isn’t necessarily one weakness or another; it was the sheer weight and frequency of them over 767 pages. The ‘Darkie’ passages were the most shocking and the point at which I could not defend this work any further.

I had also hoped in the beginning that I may read these to my daughter, not yet one-year-old, when she is old enough. That is no longer the case. I certainly don’t believe in banning books or forbidding my daughter from reading age-appropriate ones, but The Chronicles of Narnia will likely sit on a shelf unless she decides she wants to read it. I also hope that, since she will not be indoctrinated in a worldview, when she reaches the age of reason, she will notice the areas where The Chronicles leave much to be desired. By then she may be old enough to take a look at the works of others such as JK Rowling and Philip Pullman. Both inspired in part by Narnia, both excellent, both no less magical and containing battles between good and evil. But both certainly less preachy, less flawed in plot and message and both celebrating life over death and the inevitable development of character, ‘growing up’, as something virtuous.

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17 comments.

Whew! I made it through the whole review! That was a long one 🙂 What made you decide to review all of the books at once? I must admit that because you reviewed them all at once you were able to hit on larger themes, especially that annoying Catch-22 of Aslan’s sacrifice/miracle. I didn’t read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe until I was a graduate student taking a children’s lit course. I remember feeling slightly uncomfortable with the whole book, but couldn’t quite figure out why. I assumed it was because my childhood was filled with book series, like The Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley Twins, and Goosebumps, all written by American authors. Your review helped me puzzle through a lot of why I felt uncomfortable, and I realized that the one thing I didn’t like the most was the role of punishment. I felt like the kids were being shamed all the time.

Thanks for this thorough review! I hope we can follow each other and continue a conversation about books!

Thanks for your comment and for reading my loooong post! Happy to follow you! Because of its Christian themes, Narnia is today far, far, more popular in America than anywhere else. Current generations of American kids will find it harder to miss!

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[…] least favourite of the year is an easy pick – The Chronicles of Narnia. My review of it already contains all I really want to […]

[…] negative reviews are relatively rare, although I have done a couple myself (see Civilisation or Narnia). But positive reviews can also contain something that will turn me off the book. A common example […]

[…] Roald Dahl (not sure how many, at least seven, mostly his children’s books); CS Lewis (Seven, ie, The Chronicles of Narnia); Paul Scott (Five, ie, The Raj Quartet and Staying On); Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy, Dan Brown, […]

While some of your arguments here are valid when you look at them from a certain perspective, I think you’re attack of the Chronicles of Narnia is too harsh. Lewis wrote these books as an easier way for children to understand the Christian message and the Christian morals. The true morals behind the stories is the loss of faith and innocence that one has as they grow up and Lewis uses the classical elements as themes to display this. By attacking the books in this way, you’re really showing the type of cynicism that Lewis fought against through his writing.

Regarding the “catch-22” of the sacrifice of Aslan, that follows directly the story of Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus did know what would happen when he died, he knew that he would rise again, similarly did Aslan. This does not negate the fact that it was a sacrifice. They still both gave up their lives for another undeserving person and put themselves through pain and fear in order to save someone. Just because you know something good will come out of it, does not mean that it is no longer a sacrifice.

Regarding the punishment, sin is punished, there’s no easy way around it. While it may be different punishment per circumstance, all sin gets punished. The easiest way to show this to young children is a visual punishment so they understand. Avaris did something wrong, and she knew that the slave would be whipped for it (it says so when she explains her escape to Shasta).

I found your arguments reasonable and compelling. I still enjoy the books, but I’m not unaware of these – and other – faults. As to Aslan’s sacrifice – I think the best resolution of the paradox was in the BBC series from the 1980s. When Lucy reproaches Aslan, saying that they cried their eyes out while he knew it would be all right, he replies: “I knew what the deep magic said, but it had never been tested before.” I think that makes sense both for Aslan and for Jesus – both of them knowing they were the son of G-d/the Emperor over the sea, rationally/spiritually knowing they would survive death and come out on the other side, but both of them mortal and with mortal feelings and fears. After all, even Jesus, suffering on the cross, said “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me.”. As to the rest – the stereotyping, the racism and sexism, the requirement of blind faith (and you are lucky if you put your blind faith on the right side, because it doesn’t always make sense!) – I agree 100%.

It sounds like the BBC realised there is an issue here and came up with a simple fix. They probably give children a bit more credit for their intelligence! That they did this certainly adds another thing to consider when looking at the issue. Thanks for sharing!

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” is a quotation from Psalm 22 which purports to be a psalm of David. This, and various other things Jesus is reported to have said or done or suffered in his final days on Earth are intended to make the connection between Jesus and David, that Jesus is of David’s line and therefore the rightful “King of the Jews” as Pilate wrote on a notice and attached to the cross.

How long is this ???

Seven books in one volume, in one post, it’s as long as it needs to be!

[…] The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis [A Review] […]

Another comment: About the blind faith required by the protagonists in order to win through. Blind faith is required in several cases: In accepting that Lucy really got into a different world when she says she has, at the beginning of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” In following Aslan in “Prince Caspian” when only Lucy can see him. In believing the star’s daughter when she says the food on the table is healthy. In continuing to believe in Narnia after years back in England. However, in other cases, blind faith leads to big trouble: When prince Rillian believes in the lady of the green kirtle and follows her to underworld When Rillian, Puddleglum, Eustace and Jill fall under her spell and believe in her manipulative arguments at the end of “The silver Chair”. So we are left with a problem: On the one hand, we are required to have blind belief; on the other hand, we don’t have a blue-print to tell us when we can or can’t trust what we are told. The closest we get (and my favourite part of the seven books) is what Puddleglum says to refute the witch: Your version is nasty, our version is better; therefore we decide to believe in our version. But still, on the whole, that leaves me with some anger against Lewis for “tricking” his characters – and most of all for abandoning Susan.

Thanks for your examples. It gives more weight to the problem of how to do right in Narnia.

Much ado about nothing.

very nice movie even for adults

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Books of Brilliance

The latest book reviews and book news, book series review: the chronicles of narnia.

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

Continuing the trend, we will be diving into another children’s series, The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

The Chronicles of Narnia follow four children Ann, Martin, Rose and Peter. While playing, the accidentally end up in Narnia, a world where animals can talk and magic is real. The children get caught up in a battle between animals and the witch that rules Narnia. It is up to the children to save their friend and the residents of Narnia with the help of a lion and new friends they make.

Throughout the series, the children return to Narnia but time works differently in Narnia so a year can be hundreds of years in Narnia. There are also different villains and not all the children go back to Narnia in every book.

Many people have read the books and it is a big part of many people’s childhood. Even today, it is still inspiring books such as The Magicians . While the books are meant for children, there are a lot of adult themes and religion throughout the book.

The word Narnia derives from a city in Italy called Narni. The latin translation is Narnia and Lewis loved how the name sounded so he chose it for his novel. And a heads up when reading the books because they don’t follow the order they were published in. So make sure you look up the right order or you will be confused.

I recently read all of them and they aren’t too long so its a short read. I really did like the world building by Lewis and how the children were dealing with adult stuff with the mindset of children. The writing is great, Narnia is great, and it is easy to see why millions of people love these timeless children’s books.

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I am looking forward to read this series!

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The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe: the chronicles of narnia, book 1, common sense media reviewers.

Classic Narnia tale has exciting battles, Christian themes.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Kids might learn a bit about British culture and t

If you truly regret mistakes and poor choices, you

The main characters act valiantly to help save Nar

Peter kills a wolf that attacks his sisters. There

A few uses of words like "dratted."

Mr. Beaver has beer with his dinner and smokes a p

Parents need to know that the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the first book published in C.S. Lewis' classic Chronicles of Narnia series, which children have loved for generations. Lewis, a devout Christian, weaves lots of Christian allegory into the book (and the series as a whole), but the story…

Educational Value

Kids might learn a bit about British culture and the wartime circumstances that resulted in children being evacuated to the countryside.

Positive Messages

If you truly regret mistakes and poor choices, you'll be forgiven and get another chance to prove yourself. Trust those you love, and believe them when they tell you things that might seem unlikely. Trust your own convictions and faith, too. Don't hold grudges.

Positive Role Models

The main characters act valiantly to help save Narnia from the White Witch. Edmund, said by his siblings to be difficult, resents his older brother and initially aids the Witch to spite the other children, but he definitely learns the error of his ways. Aslan is a wise, thoughtful guide and counselor to the children, sometimes resorting to tough love. The gender roles among the children are traditional, as when the girls are told they must avoid getting involved in an impending battle.

Violence & Scariness

Peter kills a wolf that attacks his sisters. There's a large battle in which people and creatures are killed and injured via axes, swords, clubs, and more. Creepy, scary creatures are described. The Witch treats Edmund cruelly. The girls watch as the Witch's minions torment Aslan, who allows himself to be sacrificed. ( Spoiler alert! ) The Witch kills Aslan with an ancient knife in a very bleak, sad scene, but he comes back to life shortly thereafter.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Mr. Beaver has beer with his dinner and smokes a pipe. Edmund's rescuers give him some wine (medicinally).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is the first book published in C.S. Lewis ' classic Chronicles of Narnia series, which children have loved for generations. Lewis, a devout Christian, weaves lots of Christian allegory into the book (and the series as a whole), but the story can be enjoyed on many levels, by all kinds of readers. Expect several violent scenes, including a large battle (axes, clubs, and more are used, and characters are injured and die) and -- spoiler alert! -- the tense, scary, sad death of a major character. Creepy, evil creatures are also described; their leader is the White Witch, who is cruel and shows no mercy. The main characters are clear role models who valiantly help save Narnia from the Witch; even the one who initially falls under her sway learns his lesson, showing the power of repentance and forgiveness. The book was adapted for a movie in 1988 and again for the blockbuster 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe . An excellent audiobook version is narrated by British actor Michael York .

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (18)
• Kids say (46)

Based on 18 parent reviews

Another reason to question the ConnonSense reviewers

Don't go by the commonsensemedia review on this one, what's the story.

In THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, the four Pevensie siblings -- Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy -- discover that a wardrobe in an old country house is a portal to the magical land of Narnia. There, Edmund meets the evil White Witch and is lured into betraying his siblings, but the plot fails. Meanwhile, the lion Aslan, lord of Narnia, returns to the land, heralding the end of the Witch's long, joyless winter; the children, who continue to elude the Witch's grasp, meet with him. Before their adventure is done, they'll face fierce battle, devastating loss, and glorious triumph, all while learning lessons about faith, forgiveness, and more.

Is It Any Good?

Anyone who's ever dreamed of living in a world where animals can talk is going to enjoy the Pevensies' Narnian escapades. Originally published in 1950, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is full of storyteller's asides and precious English children, with a mix of adventure and serious battles. Those who know the story is full of Christian allegory ( spoiler alert! Aslan sacrifices himself for the wayward Edmund and is resurrected) are likely to spot it everywhere, but some children may simply enjoy the book's fairy-tale aspects. Yes, perhaps the forces of good sometimes seem to have too easy a time vanquishing their foes, and, yes, the writing style is now somewhat dated, but this is still a classic series that young fantasy fans will thoroughly enjoy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the messages The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (and the other Narnia books) sends about the nature of good and evil. Why do you think Edmund runs off to join the White Witch? What does he learn during his time with her? What does his journey teach readers?

