Fifteen years ago, when I was teaching first grade, one of my more precocious students said that her mother was reading this book to her and her twin brother.

This year, I finally read it.

Susan Cooper is FABULOUS at writing action! The way she describes the scenes and the movements of the characters makes it feel as if you are right there in the middle of the action.

If you are looking for a model text for students to use for creating action in their own narrative writing, this book would be a great resource. It can inspire students to think about how to use vivid language and detailed descriptions to make their stories come alive.

The tale is not wholly original. It reminded me very much of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, but without the fantasy. However, it still has its own unique charm and吸引力. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging, keeping you hooked from beginning to end. Overall, it is a great read that I would highly recommend.

This is a post originally on Vivian's Book Pavilion.

After months and months and months of reading, I finally finished this book!!!!!! (Crying + Screaming) It has been such a long journey!!!! I bought it like...last summer? And I managed to finish it before the start of the second semester. (What was I doing, Vivian?) I haven't posted for a long time... (What was I doing again during Winter Vacation?) Please, don't ask. I don't even want to know. But well...I know you do care about the book, right? (At least I hope so? Because I haven't read a children's book for a long time.)

This book basically consists of five stories: Over Sea, Under Stone; The Dark Is Rising; Greenwitch; The Grey King; Silver on the Tree. Is the book good? It's not bad. But is it good enough to WOW me? Well...I've seen better. It'll be suitable for anyone who likes children's adventure, and the plots are great. So I gave them all three stars. It's worth reading, but it won't be on my favorite list.

Oh! And please remember Merriman...he will be really, really important.

\\n  Over Sea, Under Stone\\n

\\n  \\n   

“Once upon a time... a long time ago... things that happened once perhaps but have been talked about for so long that nobody really knows.”
Three kids were introduced in this story: Jane, Simon and Barney. Trust me, they’ll be really important in the future…I hope?

\\n  \\n

To be honest...this isn't my favorite story among them all, and it also took me the longest to finish it. However, if you'd like to play it safe when choosing a children's book, you can find everything you need here. A far away family travel, a somewhat weird relative, a treasure map, some villains, and a mysterious place that only the children can find. Oh wait, I forgot to mention...the treasure was found in the attic. Surprise? Sorry...that's what every reader expects. (I'm so negative right now.) And you might ask, after such a negative opinion, why should you read the book? Well? I gave it three stars, so it's not that bad at all. I like how the author organized the story and how everything unfolds. So...three stars for being a nice story. Oh wait...I just realized it's a pretty old story...so...considering its age? Everything above will be forgiven. I'll still recommend this book for children.

\\n  The Dark is Rising\\n

\\n  \\n   

\\"When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back, three from the circle, three from the track; wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone; five will return, and one go alone.”

\\n  \\n

Even though I didn't prefer the first one that much, I do like the second story. It's unique, combined with King Author, magic, and everything. Oh! The protagonist is Will. That...is very, very important.

I really love the idea of riders and signs. And, it'll be even better if the signs require seeking. Every sign seeking is a task for Will, and they're all great. I love every minute of them, especially the ones that require traveling through time. Oh yes, I hate time traveling, but somehow, I can accept this kind of arrangement inside the story. So I enjoy this story quite a lot...and Will is one of my favorite characters in this book. After all, he is one of the Old Ones, so unlike other children with some reckless actions...Will isn't like that, at least to a lesser extent.

\\n  Greenwitch\\n

\\n  \\n   

“Never dismiss anyone's value until you know him.”

\\n  \\n

All will come into a circle, isn't it? Now...Will and Jane and Simon and Barney finally met!!! And I love how the characters interact with each other. Unlike some stories where they meet and suddenly become friends, you can see the tension between them all!!!! However, to me, the story is a bit too fast, so when I'm not even sure what happened, the story ends.

Oh! BTW, I love the Greenwitch. It's one of my favorite characters in the entire series, even though she showed up only a little, but I really like the conflicted character. So starting from this story, you'll need to read The Dark is Rising and Over Sea, Under Stone to understand everything, since everything starts to connect together. In the previous books, you can simply read them without making connections, but if you don't want to lose the prophecy, you'll need to read the first two stories.

\\n  The Grey King\\n

\\n  \\n   

“Still in the black hemisphere the stars blazed and slowly wheeled; beneath them, Will felt so infinitesimally small that it seemed impossible he should even exist. Immensity pressed in on him, terrifying, threatening--and then, in a swift flash of movement like a dance, like the glint of a leaping fish, came a flick of brightness in the sky from a shooting star... He heard Bran give a small chirrup of delight, a spark struck from the same bright sudden joy that filled his own being.”

\\n  \\n

Oh...the story is getting better, especially with Will becoming insane. (I'm just kidding...) But I still don't really understand that part. Never mind, but the story is good and exciting. Especially when the good v.s. evil part doesn't seem so important to most of us but in the end...they matter. Oh! And great characters were added as well.

Welcome Bran!!!!! (Loud applause please.) And Will is back again!!!! Yeah!!! I really love the background story of Bran. It's like...so unexpected. Although some readers might have thought of it according to his mother's name...but since it took me a long time to realize that this is a King Author related story...I didn't think that much. But I still love his story, and it's a key point to the future events. That's why I gave this story four stars. It's unique, it's special, the story line is great. It's probably my second favorite story among the five.

