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Tough-O-Meter

We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)

(1) Sea Level

In a way, every story requires the reader to be a treasure-hunting adventurer of sorts. Some, like Ulysses, require us to be high altitude mountaineers to reach the gold. Prince Caspian, on the other hand, requires little more than a stroll on the beach to discover its buried booty.

The language is straightforward and inviting, while the sentences move at a leisurely one-step-at-a-time pace. Oh sure, the occasionally word might stumble your pace a bit—we're looking at you, seneschal (8.6) and hauberk (14.14). This is fantasy, after all, and if you're going to read the genre, you'll have to learn to forgive the fantasy author the use of an outdated word or two. They can't help themselves; it comes with the magical territory.

The only way these words will really stop your reading pleasure, though, is if you're the type that must rush to the nearest dictionary or Wikipedia page to find out what a hauberk is. (If so, you're in good company here at a Shmoop.)

Still, just because Prince Caspian isn't difficult, it doesn't mean it isn't rewarding. Like we said, there's treasure buried by literary pirates on this here beach, and we're going to help show you where to dig.