Parents and kids familiar with Christianity can discuss how the book's plot and characters are like various stories and people found in the Bible. For example, how is Aslan like Jesus?

For readers who aren't Christian, do you think you need to share Lewis' faith to enjoy the story? Why or why not?

How do you think the book might be different if it was written today?

Book Details

• Author : C.S. Lewis
• Illustrator : Pauline Baynes
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
• Publication date : January 1, 1950
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
• Number of pages : 208
• Last updated : July 12, 2017

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia | Book Review

Book Review of  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia The Children’s Book Review

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia

Written by C.S. Lewis

Ages: 8+ | 206 Pages

Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 978-0060234812

What to Expect: Fantasy, Classic Literature, Adventure, Mythical Creatures, and Enchanted Landscapes.

C.S. Lewis’s timeless classic, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , is a captivating tale that weaves together the magic of a hidden world, the trials of courage, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Initially inspired by the wartime circumstances that brought three young girls into Lewis’s care, the narrative unfolds as a fantastical escape into the enchanting land of Narnia.

The story revolves around four siblings – Peter, Edmund, Lucy, and Susan – who stumble upon a mysterious wardrobe in the professor’s old country house. What begins as a simple exploration transforms into a grand adventure as the wardrobe reveals itself to be a portal into the mystical realm of Narnia. Here, they encounter a world gripped by the icy reign of the malevolent White Witch, setting the stage for a timeless battle between good and evil. Lewis masterfully crafts an immersive experience, seamlessly blending fantasy elements with a touch of reality. The juxtaposition of the ordinary and the extraordinary enhances the story’s appeal, inviting readers of all ages into the magical escapade.

As each sibling grapples with their unique challenges and discovers inner reservoirs of strength, the character development is both poignant and relatable. Tension escalates as the plot unfolds, reaching a crescendo when the White Witch accuses Edmund of treachery, leading to a fateful encounter with the majestic lion, Aslan. A symbol of courage and nobility, Aslan becomes the linchpin in the siblings’ quest to liberate Narnia from the grips of eternal winter. Lewis skillfully imbues the narrative with moral lessons, seamlessly interwoven with the unfolding events laden with suspense, offering a gripping climax that leaves readers on the edge of their seats.

The enduring appeal of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe lies in its ability to resonate with readers on multiple levels—the narrative not only entertains with its magical escapades but also imparts timeless wisdom about the triumph of virtue over vice. Profound themes and well-crafted characters make it a literary gem that continues to captivate readers across generations.

In conclusion, C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. Its seamless blend of fantasy and reality, coupled with rich character development and moral depth, ensures that the tale remains a cherished classic. Whether it’s your first journey into Narnia or a nostalgic return, this enchanting narrative promises an unforgettable adventure that transcends time and captivates the heart.

Buy the Book

About the author.

Clive Staples Lewis was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954 and was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement.

Lewis wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity , Out of the Silent Planet , The Great Divorce , The Screwtape Letters , and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia . To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and have been transformed into three major motion pictures

What to Read Next if You Love The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia

• Prince Caspian: The Chronicles of Narnia , by C. S. Lewis
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader: The Chronicles of Narnia , by C. S. Lewis
• The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread , by Kate DiCamillo
• The Indian in the Cupboard , by Lynne Reid Banks

Bianca Schulze reviewed  The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia . Discover more books like  The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Fantasy , Classics , Fairy Tales , Folklore , and Myths .

What to Read Next:

• The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | Book Review
• Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson | Book Review
• Mary Poppins, by P. L. Travers | Book Review
• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Caroll | Book Review

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Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

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Chronicles of Narnia- 7 book reviews

Posted by Miara | Apr 18, 2019 | Books

I recently reread all the Chronicles of Narnia books. They’re some of my favorites. I still remember when my dad came home with a box set of the series. I loved when my dad brought home new books for me to read. The box set was the 50th anniversary editions with colored illustrations and they were so fun to go through. Recently Netflix announced they would be making the Chronicles of Narnia into a TV series, and I’ve been waiting impatiently for updates since then. I’ve been meaning to re-read the series for a while and now seemed like the perfect time with that announcement.

My box set has the books in chronological order (based on Narnian time) rather than by order of publication (it differs slightly) and I recommend reading it in that order because it will build on previous characters and events and make more sense.

I’m doing just one big post on all the books since I finished reading them all before writing any reviews. Don’t mind all my photos with the books and my tea set. Reading books written by English authors often have scenes with tea in them and then all I want to do is drink tea and read all day. Rereading this series after having been to England myself, I can see how the English countryside inspired C.S. Lewis. It made it easier to picture the rolling green hills of Narnia with birdsong and the gentle trickle of rivers in the distance. We’ve had such a lovely rainy spring it’s offered many chances for me to curl up with a book in our library with candles lit and immerse myself in magic and fantasy.

The Magician’s Nephew :

Two children are pulled into unknown worlds when a wicked and selfish uncle tricks them for a magic experiment. There they meet Jadis, an evil Queen trying to escape her dying world. Through a series of events she ends up in the middle of London with them and causes all sorts of mischief. When the children finally get her out of London, they end up in an empty world that is being created by Aslan. Aslan sends the children off on a task and the adventures of Narnia begin.

C.S. Lewis paints such a lovely beginning to Narnia, and while it’s a children’s book it never fails to draw me in to the magic of the story. The characters are realistic (well I guess their personalities are, perhaps not the talking Lion) and you’re drawn into Digory’s impulsive nature and Uncle Andrew’s egotism.

Lewis sets part of the story on a dying world, and paints a grim and sad version of it. The creation of Narnia is a stark contrast to the dying world and makes it all the more exciting to read about.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe :

When four children stumble through a wardrobe into a magical forest with talking animals, they soon find that there is evil afoot and they must do their best to fix the spell cast over the land of Narnia. With Aslan’s help, they must defeat the evil witch who cast the spell and earn their places as Kings and Queens of Narnia.

This is the most well-known of the Narnia books, probably partially because of the movie. I think this is one of my favorite books in the series. Reading it as a child made me hope that every door I opened would be a door into another world. The dynamic between the four siblings is well-written, including their little arguments and growth throughout the book. There are definite Christian symbolisms in this story, but that doesn’t bother me while reading. This story includes the best of Narnia- beautiful country, talking animals, Aslan, Fauns, and dark magic. Aslan is an interesting character. He’s spoken of in the books as not being a ‘tame lion’. And indeed, whether because this was written in the 50s or talking lions are just a crazy idea, Aslan says and does things unexpectedly and strangely. He’s loving but stern, wild but gentle.

I love C.S. Lewis’s writing. His descriptions are simple yet beautiful, like Tumnus the faun’s cave.

*Spoiler below*

If you’ve already watched the movie then this won’t spoil the book for you. When Lucy first discovers Narnia and comes back out of the wardrobe, and when the children arrive back home at the end of the book, they realize that no time has passed at all even though they’ve lived days or a whole lifetime in Narnia. I was always fascinated with this concept because it gave you the opportunity to live multiple lifetimes in one. I spent hours as a child daydreaming (and still do) about what time period or magic world I’d love to be whisked into to live a whole life and then return to this one.

This is a painting I did! Prints available in my shop!

The Horse and His Boy :

Adopted orphan Shasta runs away from his abusive father when a talking horse wins him over with descriptions of the beautiful and free country to the north: Narnia. Along the way they meet fellow runaways Aravis and Hwin and together they travel in secret up the country. When a plot against Narnia is discovered, the travelers race across a vast desert to beat the invaders northward and warn the Narnians.

This is a side-story of Narnia set while the Pevensie children are still Kings and Queens of Narnia, though they play lesser characters in this book. The book takes place in an entirely different place and culture, and it’s fun to read about the differences between Narnia and Calormen. Aslan also features in this story, and again, he’s not a ‘tame lion’ and you wonder a little about his reasons for doing what he does. Shasta and Aravis are fun characters, as well as Bree and Hwin, the talking horses.

Prince Caspian:

Prince Caspian discovers his life is in danger when his uncle produces a new heir. Having been taught about Aslan, Old Narnia, and talking beasts, Caspian runs away and searches for the Narnians while his uncle pursues with an army. The Pevensie children are once again pulled out of England to help rescue Narnia from outsiders.

This book is a little different in setting, as part of the story is told in retrospect after the first few chapters. The Pevensie children feature again in this book, though they arrive back in Narnia over 1000 years after they last visited and come to find their castle in ruins and the country overtaken by people rather than their dear talking animals. Prince Caspian fights for his life and his right to rule from his wicked Uncle Miraz. You expect there to be a large battle at the end of this book but the ending is a little different than predicted, which some may like and others dislike. I’m still on the fence, because I do like reading thrilling battle scenes, but as it’s a children’s book the ending is maybe more diplomatic and creative in a less gory sort of way. A good read nonetheless that sets up the second half of the Narnia series.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:

Caspian, now King of Narnia, sets sail to the east in search of the seven lords his Uncle Miraz had exiled in the past. Along the way they discover new lands, escape from sea monsters, and perhaps will sail right over the edge of the world into Aslan’s country.

I think my favorite book in the series has got to be between this and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Prince Caspian returns as one of the main Narnian characters, and the children from our world are Edmund, Lucy, and their annoying prick of a cousin Eustace. In this story you meet new lands, new people, and new creatures. It’s an exciting read because the travelers are discovering most of these places for the first time and you, as reader, discover all these places with them and you get to experience the mystery and wonder along with the characters. I just love the descriptions of all the islands and new magic you read about. And I also like that one of the characters, Caspian, is carried over from the previous book and you get to know him better. There’s also a chance of them sailing to the end of the world, so the whole time you wonder what it might look like if they do make it, and whatever you might imagine it’s not disappointing!

The Silver Chair:

Eustace and Jill are pulled into Narnia while being chased by bullies, and Aslan gives them a difficult task with signs to help them along the way. When it seems they’ve messed up all the signs, the children and their new friend, a Marsh-wiggle named Puddleglum, must outsmart giants and an evil sorceress to find a missing prince and restore him to the throne of Narnia.

This is the first book of the series in which none of the original Pevensie children are in it. It’s a different sort of setting that takes place on gloomy moorlands, snowy mountains, and underground, so not your typical bright happy Narnian scene. A couple new characters are a bit more annoying to me, and it may be partly that if you’ve made it this far, your knowledge of Narnia is much greater than that of the characters. I do like Prince Rillian’s character, and the children grow throughout the book. You also get to learn more about Aslan’s mysterious country.

The Last Battle:

When a false Aslan roams Narnia, everyone is confused. Should they obey him? Hide from him? Confront him? Tirian, King of Narnia, calls for aid from the children, friends of Narnia who have helped save the country in the past. The book culminates in a clash between the Narnians and Calormenes, and the Last Battle is fought with the odds against King Tirian.

*Spoilers in my review* 3/5 stars if you want to skip it.

