The Silver Chair (The Chronicles of Narnia, #6) (Narnia)

by C. S. Lewis

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

Eustance from Voyage of the Dawn Treader returns to Narnia with his friend Jill rescuing King Caspian's lost son. But in Narnia fashion we make a few stops along the way.

Firstly, the beginning of this book is depressing (after Eustance and Jill awesomely escape the bullies at school). Anyway... it is sad because much time has passed in the land of Narnia and King Caspian is old and pruny. Thus, time is of the essence to bring back his missing son, Prince Rilian. So after having a meeting with the owls which was totally "the day the teddy bears have their picnic" Eustance, Jill and their guide Puddlegum, a Marsh-Wiggle start on their supposed lost cause task going on their somewhat merry way. After that sentence one would think, why bother? Its a fool's mission, but Aslan would never give a Son of Adam or Daughter of Eve a task that could not be completed.

Like Dorothy and her motley crew they begin their journey and enter into "Gentle Giant Land" which isn't true at all and has a Hansel and Gretel feel to it, remember Hansel sticking a bone through the bars? I must say, I really enjoyed how C.S. Lewis portrayed the so called Gentle Giants because even though I was "oh come on, are the kids to naive to see they are been taken in?" it was done in a very educated manner and had a regal atmosphere to it. So the Underworld which is obviously meant to be hell is discovered and the evil Green Lady is holding captive said Prince and doing electric shock treatment -- in a silver chair. Once again we go all Wizard of Oz with Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow braking down a door to save the helpless girl in blue checks. Father and Son reunite.

The Underworld is a deep dark place (as it should be) and was a vividly described place and could almost feel the dark clouds moving in. This installment in the series is gallant, brave and at times had me smiling no matter how stupid I thought the characters were being. Seriously, this adventure was purely due to stupidity, but I loved it. True, The Silver Chair was a little predictable, I won't lie there, but it was the journey that made me continue on even though I thought the ending was clear. That is what a good author does, having the reader begging for more.