The Grey King

Okay, I can clearly see the reason why this particular one is the one that deserves to get the medal. The truly fantastic reveal that occurs at the end has the power to spin the magic forward and carry it onward to the final book in the series. I am certain that I will get to that one in the not-too-distant future. However, I still hold the opinion that the magic within this story seems to be much too convenient. It almost feels as if it is just there to solve problems with ease, without much effort or struggle. Additionally, the threat that is presented in the story doesn't really feel overly urgent. It lacks that sense of immediacy that would make the reader truly worried and on the edge of their seat. Unless, of course, you happen to be a dog. For a dog, perhaps the situation might seem completely different and more pressing.

I really, really enjoyed this book! It's excellent!

This is a wonderful fourth book in the series. Of course, as an adult reader, you can guess the references to a certain legend. However, this was written for children. And just like all of the books in this series, I would have absolutely loved reading them as a child. I love reading them now, of course! As the saying goes, it's never too late to have a happy childhood!

Since I live in Wales and am currently learning to speak its beautiful language, I really appreciated the book's setting.

These books are truly so beautiful.

This particular one I hadn't read since I was extremely young, and yet, it was far better than I could recall.

Will is dispatched to Wales to recuperate from a prolonged illness. The backdrop in the Welsh countryside is both enchanting and beautiful.

Here, Will encounters a boy named Bran and his dog Cafall. They quickly become friends, and the two boys embark on a journey to fulfill Will's quest to locate the harp of gold and rouse the sleepers.

I have just completed this story, and I am left deeply haunted by the ending, which is both glorious and tragic.

It is simply wonderful.

Overall, the vivid descriptions of the Welsh countryside, the engaging characters, and the thrilling plot make this a truly remarkable read.

I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good adventure story with a touch of magic and mystery.

The way the author weaves the tale and builds up the tension is truly masterful.

I can't wait to explore more of the author's works.

The Grey King is perhaps my most beloved book within the sequence, and without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite books.

During this read-through, the aspects that caught my attention - as detailed in my full review, which is more of an overview of all my readings of it and can be found here - were mainly about its Welshness, the intricacies of Will's relationship with the Light and humanity, and precisely how Bran is connected to the Light.

John Rowlands' little speech regarding the coldness at the core of the Light always strikes a chord with me. It presents a moral ambiguity that isn't always present, for example, in Harry Potter. Several times, we witness that Will isn't truly human, and we are compelled to question the justifications behind his goals. Is the Light more entitled to dictate what humanity should do than the Dark? Although, upon reflection, what the Dark would do to humanity is rarely explicitly articulated. It remains a formless fear, and perhaps even more potent for that reason, as the reader brings their own understanding to it.

Once you've read the entire sequence, I believe you do come to know that the Light is in the right, due to how they handle their victory - yet, at the same time, that coldness at the heart persists. However, you never see anything from the perspective of the Dark. I've read rewrites of The Lord of the Rings where Sauron was not depicted as evil. In that sense, it would be fascinating to read a rewrite of The Dark is Rising! How could one advocate for the Dark and make it seem like the better choice? Clearly, some people choose to align with the Dark. Merriman tells Will that the Lords of the Dark make that choice; they aren't born into it as those of the Light are. It would be extremely interesting to know what drives people to become Lords of the Dark. There is the painter in Greenwitch, who is very lonely, very unhappy, and an outcast. I think perhaps he is the clearest illustration of this, although there are also elements of it in Silver on the Tree - people so blinded by ideas that they lose all sense of right and wrong.

In any event, the other thing that truly affects me about these books is that they make my heart long for Wales. Now that I'm back home in Wales, it's a slightly different experience, but I'm really not aware of any other book that evokes the feeling of Wales for me as strongly. Or at least I wasn't before. Now that I've read more Welsh literature, I'm beginning to notice it in other books as well. But The Dark is Rising still holds the most powerful sway.

Boy meets boy, and soon enough, antics begin to unfold. A boy with an old soul crosses paths with a boy who has a dog with an old soul too. However, an old king wishes they had never met. Meanwhile, a sick boy burdened with too many siblings encounters a sickly boy who has some serious father issues. A little weirdo finds his match in another little weirdo, and the latter teaches the former how to pronounce Welsh words. A super-powered boy meets an albino boy with golden eyes, and the former imparts the meaning of friendship, power, and why old kings are bad news for everyone. An ancient immortal being meets a boy lost out of time, and together they play with dogs and manage to avoid the mean old king.

A brave dog engages in a battle against horrible grey foxes. The grey foxes, who are just trying to protect their boss, take on the uptight dog, and unfortunately, some sheep die during the ruckus. An evil ginger utters unkind things to two sweet boys and a noble dog, and the mean old king approves. Two mean boys torment a mentally ill redhead who simply wants to protect his sheep and perhaps make friends with a sleepy old king.

