The Iron Ring

I credit The Iron Ring as being the novel that really started my absolute love of books. Now, I had always loved to read, and I read voraciously from the time I learned how, but when I read The Iron Ring at about age 9, I didn't just set it aside like I did with my books before. I set that thing on a shelf because it was absolutely precious to me. It was, at the time, the biggest book I had read and I had never felt so drawn in to a book before. I remember realizing how much I liked seeing that book on my shelf, and that I needed to add more as soon as possible. And now I'm one of those people with books on every single flat surface of my house, haha. I can't wait to share this one with my children someday.

With a hero like King Arthur it's no wonder Lloyd Alexander writes about a young king's adventures. The Iron Ring is one of the many beautifully written stories. Tamar, the young king of Sundari, journeys to many places. Tamar faces death and wonder around every corner. When he plays a game like dice, he does not know how far the stakes will go. He loses his caste and honor, while realizing the world sees a lot of violence and he is just as important as anybody else. He learned much about the lives of other creatures. This is a good story about a king who learns much. This is an outstandingly written novel. I liked every part of the story. There is heart pounding adventure and romance in it. When Tamar is hit in the head with a mace your heart is pounding. Did he live? Did he fulfill his task? It's also full of romance. Does Mirri the gopi, a cow maiden, choose Tamar. It's also full of action; there are many battle scenes. Out of ten this would definitely be a ten plus. I would recommend this book to any body. Overall, the life of a young king and his adventures are very attention-grabbing. This is a book that all would enjoy.

The Iron Ring is all out my favorite book. I used to not like to read do to the fact that in school I am forced to read books that I have no interest in. But one day I picked up a book in the schools Library and read the back. I was immediately hooked so I took it home and started reading. My parents thought something was wrong with me but as Lloyd Alexander put it: "Fantasy is hardly an escape from reality. It's a way of understanding it." Now I love to read again and I am always waiting for more Alexander books to pick up. If you don't like to read I suggest you pick up this book and you will love it. Thank you Lloyd for inspiring me and making reading fun.

This was a GREAT BOOK which I would recommend to anyone who Loves to read books by Lloyd Alexander. This book was exciting. It had it: war, treachery, magic, and of course love. This book was not too graphic or gory in its battle scenes and was just right in its magic parts which even included a talking monkey. Of course Lloyd Alexander spiced it up with a surprise ending. I would highly RECOMMEND this book! It is both very funny and very exciting.If you like Lloyd Alexander, this book is definitly for you. If you want to be sitting down for a while, get this book and find somewhere comfy to read because you won't be able to put it down.

This book is wonderful. The enchanting story of a young king, bound by honor and on a quest, will have you riveted to your seat. If Tamar can complete his journey, he will regain his kingdom. If he does not, he will lose everything. Can he make it without becoming forever disgraced? Only those who read it will know. With its mystical storyline and endearing, interesting characters, this book is one of Alexander's best works.

Lloyd Alexander, well-known among children and adults alike, has ventured into a complex mythology that not many others attempt to enter, the mythology of India. As with Welsh and Chinese mythology, Alexander makes this his own. The adventure begins with a dream sequence (that wasn't a dream sequence--or was it?) in which the young King of Sundari, Tamar, gambles his life away to an insane king from the far north. When he awakes, no one remembers the previous night's events except him. But on his finger, there is still the fateful iron ring that binds his life to the mysterious maharajah. Driven by his sense of dharma, or honor, he sets out on a journey. Along with Hashket, King of the Monkeys, the beautiful gopi Mirri, Tamar's wise instructor Rajaswami, and a colorful assortment of other sensible friends, Tamar sets out to find if his life is still his own. Along the way, the young king finds out more about himself and the cruelty of violence, caste, and loss than he ever bargained for. Although all of Lloyd Alexander's works are good, many complain that this is not up to par with his previous novels "The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen" and "The Arkadians." I highly disagree, and by the time you read the last sentence of page 282, I think you will be much inclined to disagree also.