The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle A novel review

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle

A novel review

(Cherry Mae M. Salvo)

The Last Battle depicts Narnia's final conflict when King Tirian and his faithful people face the Calormene invaders and their allies. This fight brings the old world of Narnia to an end and ushers in a new adventure in Aslan's genuine kingdom. The story begins roughly 200 Narnian years after the events of The Silver Chair (the sixth book in the series) and about 2,500 Narnian years after the events of The Magician's Nephew.

For years, Narnia has been at peace, then evil appears in the Western Wild region. Shift, a cunning monkey, tricks Puzzle, a charming but naive donkey, into dressing up in lion hide to mimic the "Great Lion," Aslan. Shift uses
deceit to enhance his power and wealth. Shift deceives more and more Narnians into believing that Aslan has returned by carefully controlling the appearances of this fake Aslan. As the Narnians accept Shift's severe commands, they enable their adversaries, the Calormenes, to enslave them, believing Aslan has given the order. As fake Aslan's disciples slaughter the sacred "talking trees," evil grows.

King Tirian discovers that Shift and Rishda have brought the demon Tash to Narnia, despite their denial of its existence. The Calormenes have seized the Narnian royal capital, according to Farsight the eagle. King Tirian and his entourage make their way to the stable (now dubbed "the Stable") where Shift had been keeping Puzzle. He intends to reveal Shift's duplicity, but Shift, Rishda, and Ginger the cat conspire to push animals into the Stable, where they are killed by a Calormene guard. When Rishda finally understands that the destructive deity Tash exists, he attempts to placate the demon by throwing animals into the Stable. King Tirian and Rishda's army clash once more, but Rishda's reinforcements exceed the faithful Narnians.