Preview
  • The High King

  • The Prydain Chronicles, Book 5
  • By: Lloyd Alexander
  • Narrated by: James Langton
  • Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,028 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The High King

By: Lloyd Alexander
Narrated by: James Langton
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.60

Buy for $19.60

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The Sword of Dyrnwyn, the most powerful weapon in the kingdom of Prydain, has fallen into the hands of Arawn-Death-Lord. Now Taran, Assistant Pig-Keeper, and Price Gwydion lead an army against the powerful lord. After a winter expedition filled with danger, Taran's forces arrive at Mount Dragon, evil's stronghold. There Tara is forced to make the most crucial decisions of his life as he confronts the evil enchantress Achren and the diabolical Arawn.

©1968 Lloyd Alexander (P)2005 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The High King

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    859
  • 4 Stars
    134
  • 3 Stars
    28
  • 2 Stars
    5
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    728
  • 4 Stars
    91
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    730
  • 4 Stars
    86
  • 3 Stars
    21
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I do love this series!

I love this series. It's so many things I love all at once! It's fantasy and adventure and a coming of age tale and a morality tale and many more magical and wondrous things!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A perfect ending to the series!

It is sad to say goodbye to Taran, Eilowany, Gurgi, and the rest of the companions. But it was a very happy ending to their story and the beginning of their next journeys.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The “Harry Potter” of my childhood

I adored these books as a child, and shared them with my children who loved them as well. A simpler and possibly more accessible story than the amazing HP series for younger readers, the Chronicles of Prydain are still as rich and wonderful as they were 50 years ago. I loved hearing them read to me in this series, as much as I loved hearing my dear 4th grade teacher read them to my class so many years ago.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best in the series!

This is by far the best in the series, although, it's hard to say that to some degree because they all wonderful. This is, in my opinion, the best fantasy series ever written. This is my first time listening to it instead of reading it, and I have to say the narration is wonderful, and all of the characters just come to life with him. I thoroughly enjoyed the series and this is the best way to end it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Destiny

Great ending for Taran and his companions. Taran's arc and growth come to a perfect end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent classic children’s fantasy

I finished The Chronicles of Prydain yesterday. They are like formal fantasy plays for children, going through the right motions and using the right symbols throughout the stories. The author accomplished this in a clean and simple way, and took his time to explain many of the metaphors for younger (and older) minds. He was very clear with his life lessons too, especially about showing forgiveness and kindness to flawed individuals, and taking responsibility for your own actions and choices. You could say the story is unoriginal or even a knock off, but I think that he just used a template very well, and that he didn’t try to obfuscate or dress up his message.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Among Best Books EVER! H. Potter fans will love!

I highly recommend all the Chronicles of Prydain and especially this 5th and final book om the series, The High King. The High King won the Newberry Award for Children's Literature and is an amazing book full of great adventures, well drawn lovable characters, and profound life lessons. Lloyd Alexander creates the world of Prydain loosely based on Welsh mythology. This is the 5th book in the Chronicles of Prydain, and I recommend reading them in order. The last chapter is truly amazing. Taran learns that everyone is a hero who strives more for others than for himself! Excellent! For those who have listened to Harry Potter, James Langton does as good a job as Jim Dale. It was wonderful to listen to him bring Taran and his friends to life. This is a book written for YA readers (middle school and late elementary) but high schoolers and adults will take much from it also. Do yourself a favor--read these books and give them as gifts to all young people you know.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

As good as or better than Tolkien or Lewis.

lloyd Alexander is magical. I absolutely love this magical series. the narrator is particularly good.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A story among the greatest.

This story, now holds, an equal place in my heart as The Lord of The Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

High Fantasy Epic of the Highest Order

I'm rating this one up there with Lord of the Rings, Wheel of time , Companions of the Hall, etc. Great literary art from a master storyteller and the Narrator was par excellence . An overall thoroughly enjoyable romp through the wondrous realm of Prydain. Gobbled this up with many crunchings and munchings! Yes! Koindly Mastah

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful