The Chronicles of Prydain #2: The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander

My name is Princess Eilonwy, and I can't believe that Assistant Pig-Keeper Taran tried to keep me from going on Gwydion's quest for the Black Cauldron. The boy sometimes lacks any sense at all, but I believe he has a good heart. Arawn uses the cauldron to create his army of undead, so it must be destroyed. Taran and I have been reunited with our group of friends, and we've been joined by two others. Adaon will lead our small band, but we've also added Prince Ellidyr. He's a pompous, troublesome sort, and Taran seems to have rubbed him wrong. Our job was to guard the horses, but we were attacked by powerful, unbeatable warriors. So, we're now headed to the swamps where we hope to find the missing cauldron. It was Taran's silly idea, but I suppose it may work out in the end.

You should read the books from this trilogy in order, starting with The Book of Three. Once again, Taran is the main character and finds himself in the middle of the most important events. Ellidyr's character really causes Taran to consider what makes others tick. The prince is a royal pain in the butt, but Taran learns to put the mission first. Saving the kingdom is more important than achieving glory for himself. Based on comments by Prince Gwydion and Dallben, I still get the feeling there's something extra special about Taran's character. There's nothing remarkable about him, but other characters are willing to trust him and believe in his leadership. The ongoing plot is a battle of good versus evil. The Cauldron-born were the main evil warriors in the previous book, but the warriors in this book are especially difficult to fight. If one warrior is killed, the others absorb his energy and become stronger. The enemy actually becomes more powerful as its warriors die. Overall, this trilogy has withstood the test of time, and I can easily recommend it for your enjoyment.