This last book I simultaneously like and dislike. The Christian themes in this are much harder to ignore than in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, and it may be because it’s preachier in this book. The false prophet, the ending of the world and who gets to go to Aslan’s country vs. Tash’s country, Susan no longer being a ‘friend of Narnia’ (aka no longer believing in Narnia). The book also reveals the time period of racist beliefs C.S. Lewis lived in. The Calormenes are the bad guys, they smell of ‘onion and garlic’, and the dwarves insult them as ‘darkies’. It’s more shocking to read this as an adult than as a kid. But I do realize that it reflects the time period perhaps more than the author’s beliefs. (I don’t know if he was racist, but Lewis did write good Calormene characters such as Aravis in The Horse and His Boy.) It’s a little bit more of a slower start than the other books, and Eustace and Jill don’t arrive until partway through the book. I do like the characters of King Tirian and Jewel the unicorn. I feel like the ending was beautiful yet abrupt, and I was rather disappointed in the ‘last battle’, which wasn’t much of a battle at all. Aslan ends the world of Narnia and you see all the old characters from the previous book which is very fitting, and how the world ends is described creatively. I don’t love that Susan isn’t with everyone at the end, I feel like it was the author making a religious point, but for me I wanted this to be a happy ending in a children’s series where all the old friends see each other again.

I give it 3/5 stars because I did like the characters, the way the story was told, and the ending in Aslan’s country. But I didn’t love the blatantly religious themes (and I grew up religious), the lack of an exciting battle, the pace of the story compared to the previous books, and Susan being left alone when her parents and siblings have all just died.

Phew, that took longer to write than I though, I shouldn’t try to do seven book review at once!

One of the books we have has a timeline of all the events of Narnia. If you won’t want spoilers don’t look at it.

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Book Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

I first read this book when I was much younger and have read it many times since then, yet not in recent years. I just finished reading it once again about a month ago. Just like when I read the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for the very first time there was so much magic and wonder that engulfed me once more, and will again many times more. It begins during the Blitz in 1940 with a family of four kids, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. They, like many other children during this time, go to the countryside of England to escape the war and be safe. Yet their time in the countryside will be much different than any of the other children’s. They arrive at this mansion owned by a professor, who has a housekeeper that doesn’t want children there and makes sure that they don’t touch anything. The four children don’t want to leave their family and their home in London, but the homesickness fades away quickly once they start to have fun in the house and find a world of magic and endless possibilities. Lucy, the youngest of the four, finds a wardrobe hidden away in a spare room in the house, in it are a bunch of fur coats. She makes her way through with her eyes closed as the soft fur rubs against her cheeks when she suddenly feels something prickly and cold. She finds herself in a wood in the middle of winter and a faint light in the distance, the light coming from a singular light post in the middle of nowhere and nothing to power it. Here she meets Mr. Tumnus, a faun, who invites her for tea and cakes. She spends hours with him and learns about the land she is in, Narnia which is in a 100-year winter, and that she is the first human in this strange land in a long time, as well as that there is a witch, the White Witch, who has enslaved all of Narnia. When she returned she had been gone for hours, yet to her siblings, it was mere seconds, they didn’t believe her and when they went to check the wardrobe there was no wood. Edmund was especially mean about it but followed her in the middle of the night and found himself in the middle of the same forest she described and Edmund met the White Witch. One day all four children were rushed into the wardrobe as the housekeeper gave tours of the house since it had many relics, and they found themselves all in Narnia, not at all ready for the adventure ahead of them. This magical place and book always make me feel like I was there with Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, as they had their adventures. The magic that C. S. Lewis was able to resonate with me every day as I too looked for a magical portal to a world unknown. This book is so enveloping as you read and finish it, it stays with you for years, making you think in ways you never thought of before. This book is an amazing book for anyone looking for an amazing fantasy book or a book that every time you read it you see something new. Reviewer Grade: 12

A Definitive Ranking of all the Chronicles of Narnia Books

Reading Lists

Whether you love these nostalgic children's favorites or find them too preachy, we can all agree on which ones are the worst.

While the Chronicles of Narnia series might be a little polarizing—for some it’s a beloved childhood classic, for others it’s a cheesy Jesus-fest—I think we can all come to agreement on who is the worst Pevensie: Edmund. Another thing we can agree on is viciously pitting nostalgic pieces of media against each other to see who comes out on top. After vigorous research that involved both Wikipedia and Sparknotes I have compiled a definitive ranking of all of the books starting from worst to best. 

7. The Horse and His Boy

This is the weakest link of the Narnia Chronicles. You know it, I know it, C.S. Lewis probably knew it while he was writing it. Not only are the Pevensies barely in it, but neither are any other recognizable characters. Instead, it follows a random boy named Shasta and his talking horse as they flee a life of servitude in Calormen, Narnia’s not-even-that-obliquely-racist neighbor. There’s a reveal of Shasta being a long-lost prince of a city we never hear of again, then an epic battle takes place between Archenland and Calormen. Lucy and Edmund cameo to send in reinforcements. Shasta becomes a prince and marries this girl he picked up along the way. The end. 

6. The Last Battle  

Am I ranking the books I recall the least lowest? Possibly. But in my defense, if it was good then I would’ve remembered it. Everyone knows the it-was-all-a-dream trope. This book is its far worse cousin: everyone-was-dead-the-whole-time. Yes, the Pevensies—minus Susan for misogyny reasons we won’t get into—all die on a train, which is revealed at the end after yet another big battle. All you need to know is that a false God is masquerading as Aslan until he’s exposed and Narnia ceases to exist for the doubters while the true believers get to go to the “real” Narnia. What a way to end a series. 

5. The Silver Chair

I care slightly more about characters I’ve seen before—although only half of the heroes of this book fit these criteria—so The Silver Chair ekes out a spot just above its predecessors. We open up with Eustace (from Dawn Treader, see below because it’s good) saving his classmate Jill Pole from getting picked on by some schoolyard bullies. They escape into Narnia with the help of Aslan, who immediately sends them on a quest to find King Caspian’s lost son, Rilian. They head north where Rilian was last seen looking for the green snake that killed his mother. Kid-eating giants, a marsh-wiggle , and an underground city of gnomes are some highlights of their adventure. There’s also a Lady in the Green Kirtle who is revealed to 1) be a giant snake and 2) have been keeping Prince Rilian under an enchantment. She is quickly slain by the ragtag bunch and everyone heads home to business as usual. 

4. The Magician’s Nephew

Since I read The Magician’s Nephew first it’ll always hold a mid-tier spot in my heart, even if it’s a cleverly marketed prequel written second-to-last. Here we get explanations—that don’t make any sense—for the important part of the series, which is the Pevensies and Narnia. Neighbors Digory and Polly are playing when they meet Digory’s weird Uncle Andrew, who tricks Polly into putting on a ring that causes her to disappear. She has been transported to a forest where every puddle is another universe. One puddle holds the White Witch, who follows them to  London, but is then sent back and attempts to stop Aslan from creating Narnia. Polly and Digory set things right, then get sent home with an apple. The apple core sprouts into a tree which is then used for the wardrobe and Digory grows up to be the professor the Pevensies stay with.

3. Prince Caspian  

Although my fond memories of Prince Caspian mostly surround my childhood crush on Caspian’s actor in the movie, it still holds up in comparison to what follows. The Pevensies are whisked away from a train station after a year in their time back to Narnia to aid Prince Caspian in his fight for the throne. Since they left Narnia, a thousand years have passed and the tyrannical Telmarines have taken over. Prince Caspian is the only hope to restore Narnia to its old glory, but he has been forced into hiding by his power-hungry uncle. Good eventually triumphs over evil, Narnia is restored. There’s a lot of boring war talks and fighting that ultimately make it deserving only of third place.

2. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

When I asked around for people’s personal favorites this one came up the most and I’d have to agree—even if Eustace is objectively The Worst™. This book has all of the fun of discovering new worlds and new characters in Narnia without nobody protagonists the drudgery of planning a war. While Peter and Susan are off being teenagers, Edmund and Lucy are still in the throes of that sweet, sweet youth Aslan loves so much, along with the annoying cousin Eustace they’re staying with. The trio fall into a painting of a boat and set on a seafaring adventure with King Caspian to search for seven lost lords. On their journey, Eustace communes with dragons to become a better person. They almost fall victim to a pool of water that turns things into gold and sail to the edge of the world, all along with a sword-wielding mouse called Reepicheep. Puss in Boots who?

1. The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe

Most of us are familiar with the first book, especially the part where Edmund sells out his family for subpar dessert. But this is the book where it all begins, the one that’s made the biggest mark, and we couldn’t possibly put anything else first. You already know the plot but if for some reason you don’t: four British siblings are sent away to the countryside during WWII. The youngest, Lucy, goes through a magical wardrobe to find Narnia, which is suffering an eternal winter cast by the White Witch. Lucy’s siblings soon follow her in, whereupon they meet Jesus’s fursona, Aslan, and rally an army to defeat the Witch. They rule Narnia for about fifteen years before falling back through the wardrobe and into their child bodies, forced to relive puberty a second time. Also freaking Santa Claus appears because apparently the White Witch banned Christmas, too. Everyone forgets that so we’re politely ignoring it and still putting this one first.

BONUS ROUND:

If you’re not tired of all this Narnia talk here are two fanfics that weren’t included in the official tally because they aren’t technically Narnia books and also they’d both end up at the top. If the most famous Narnia book is too obvious of a top choice for you, perhaps you’d like to read about Anthony Bourdain sampling the regional dishes of Narnia with his camera crew. Or follow Susan after her entire family dies and the kingdom she once ruled is inaccessible to her because she’s only interested in “nylons and lipstick and invitations.”

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The Chronicles Of Narnia Book Review: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader (#5) By C.S. Lewis

So, apparently the Narnian timeline decided to just say, “Nah. I’ll just do my own thing from now on.”

In the words of the author himself in our present review of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ,

“If you spend a hundred years in Narnia, you would still come back to our world at the very same hour of the very same day on which you left. And then, if you went back to Narnia after spending a week here, you might find that a thousand Narnian years had passed, or only a day, or no time at all. You never know till you get there.”

Boy, does that clarify a whole lot.

The fifth novel in The Chronicles of Narnia begins a year after the Pevensies left Narnia once again in the care of the very capable Prince Caspian and returned to their own world. Susan is merrily frolicking in the United States, Peter is studying for a few important exams at Professor Kirke’s home (not the mansion, but rather a cottage), and Edmund and Lucy were sent off to their Aunt Alberta, Uncle Harold, and cousin Eustace Clarence Scrubb’s home, much to their dislike. Eustace Clarence Scrubb – poor fellow – constantly pesters his cousins, until one day all three of them are magically sucked into Narnia with the help of a painting portraying a Narnian ship at sea.

Upon boarding the  Dawn Treader , Edmund and Lucy are thrilled to see Prince Caspian – three Narnian years later – as the captain, while Eustace has a bit of a panic attack induced by nausea and homesickness (and promptly proceeds to be an overall nuisance). Caspian explains to the Pevensies his intention of finding seven lords who disappeared in a place named the Lone Islands after the tyrant King Miraz murdered Caspian’s father and usurped the throne in the previous novel . Along with the honorable mouse, Reepicheep, Caspian’s crew in the Dawn Treader , the Pevensies, and Eustace all embark on a journey to the Lone Islands in the search of the missing lords. Not to mention there is a side-quest involving possibly finding the eastern edge of the world where Aslan’s country resides.

