Prince Caspian is one of my favorite chronicles to read, probably second only after The Horse and His Boy.
I love that all the Pevensies are in it. As we unravel that they are in Narnia, we get a unique dual-perspective. They have returned to Narnia, as kids, after only a year; but they also had spent several years in Narnia during the Golden Age. I like how their character attributes carry over from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Peter is a noble and natural leader. Susan is practical. Edmund is courageous. And Lucy is pure. I like how Lucy sees Aslan and the others hesitate to trust her, just as they hesitated to trust her with the wardrobe. I found Susan's patronizing attitude toward Lucy hilarious. I guess I was laughing at the correleation: that some people are very adamant in their disbelief.
I especially like how we learn so much about Narnia from Prince Caspian. Cair Paravel, the Great River, Beruna, Glasswater Creek and the woods all play an important part. We see how places like Cair Paravel, the Stone Table and Beaversdam have changed since the Pevensies' last visit. We learn the names of many new planets, mythologically-based creatures, and lords of Narnia. We become personally acquainted with numerous endearing animals. We glean important historical information about the origins and legacy of the Telmarines in Narnia.
I love the theme of Prince Caspian, that of Renewal and Restoration. I thoroughly enjoyed the climax of the story, when the Narnians defeat the Telmarines, when Aslan and the girls traverse the countryside, and when Aslan coronates Caspian. I thoroughly appreciate every aspect of the ending, including the celebrating and taking of "refreshments." I'm not so much concerned with a literal interpretation of this as I am with its symbolic significance; the immeidate growth of grapes from the ground represented Aslan's renewal of the land.
Perhaps the only thing I didn't completely like was Peter and Susan's dismissal. It's too bad they couldn't come back, but it's cool. It just increased my longing for their characters!
I love Prince Caspian. It's an awesome book. There's so much in it to savor!