Before J.K. Rowling or J.R.R. Tolkien, The Chronicles of Prydain, like for many a Millennial, was my true gateway series into the fantasy genre. This Welsh-inspired fable has a lot to offer and was my first impression of how a fantasy series narrative could be structured. However, I found myself asking if it could still hold up now that I am an adult, and the answer is - sort of, mostly, kinda.

There is a lot I still like about the series, such as the well rounded world-building, and hilarious cast of characters. Ultimately, the series stresses the merit of kindness, compassion, and the power of unlikely friendships. It places the real importance of team work over the myth of the rugged individual. These factors keep the material relevant.

The one character I enjoyed most for childhood nostalgia purposes was the weirdo Gurgi with his desire for "crunchings and munchings," a phrase I probably beat to death with the carcass of a dead horse as a child. But this man-dog character is just the standout of a cast of misfit toys who have something slightly off, but qualities that still make them valuable and endearing if given the chance.

When it comes down to it though, the plot is fairly predictable, and not just because I read it once when I was 9-years-old. While I liked that things go "wrong" for the main cast, in the end things miraculously line up and go right in an unrealistic, Mary Sue, kind of way.

This series is definitely still worth reading, especially if you want to impress on a child the importance of compassion over might. It also lays the groundwork for better things to come...