\\n  Silver on the Tree\\n

\\n  \\n   

“The future cannot blame the present, just as the present cannot blame the past. The hope is always here, always alive, but only your fierce caring can fan it into a fire to warm the world.”

\\n  \\n

This story is my favorite of them all? Why? I think in the end of the story, although there are some tiny parts that I'm not so satisfied with, but I think the quote of this story is pretty good, especially for children. (Actually, the writing of this book is quite good, it'll be a nice choice for children learning English.)

However, you might ask, if the ending is that good, how come I only gave it four stars? The only thing I'm not satisfied with is the ending and the role of the Drews. First, I think the ending is rather quick...it lacks the tension part of a great adventure story. It's exciting...but does it make my heart race? Not really. (The only reason my heart raced during that time was due to the earthquake.) And, since the Drews were mortal, unlike Will and Bran...their parts seemed to be...less important in the end...and I dislike that. Why? They should also be important, not just as sidekicks. So for Jane, Simon, and Barney lovers, you might be a bit disappointed. But for Will and Bran lovers (Like me!) You'll find plenty of their time in the last part.

So that's the end of this review...and well...hope I won't take it so long to have another one next time.

Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Series is a remarkable work that has earned acclaim as a classic of children's literature, especially in the realm of children's fantasy.

The series consists of five books, and while this is just a brief overall impression, I hope to offer more detailed thoughts on each volume later.

The Grey King, which won the Newberry Medal in 1976, is a standout. I particularly enjoy the three central works: The Dark is Rising, Greenwitch, and The Grey King.

The tone of the series changes significantly after the first book, published in 1965, perhaps due in part to the gap until the sequel in 1973. The main characters, like Will Stanton and the Drew children, are older and play more interesting roles in supporting the forces of Light.

Merriman Lyon, Will's mentor and the Drews' "Great-uncle," adds depth to the story. His true identity, once revealed, is both a pleasure and a surprise.

The various contemporary settings, such as Cornwall, the Thames valley, and North Wales, allow Cooper to skillfully incorporate elements of Celtic, English, and Arthurian folklore, giving the stories a sense of age and place.

Greenwitch and The Grey King, though relatively short, manage to establish a unique mythology and well-drawn secondary characters with great clarity and emotional power.

The Grey King, in particular, explores themes of loss, grief, identity, and belonging, along with the quest to collect the Things of Power.

Many scenes and characters from the books remain memorable, such as Hawkin's betrayal, the Black Rider's menacing presence at Christmas, and the spectre of the Grey King on Cader Idris.

The final volume, while not quite sustaining the narrative drive of the earlier books, still has its strengths. The exploration of the impact of the mythic struggle on ordinary people, through the relationship of Mr and Mrs Rowlands, is especially effective.

Overall, Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Series is a wonderful achievement, showing her ability to blend the magical and the mundane, and to consider the consequences of actions in a complex and engaging way.

While classified as a young reader's book, it is still an entertaining and well-written story for any age interested in fantasy.

The story is filled with magical elements, interesting characters, and a captivating plot that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.

It offers a unique and imaginative world that allows readers to escape and explore.

The movie, on the other hand, was a so-so adaptation of the book.

It failed to capture the full essence and charm of the original story.

The movie made some changes and omissions that affected the overall quality and连贯性 of the narrative.

Therefore, it is important not to gauge the book in any way on the movie.

The book should be judged on its own merits and enjoyed for the wonderful story that it is.

It has the power to transport readers to a world of magic and adventure, regardless of their age.

So, if you're a fan of fantasy or simply looking for an entertaining read, give this book a chance and discover its magic for yourself.

I can rate this book up front, since I have read it multiple times already. It's an omnibus that contains all 5 stories, and mine is a hardback, so it's rather heavy for reading in bed.

I didn't discover this series until I was an adult. Well, of course, it wasn't written until after I was an adult! But I loved it upon first reading and have reread it many times since.

I'm not going to attempt to regurgitate the various plots, as there are many other excellent reviews here to give you an idea. I didn't know that a movie had been made in 2007, but after reading about it, I'm glad I didn't see it. Apparently, it completely botched the stories, changing the location to the US, which would completely spoil it for me, and leaving out the Celtic mythology and King Arthur backgrounds. I simply can't imagine the story without those! So if you've only seen the movie, give the books a try instead - they almost surely have to be much better, and there is so much more depth.

The first two books, "Over Sea, Under Stone" and "The Dark Is Rising", could be read in any order, as they deal with two different sets of characters (with a couple of exceptions). However, the last three should probably be read in sequence after the first two, as characters and events from previous books are referenced, especially in the last two. The books do tend to get darker as you progress.

I can't even single out which of the five is my favorite - I love them all. "Greenwitch" might be my least favorite, even though Jane (from the first book) is the focal character. But it is also the first book that begins to bring the two groups together - the Circle and the Track - so it is crucial to the rest of the story.

