It’s been quite a ride getting through the Chronicles of Narnia books. The Magician’s Nephew is one that I’ve heard praised more than any other entry in the series. And I can see where that praise comes from.
The difference between four & five stars for me simply comes down to taste; I don’t really care for origin stories.
But as far as origin stories go, this one was done nearly flawlessly for what Lewis was trying to do.
Two likable leads give you a perspective as you walk through the creation of Narnia & the founding of the talking animals, dwarves, fauns, & even The White Witch.
I found the inconvenience of Uncle Andrew to take me out of a few scenes. I’ve never been a fan of characters being annoying as a plot device, but I was able to get over that hump to fully appreciate this brilliant piece of classic children’s literature.