This one starts off like: An ape, a donkey, and a scraggly lion walk into a…

No, actually, it’s all dark caves and evil schemers, and the donkey is actually dressed up as a lion—but honestly, this deception can’t last forever.

***Some general spoilers ahead…***

An infiltrator impersonates a messenger of Aslan, but it’s obvious to those who know the great lion—untamed as he is—that this imposter cannot be a messenger of the noble king. Jill and Eustace return to Narnia to help the few who have not been blinded to fight back the intruder and reinstate the freedoms and peace once enjoyed under Aslan.

The deceiver tells lies to all—and even some fearful Narnians believe him—but a faithful few continue to remind everyone that Aslan is kind, to remind them who he truly is, and that he is nothing like this vile deceiver. The ensuing battle is fierce and bloody and many are lost in the fray, but peace and truth win and all are made free as the imposter is eventually defeated.

I’m glad it was Eustace and Jill again for the most part in this story. Diggory, Aunt Polly, Edmund and Peter get cameos, and all the old animal friends are there at the end. Finally, when Lucy reaches the beautiful expansive gardens of Narnia, and is reunited with Aslan, she sees Narnia and her home beneath the clouds blend into one….and it is a bittersweet ending. In fact, this whole novel is laced with bittersweet…

This is a timeless fantasy adventure, though written over half a century ago that still vibrates with terror and confusion and bittersweet victory. Bittersweet as we remember the gentle strength of Susan at the very start of these adventures, and see now how she’s been lost to so-called ‘adult’ things, losing her faith—losing the innocence and joy of her childhood altogether.

But even the enemies in this final battle are given the chance to see the imposter for what he is and turn away—and enjoy the splendour and peace of Narnia together with the Narnians they’d previously fought and killed. And they turn to peace and leave their struggle behind, choosing love and freedom.

The White Witch could never do that—she was truly the most vile of all Lewis’ evil characters; her heart was incapable of changing, so hardened it was against truth and love, so seized by her own grasp at power. Man, my students used to say I look like her… what a compliment … o.O … XD

**As it was written so long ago, the series uses dated language and terms that have since had their meaning altered by social structures and globalisation, but nothing that can’t be understood by a ten year old with a guiding adult, a decent grasp of common sense, and a general knowledge of history.