Source: Amazon

When it comes to the plot, I must say that it is a rather nice change of pace to explore the uncharted waters surrounding Narnian territories as opposed to staying on well-known bits of land. Every new island has its own set of unique characteristics that differentiate it from the other islands. There are obstacles in each one, and the characters must work as a team in order to overcome them successfully, not without a few disagreements from time to time. It is also appreciated how this novel continues the trend of revisiting classic, well-known characters with a more matured, developed demeanor while introducing new ones. This time around, Aslan appeared only in select few moments and allowed the crew of the Dawn Treader to find their own path and rely more on one another.

One of the themes featured most often in The Chronicles of Narnia is redemption; the underlying possibility of becoming a better person despite the mistakes one may have committed in the past. For instance, Edmund was a traitor the first time he was in Narnia, but was redeemed by Aslan and became a kind, honorable young man afterward. Similarly in the rest of the novels, there always seems to be one character who did not start off too great but found their way after Aslan’s quiet, loving but stern intervention.

I’ve always liked this theme, as it implies repentance is not so much about loud suffering and hollering, “I screwed up, I am a terrible human being!” but rather of doing some serious introspection and letting go of former arrogant or jealous tendencies that only hurt one’s self in the long run. However, it becomes clear that this is a matter of personal choices, and it does not happen from one day to the next but rather requires constant effort to not fall back into those harmful, tiresome habits. Kudos to C.S. Lewis for thoroughly expressing and emphasizing that sentiment in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader .

Because of the entertaining side-plots in each island (while the main plot was never out of focus), Reepicheep the mouse and his larger role in this novel, Caspian’s unrelenting politeness (the fellow flips a table in the most polite of ways), the chapter with Lucy in the Island of the Voices, Edmund’s Sherlock Holmes moments, Eustace’s snarky remarks, and Drinian’s slightly exasperated good nature, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader   deserves a 5/5 review.

We are almost there! Stay tuned for the following reviews:

• The Silver Chair
• The Last Battle

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Featured image via A.J. Carlisle’s Blog

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In What Order Should the Narnia Books Be Read?

Narnia Reading Order

Is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe  or  The Magician’s Nephew the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis? Why are there multiple orders? Answers below…

Publication Order

The books were originally published in this order:

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)
• Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia (1951)
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)
• The Silver Chair (1953)
• The Horse and His Boy (1954)
• The Magician’s Nephew (1955)
• The Last Battle (1956)

Chronological Order

Sometime after the death of C. S. Lewis, British editions of the books began appearing that were numbered according to the order the stories take place:

• The Magician’s Nephew
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• The Horse and His Boy
• Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia
• The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
• The Silver Chair
• The Last Battle

The Switch to Chronological Order

For many years, both orders were in print. American editions used publication order while British editions were numbered chronologically.

Chronological order became the worldwide standard after HarperCollins took over the publishing in 1994.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , the first book to be written and published, is generally considered the best introduction to Narnia by scholars and fans alike.

“Most scholars disagree with [the decision to re-number the books] and find it the least faithful to Lewis’s deepest intentions,” says Dr. Paul F. Ford, author of  Companion to Narnia .

On the official website  of C. S. Lewis, Dr. Charlie W. Starr  claims that “Lewis scholars almost universally agree” that the original published order is superior. He suggests that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe  is more initially captivating than  The Magician’s Nephew,  that certain lines in  Lion do not make sense when the book is not read first,   and that  Nephew  has greater mythic power when read as a prequel.

Why were the books re-numbered chronologically?

Initially, HarperCollins included this explanation in the books:

The HarperCollins editions of The Chronicles of Narnia have been re-numbered in compliance with the original wishes of the author, C. S. Lewis.

  In later editions, the explanation was revised to:

Although The Magician’s Nephew was written several years after C. S. Lewis first began The Chronicles of Narnia, he wanted it to be read as the first book in the series. HarperCollins is happy to present these books in the order in which Professor Lewis preferred.

What did C. S. Lewis actually say?

In 1957, an 11-year-old boy named Lawrence Krieg was preparing to read the Narnia books for a second time. Lawrence wondered if he should re-read them chronologically, but his mother felt he should stick with the original published order. So, Lawrence wrote a letter to the author and received this response:

“I think I agree with your order for reading the books more than with your mother’s. The series was not planned beforehand as she thinks. When I wrote The Lion I did not know I was going to write any more. Then I wrote P. Caspian as a sequel and still didn’t think there would be any more, and when I had done The Voyage I felt quite sure it would be the last. But I found as I was wrong. So perhaps it does not matter very much in which order anyone read them.” C. S. Lewis, 4/23/57

This letter is cited by readers on both sides of the controversial decision to re-number the books. Proponents see this as clear proof Lewis wanted the books read in chronological order. Opponents point out that Lewis suggested the order “does not matter very much” in the same letter and he could have re-numbered the books himself if he really wanted to.

Douglas Gresham, stepson of C.S. Lewis (“Jack”),  said :

“[HarperCollins] asked, ‘What order do you think we ought to do them in?’  And I said, ‘Well … I actually asked Jack himself what order he preferred and thought they should be read in.  And he said he thought they should be read in the order of Narnian chronology.’  So I said, ‘Why don’t you go with what Jack himself wanted?’  So, it’s my fault basically—the order of Narnian chronology.  And I’m not the least bit ashamed of it.” Douglas Gresham

Walden Media’s Narnia movies followed the original published order:

1. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) 2. Prince Caspian (2008) 3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

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Do you prefer in publication or chronological order? Listen to our podcast discussion on the issue.

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Chronicles of Narnia Books In Order

Publication order of the chronicles of narnia books.

Chronological Order of The Chronicles Of Narnia Books

Publication Order of The World Of Narnia Books

Publication Order of The Chronicles Of Narnia Companion Books

Speak of children’s classics and The Chronicles of Narnia Series is bound to get a mention, this series of seven volumes having sold over a hundred million copies since its publication in 1950. The creation of C.S Lewis and arguably his best work, the series has undergone several publications over its many years of popularity, transitioning from the pages of literature to the radio, to TV, even making the leap to stage before finally finding a place in modern films.

The Chronicles of Narnia Series chronicles the creation and destruction of Narnia, a fantastical realm filled with mystical and enchanted animals as well as several wonders of magic, largely narrating the adventures of those children that manage to slip through the veil to this magical land in between its two most crucial points.

The core of the series revolves around the ultimate battle between good and evil, honing in on the morally crafted challenges that its various characters undertake with the aim of thwarting the forces of evil, reclaiming the line of ancient thrones and riding into battle as the champions of the great Lion Aslan, protector of all that is good within the Narnian realm.

The Chronicles of Narnia Series has a pretty powerful place in the realm of children’s literature, its initial publication back in the 1950s setting it apart as a story quite unlike any that had been told to date, one that wasn’t afraid to dip its fingers into the world of religion, not only borrowing from Roman, Persian and Greek cultures the mythological elements that proliferated their stories, but tackling head on the themes of race, gender and equality, creating quite the controversy, and in the process setting itself apart from typical children’s tales.

The original structure of The Chronicles of Narnia Series was crafted in 1939, the result of several decades of rumination on the tales that littered Lewis’ childhood; though if anyone should take credit for the creation of the series, it would be the Umbrella carrying faun that Lewis envisaged at his 16 years of age, an image that not only stuck with him for the decades to come, but which he eventually decided to develop into a full blown story.

It is probably because of this rather odd starting point that the books arrived in their specific state, written in what some might term as a haphazard manner, in an order somewhat different from how they now appear; which, most would agree, does little to disparage the chronological structure of the book that managed to maintain cohesion.

‘And were there elements of Lewis’ own life mirrored in his greatest story?’ Some might ask; as with numerous authors, life tends to prove itself to be the greatest of inspirations, in this case Lewis himself suggesting that the departure of girls Katherine, Margaret and Mary from London to Lewis’s own home of Risinghurst in anticipation of a German raid on the city, might have influenced his creation of children Peter, Lucy, Edmund and Susan, who also had to flee London to stay with a relative to escape the Air Raids.

As for Narnia; there is indeed a town by that very name, somewhere near Rome and Assisi, from which Lewis took the name for his world famous title simply because he liked how it sounded.

The series has a pretty interesting publication history which might have affected the order in which the story was structured-at least for the readers, with the original American publisher, Macmillan, choosing to follow the book’s previous publication order, while Harper Collins, to whom the publication rights were transferred in 1994, instead chose to take into account the chronology of the story in numbering the series, hence affecting the order in which it was read for those readers that would come after-a debate still rages to this date regarding the order in which these books, specifically two particular titles, should be read.

The first volume, The Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe seemed to draw upon inspiration from the belligerent atmosphere of the second world war, the escape from war of the four Pevensie children: Peter, Lucy, Edmund and Susan, quickly escalating into a magical adventure; beginning with the discovery of a mystical wardrobe in the house of their host, Professor Digory Kirke, that leads them into the fantastical world of Narnia and pouring into the epic battle against an evil white witch that had brought ice and cold to the magical world, all the while accompanied by the power of the mighty Aslan and a slew of there talking animal companions.

A compelling story indeed, seemingly wrapped in child like mischief but quickly evolving into a complex plot regarding the power of sacrifice, the true face of evil and the ululation of great victory.

Somewhat discontiguous in its approach, Prince Capsian: The return to Narnia, the second book, presented a fresh perspective to the series, somewhat breaking with the base created in the first book, allowing the story to hurtle forward into a new world, one of blood and betrayal, of new kings and family feuds, pitting the Pevensies against the tyrannical Miraz, brother to the previous king and sworn to eliminate his sibling’s only heir in an effort to usurp the powers of the throne.

And this becomes the general motif of a story that, beyond maintaining the existence of Narnia, chooses to weave and twist and turn [sometimes] at break neck speeds, almost always sweeping the plate clean to allow each new plot to exist more or less within its own self contained universe, most definitely within the Narnian world; but availing fresh new challenges, usually with fresh new faces, each plot hiding within it a moral waiting to unfold, new characters awaiting new adventures within which they may find their true selves.

While the core story seems to center around the Pevensie kids, the series has a tendency to illuminate peripheral characters, new and old, during its ran, these including Eustace Scrubb, Jill Pole, Digory Kirke, Polly Plummer, Prince Caspian, King Tirian, to mention but a few, each playing a major role during the VAST amounts of time that pass between books.

Of all the books in The Chronicles of Narnia series, The lion, the witch and the Wardrobe, Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Prince Caspian have been adapted into highly successful live action films over the past decade, with The Chronicles of Narnia Series proving influential in a number of mediums, from cartoons to movies to video games to popular TV series like Lost.

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Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew (a Review)

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This month I decided to step into the land of Narnia and see how it all started by reviewing The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew by the author C.S. Lewis. To some, this might not be the first book in the Narnia Series, but if you read Chronicles of Narnia series in story order from start to finish, this would be book 1.

