This was my absolute favorite series of children/early adolescent books.

If I recall correctly (I reread all of these just a few years ago), Susan Cooper does not make so noticeable a shift in dumbing down the language or sentence structure for young readers, which I like a lot.

It's a fantasy-ish story, but set in what would have been current day for Susan Cooper at the time of writing it.

It is difficult to review all of these books at once, because some are better than others, and they even feature different protagonists (all related to the same storyline) in some cases.

My two favorites were The Dark is Rising and The Grey King.

But right now I'm having a difficult time expressing why they were my favorites as a kid, except perhaps that they captured, in exactly the way I needed them to at the time, the recurring theme in children's literature of finding an extraordinary purpose in your life at that stage of introduction to adolescence.

Harry Potter does this probably most famously these days, but The Dark is Rising series has a more archaic, or perhaps more classical, feel to the story, characters, and writing.

The books in this series take readers on a thrilling adventure, filled with magic, mystery, and danger.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, and the storylines are full of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Overall, I highly recommend The Dark is Rising series to anyone who loves fantasy literature and is looking for a great read.

I just finished the final book in the series the other day, and it was truly remarkable.

As a whole, Cooper's The Dark is Rising series was masterfully written. The stories seamlessly transitioned from one to another, without becoming overly repetitive. I found myself completely immersed in each book, and they seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye.

Although it is clearly a series targeted at a younger audience, I was thoroughly impressed by the intricate exploration of the various Arthurian legends and related themes. The character of Will was particularly engaging. He managed to embody both the innocence of a young boy and the wisdom of an ageless being simultaneously. He was extremely well-developed and highly likeable.

However, Barney was by far my favorite character. His cheekiness and sweetness made him truly endearing. I must admit, though, that there was one aspect of the ending that I didn't quite like. While I'm certain Cooper had her justifications, I couldn't help but wish that the characters wouldn't forget. If you desire to understand this particular point, I highly recommend reading the books.

Some of the books in this series are indeed better than others.

The first book in the series is rather weak. I just couldn't bring myself to buy into the interaction between the siblings. It felt forced and unconvincing. Moreover, I never really got the sense that the kids were in any real danger.

Thankfully, the second book is much better. It manages to address those issues that were lacking in the first one. The characters become more developed, and the plot starts to thicken.

However, as for the rest of the series, it kind of settles out to be just okay. It's entertaining enough, but when compared to many other series that I have read, it doesn't quite measure up. There's nothing really outstanding or memorable about it. It's just an average series that you can enjoy for a while but won't leave a lasting impression.

Overall, while there are some good points in this series, it also has its flaws. It's not a must-read, but if you're looking for something to pass the time, it might be worth checking out.

An early, UK version of Harry Potter has been around for quite some time. Recently, a movie was made based on it, but unfortunately, it sputtered in the wake of Rowling's highly successful series. Despite being a fantasy/sci-fi genre, this version reads more like an adult series. As a teenager, I found myself reading and rereading the series countless times. The story had a certain allure that kept me hooked. The characters were well-developed, and the world-building was quite fascinating. It was a different take on the Harry Potter universe, and although it may not have achieved the same level of success as Rowling's version, it still had its own charm. I would recommend giving it a try, especially if you're a die-hard Harry Potter fan.

It was Silver on the Tree that truly prolonged my completion of this Omnibus Edition. I'm rather uncertain whether I managed to get to the last book during my initial reading of the series.

Perhaps that was the reason for my slower pace, or maybe it was the rapid tempo of the action that compelled me to take more breaks.

Here are 10 things that crossed my mind while rereading:

1. I have a longing for the editions that come with illustrations.

2. It's quite a challenge to read a 1000+ page flimsy paperback with just one hand while a cat is perched on your chest.

3. I have a penchant for re-reading, and it's a pity that I won't allocate more time for it.

4. I have a desire to learn Welsh.

5. I want to visit Wales.

6. These books have almost piqued my interest in attempting to read Malory's Arthur once more!

7. The most fitting word to describe the tone of these books is: Noble.

8. Bran can be a bit of a dick. But not in a malevolent way.

9. All the descriptions of nature and the legendary elements remind me of Joanna Newsom, although her lyrics are far superior to Susan Cooper's legendary verses (sorry, S. Cooper). However, they both have a fondness for yarrow.

10. These kids consume a substantial amount of bacon for breakfast.

I'm truly sorry. I just find myself completely unable to continue. I'm so extremely bored and I've skimmed through so much that I simply can't take it anymore. This has to come to an end as a Did Not Finish (DNF). I offer my sincere apology to the author because it's not that the writing was bad or the story was terrible. Clearly, it just wasn't the right fit for me.

Since I did manage to complete two of the books in this series, I didn't want to lose all that read page count for my total this year. So, I just marked the two individual books as read while marking this entire single series as abandoned. It's a bit of a conundrum, but I felt it was the best way to handle the situation given my current state of mind and my desire to keep track of my reading progress accurately.

