The Chronicles of Narnia books, ranked worst to best

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

This was the first book published in the series, and is still the best known. It’s also the best, period. In terms of impact on the fantasy genre, its only competition is The Lord of the Rings.

It has everything you’d want from a fantasy novel: detailed world-building, likable heroes, a terrific villain, an epic battle, betrayal, and a satisfying hero’s journey. The other Narnia books have most of these as well, but not implemented in such a satisfying, cohesive way.

This book introduces us to the Pevensie siblings Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they each find their way through the magic wardrobe and into Narnia, where a war is brewing between the evil White Witch and Aslan.

There are too many awesome things to cover in one short plot summary, but let’s try. The four Pevensie children are sent to live in the English countryside to escape the Blitz during World War II. The house they arrive at is owned by a professor who is so busy working he doesn’t have time for them, meaning the siblings have to make their own fun. Playing hide-and-seek in the huge house, Lucy decides to hide in an old dusty wardrobe, only to find that she steps into Narnia.

I love Lucy’s introduction to Narnia. She enters and finds the faun Mr. Tumnus hanging out around a lamppost, and ends up having tea with him. When she gets back home she has to convince her siblings that where she went was real and not just in her imagination.

When all the kids find their way into Narnia, they learn from Mr. Beaver that they are part of an ancient prophecy: when the four thrones in Cair Paravel are occupied, all evil will be lifted from the land. This motivates them to defeat the White Witch, ending the long winter and returning peace to Narnia.

Something I particularly like about this book is the cool side story with Edmund, who completely betrays his family when the White Witch offers him an endless supply of Turkish Delight. Aslan dies and is resurrected, keeping up with Lewis’ penchant for religious themes. Oh, and Father Christmas shows up and gifts the kids with deadly weapons to carry into battle!

The actual battle is brilliant, the outcome is satisfying, and everything is wrapped up very neatly. To me, this feels like the most well-rounded book in the series.

We can’t talk about The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe without bringing up Disney’s epic 2005 film. Earning $745 million at the box office, this movie created even more Narnia fans.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a landmark fantasy book that still holds up today. It should provide a sturdy foundation for any Netflix series to build on.

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