The other way to read them is to use the order that C.S. Lewis wrote them. I have chosen to teach the Narnia series in story chronological order because it will not confuse Beck as easily and should make for one long adventure in the land of Narnia for him.

Our family has started to read these books at the recommendation of our local Children’s Librarian for our son Beck. When we were at the library he was thrilled to find it in the juvenile fiction section under “ JF Lewis “.

This is a great fantasy book for a reader of any age. When the Children’s Librarian recommended it, I had very little convincing to do to get Beck to read it. The book starts out with two similar, yet different characters. These two characters are two young children in London named Polly and Digory. The story follows these two youths from London to Narnia and back.

As the children investigate the world around them they meet the magician, Digory’s Uncle Andrew. Hence the title, the Magician’s Nephew. The author utilizes his prowess as a great storyteller to transport the characters around wondrous scenery to tell how Narnia was created. From adding animals to plants to morals, the author tells this story from the view point of the characters in such a way that any reader will want to read the next adventure as soon as possible.

The story develops through the book and flows from one plot point to the next with a seamless style that is easy for the reader, especially younger readers, to follow and understand. I do not want to ruin the entire book for you, so will not divulge any more details here.

Some of the positive aspects of this book:

• C.S. Lewis uses his innate ability to set the setting, characters, and storyline to keep the reader enticed. The author’s writing style flows from one plot point to the next in a way that gives a lot of details. From the plants of Narnia spreading out as they are created to the fight scene at the lamp post, each plot point is developed and presented in beautiful prose that keep you coming back for more.
• C.S. Lewis does a superb job of setting up foreshadowing future parts of the book and storyline. There are times when the reader will find themselves drifting to see what is happening in another part of Narnia and it is at just those times that the author lures you back and lets you know that you do not have to be worried because ‘it is a story for another time.’ Those moments of storyline foreshadowing are then wrapped eloquently back into the story when they are brought up again and used in the story. The basic premise that C.S. Lewis utilizes is that the story arcs are always in flux while you are reading, but the author will take your hand and shows you, instead of telling you, where the plot is going from there.

As with any good book, there is sometimes a negative aspect of it as well. In my opinion, there is no real negative with this book, but there is a potentially negative aspect that some might find with this book:

• At times, C.S. Lewis reverts to strange dialects of the English language when characters speak. This is not necessarily bad, but Beck had some problems with it until I told him that they were words he just had to read and what the words were short for. This could mire some young readers in the details of the reading and frustrate their progress through certain sections of the story. This can easily be overcome by just letting your young reader know that when the characters are speaking, sometimes they use words that are not real words, but rather shortenings of words and catch phrases based on where they are from.

Overall, it is my opinion that if you have a young reader that likes a good fantasy setting, then the Chronicles of Narnia will be a wonderful setting for them to enjoy their reading. While they learn all about the happenings in Narnia they will be transported to places unknown and far away in the land of Narnia. The Magician’s Nephew is a great starting point that sets up what Narnia is, quite literally as the birth of Narnia occurs in front of the main characters of the book, Polly and Digory. If you would like to get your own copy of this book instead of getting it from the juvenile fiction section of your library then you can also find it on Amazon or in the Kindle store.

Make sure to also check out my Chronicle of Narnia, Book 1 – The Magician’s Nephew Book Study that I created specifically for use with this book to start your journey to Narnia. If you are a Member of my E.H.M. Member’s Only Website then it can be found on the Fall/Winter page.

Clip art by: Melonheadz Illustrating , Ink N Little Things , Revi Devi

Jill of Enchanted Homeschooling Mom is the homeschooling mother of 2 awesome children (Beck and Elizabeth), a loving wife, who brings readers along on her family’s homeschooling journey in their rural setting. She enjoys blogging about everything related to her homeschooling experience, from the daily happenings of Beck and Elizabeth, to the adventures in nature around them, to her family’s 4 rescue dogs, to just about anything that makes their homeschooling journey magical. Jill also takes the time to create printables for her homeschool classroom that she provides at her EHM Member’s Only Website . She has a wide variety of printables, curriculum, unit studies, and holiday related items that everyone is sure to find educational, useful, fun, and appropriate. You can follow with Jill’s magical homeschooling journey at enchantedhomeschoolingmom.org , Facebook , Google+ , Twitter , and Pinterest . Don't forget to also have some magical virtual book club fun each month with Poppins Book Nook !

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The Chronicles of Narnia Paperback – October 1, 2001

Don’t miss one of America’s top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS’s The Great American Read.

Experience all seven tales of C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia , in one impressive paperback volume!

Epic battles between good and evil, fantastic creatures, betrayals, heroic deeds, and friendships won and lost all come together in this unforgettable world, which has been enchanting readers of all ages for over sixty years.

This edition presents the seven books— The Magician's Nephew ; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy ; Prince Caspian ; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ; The Silver Chair ; and The Last Battle —unabridged and arranged in C. S. Lewis's preferred order. Each chapter is graced with an illustration by the original artist, Pauline Baynes. 

• Print length 768 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 3 - 6
• Lexile measure 870L
• Dimensions 6 x 1.92 x 9 inches
• Publisher HarperCollins
• Publication date October 1, 2001
• ISBN-10 9780066238500
• ISBN-13 978-0066238500
• See all details

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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

“With amazing characters and abundant magic, this series is impossible to forget.” — Brightly

From the Back Cover

Journeys to the end of the world, fantastic creatures, and epic battles between good and evil -- what more could any reader ask for in one book? The book that has it all is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , written in 1949 by Clive Staples Lewis. But Lewis did not stop there. Six more books followed, and together they became known as The Chronicles of Narnia.

For the past fifty years, The Chronicles of Narnia have transcended the fantasy genre to become part of the canon of classic literature. Each of the seven books is a masterpiece, drawing the reader into a land where magic meets reality, and the result is a fictional world whose scope has fascinated generations.

This edition presents all seven books -- unabridged -- in one impressive volume. The books are presented here according to Lewis' preferred order, each chapter graced with an illustration by the original artist, Pauline Baynes. Deceptively simple and direct, The Chronicles of Narnia continue to captivate fans with adventures, characters, and truths that speak to readers of all ages, even fifty years after they were first published.

About the Author

Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a Fellow and Tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance Literature at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Out of the Silent Planet , The Great Divorce , The Screwtape Letters , and the universally acknowledged classics The Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and have been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Clive Staples Lewis (1898-1963) fue uno de los intelectuales más importantes del siglo veinte y podría decirse que fue el escritor cristiano más influyente de su tiempo. Fue profesor particular de literatura inglesa y miembro de la junta de gobierno en la Universidad Oxford hasta 1954, cuando fue nombrado profesor de literatura medieval y renacentista en la Universidad Cambridge, cargo que desempeñó hasta que se jubiló. Sus contribuciones a la crítica literaria, literatura infantil, literatura fantástica y teología popular le trajeron fama y aclamación a nivel internacional. C. S. Lewis escribió más de treinta libros, lo cual le permitió alcanzar una enorme audiencia, y sus obras aún atraen a miles de nuevos lectores cada año. Sus más distinguidas y populares obras incluyen Las Crónicas de Narnia, Los Cuatro Amores, Cartas del Diablo a Su Sobrino y Mero Cristianismo .

Product details

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0066238501
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; First American Edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 768 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780066238500
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0066238500
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 7+ years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 870L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 6
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.8 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.92 x 9 inches
• #621 in Children's Classics
• #936 in Classic Literature & Fiction
• #1,556 in Epic Fantasy (Books)

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About the authors

CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS (1898-1963) was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. He was a fellow and tutor in English Literature at Oxford University until 1954 when he was unanimously elected to the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University, a position he held until his retirement. He wrote more than thirty books, allowing him to reach a vast audience, and his works continue to attract thousands of new readers every year. His most distinguished and popular accomplishments include Mere Christianity, Out of the Silent Planet, The Great Divorce, The Screwtape Letters, and the universally acknowledged classics, the Chronicles of Narnia. To date, the Narnia books have sold over 100 million copies and been transformed into three major motion pictures.

Pauline Baynes

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Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 88% 7% 2% 1% 1% 88%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 88% 7% 2% 1% 1% 7%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 88% 7% 2% 1% 1% 2%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 88% 7% 2% 1% 1% 1%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 88% 7% 2% 1% 1% 1%

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Customers say

Customers find the book beautifully read and imaginative. They also say it's a great read for any age with classic themes and spiritual wisdom. Customers find stories compelling, delightful, and inspiring. They appreciate the lovely illustrations by Pauline Baynes. Opinions are mixed on the book organization and completeness, with some finding it sectioned in separate books and others saying it'd be missing book 3.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the stories compelling, delightful, and inspiring. They also appreciate Lewis' outstanding descriptions of the setting and situations. Readers say the book is fun, profound, and dramatizes the truth beautifully. They say it's a great read with kids and can also be read as straight fantasy. Customers also say it’s based on right and wrong, values, and learning.

"...The Chronicles of Narnia, however, are full of action , fantasy characters, and are a lot of fun to read though I will admit the first book is on the..." Read more

"... This series is special , and the typology through the stories are just as wonderful to talk about as the adventures we read about by CS Lewis...." Read more

"...that the books have stood the test of time, entertaining and illuminating five generations of readers ...." Read more

" Very good story and good quality book. I was worried it wouldn’t be a good quality book since it was so cheap but it definitely has held up!" Read more

Customers find the book easy to read and good for all ages. They say it makes a beautiful gift for adults as well as children, and is imaginative and fun to read. Readers also mention that the book helps keep track of who's speaking and the acting is all very good.

"...A great read for any age (though, decidedly, written for children)." Read more

"My 11 year old daughter loves this series! Great birthday gift !" Read more

"...I would recommend for kids and adults alike . A nice little package with all the volumes in. Well done." Read more

"...This really helps keep track of who's speaking , and the acting is all very good...." Read more

Customers find the book beautifully read, with a refreshingly rich vocabulary. They also appreciate the expressiveness of the presenters, the perfect size and print, and the easy navigation. Customers also mention that the world is very complex and imaginative.

"...the seven novels themselves and their readability: Great books come from great writers who can not only are outstanding storytellers but also offer..." Read more

"...very good reading and I liked that the print was large enough and easy to read . You can really see how it relates to Christianity." Read more

"...Now I’m buying them for my grandson. The size of the books & print are perfect ...." Read more

"The book is well written ." Read more

Customers find the content in the book worthy, capturing the joy of faith and the beauty of life. They also say it's a simple and profound way to convey the message. Readers also mention that the book provides hope and wonderful magic. They find it particularly beneficial when dealing with difficult times.

"...case inseparable; the books come from the writer and are deep expressions of his humanity , his views on courage and sacrifice and honor, which are..." Read more

"These books are timeless, thoughtful and entertaining. I would recommend for kids and adults alike. A nice little package with all the volumes in...." Read more

"...of craft and listening to stories is exceedingly calming and inspiring . It's like having a friend who sits in your room reading to you." Read more

"...These books are particularly beneficial when dealing with these difficult times because Biblical Truth, and especially God's Love and Authority is..." Read more

Customers find the illustrations in the book numerous, well done, and easy on the eyes. They also appreciate the small pictures, cover artwork, and binding.

"...The pages themselves are thick and ALL the illustrations are in colour ...." Read more

"The set came with the lovely illustrations by Pauline Baynes that I was looking for...." Read more

"...BOOKS themselves ... they are beautiful, high end paper with all colored illustrations ...no slip covers ... just "naked" binding which is beautiful..." Read more

"...this edition--so long as you don't mind that not all of the illustrations are included ...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the book organization. Some mention that the books are sectioned in separate books, which makes it easier to keep together all the books. They also appreciate that they are chronologically organized, saying it's a pleasure to read the Chronicles in order. However, some customers feel the books were reorganized and dislike the new order.

"...from the pages of C.S. Lewis, word for word, unabridged, and so respectfully compiled ...." Read more

"...The order of the stories is incorrect if you want to read in the order they were written, there are a few other reviews that have the order & years..." Read more

"It was good to have all the books of the Chronicles of Narnia together." Read more

"...My only complaint is that the books are numbered in chronological order rather than publication order...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the completeness of the book. Some mention it's a handsome, affordable boxed edition that includes the original, magical illustrations by Pauline. They also appreciate the cool bookmark and trivia book. However, some say that it was missing book 3 and that the seller didn't inform them. They say the box was over-packaged and over-taped.

"...We began reading them yesterday and noticed that he is missing book number 3 ." Read more

"...the time to correct what is otherwise a handsome, affordable, boxed edition ...." Read more

"...It won't last. Poor packaging for shipping ." Read more

"...I had ordered it, however, instead of having all seven books, book 3 was missing and I got 2 copies of book 5 ( The Voyage of the Dawn Treader)..." Read more

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1934, stephen king, 1978, women in love, d.h. lawrence, 1920, the adventures of tom sawyer, mark twain, 1876, cold comfort farm, stella gibbons, 1932, jude the obscure, thomas hardy, 1895, the once and future king, t.h. white, 1958, the strange case of dr. jekyll and mr. hyde, robert louis stevenson, 1886, sinclair lewis, 1922, the complete sherlock holmes, arthur conan doyle, 1927, hermann hesse, 1922, a tale of two cities, charles dickens, 1859, kingsley amis, 1954, democracy in america, alexis de tocqueville, 1835, the charterhouse of parma, stendhal, 1839, samuel beckett, 1951, the good soldier svejk, jaroslav hašek, 1921, bonfire of the vanities, tom wolfe, 1987, the life of samuel johnson, james boswell, 1791, j.m. coetzee, 1999, american pastoral, philip roth, 1997, andré malraux, 1933, isaac asimov, 1951, oedipus at colonus, sophocles, 401bc, aeschylus, 458bc, if this is a man, primo levi, 1947, neuromancer, william gibson, 1984, the mayor of casterbridge, thomas hardy, 1886, the amazing adventures of kavalier and clay, michael chabon, 2000, jean paul sartre, 1938, confessions of zeno, italo svevo, 1923, the things they carried, tim o'brien, 1990, william shakespeare, 1605, go tell it on the mountain, james baldwin, 1953, giovanni's room, james baldwin, 1956, the murder of roger ackroyd, agatha christie, 1926, the counterfeiters, andré gide, 1925, a sentimental education, gustave flaubert, 1869, are you there god it's me, margaret, judy blume, 1970, sir walter scott, 1819, a.s. byatt, 1990, of human bondage, w. somerset maugham, 1915, the chronicles of narnia, anne of green gables, l.m. montgomery, 1908, the turn of the screw, henry james, 1898, the godfather, mario puzo, 1969, if on a winter's night a traveller, italo calvino, 1979, the adventures of oliver twist, charles dickens, 1837, twenty thousand leagues under the sea, jules verne, 1870, stranger in a strange land, robert a. heinlein, 1961, the left hand of darkness, ursula k. le guin, 1969, the wind-up bird chronicle, haruki murakami, 1994, brighton rock, graham greene, 1938, epic of gilgamesh, a prayer for owen meany, john irving, 1989, the haunting of hill house, shirley jackson, 1959, thus spake zarathustra, friedrich nietzsche, 1883, ivan goncharov, 1859, winesburg, ohio, sherwood anderson, 1919, the end of the affair, graham greene, 1951, jane austen, 1817, the sea, the sea, iris murdoch, 1978, the flowers of evil, charles baudelaire, 1857, the sorrows of young werther, johann wolfgang von goethe, 1774, a room with a view, e.m. forster, 1908, the stories of john cheever, john cheever, 1978, do androids dream of electric sheep, philip k. dick, 1968, invisible cities, italo calvino, 1972, the good earth, pearl s. buck, 1931, a season in hell, arthur rimbaud, 1873, at swim two-birds, flann o'brien, 1939, the moonstone, wilkie collins, 1868, pedro páramo, juan rulfo, 1955, marguerite duras, 1984, the joy luck club, amy tan, 1989, cormac mccarthy, 2006, knut hamsun, 1890, infinite jest, david foster wallace, 1996, jorge luis borges, 1962, white noise, don delillo, 1985, look homeward, angel, thomas wolfe, 1929, i, claudius, robert graves, 1934, the alchemist, paulo coelho, 1988, the tempest, memoirs of hadrian, marguerite yourcenar, 1951, the poems of robert frost, robert frost, 1913, the histories of herodotus, herodotus, 450bc, darkness at noon, arthur koestler, 1940, the confessions of jean-jacques rousseau, jean-jacques rousseau, 1782, mahabharata, vyasa, 400bc, children's and household tales, brothers grimm, 1812, a vindication of the rights of woman, mary wollstonecraft, 1792, the red badge of courage, stephen crane, 1895, djuna barnes, 1936, east of eden, john steinbeck, 1952, berlin alexanderplatz, alfred döblin, 1929, naked lunch, william s. burroughs, 1959, martin amis, 1984, a doll's house, henrik ibsen, 1879, finnegans wake, james joyce, 1939, out of africa, isak dinesen (karen blixen), 1937, the tartar steppe, dino buzzati, 1940, the old wives' tale, arnold bennett, 1908, the wonderful wizard of oz, l. frank baum, 1900, metamorphoses, the elements of style, e.b. white, william strunk jr., 1918, the mill on the floss, george eliot, 1860, speak, memory, vladimir nabokov, 1951, zorba the greek, nikos kazantzakis, 1946, a bend in the river, v.s. naipaul, 1979, a good man is hard to find, flannery o'connor, 1953, pippi longstocking, astrid lindgren, 1945, cry, the beloved country, alan paton, 1948, thomas hobbes, 1651, let us now praise famous men, james agee, 1941, e. l. doctorow, 1975, his dark materials, philip pullman, 1995, samuel richardson, 1748, blaise pascal, 1670, a suitable boy, vikram seth, 1993, albert einstein, 1916, sophie's choice, william styron, 1979, death of virgil, hermann broch, 1945, émile zola, 1885, the power and the glory, graham greene, 1940, the general theory of employment, interest and money, john maynard keynes, 1936, the last of the mohicans, james fenimore cooper, 1826, pilgrim's progress, john bunyan, 1678, the day of the locust, nathanael west, 1939, malone dies, homage to catalonia, george orwell, 1938, the complete works of plato, plato, 387bc, a dance to the music of time, anthony powell, 1951, a brief history of time, stephen hawking, 1988, le morte d'arthur, thomas malory, 1485, the secret garden, frances hodgson burnett, 1911, stories of ernest hemingway, ernest hemingway, 1987, rabbit redux, john updike, 1971, the daughter of time, josephine tey, 1951, the princess of cleves, madame de la fayette, 1678, ethan frome, edith wharton, 1911, zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance, robert m. pirsig, 1974, our mutual friend, charles dickens, 1864, the shipping news, annie proulx, 1993, the decline and fall of the roman empire, edward gibbon, 1776, i capture the castle, dodie smith, 1948, a christmas carol, charles dickens, 1843, the electric kool-aid acid test, tom wolfe, 1968, the bacchae, euripides, 405bc, 2001: a space odyssey, arthur c. clarke, 1968, black lamb and grey falcon, rebecca west, 1941, rabbit is rich, john updike, 1981, the crying of lot 49, thomas pynchon, 1966, virginia woolf, 1931, regeneration, pat barker, 1991, the feminine mystique, betty friedan, 1963, wings of the dove, henry james, 1902, the hunchback of notre-dame, victor hugo, 1831, a fine balance, rohinton mistry, 1995, the day of the jackal, frederick forsyth, 1971, the return of the native, thomas hardy, 1878, never let me go, kazuo ishiguro, 2005, the forsyte saga, john galsworthy, 1906, nights at the circus, angela carter, 1984, meditations, marcus aurelius, 161, the brief wondrous life of oscar wao, junot diaz, 2007, the poisonwood bible, barbara kingsolver, 1998, the rainbow, d.h. lawrence, 1915, kristin lavransdatter, sigrid undset, 1920, critique of pure reason, immanuel kant, 1781, bonjour tristesse, francoise sagan, 1954, so long, see you tomorrow, william maxwell, 1980, the civil war, shelby foote, 1958, murder on the orient express, agatha christie, 1934, the death of ivan ilyich, leo tolstoy, 1886, american psycho, bret easton ellis, 1991, through the looking glass, lewis carroll, 1871, witold gombrowicz, 1937, the thirty-nine steps, john buchan, 1915, das kapital, karl marx, 1867, the siege of krishnapur, j. g. farrell, 1973, art spiegelman, 1980, silas marner, george eliot, 1861, main street, sinclair lewis, 1920, the varieties of religious experience, william james, 1902, independent people, halldor laxness, 1934, schindler's list, thomas keneally, 1982, the french lieutenant's woman, john fowles, 1969, the phantom tollbooth, norton juster, 1961, the vicar of wakefield, oliver goldsmith, 1766, the private memoirs and confessions of a justified sinner, james hogg, 1824, sister carrie, theodore dreiser, 1900, don delillo, 1997, play it as it lays, joan didion, 1970, patrick süskind, 1985, where the wild things are, maurice sendak, 1963, the death of the heart, elizabeth bowen, 1938, the affluent society, john kenneth galbraith, 1958, notes from the underground, fyodor dostoevsky, 1864, the wealth of nations, adam smith, 1776, collected poems, wallace stevens, 1954, eugene onegin, alexander pushkin, 1833, a streetcar named desire, tennessee williams, 1947, waiting for the barbarians, j.m. coetzee, 1980, the golden bowl, henry james, 1904, the education of henry adams, henry adams, 1907, far from the madding crowd, thomas hardy, 1874, a hero of our time, mikhail lermontov, 1840, stanislaw lem, 1961, the man who loved children, christina stead, 1940, crash: a novel, j. g. ballard, 1973, james joyce, 1914, life and fate, vasily grossman, 1980, sophocles, 409bc, the autobiography of alice b. toklas, gertrude stein, 1933, marilynne robinson, 2004, moll flanders, daniel defoe, 1722, jeffrey eugenides, 2002, the alexandria quartet, lawrence durrell, 1957, black beauty, anna sewell, 1877, harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban, j.k. rowling, 1999, cloud atlas, david mitchell, 2004, the glass bead game, hermann hesse, 1943, life, a user's manual, georges perec, 1978, the savage detectives, roberto bolaño, 1998, john fowles, 1965, philosophical investigations, ludwig wittgenstein, 1953, the cherry orchard, anton chekhov, 1904, yevgeny zamyatin, 1924, the bluest eye, toni morrison, 1970, call it sleep, henry roth, 1934, the secret agent, joseph conrad, 1907, death in venice, thomas mann, 1912, the postman always rings twice, james m. cain, 1934, confucius, 479bc, the third policeman, flann o'brien, 1967, octavia e. butler, 1979, w.g. sebald, 2001, red harvest, dashiell hammett, 1929, ada or ardor, vladimir nabokov, 1969, nine stories, j.d. salinger, 1953, the fountainhead, ayn rand, 1943, the unnamable, samuel beckett, 1953, george eliot, 1859, henryk sienkiewicz, 1896, the right stuff, tom wolfe, 1979, breakfast at tiffany's, truman capote, 1958, rabbit at rest, john updike, 1990, the art of war, sun tzu, 475bc, the way we live now, anthony trollope, 1875, the english patient, michael ondaatje, 1992, the naked and the dead, norman mailer, 1948, the betrothed, alessandro manzoni, 1827, the souls of black folk, w.e.b. du bois, 1903, the book of disquiet, fernando pessoa, 1982, the thorn birds, colleen mccullough, 1977, prometheus bound, aeschylus, 479bc, season of migration to the north, al-tayyib salih, 1966, flannery o'connor, 1952, the house of the seven gables, nathaniel hawthorne, 1851, roberto bolaño, 2004, the federalist papers, alexander hamilton, james madison, john jay, 1787, journey to the west, wu cheng'en, 1592, de rerum natura, lucretius, 55, cousin bette, honoré de balzac, 1846, harry potter and the goblet of fire, j.k. rowling, 2000, charlie and the chocolate factory, roald dahl, 1964, the sheltering sky, paul bowles, 1949, the sonnets, william shakespeare, 1609, the nicomachean ethics, aristotle, 340bc, tinker, tailor, soldier, spy, john le carré, 1974, alan moore, 1987, effi briest, theodor fontane, 1895.