I hope that in the future, I'll come across books that will capture my interest and hold my attention from start to finish. For now, though, I'll have to accept this DNF and move on to other reading adventures.

After hearing a great deal about this series, I was extremely disappointed in its pedestrian nature.

Perhaps the remainder of the series is superior, but this particular installment was highly formulaic and not especially thrilling.

Mirroring C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, it commences on a rainy day with a group of British kids who are bored and playing in a large house.

They embark on their adventure by discovering an attic behind a wardrobe rather than within it.

At one point, the dark side endeavors to seduce one of the children, but of course, the child does not yield.

It rather simply adheres to numerous plot elements without the fantastical magical aspects and the moral dilemma that imparts depth.

As far as fantasy is concerned, the magical content is so minimal that it is almost nonexistent, being restricted to a few mysterious happenings such as a dog howling peculiarly and a hypnotic voice.

The connection to Arthurian tales appears tenuous, serving merely as some sort of pretext for a backstory and a Peggy Parish style kids' mystery.

Overall, it fails to live up to the expectations set by its reputation.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

If you have a penchant for Harry Potter, Philip Pullman's works, Narnia, King Arthur, magic, myths, funny things, English people, any people, big ideas, reading, or books, then you will surely adore The Dark is Rising sequence.

These are the very books that kindled my love for reading, compelling me to furtively hide a flashlight under the covers at night to continue from where my father had last read aloud. The sequence commences in a rather ordinary fashion, with three children embarking on a holiday in Cornwall in Over Sea Under Stone. It then builds up to a battle of Arthurian magnitudes in Silver on the Tree.

This book is a literary gem. It flows seamlessly, with a well-crafted plot and excellently developed characters. It is both funny and scary, tragic and awesome. It offers a captivating blend of magic, myth, and adventure that will transport you to a world filled with big ideas and unforgettable moments. So, don't hesitate, pick up this book and let yourself be swept away by its charm.

Definitely, it's old school fantasy with a touch of poetry, blending "real life" and magical aspects in a more subtle manner than recent fantasy authors. I read The Dark Is Rising in the early 2000s as my boyfriend at that time owned it. It was truly enthralling to me. So, when I saw this huge book on the $1 sale rack at The Strand in NYC in 2013 or 2014, I snatched it up, eagerly looking forward to reading it again.

Finally, I did read it, but I was a little underwhelmed. Back in 2002 or whenever I first read it, it seemed to be the height of intrigue, and I clearly remembered the thing about the seventh son of a seventh son. However, even that part, when I read it again, seemed very anticlimactic this time. Maybe I've been spoiled by more recent fantasy series. I checked when Susan Cooper wrote these books and found out it was back in the '60s and '70s, before Harry Potter and Rand al'Thor, etc.

I thought that some parts were skimmed over too quickly, while others were dragged out for too long. But overall, it's a nicely written series that sparks the imagination and helps kids realize their role in shaping humanity.

This is the first book I've finished reading this year, and it took a while, but only because I basically read five books in one. So, I've actually read five books this year already!

The book is filled with interesting quotes and descriptions. For example, "For half an hour they poked about in a happy dusty dream, through the junk and broken furniture and ornaments." This passage creates a vivid image in the reader's mind.

Another quote that stands out is "His voice was soft and rather husky, with an odd mid-Atlantic accent; the vowels were American, but the intonation was English." It gives a unique flavor to the character.

Overall, despite my initial disappointment, I still appreciate the charm and creativity of this old school fantasy series. It's a great addition to any bookshelf.

I really enjoyed the first book of the series. However, as I progressed through the others, my interest gradually waned.

I found myself not fully engaged and felt as if I was simply reading for the sake of finishing the book.

I vividly remember how much I loved "The Dark is Rising" when my 5th grade teacher read it aloud to us in school. But now, upon reading it again, I didn't have much concern for the characters or the plot.

So, there could be two possibilities. Either I have become more discerning and it's difficult to come across a book that I truly like, or perhaps the book itself isn't that great.

Maybe it would be more suitable for younger readers who might have a different perspective and level of appreciation for it.

I listened to the series on audiobooks.

This entire series has a rather mysterious quality. There isn't much exploration of "why," aside from the explanation that "this is the thing that must be done now." Everything always seems to be resolved simply because the Old Ones instinctively know what to do. Oh, if only life could be that straightforward! This was a bit of an irritation for me throughout the series.

Nevertheless, the stories were captivating. The vivid descriptions and engaging plots made me eager to know what would happen next. In fact, it has sparked my curiosity to visit Cornwall and, especially, Wales. I long to see those ancient places and relics with my own eyes, to soak in the history and mystery that surrounds them.

I'm looking forward to experiencing the real-life charm and allure that these locations hold, just as they were brought to life in the audiobook series.