The Horse and His Boy

3.5 stars, wish that was an option here. Rereading the Chronicles of Narnia has been interesting. My opinions are changing so greatly of each book! I really disliked this installment in the series as a kid, but I enjoyed it so much better now! There were some issues I mentioned earlier. I have mixed feelings about how the Calormen people were written, especially at the beginning of the book.
However, as far as story elements go, I love how you can see C.S. Lewis mature as a writer here! The characters are much more well rounded. They feel like real people. Even Susan, Edmund and Lucy who make a reappearance in this one are much more fleshed out as characters.
Tonally, this book really feels like it is meant for older readers than the previous 2. It's sort of a huge leap forward in language level, even though Prince Caspian that follows it is not. In that way, it feels a little out of place in the middle of the series.
The first half especially I had mixed feelings about, but the second half of the book I loved. Very well done.