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Aslan (disambiguation)

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• The version from the Walden-Disney-Fox movies, Aslan .
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More From Forbes

30 great fantasy novels and book series when you want to escape.

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N.K. Jemisin, author of the acclaimed "Broken Earth" series, one of the best fantasy sagas.

Fantasy books offer an escape from everyday life, combining elements of magic, excitement and adventure that make readers’ pulses pound. Whether the main character heads off on a quest to save their civilization or is forced to confront a terrifying truth about their own powers, fantasy novels always explore larger themes that resonate in our own magic-free world as well. Fantasy book series keep the intrigue going with multiple volumes, giving readers a chance to immerse themselves in another dimension. Indeed, world building is an incredibly important part of fantasy—creating a world with its own history and traditions that propel readers into another time and place. This list of best fantasy books and series compiles classics and newer, innovative works that have made a big impact in a short time.

Top Fantasy Books

Fantasy novels include anything set in an imaginary world, which often exhibits elements of magic. While some fantasies use real locations, they are somehow changed from real life. Some fantasies take place in the past, while others are set in the future.

Some popular fantasy series include C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia , J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series remains popular more than two decades after its first release.

30. Between Earth and Sky series by Rebecca Roanhorse (2020-2024)

Told in flashbacks from multiple points of view, Between Earth and Sky takes place in a kingdom where magic was banned following a devastating war. When Captain Xiala is commissioned to move the blinded Carrion Crow Serapio, her crew revolts after discovering her magical powers. A war then breaks out between the citizens.

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Roanhorse’s queer-centering novel explores themes of colonization. It received positive views and will be adapted for TV. The series is best for anyone looking for fantasy books focused on non-white characters. Rebecca Roanhorse’s Between Earth and Sky is available from publisher Simon & Schuster .

29. Woven in Moonlight series by Isabel Ibañez (2020)

Isabel Ibañez draws on Bolivian history and mythology for a series about a ruined civilization. Ximena is the decoy stand-in for Inkasisa’s last remaining royal, but she can only think about how much she wants revenge. Could pretending to marry usurper Atoc be the answer she needs?

The first book earned a spot on Time ’s top 100 fantasy books of all time. This is best for those who love fantasy steeped in mythology. Isabel Ibañez ’s Woven in Moonlight series is available from publisher Macmillan .

28. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor (2015-2019)

When math genius Binti has the chance to study at the prestigious Oomza University, she and her family are thrilled. But on the way there, her spaceship is attacked, and she is the only one to survive. Now she must make it through the remaining trip with her attackers still on board.

The first book in the series won the prestigious Hugo and Nebula awards, and a TV adaptation is in the works. This book is best for those interested in African history. Nnedi Okorafor ’s Binti is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

27. An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir

Laia, whose family is looked down upon in the Martial Empire caste system, becomes a rebel spy in order to save her brother, who has been taken hostage by the ruling party. The first book is told in alternating first-person narratives by Laia and Elias, who’s also been punished by the brutal regime.

The bestselling series earned good reviews, and the first book made Time ’s list of 100 all-time best fantasy novels. The book is best for those looking for a young adult fantasy read. Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes series is available from Penguin Random House .

26. The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis (1950-1956)

One of the most famous children’s series of all time, C.S. Lewis’s saga begins with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , a none-too-subtle Christian retelling of Jesus’s crucifixion. Thus begins the adventures in Narnia, a magical land with talking animals, witches and the occasional visiting human.

The seven books have sparked many TV and fantasy film adaptations, and they remain solid sellers more than 70 years after publication. This series is best for people looking for an introduction to fantasy. C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia series is available from publisher HarperCollins .

"The Chronicles of Narnia" has been the subject of many TV and film adaptations, making it among the ... [+] most beloved fantasy series.

25. The Magicians series by Lev Grossman (2009-present)

When an average high school senior is accepted into the country’s foremost college for magic, his life changes. He eventually learns that a fantasy book series he loved in his youth is real, and he encounters some intense adventures there that lead him on a new path.

The Magicians combines world building and fantastical storytelling. Grossman has cited T.H. White’s The Once and Future King (also on this list) as a major influence, and the New York Times dubbed the book Harry Potter for adults. This book is best for Potter fans looking for something more mature. Lev Grossman’s The Magicians is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

24. Circe by Madeline Miller (2018)

Raised as a witch by an indifferent divine family who write off her gifts because they deem her ugly, Circe is exiled after she uses her power in a way that threatens the gods. She encounters many traditional Greek heroes in this book that draws heavily on mythology, including her lover, Odysseus.

Miller’s impressive prose and creativity in retelling ancient stories turned this book into an instant critical favorite. It made the shortlist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. This book is best for mythology fans. Madeline Miller ’s Circe is available from publisher Hachette .

23. Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1915)

This is probably the most obscure book on the list, yet it’s worthy. Charlotte Perkins Gilman is better known for The Yellow Wallpaper , but this fantasy about a feminist utopia is equally compelling. In this women-only society, reproduction is achieve asexually, and they live in peace until men appear on the scene.

Herland was initially published as a serialized novel in a magazine Perkins Gilman edited. The book is best for those who enjoy utopian novels. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Herland is available from publisher Dover Publications .

22. Cypher series by Daniel José Older (2015-2020)

This book is set in Brooklyn, but it’s not the one you’re used to. In this Brooklyn, zombies crash parties and graffiti murals cry real tears. Teen Sierra gets sucked into a plot by a Shadowshaper named Wick to eliminate his competition, and only she can thwart his plan.

The series has earned universally glowing reviews from readers. This series is best for those who like their fantasy with an edge of realism. Daniel José Older’s Cypher series is available from publisher Scholastic .

21. Shadow and Bone series by Leigh Bardugo (2012-2014)

Israeli author Leigh Bardugo created a phenomenon with the Shadow and Bone series. The young adult series kicks off with teenage orphan Alina Starkov suddenly discovering her untapped powers, which immediately put her at risk of violence from others. It features excellent world building and relatable teenage angst.

The series is popular on Booktok, and it spawned a Netflix series that recently finished its run. This series is best for those who enjoy immersing themselves in another world. Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series is available from publisher Macmillan .

Leigh Bardugo attends Netflix's "Shadow And Bone" season two premiere at TUDUM Theater.

20. The Once & Future King series by T.H. White (1938-1958)

The first of two Arthurian fantasy works on the list, this historical novel recounts the legend of King Arthur, beginning with the sword in the stone and going through the final days of his reign and his fraught relationship with his son, Mordred. White changes some of the traditional details but stays true to others.

The book was the inspiration for Disney’s popular animated film The Sword in the Stone . It also prompted the musical adaptation Camelot . The book series is best for monarchy lovers. T.H. White’s The Once & Future King series is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

19. Earthsea Cycle series by Ursula K. Le Guin (1968-2001)

Imagine a world of islands where much of the land is uncharted, and magic is a part of daily life. Ursula K. Le Guin created a world filled with diverse people with different complexions—a departure from most traditional fantasy to that point, where the default was white characters.

You can’t make a list of best fantasy books without Ursula K. Le Guin, one of the most revered fantasy writers of all time. The series won a slew of awards, including a Newbery Honor. The book is best for young readers starting their fantasy journey. Ursula K. Le Guin ’s Earthsea Cycle is available from publisher HarperCollins .

18. Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie (1990)

A 12-year-old boy named Haroun goes on a quest to heal the sea of stories, which proffers the power of storytelling. While this is a children’s book, author Salman Rushdie ’s sophisticated approach makes it just as readable for adults, even with the magical animals.

The critically lauded Haroun and the Sea of Stories spawned a sequel, Luka and the Fire of Life , about Haroun’s brother. Salman Rushdie’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

17. Dark Star series by Marlon James (2019-present)

Author Marlon James tells the story of a young boy’s capture and death with an intriguing twist. Each volume in the trilogy tells the story from a different point of view, and along the way a clearer picture of what happened emerges. James also weaves African history and mythology into the books.

The first two books became bestsellers, and first book Black Leopard, Red Wolf was a finalist for the National Book Award. The series is best for those interested in learning more about African history or who love creative storytelling. Marlon James’ Dark Star series is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

16. A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas (2015-present)

Sarah J. Maas has become one of the hottest authors around thanks in part to Booktok. A Court of Thorns and Roses begins with Feyre Archeron’s forced arrival in Prythian, a faerie land, after she kills a wolf. Tamlin, her captor, teaches her that the things she’s learned about faeries are wrong.

Considered a young adult series, Thorns and Roses books have earned spots on best-of year-end lists from Bustle, Buzzfeed, Business Insider and more. It is best for fans of Beauty and the Beast-type fairy tales. Sarah J. Maas ’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series is available from publisher Bloomsbury .

Author Sarah J. Maas, who wrote one of the best fantasy series, appears on "The Kelly Clarkson ... [+] Show."

15. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007)

This action-packed book tells the story of the world’s most notorious wizard and how he came to use his gifts. Kvothe grows up as an orphan in an unforgiving city, and he somehow gets into a legendary wizarding school only to become a fugitive.