The white Light burns bright, and the shadow of Dark shall rise. The sleepy king just wants to keep things sleepy for himself, his 6 guests, and maybe the rest of the world. But two busybody boys refuse to let anyone sleep in. In the end, two brave boys manage to defeat one great evil, and Light triumphs over Dark! Sadly, a lonely old man gets evicted from his last refuge by two young jerks. :(

The really upsetting one. I'd been calling it that in my head all along, but I didn't realize I didn't actually remember why. It turns out this upset me so much as a child that I literally blanked out the relevant details. I remembered about two pages before it happened, in the same horrible swooping lurch that Will experiences as he realizes something bad is about to happen. Animal harm, man, that shit fucks you up. /profound.

Anyway. I found this intensely interesting. It follows on very well from Greenwitch, like the next sentence in an argument. Which is how a series ought to work, in an ideal world.

My understanding of this book is filtered through two contrasting scenes. One is Will and Bran questing for the harp, coming before the three hooded powers and answering the riddles set them. There's something so constrained about that scene, so bloodless and controlled with the representatives of the polls of magic fulfilling their assigned roles. As a child, I found it hugely confusing that Merriman is one of the hooded figures. He's on their side, so why does he make them go through the song and dance? Because he has to, because the scripted magic prophecy says he must, and he is an Old One, so he does. (BTW, if anyone would care to educate me on what significance the three riddles have, I'd love to hear it. Their content, I mean -- they have always been entirely puzzling to me, and I did not stop to Google this time like I meant to).

Contrast that with the other scene of riddles asked and answered: Bran screaming at his father in the hut on the hillside, demanding to know who he is and where he came from. The complete opposite of bloodless and constrained. This book is like that -- the magic has that stilted, staged feel of predestiny, while the parallel human story is messy and wildly alive. The Grey King might roll out his menacing fog, and I'll grant you he's creepy. But the most profound, awful evil in this book for my money is purely human. And for all Will is the questing hero, the greatest kindness and bravery aren't his. They're John Rowlands's, and Bran's, and most profoundly, Bran's father's.

It all really works. See John Rowlands talking to Will about the coldness of the Light. This book really digs into what we've only seen in glimpses before about how the Light is fighting for mankind while being profoundly outside it. Try and picture Will screaming at anybody, demanding the secrets of his history. Doesn't work, does it?

Humanity has a range, a resonance in the book that the people of power just don't. Will's most profound moments for me come early, when he is still amnesiac and in a fundamental way, not himself, just a boy. Will gets his memory back and instantly steps out of the center of the emotional arc, which belongs almost entirely to Bran and his connections.

Which is another thing -- why the hell is Bran albino? I've always wondered, and I figured an answer would come to me on this reread, but nope. There's the obvious -- Cooper is using physical disability as a marker of strangeness. Bran's appearance works that way in the narrative -- it's code for a different level of strangeness, of out-of-placeness. But is that all? It's implied very very fleetingly in the next book that Herne the Hunter is actually an incarnation of Arthur, and that's where Bran gets his looks -- really not sure what to make of that.

I am still re-reading my beloved Dark is Rising series. I would rate this one as a 3.5. I truly love the Welsh setting, which adds a unique charm to the story. The introduction of Bran is also quite interesting, and the myths incorporated make it even more captivating. However, I found myself skimming over quite a few passages. It seems that some parts could have been more engaging.

Here's a fun fact for Maggie Stiefvater/Raven Boy fans. This book has several elements that might be familiar. There is a character referred to as The Raven Boy, which is sure to catch the attention of those who love Maggie Stiefvater's works. Additionally, there are "old ways" that act much the same as ley lines, adding an element of mystery and magic. The search to find and wake a mythical Welsh king is another exciting aspect of the story. And to top it off, this book has received a 5-star rating by none other than Maggie Stiefvater herself.

The fourth book in Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising sequence, “The Grey King,” begins with a captivating and prophetic rhyme. This rhyme, with its alliterative phrases, antonyms, and allusions, reads like a mysterious riddle waiting to be solved. It sets the tone for the entire story, hinting at the supernatural and the unknown that lies ahead.

“On the day of the dead, when the year too dies,
Must the youngest open the oldest hills
Through the door of the birds, where the breeze breaks.”

The day of the dead mentioned in the rhyme refers to the ancient Celtic feast of Samhain, which is now known as Halloween. This was a time when the boundary between the living and the dead was believed to be thin, and the departed could walk among the living. Cooper’s story is set in Gwynedd, Wales, during this very period, adding an extra layer of authenticity and spookiness to the narrative.

The main character, Will Stanton, is an eleven-year-old boy who has come to Tywyn to recuperate from hepatitis. However, he soon discovers that there are darker forces at work in the area. He must call upon all his powers as an Old One of the Light to combat these forces and protect the people he has come to care about. Along the way, he meets a cast of memorable characters, each with their own secrets and motives.

What makes “The Grey King” so special is Cooper’s masterful storytelling. She weaves together elements of fantasy, mythology, and real-life emotions to create a rich and engaging world. Her descriptions of the Welsh landscape and culture are vivid and detailed, making the reader feel as if they are right there in the story. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

In conclusion, “The Grey King” is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure. It is a story that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it, and it is sure to become a classic in the genre.