If you love the Narnia universe you will almost-love this book. The main character Shasta isn't nearly as compelling as the 4 children of Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe or Prince Caspian himself and C.S. Lewis's plotting, normally straight and true as an arrow wanders \here and doesn't always make sense. He also, about once too many, introduces characters that seem important and the story doesn't do much with. Be that as it may, if you are reading the entire Chronicles of Narnia in one sweep, this might be a rest stop and not a highlight of the trip. But I'm not sad I took it.