I’ve been meaning to reread this one for a while.

It was truly a delight to go back to it. I think it’s a bit more mature than The Dark is Rising. Certainly, there’s a palpable physicality between Cally and West that isn’t even hinted at in The Dark is Rising. The first time I read it, I said that this book ends perfectly, “neither too early nor too late”, and I still hold that opinion. It’s sufficient to have the promise of Cally and West’s future at the end of the book; I don’t need to read about it in detail, as that would detract from the bittersweetness of the story.

I didn’t like it as much as the first time I read it, I believe. I still enjoyed it, found it interesting, and loved the creativity. However, this time I was asking more questions and picking more holes. Why was this element taken from Welsh legends and not that? When is it set? It feels unrooted, which might contribute to universality, but it makes it difficult to imagine how Cally and West will find each other again, how to interpret their absence and changes, and where Cally and West come from.

Nevertheless, it’s beautifully written and full of wonderful things: gorgeous passages, enchanting creatures (Peth!), mysteries, and metaphors. I do still love it, and I also appreciate that, unlike The Dark is Rising, it’s a personal journey rather than an all-out fight against absolute evil. The absolutism of the Dark and the Light in those books is completely absent here, with the dichotomy drawn between Life and Death instead, and both wearing both kind and less kind faces. It’s a journey for Cally and West, one in which they’re frightened, have enemies and allies, but it isn’t moving toward some apocalyptic endpoint or some make-it-or-break-it scene where a few decide the futures of the many.

In that sense, I’m not sure the new cover does the book any favors; the traditional fantasy elements here are the least important.

I have a deep affection for Susan Cooper's enchanting fantasy worlds. Among her works, The Dark is Rising stands out as an absolute masterpiece. However, in my humble opinion, this particular one doesn't quite measure up.

I felt that the Celtic world she构建 in this novel seemed rather forced. It didn't have the seamless integration and authenticity that I've come to expect from her. The developing relationship between the two protagonists also struck me as a bit too contrived. It lacked the natural progression and chemistry that would have made it more engaging.

Moreover, the plot seemed to wander aimlessly at times, making it difficult for me to stay fully invested. While she does manage to create an interesting world, as she always does, this novel, for me, is more of a "leave it under the bed" kind of read. It didn't have the captivating power to keep me hooked from start to finish.

Perhaps others may have a different perspective, but for me, this particular work of Susan Cooper didn't reach the same heights as some of her other masterpieces.

A few months ago, an incident suddenly jogged my memory about a particular book.

However, I could not recall the name of the book or the author. All that remained in my mind was that one of the character's names was "Westerly".

After conducting a thorough search on Google, I finally managed to locate it and promptly purchased it for my Kindle.

Re-reading this book was an absolute delight as it had been one of my all-time favorites when I was around 11 or 12 years old.

The story, upon re-reading, seemed shorter and a bit shallower than I had remembered. But this was quite understandable considering that I was a young adult when I first read it.

Cally and West are fascinating main characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative of their budding romance.

[SPOILER: Additionally, I adored the message that they would choose to live their lives to the fullest, regardless of the pain and challenges that they knew awaited them before reuniting with each other again.]

This book truly holds a special place in my heart and has once again reminded me of the joy of reading.

I was among those rare children who came to Seward before delving into The Dark is Rising. So, years later, during the dark hours of a read-a-thon, I did an internet search with a few vague keywords, hoping to re-find this childhood novel that I only half remembered. I was shocked (yes, truly shocked) to discover that it was by none other than Susan Cooper. And then… I wasn't shocked at all.

In many ways, Seaward is like a short story version of all the elements that made The Dark is Rising so incredibly awesome. The magic, the danger, and the young people caught up and confused in a grown-up's plot all combine to make this a tense journey as West and Cally strive to reach the sea and find answers to why they are there in the first place.

The symbolism in this book is truly amazing. There's no way I grasped all of it the first time around. Everything, from the many faces of death to the constant rebirth of life, from the people of stone to the selkie, to Snake, had multiple meanings and additional ramifications that were often just hinted at (since this is just a YA novel). I have to admit that Snake bothered me during this adult re-reading, but after some thought, I decided to view him as an inner expression rather than an outward standalone person. Before snakes were given such a bad reputation in Genesis to deter other religions that glorified the animal, snakes and women were once regarded in the same mysterious light. Snakes shed their skin, women menstruate, and yet they both continue to live, a predominant theme in this book - continued life against all odds.

With the overall message of life and hope amidst death and destruction, I found this book to be truly uplifting and even more powerful the second time around. The symbolism was amazing and multi-layered, appealing to all sorts of different audiences at different ages. Cally and West were an inspiring couple to read about, and it was touching to watch them discover the world, their journey, and ultimately each other along the way. You root for them from page one, and their story is a roller-coaster of magic, excitement, and mystery until the last page. I highly recommend reading this forgotten Susan Cooper story, or re-reading it if you read it once long ago, especially if you are a fan of The Dark is Rising. You won't regret it.

I know that I read this at some point after I devoured The Dark is Rising series. However, I couldn't remember the plot or anything about it. This makes it perfect "rereads" material.

I absolutely love The Dark Is Rising and Silver on the Tree. If you haven't read them, rush to your local library and check out a copy because they are truly fabulous.

Basically, Seaward is a lovely fantasy novel that contains a lot of references to Welsh mythology. I really liked Callie and her girl power attitude. West was also quite sweet. I don't know where the blurb gets the idea that they speak different languages. It would make sense, but it isn't addressed in the book at all.

