I was a little disappointed as I didn't like this as much as I had hoped.

Perhaps if I had read it when I was younger, I might have had a greater affinity for it. However, after years of delving into the world of fantasy, I found this book to be like a hodgepodge of as many myths and legends as the author could possibly gather. There were the Old Ones, the White Lady, evil men on horseback, and the seventh son of a seventh son - and there was even more.

On the positive side, it is written extremely well. The imagery and descriptions of the English countryside in winter were simply beautiful. It made me long to be back there, strolling across the snowy fields. The family scenes were also enjoyable, especially Will's relationships with his siblings.

In conclusion, I liked the book but didn't love it. I'm pretty certain that my eleven-year-old self would have devoured it though!

I saw the movie "The Seeker", which I now use as a standard to judge all movies I really dislike. However, I was required by my class to read it, so I did. Honestly, the book was somewhat entertaining. But I still didn't like it for several reasons.

The beginning was extremely hard to follow. Susan Cooper should have made it easier for the reader to figure out what was going on. The plot, though, was good. It was the classic battle between darkness and light. But Will Stanton didn't have to make any sacrifices at all. Seriously, zero. I thought the book was going to take a turn when the Dark Rider threatened to kill his sister if he didn't give up the signs of power, but she didn't even get hurt. I firmly believe that any hero needs to make some great sacrifice in order to pass his testing. Basically, a character who had to pass a test, where (even though the threat of a sacrifice was present) actually made no sacrifice, was never truly tested.

The only reason the plot line was not unbearably predictable was because it was so substandard that I kept expecting the author to take things to the next level. There were some cool concepts, but there are far better books than this that offer a more thorough understanding of what Susan Cooper was trying to accomplish. It really reminded me of the story of The Argo, how it's all about Jason's quest to become a hero but he never even does anything. He has all the Argonauts complete all his tasks for him. Definitely not my style.

I'm going to pen a review for both Over Sea, Under Stone and The Dark Is Rising.

I completed the first one three days ago and truly relished it. The bond between the three children and their great-uncle was especially endearing. It had an E. Nesbit-like charm, with a hint of Narnia thrown in for good measure. There was even a wardrobe involved, which added to the magic. The narrator was outstanding, effortlessly switching between the voices of the old and the young.

The next day, I woke up feeling dreadful. Deciding to continue with the series, I started on book two. Alas, it was nothing like the first! I listened for the first half hour or so without really taking anything in. I eventually turned it off and switched to the next Mrs. Pollifax. But I picked it up again later. Even when I reached the one crossover character, there was still no sense of familiarity. I'll admit that my mood might have influenced my judgment, but the disjoint between the books was a significant drawback for me.

Then, something happened yesterday that nearly made me give up completely. When the dark became evident to the ordinary people, the vicar wanted to help but was dismissed. This battle was said to be bigger than all the gods. I'm okay with enjoying a fictional world where there is no God as in the Bible and yet there is darkness and light and a conflict between them. But no, you cannot have a light paganism that vaguely acknowledges the true God and then dismisses Him so casually. You can't give Christmas a good magical power that ignores Christ. It was also a damning indictment of the mid-twentieth century Church of England. People feel free to treat your God as just one among a petty pantheon because you treat Him that way.

I quickly went to Goodreads to see if any of my friends had commented on this. Maybe I had misheard or misunderstood because I was feeling so rotten. Alas, out of nine friends who had rated the book (from two to five stars), not a single one had reviewed it. I was quite displeased with them.

The Dark Is Rising was indeed entertaining, but I found myself a bit disappointed in it.

My main concern lies in the fact that everything seems to just happen to the main character, Will Stanton. He is deprived of the opportunity to actively make choices or take independent actions. Instead, everyone around him simply hands him all the solutions.

For instance, he is given a book to read, which magically infuses his mind with all the answers to his questions. This makes the story feel a bit too easy and less engaging.

It would have been far more satisfying if Will had to work a little harder to become the hero. If he had faced some challenges and had to use his own wits and skills to overcome them, it would have made his journey more meaningful and the reader more invested in his character.

Overall, while The Dark Is Rising had its entertaining moments, the lack of agency for the main character was a drawback for me.

Though this is the second installment of a series, it can effortlessly be perused as a self-contained novel.

It presents a fantastically eerie midwinter tale, wherein 11-year-old Will uncovers that he has been born into a magical heritage.

The story delves into the pagan origins of midwinter festivals and incorporates the gods of pre-Christian England, along with the forces of nature like snow, rain, rivers, trees, and mountains.

It is a captivating and atmospheric book. It serves as an outstanding and imaginative novel for children, yet it also engages adults, drawing them into a fantasy that seems firmly rooted in our shared experiences, such as the flickering of candle flames, voices united in song, and the sound of footsteps in the snow, making it feel tangibly real.

The Victorian custom was to recount ghost stories during the long, dark nights around Christmas, and The Dark is Rising builds upon that concept, highlighting both the beauty of midwinter and the terrifying fears.

Will must conquer the dark powers amassing in the snow and turn to perilous entities like Herne the Hunter for assistance.

Although Will is on the side of light, he discovers that his allies are also difficult and intimidating individuals, and the victory over the dark is solemn and complex.

Complex, emotional, and immersive, this is a book that can be read and re-read, a true treat.

Not impressed at all.

Comparing these books to those of Lewis and Tolkien is truly a huge stretch. This is the second book in the series, and I have to admit that I was seriously disappointed.

The comparison to Lewis or Tolkien might have led to me lowering my rating. In fact, I even considered giving it a one.

You can decide for yourself about this, but for me, there is a sense of what could have been in these books.

The writing itself is not the issue. It's just that, in my opinion, the story feels extremely flawed.

I really wanted this to be a better book. I truly wanted to like it.

And since it has been made into a movie (more or less), I'm sure some people do love it.

As I said earlier, it's up to you to decide.

I enjoy an occasional YA read. Many YA books are good regardless of the reader's age.

However, this one just didn't work for me.

If you like it, I'm happy for you.

I would read it myself before passing it on to young readers.

That's just my personal preference.

2.5 stars.

This book really took an incredibly long time for me to complete. There is an abundance of vivid imagery throughout the pages. However, try as I might, I simply cannot, for the life of me, retell this story to anyone now in my own words. It's as if the details have slipped through my fingers like sand.

Despite this, I have to admit that I am rather digging the creepy dark fantasy aspect of it. The atmosphere that the author has managed to create is truly captivating and spine-chilling at the same time. It's a world that draws you in and makes you feel a sense of unease, yet you can't help but keep turning the pages to see what will happen next.

Overall, while the book had its challenges in terms of my ability to remember and retell the story, the unique and engaging dark fantasy elements make it a somewhat worthwhile read.

I firmly believe that this is potentially one of my all-time favorite Christmas novels. I have truly lost count of the numerous times I have read it. It has been so many times ever since I was perhaps around ten years old. I hold it in such high regard that I possess three copies of it. I am enamored with the writing style, its quality, and the sheer beauty it exudes. I love the sense of wonder that it instills within me. Set during Christmas, it has a very British charm. The feeling of being a beloved child at Christmas, as part of a large family. The element of time travel and the magic it brings. The strange yet wonderful combination of paganism and Christianity. The Wild Hunt, with Herne and his hounds pursuing the darkness. This review might seem a little disjointed, and I apologize for that. However, I am currently feeling extremely happy. I love this novel just as much now as I did when I was ten. There are not many things in life about which I can say the same.

I was extremely fortunate to have such high-quality fiction to read during my childhood.

It was a source of great joy and inspiration for me. The vivid characters, exciting plots, and imaginative worlds created within those pages truly captured my heart and mind.

As I grew into adulthood, my love for that same fiction remained unchanged. In fact, it became even more profound.

I found that the stories still had the power to transport me to different times and places, to make me feel a wide range of emotions, and to offer valuable insights into the human condition.

Reading those beloved fictional works as an adult allowed me to see them from a new perspective, to appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship that went into creating them, and to understand how they had influenced my own life and beliefs.

I am truly grateful for the gift of that wonderful fiction, which has accompanied me throughout my life and continues to bring me pleasure and enlightenment.

3.5 . . . maybe.

It is a good story that is well told. It neatly fits between The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter. It has a very English charm, with a magical realm beyond the mundane and is more or less contemporary to the time of writing. It is a YA (Young Adult) novel that should appeal to adults, but unfortunately, it lacks the magic.

William, the eleven-year-old protagonist, is far too passive. He simply floats through the book's major crises, more as an observer than an active participant. Great events occur around him, yet the reader does not sense that William is truly engaged in them. His supposed involvement and angst, if they indeed exist, are not effectively communicated.

Moreover, despite having a pack of brothers and sisters, the familiar interactions among them are not as vivid as those among the Pevensie children or Harry and his friends.

This leads to another problem: the lack of humor. Both Lewis and Rowling had a great sense of humor, but Cooper does not. In stories, just as in life, the frivolous provides a contrast to the serious.

Still, I am surprised that this book isn't/wasn't more popular. Perhaps it is because Cooper was moving towards Rowling in her ideals while remaining closer to Lewis in her prose. Maybe she wasn't in sync with the pulse of the 1970s. And, of course, her series had neither an Aslan nor a Hogwarts. Merriman is no Aslan nor a Dumbledore. And William is no Harry, nor Peter or even Edmund.

'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.'

'Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long;
Wood from the burning, stone out of song;
Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw;
Six Signs the circle, and the grail gone before.'

'Fire on the mountain shall find the harp of gold
Played to wake the Sleepers, oldest of the old;
Power from the green witch, lost beneath the sea;
All shall find the light at last, silver on the tree.'



As a child, my passion for fantasy and superheroics blossomed. I believe what intrigues a child about a fantasy novel is the allure of mystery, the thrill of adventure, and the comforting thought that in a fantasy world, no one has to be helpless against the malevolent forces that are unleashed. Haven't we all dreamt of using magic to solve mundane problems like finding a parking spot or being late for work? Isn't one of our deepest fears the feeling of powerlessness, the frustration of not being able to control everything?



I'm aware that some people don't take to this series. Perhaps it's best savored when read as a child. Reading it again now, for the fifth or so time, I notice the simplicity of the narrative, those few elements that don't quite add up or seem a touch shallow. I must confess that the subtle jab at how religion has no place in this magical world also irks me a little in the book. However, having said that, this is ultimately a novel, and when you spot those small flaws, you can laugh at them and then overlook them to enjoy the overall story. Or at least that's what I do. The one aspect I've always valued about this series is the age-old battle of Dark versus Light, good versus evil, and the story of one boy uncovering his supernatural abilities.



The three-verse poem above encapsulates the entire sequence of this series (which I prefer to read in the order of book 2, 1, 3, 4, 5 as, for me, the true story commences here with the tale of Will Stanton, the last of the Old Ones. On his eleventh birthday, Will discovers that he is destined to seek out six magical signs that will empower the forces of the Light to commence their struggle against evil.



Most of the mythology and fairytale elements in this story are drawn from Celtic origins, which is a captivating body of mythology to me. But never approach this expecting it to be on par with Tolkien or Lewis. I still rate them slightly higher. Nevertheless, this is still a classic children's fantasy series and merits being read by audiences. Interestingly, reading it today, it feels just like the first time I read it. Only now, I'm an even quicker reader than I was then. Maybe my powers are awakening, just like Will's...

This time, his fear was of an adult nature, crafted from experience, imagination, and a deep care for others. And truly, it was the worst kind of fear. In that very moment when he became aware of this, he also knew that he, Will, was the sole means through which his own fear could be conquered. Only by doing so could the Circle be fortified and the Dark be driven away.

The perfect Christmas re-read, one that I hadn't revisited since my childhood - and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest. Will Stanton, the seventh son of a seventh son, wakes up to snow on Midwinter's Eve, the day before his eleventh birthday. Before long, he discovers that he is an Old One, part of a group of immortal beings. He must then seek six Signs that will play a crucial role in a battle between Light and Dark. Over the twelve days of Christmas, as the Dark is rising, so is the snow. The story is beautifully written, with a keen sense of time, place, and season. I thoroughly enjoyed how Cooper intertwined the modern world (well, the 1970s, when it was written), the structure of the advent, and ancient British placemaking and mythology. The writing is rich, and the story is both sweeping and intimate.

It was an odd, COVID-affected Christmas in our house, and I spent much of it alone in the basement or on long walks. This tale was a wonderful accompaniment, and on my walks, I also relished listening to Robert MacFarlane and Johnny Flynn's Six Songs, which were inspired by the book. 4.5.