The book gets very strong positive reader reaction on GoodReads, Amazon and Google. It is the first book in the Kingkiller Chronicle , and it earned a spot on Publishers Weekly’s best books of the year list. This book is best for those who love books about wizards. Patrick Rothfuss ’s The Name of the Wind is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

14. His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman (1995-2000)

One of the most popular young adult fantasy series of recent years, the trilogy begins with The Golden Compass and functions as a retelling of John Milton’s Paradise Lost . It interrogates the notion of original sin while sending characters through parallel universes.

Pullman won the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Book of the Year. The trilogy became a successful HBO miniseries as well. Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

13. The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson (1990-2013)

Robert Jordan originally envisioned this as a six-book series, but the high fantasy saga eventually ballooned to 14. The Hugo-nominated series focuses on a world where the Wheel of Time maintains the cosmic order, which is threatened by the reappearance of the evil Dark One.

Jordan passed away in 2007 while working on the 12 th book. Working off the notes Jordan left, Sanderson completed the final three books. This series is best for those invested in high-stakes world building. Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson ’s The Wheel of Time series is available from publisher Macmillan .

12. The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (2016)

Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro creates a post-Arthurian world in which memories have become fleeting—literally. People’s long-term memories go on the fritz, and an elderly couple who think they may have had a son decide to go looking for him.

The Nobel Prize-winning author’s foray into fantasy received generally solid reviews, and it was published in five languages. It is best for anyone who wonders what happened after Arthur and the knights of the round table. Kazuo Ishiguro ’s The Buried Giant is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

11. My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola (1954)

When a young West African boy flees a slave trader, he plunges into the bush, where he is pursued not just by his would-be captors but also by a slew of ghosts and spirits who terrify the young man. The book, often compared to a Grimm’s fairy tale, has a surreal edge.

It became a pop culture touchpoint, and musicians David Byrne and Brian Eno named their 1981 album after the book, which made Time ’s list of 100 greatest fantasy novels. This book is best for those who enjoy dark fairy tales. Amos Tutuola’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts is available from British publisher Faber and Faber .

10. Legends of the Condor Heroes series by Jin Yong (2019)

Already a sensation in China, Jin Yong’s series about the quest to become the ultimate kung fu master became an instant American hit. The book is set in ancient China, where Guo Jin seeks assistance from Genghis Khan to avenge his father’s murder. He trains for a showdown in the Garden of the Drunken Immortals.

Translated by Anna Holmwood, the book series was originally published as a serial in Hong Kong from 1957-1959. Jong (which is a pen name) later revised the books in the 2000s before they were published in the U.S. This series is best for fans of martial arts movies . Jin Yong’s Legends of the Condor Heroes series is available from publisher Macmillan .

9. A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin (1996-current)

You may not know it by the Fire and Ice moniker, but you definitely know of George R.R. Martin’s high fantasy series, which begins with a little book called Game of Thrones . The series will eventually consist of seven novels, but only five have been published so far, the most recent in 2011.

It follows the charged battle for power in the nations of Westeros and Essos, and it explores themes of morality vs. violence, loyalty and pride. Martin draws on real historical events, like the War of the Roses, for inspiration. He has won literary prizes like the Locus Award for the novels, which of course inspired HBO’s smash Game of Thrones . The series is best for fans of the show or Lord of the Rings lovers. George R.R. Martin ’s A Song of Fire and Ice series is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

George R.R. Martin speaks onstage at the "House of the Dragon" panel during 2022 Comic Con ... [+] International.

8. The Changeling by Victor LaValle (2017)

It’s certainly no coincidence that this dark book came out after Donald Trump’s rise to political prominence. Victor LaValle reinterprets the classic fairy tale for the modern age, focusing on two new parents whose lives suddenly fall apart—and the quest to save love and a seemingly doomed marriage.

LaValle’s novel earned a spot on Time ’s and USA Today ’s top 10 of the year. This book is best for those who love fairy tale retellings. Victor LaValle ’s The Changeling is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

7. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2012)

Le Cirque des Rêves is a nighttime circus that arrives suddenly, and it’s the place where Celia and Marco fall in love. Unfortunately, the two performing magicians are also involved in a nightly competition, and neither knows that only one of them can win. They may just take down circusgoers and other performers with them.

The Night Circus became a New York Times bestseller, receiving glowing reviews and earning a place among the best romantic fantasy books. This book is best for romantasy devotees. Erin Morgenstern 's The Night Circus is available from publisher Penguin Random House .

6. The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937-1950)

The best-known high fantasy series of all time, the Lord of the Rings series has sold more than 150 million books and is one of the top-selling series of all time. J.R.R. Tolkien wrote it as a sequel to The Hobbit , and it follows several hobbits on a quest to destroy the One Ring.

Wizard Gandalf, brave Aragorn and Boromir, elf Legolas and dwarf Gimli aid on the quest as the hobbits are pursued by the evil Sauron, a Dark Lord trying to reign over Middle Earth. The books became a top-grossing, Oscar-winning movie trilogy as well. This series is best for anyone interested in high fantasy. J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series is available from publisher HarperCollins .

5. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865)

When Alice follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole (just one of the expressions credited to Carroll), she emerges in Wonderland, where everything inspires awe but nothing is as it seems. Alice faces trial after trial as she attempts to find the rabbit and then escape from the not-so-wonderful land.

Carroll delivered clever social commentary through a book ostensibly meant for children—despite sophisticated messaging. Disney turned the book into a popular animated film in 1951 and a quirkier live-action version in 2010. This book is best for those who revel in absurdity. Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is available from publisher Simon & Schuster .

4. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz series by L. Frank Baum (1900-1920)

The wonderfully weird Wizard of Oz series begins with a girl named Dorothy Gale, who is accidentally whisked to a faraway fantasyland after a fight with her family. Her adventures with Oz residents help her realize there’s “no place like home”—but the book series goes on for 13 more volumes.

The books bring to life magical characters who we never even meet in the popular 1939 film, such as The Soldier With the Green Whiskers, Patchwork Girl and Woggle-Bug. They are truly a delight of imagination and writing. This series is best for anyone who loved the movie Wizard of Oz and wants more. Frank Baum’s Oz series is available from publisher HarperCollins .

3. Watership Down by Richard Adams

Author Richard Adams has long claimed he wrote his acclaimed story of anthropomorphized rabbits forced out of their longtime warren in search of a new home not as a parable or allegory but as a story for his daughters. Still, it’s impossible to miss the greater themes in this Carnegie Medal- and Guardian Prize-winning book.

In addition to garnering critical acclaim, the bestselling book about exile and survival has also prompted multimedia adaptations, including an animated movie and a TV show. This book is best for children and teens just delving into fantasy. Richard Adams ’ Watership Down is available from publisher Simon & Schuster .

"To achieve what you believed impossible, that is deeply, deeply satisfying," said Richard Adams, ... [+] the civil servant whose first book, "Watership Down," changed his life.

2. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (1997-2007)

J.K. Rowling’s storytelling abilities are without peer. From the moment Hagrid swoops in to rescue Harry Potter from his tedious muggle life to the series’ final confrontation with Voldemort, she keeps readers on the edge of their seats awaiting the exciting conclusion. The Christ story parallels are unmistakable, but the writing never feels stale.

Rowling’s politics have justifiably brought her more attention in recent years than her creativity. But Harry Potter remains the bestselling series of all time and inspired a hugely successful movie franchise as well. This book is best for reluctant readers and adults who have somehow avoided reading the books. J.K. Rowling ’s Harry Potter series is available from publisher Scholastic Press .

1. Broken Earth series by N.K. Jemisin (2015-2017)

N.K. Jemisin’s unrivaled prose puts her atop the list for her trilogy beginning with the beautifully rendered Hugo Award-winning opener, The Fifth Season . It tells the story of a girl, a young woman and a desperate mother navigating life in a volatile world torn apart by geographic catastrophes.

Jemisin uses fantasy and metaphor to explore the issues of prejudice and oppression. She tackles big issues while also telling a compelling story in an impressive feat of world building. This book is best for fans of science fiction and fantasy. N.K. Jemisin ’s Broken Earth trilogy is available from publisher Hachette Book Group .

Bottom Line

Fantasy has something for everyone of any taste. You can find epic quests, dark love stories, young adult coming-of-age tales and mythology cleverly updated for a modern age. Choose from a single book or immerse yourself in a long series. Whatever you pick, you will enjoy it!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are fantasy genres.

There are many subgenres of fantasy, which appeal to different readers. They include: 

Romantasy : Romantic fantasy that centers the finding or preservation of love.

Historical fantasy : Fantasy that takes place in the past.

Dark fantasy : Fantasy with goth or horror elements. 

High fantasy : Epic fantasy set in a world other than the Earth we know. 

Low fantasy : Fantasy that occurs in our otherwise normal world. 

Folkloric fantasy : Fantasy rooted in folklore.

What Are The Best Romance Fantasy Novels?

Romance fantasy novels center on an often thwarted, forbidden or otherwise doomed romance between two of the main characters. The passion and frustration often play out over multiple volumes in an exciting “will they or won’t they” dance. Some of the best fantasy romance novels include: 

House of Marionne series (2023-present) by J. Elle, about a teen named Quell who joins a mysterious magical society to protect her from her past and just may find her true love. 

The Ending Fire trilogy (2022-2024) by Saara El-Arifi, about a trio of young people who come together to fight for their new empire and a slow-burn romance between two of them. 

Fourth Wing series (2023-present) by Rebecca Yarros, where romance blooms at a college for dragon riders. 

What Are The Best Adult Fantasy Books?

A large portion of fantasy is written for children and teens, though adults can still read and get a lot out of them. Still, sometimes you want a book written for adults with steamier romance and heavier themes. The best adult fantasy books include: 

The Poppy War series (2018-2022) by R.F. Kuang, a military fantasy inspired by China’s recent history.

The Roots of Chaos series (2019-2023) by Samantha Shannon, about a queen who must produce an heir while she tries to avoid assassins. 

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020) by Victoria Schwab, about a woman granted eternal life and all the complications it brings. 

What Are The Best Dark Fantasy Books?

Dark fantasy incorporates elements of horror to take on a darker bent. Stories of dark academia and gothic tales fit under this header, often with a dystopian element . Some of the best dark fantasy books include: 

The First Law   series (2006-2008) by Joe Abercrombie, each one inspired by a famous literary quote. 

The Black Jewels series (1998-2000) by Anne Bishop, about the rise of a new queen and the dark powers who try to influence her.

Dark Tower series (1982-2012) by Stephen King, about a gunslinger searching (both metaphorically and actually) for a tower.

What Are The Best High Fantasy Books?

High fantasy takes place in another world and often involves an epic quest. They can include many characters and involve great world building. Some of the best high fantasy books include: 

Children of Blood and Bone (2018-2024) series by Tomi Adeyemi, based on African folklore and following a young woman with great untapped powers.

We Shall Be Monsters (2024) by Tara Sim, which deliciously blends the story of Frankenstein with Indian mythology. 

The Folk of the Air   series (2018-present) by Holly Black, about a human and a faerie who fall in love. 

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