The world building could have been a little better, but I still have all the feelings for this book that reminds me of my childhood favorites. There are elements of Narnia and Middle Earth here, as well as Cooper's Dark is Rising series. Snake reminded me of Aunt Beast from A Wrinkle in Time.

Confession: I've never read any Lloyd Alexander, but I bet those who like his books would also enjoy this one.

This is a truly enchanting fantasy novel that I am so glad I finally took the time to finish.

It has just the perfect amount of a gentle romance that doesn't overpower the story but rather adds a lovely layer to it. The relationship between West and Cally develops in such an engaging way that by the end, I was completely invested in their journey.

The setting of the world of life and death is simply beautiful and captivating. Susan Cooper's writing is truly a delight. She has the ability to create a vivid and immersive world that draws the reader in and keeps them hooked until the very end.

I cannot recommend this read highly enough. It is a must-read for any fan of fantasy or anyone looking for a beautifully written and engaging story.

I truly have a deep affection for this book.

Ever since the very first time I laid my eyes on it and began reading, I was instantly captivated.

I find myself at a loss when it comes to precisely expressing the reasons why I like it so much.

However, I do know that it delves into profound themes such as pain, loss, death, love, and life in an allegorical manner.

The way the story is told has a powerful resonance within me.

Just recently, I picked it up and re-read it, and to my great delight, my love for it remains as strong as ever.

It's as if this book has a special charm that continues to draw me in and touch my heart with each reading.

I can't wait to explore it further and discover new layers of meaning and beauty within its pages.

I believe I perused this book during my younger days.

I spent several years in search of it, yet I was never able to locate it again.

I retained sufficient details about it to misremember the title as "Westward" since the boy's name is West.

Just recently, I placed a request for a copy from the library.

It is bound to be an exciting experience to discover what the book was truly about!

I'm eagerly anticipating its arrival and delving back into the story that I once knew.

Perhaps it will bring back a flood of memories and offer new insights that I didn't have when I first read it.

Who knows what treasures this long-awaited book holds?

I can't wait to find out!

I absolutely adore this book with all my heart and truly wish there was a sequel. I have re-read it numerous times by now. It is an extremely quick read, perhaps taking only three hours at most, yet it has wonderful characters. The story might seem a little rushed in some parts, but the characters and their interactions more than make up for it. I find the entire story to be truly beautiful, especially the ending. It brings tears to my eyes every single time because I have such a strong desire to read more about West and Caly, but unfortunately, there isn't another book in the series. I just can't get enough of their story and I keep hoping that one day, the author will decide to continue it and give us more adventures and experiences of these amazing characters.

I believe I read this sometime in high school when I thought reading lists were romantic and wanted summer reading.

I read a lot of fiction that indicated that students received summer reading lists, and I was jealous. So, I hunted one down. (Yeah, I was that kind of book nerd - English was by far my favorite subject as I adored the creativity.)

Anyways, I am pretty sure this was a book I had read that summer. And I was completely captivated by it. It is one of those alternative worlds, slipping through from ours to another. But at the time, I thought this was perfect. I thought slipping to another world was a marvelous adventure I wished to have. The trope had not yet become cliched.

I don't know about giving it a reread. I do know that I am glad the Squeecast mentioned this book recently because I had been racking my mind for quite some time trying to figure out what book this was. I had pretty much given up finding it ever again, besides bombarding my library to find out my book history back in high school.

High school was a time when my love for reading truly blossomed. The idea of a summer reading list seemed so appealing, almost like a ticket to a world of imagination and discovery. When I finally got my hands on a book from such a list, it was like finding a precious gem. The story took me on a journey to an alternative world, and I was completely lost in it. It was a magical experience that I will always remember.

Although I'm not sure if I want to reread the book now, the fact that it was mentioned again has brought back those wonderful memories. It's amazing how a single book can have such a lasting impact on our lives. I'm grateful to the Squeecast for jogging my memory and allowing me to relive that moment of pure joy and excitement.

This was a truly weird book.

I really wanted to like it, but unfortunately, it failed to meet my expectations on multiple levels.

The plot was extremely meandering and strange. It seemed to go on and on without a clear direction, and in the end, it was ultimately unsatisfactory.

The writing, too, was not what I had anticipated after reading The Dark Is Rising. It lacked the same depth and magic that I had come to expect from the author.

The only nice touch in the book was the relationship between Cally and West. Their connection added a bit of warmth and interest to the otherwise lackluster story.

However, I found it difficult to connect with any of the other characters. They felt flat and one-dimensional, and I couldn't really bring myself to care about what happened to them.

It wasn't until the very end of the book that the action finally began to pick up. But just as it was getting good, it ended on a flat note, leaving me feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.

Overall, this was not the best book I've ever read. It had its moments, but they were few and far between. I would not recommend it to others.

A well-read travelogue in a fantasy world. The beginning of the book felt better - the interest slightly waned towards the end, but overall it was okay, although I don't really belong to the target group.

The story took the reader on a journey through a magical and imaginative land. The descriptions of the landscapes and the creatures were vivid and engaging, making it easy to picture the scenes in one's mind.

However, as the book progressed, the plot seemed to lose some of its momentum. There were still interesting elements, but it didn't have the same level of excitement as the beginning. Maybe it was because I'm not really into the fantasy genre as much as others.

Despite that, I still found some enjoyment in reading this travelogue. It was a nice escape from reality for a while and allowed me to explore a different world.

In conclusion, while it wasn't a perfect read for me, I can see how others might really love this book. It has its own charm and吸引力, especially for those who are fans of the fantasy genre.