The Dark Is Rising Sequence, which was a remarkable 5-book set penned by Susan Cooper, was truly a wonder. I was completely enamored with it all. What I really adored was how each of the five books zeroed in on a particular member of the group.

The cast of characters was diverse, each possessing their own distinct personalities and abilities. The stories throughout all 5 books had to be carefully worked through and seamlessly blended into the next required solution. Starting from the first book, which aimed to uncover age-old secrets passed down through generations, in order to safeguard the world from the encroaching darkness.

This darkness was determined to triumph over all the remaining light and goodness in the world, transforming it into a realm of darkness and evil. However, this wasn't just a straightforward war; it was more like their final opportunity. If the light failed to emerge victorious in this battle, there would be no further chance to rescue the world.

The conclusion of the sequence was a bittersweet affair, filled with both joy and sorrow. It marked the end of this thrilling sequence and its beloved good characters. I must admit that I will deeply miss Professor Merriman, also affectionately known as Great-Uncle-Merry.

RTC, a childhood favourite, holds a special place in my heart.

It was not just a thing but a source of无尽的欢乐 and excitement.

Every time I saw it, a smile would automatically spread across my face.

Whether it was playing with it alone or sharing it with friends, RTC always brought us together.

The memories associated with it are so vivid and precious.

It was like a loyal companion that陪伴 me through my childhood days.

Even now, whenever I think of RTC, a warm feeling fills my heart.

It is a reminder of the simple pleasures and innocence of my childhood.

I will always cherish the time I spent with RTC and the joy it brought me.

Re-reading "The Dark is Rising" as part of the Twitter #thedarkisreading readalong was an absolute blast. Even on this umpteenth re-read in my adult life, it still manages to make the hair on my body stand on end.

Now, I'm moving on to the rest of the series.

I had the thought that I would document each book in the volume as I re-read the whole thing. This way, it would give me proper credit for my Goodreads reading challenge. However, upon further consideration, it looks like this might not work out as planned. But I will still do it for my own recordkeeping purposes.

Regarding "Over Sea Under Stone," I don't find it quite as electrifying as "The Dark is Rising," but it's still a delightful read. The single nicest thing about it is how the children's subjective feelings, fears, and hunches always turn out to be correct in the end. This is so contrary to the invalidation that one actually tends to experience as a child. It's a charming aspect of the story that adds to its overall appeal.

I'm looking forward to continuing my re-reading journey through this wonderful series and seeing what other treasures and insights I can discover along the way.

Though this is for children, it is still a lovely read for an adult not far away from 60 who read this when a child!

As an adult approaching 60, I find myself drawn back to this book that I read during my childhood. Despite being targeted at children, its charm and appeal have not diminished over the years.

The simple yet engaging storylines, vivid illustrations, and valuable life lessons make it a truly enjoyable read. It takes me back to a time when life was simpler and more carefree.

Even as an adult, I can still appreciate the beauty and innocence of the stories. They remind me of the importance of kindness, friendship, and imagination.

This book serves as a wonderful reminder that some things never go out of style and that the magic of childhood can still be experienced, no matter how old we are.

I vividly remember having a profound love for these books during my childhood. And during the Covid pandemic, I made the decision to revisit them. The writing still holds an enchanting magic. The vivid and affectionate descriptions of the Cornish coast and the Welsh hills, along with the borrowing of legends from diverse traditions, are truly captivating. Reading the omnibus edition, which has rather tiny print, made the experience feel more laborious than it would have been if I had read the five volumes separately. However, some volumes had a stronger pull on me than others. For instance, Greenwitch is my absolute favourite.

For enthusiasts of classic British fantasies, ranging from Harry Potter to Earthsea and LOTR, The Dark is Rising is undoubtedly worth a read. It features a comforting blend of recognizable landscapes and tropes. The well-executed scary concepts add an element of thrill, while the likable characters, who triumph by being human despite all the powers of magic, make the story truly engaging. It's a literary gem that offers a unique and immersive reading experience.

I really don't understand how this could have become a classic series. What's more important is that I can't fathom how anyone could persevere with it for such a long time.

I managed to get through the first book without being overly impressed. And it was only through sheer stubbornness that I compelled myself to finish the second one. However, there was simply no excitement whatsoever in this series.

The entire thing is written in an extremely mellow style. Not to mention that the divide between good and evil is just far too clear-cut. After reading the second book, I simply didn't care enough to force myself to plow through books 3 and 5.

It seems that this series just didn't have the elements that could grip my attention and keep me engaged. Maybe others find something in it that I'm missing, but for me, it failed to live up to the hype of being a classic.

I've read these books countless times throughout the years, and I always find great pleasure in returning to them. Each time I pick them up, they seem to swallow me up completely in their unique world and captivating atmosphere. The writing is truly beautiful, filled with chills and excitement that keep me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

'The Grey King' has always remained my absolute favourite of the bunch. There's something about its story and characters that just speaks to me on a deep level. However, 'The Dark is Rising' is a very close second. It too has its own charm and allure, and I can't help but be drawn back to it time and time again.

These books have become a part of my life, and I know that I will continue to read and reread them for many years to come. They are not just books, but a source of inspiration and entertainment that I will always cherish.