This book is the very first installment of a series.

Interestingly, it bears a rather strange family resemblance to the Chronicles of Narnia. Here's how: some children find themselves exploring a mysterious old house during their holiday by the Cornish seaside.

There is even a wardrobe present, although it doesn't function in the same way as the one in Narnia that serves as a conduit to a magical world.

The book initially seems to start off at a somewhat slow pace. However, as the story progresses, it gradually builds up to an extremely tense climax near the end.

At this point, Simon, Jane, and Barnabas Drew are engaged in a struggle with the powers of evil, with the assistance of Great-Uncle Merry and a lovable dog named Rufus.

Their battle against the forces of darkness makes for a thrilling and exciting conclusion to the story, leaving readers on the edge of their seats and eager to see what happens next in the series.

Actual Rating: 3.75 / 5

There is truly nothing more fulfilling than selecting a long-neglected book from your bookshelf and emerging from it feeling content. I can't precisely recall how long I've overlooked "Over Sea, Under Stone", the initial installment of Susan Cooper's "The Dark Is Rising" sequence. Was it two years? Perhaps three? It might seem like a good idea to give priority to more recent publications (after all, "Over Sea, Under Stone" will be 50 years old in 2016), but that doesn't do much to ease the guilt associated with one's To-Be-Read (TBR) pile. So, I made the decision to put aside my guilt and immerse myself in Cooper's world of darkness, light, and Arthurian legends – and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

"Over Sea, Under Stone" is set in the fictional coastal town of Trewissick in Great Britain. Three siblings – Simon, Jane, and Barney Drew – along with their parents, join their wise yet eccentric Great Uncle Merry for a summer vacation. They rent a castle-like mansion called the Grey House. While exploring the Grey House, the siblings stumble upon a manuscript from the days of King Arthur. Strange events begin to unfold afterwards. The Grey House is ransacked by burglars, yet nothing is stolen. Mysterious visitors attempt to insinuate themselves into the family's "inner circle". The only person the children realize they can trust at this point is Great Uncle Merry, who appears to know a great deal about the manuscript and its significance. With their great uncle looking out for them, the Drew siblings must piece together clues and locate the grail mentioned in the manuscript – before their enemies do.

The story takes a few chapters to gain momentum. However, once it does, it becomes a fast-paced and captivating read, featuring smart pacing and engaging language that readers of all ages will appreciate. Its surprisingly complex plot is also easy to follow. Cooper handles every detail with precision, as if it were a chess piece. Characters who initially seem unimportant later reemerge in the story in ways that make perfect sense, and then pose a threat to the Drew children and their chances of success. These twists and turns are a testament to great storytelling, regardless of the genre or target audience.

Cooper also excels at creating tension and suspense. As the conflict escalates in "Over Sea, Under Stone", she constantly keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, fearing for the children's lives. She achieves this through dialogue, the internal reactions of the Drew siblings, and action. The chase scene at the end of Chapter 7 is one of my favorite parts of the book. By the end of it, my heart was racing and I was gasping for breath due to the pacing and the constant worry over whether the chase would have a bad outcome for Simon.

Another aspect of the book that I adored was the relationships between Simon, Jane, and Barney. It's abundantly clear that they are siblings! They argue, joke around, tease one another, and worry about each other's safety. Cooper never reveals their exact ages; if I had to guess, I'd say they're probably 10 (Simon), 9 (Jane), and 7 (Barney), which aligns with how they interact with each other and with adults. Their banter can sometimes become tiresome and impact the pacing. Nevertheless, Cooper's realistic portrayals of the Drew siblings made me even more invested in the story and the characters themselves.

The only real criticism I have of "Over Sea, Under Stone" is the third-person omniscient narration (also known as the all-knowing point of view that shares the thoughts and feelings of all the main characters within a scene or chapter). I understand that this was an acceptable narrative style back in the 1960s when Cooper wrote the book. (Other classic fantasy series like Tolkien's "Lord Of The Rings" trilogy and C.S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia" were also written in this way.) However, it was somewhat jarring to learn Jane's thoughts in one paragraph and then Barney's in the next. I was also slightly annoyed by the few times when the omniscient narrator focused on a minor character instead of one of the Drew siblings. While it may help to show how the scope broadens as the story progresses, I still questioned its necessity.

Overall, though, I'm glad that I finally found the time to read "Over Sea, Under Stone". It captures the innocence and curiosity of its young protagonists, as well as the mythic significance of the battle between good and evil. With its believable characters, realistic relationships, and nail-biting suspense, it's a vivid and compelling fantasy that appeals to readers of all ages. I now fully intend to continue reading "The Dark Is Rising" sequence. Too bad it's Christmastime and I'm still under my self-imposed book-buying ban for another 2 weeks!

This is the first book of Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising cycle.

The Dark is Rising, which is actually the second book in the series, is much like another famous English fantasy series, **coughNarniacough**, in that the second book is considered the better one. However, when it comes to the written chronology versus the story chronology, the conversation becomes rather complicated.

I hadn’t read this first one since my early teens. While it is indeed good, I find myself eagerly anticipating getting my hands on the next one in the series.

I also noticed numerous similarities to another beloved English fantasy book from my childhood, The Box of Delights. Both are linked to the Arthurian legends, involve children on holiday attempting to solve a mystery, and feature shady clergy, absent adults, and robberies.

Since The Box of Delights was published 30 years before Over Sea, Under Stone, it would be difficult not to observe the influence of the former on the latter.

It’s interesting to see how different works within the same genre can share common elements and yet still have their own unique charm. I’m looking forward to delving deeper into this series and seeing where the story takes me.

SSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SLLLOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!

I've had to restart the book three times. It seems that every time I try to get into it, I just can't seem to make much progress. It has taken me quite a while just to get to the point that I'm at.

As you can see from the GIF, I'm really bored now.

I will give Cooper credit that is due. The adventure he has created is interesting, but it is so dragged out. There are just too many details and descriptions that don't seem to add much to the story. It feels like he is trying to stretch the book out to make it longer, rather than telling a concise and engaging story.

I hope that the second half of the book will pick up the pace and become more exciting. Otherwise, I'm not sure if I will be able to finish it.

So I definitely missed this one as a kid, and what a great shame that is.

The series first came to my attention when the seemingly terrible movie was released. I caught a trailer for it and promptly added the books to my To Be Read (TBR) list.

However, I then did absolutely nothing about it for over a decade. At this point, who even knows the exact timeline?

I kind of thought the original book covers were rather ugly, which is why it never really became a priority for me.

But people truly seem to love this series. A friend of mine on Goodreads (GR) did a re-read recently, and I happened to notice that the books had been re-released with some stunning illustrated covers.

Intrigued, I bought the first two books with the intention of giving them a try. And now I have finally read this first book.

I'm certain this story would have been completely riveting for me as a child. I would have absolutely adored it and perhaps even gone crazy over it.

Even now, it was still a sort of nostalgic and enjoyable read. One thing it really made me want to do is take a holiday in Cornwall, although I'm sure things have changed a great deal in the sixty years since the book was written.

There's just something so deeply satisfying for me about family and kid adventure stories where they search for some kind of lost treasure by following long-hidden clues.

It's also great fun that the treasure in this story is related to Arthurian legend.

This book follows the Drew siblings as they follow the clues on a very old map hidden in the attic of their vacation home on the Cornwall coast, all while the forces of the Dark are closing in on them.

The kids weren't overly memorable, but apparently, the most distinct kid character doesn't make an appearance until book two.

(I will note that the kids play some rather gross colonialization adventure games before they begin their quests, so it's quite dated in that regard. But I'm sure it's also representative of what actual kids in that era played, making it a bit of a strange time capsule.)

It was actually really harrowing to watch them try to solve the clues first and avoid the antagonists, who were truly creepy and added a great deal of tension to the story.

Something I didn't know before is that this book was written in the 1960s, a full ten years before the series' most well-known entry, The Dark is Rising.

I guess the author didn't originally plan for this to be a series. That would have been a real pity because this book ends in a very open-ended way.

I'm not sure when I'll get around to reading the next book. Hopefully, it'll be soon so that I don't forget the details. And the books are quite easy to read, probably only taking an afternoon each.

3.5 - Why didn't the adults realise they could easily beat up the children and take the map?

Perhaps they were cowards. Maybe they were afraid of the consequences that might follow if they were to physically harm the children.

Or perhaps they had morals. They might have believed that it was wrong to use force against the innocent, especially children.

It could also be that they had other reasons. Maybe they thought that taking the map by force would not solve the problem and that there was a better way to obtain it.

Whatever the reason, it is clear that the adults chose not to beat up the children and take the map.

This decision may have been influenced by their personal beliefs, values, and experiences.

It also shows that there are other ways to resolve conflicts and obtain what one wants without resorting to violence.

In conclusion, the adults' decision not to beat up the children and take the map is a complex one that likely involved multiple factors.

It is important to consider these factors when trying to understand why people make the choices they do.

2.0 to 2.5 stars. This is a well-written, original fantasy story that truly stands out. It is specifically crafted for a younger audience, yet it never condescends to them. Instead, it engages them in a captivating way. As the first book in the "Dark is Rising" sequence, it effectively introduces readers to the age-old battle between the Light and the Dark. The story unfolds in a way that keeps the readers on the edge of their seats, curious to know what will happen next. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns. Overall, it is not a bad read at all. It offers an exciting adventure for young readers and a chance to explore a world of magic and mystery.

A couple of years ago, I happened to watch a movie that had a scene with an almost Mardi Gras-like atmosphere -- but without the exposure of breasts. *wink wink* The music was blaring loudly, and the street was filled to the brim with costumed, dancing people. There were kids in the movie, and I was quite certain that they were the main characters. And they had a dog too. That's all that I could recall. I truly liked that movie. I desperately wanted to remember what it was called so that I could watch it again, but even Google failed to assist me in jogging my memory. *sad face*

Then, I reread this book. And guess what? It wasn't a movie --- it was this book! To me, that is a huge compliment to the author. It shows how vividly the author was able to create the scenes and the atmosphere that it felt like a movie playing in my mind.

I rarely reread books, simply because I have an extensive 'really want to read' list. But I quite enjoyed this one, both times. *yay face* I enjoyed it so much that I've added it to my 'to buy' list. *fist pump to Susan Cooper*

(Excellent audiobook as well.)

This is a very enjoyable and classic children's adventure story.

It takes the reader on a thrilling journey filled with excitement and wonder.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, making it easy for children to relate to them.

The story is full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

It also has valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and perseverance.

I truly wish I could have stumbled upon this story as a child.

It would have been a wonderful addition to my childhood library.

Even as an adult, I still find it captivating and entertaining.

I highly recommend this story to children and adults alike.

It is a timeless classic that will be enjoyed for generations to come.

The parents are completely oblivious, completely unaware of what is going on around them. The uncle, on the other hand, is the facilitator, the one who seems to be guiding the situation in some way. There are three siblings playing together, and in the midst of their play, they happen to find a map. This is a classic formula, one that we have seen in many stories before, but it usually works, and it works in this book as well.

Of course, we all know that the idea of young children working as a team and not having any fights is as unlikely as them finding a grail. It's a nice thought, but in reality, it's almost impossible. However, we oblivious parents can always hope. We hope that our children will get along, that they will work together, and that they will have a great time. But then again, I'd ground my kids for a month if I ever found out they took such risks. Maybe that's why they would keep me oblivious, so that I wouldn't find out and punish them. Hmm, maybe I should search the house for a grail.

Regardless of all this, this was a good beginning for the series. It set the stage for what is to come, and it made me want to read more. I'm curious to see where the story will go, what adventures the siblings will have, and if they will ever find the grail. I can't wait to find out.

Slow, confused, and boring.

This description seems to fit a particular piece of work rather accurately. It lacks the necessary pace and clarity to engage a wider audience.

While it might be passable as a read aloud for very small children, who may not be as discerning, there are numerous other, far better options out there.

In a world filled with exciting and captivating literature, why would one bother with something that is so lackluster?

There are countless books that can stimulate a child's imagination, teach valuable lessons, and provide hours of entertainment.

It seems rather pointless to settle for something that is slow, confused, and boring when there are so many wonderful alternatives waiting to be discovered.

A family consisting of three children embarks on a holiday to Cornwell, accompanied by their enigmatic uncle Merry.

Eh? I'm not entirely certain that I would have relished reading this when I was a kid. It has a somewhat eerie quality to it. Then again, perhaps the child version of myself wouldn't have been as affected.

Since it's a children's book, I wasn't truly anticipating anything overly terrible to occur. Nevertheless, the story possesses a mundane sense of evil that was rather disconcerting. It's not ghosts or monsters that pose the threat, but rather people. But which people? What do they desire, and how far are they prepared to go to obtain it? At times, it felt like a kids' version of 'The Wicker Man': lol.

It's a quite fast-paced book, and it's very easy to envision the events unfolding. Moreover, all the characters stand out extremely vividly.