I'm starting to have the thought that perhaps this series should be more appropriately titled The Dark is Fumbling About Ineptly and Never Really Achieving Much.

In this particular volume, our heroes square off against the Grey King, a villain who is constantly being emphasized, almost every other paragraph, as being more powerful and evil than any other adversary they have come across thus far.

However, despite this rather imposing reputation, the most malevolent deeds he manages to carry out are, first, killing a few sheep and, second, causing one small area of the ground to briefly change its shape. Additionally, he appears to have some sort of vendetta against sheepdogs, though the reasons for this remain rather hazy throughout the entirety of the book. In the end, instead of being valiantly defeated by our brave hero as one might expect, he simply gives up, shrugs his shoulders, and strolls away. Once again, the motives behind the most powerful and evil bad guy ever choosing this course of action remain unclear.

We also spend an inordinately long time learning how to pronounce Welsh words. I suppose this could be useful if one has the intention of learning Welsh immediately after finishing the book.

Ordinarily, when I despise a series to this extent, quitting it would be an absolute no-brainer. Sadly, since I'm reading it out loud to my daughter, I find myself having to persevere. Susan Cooper is truly a terrible author, but at least there's only one book remaining!

This one is probably my favourite book of the series. It always makes me feel hiraeth.

One day, I really need to visit the parts of Wales where these books are set. And I should get someone to coach me on how to pronounce the place names. The section where Bran teaches Will is quite helpful, but it's not as good as hearing someone say the names in person. Alas, I speak very little Welsh.

I think Bran is my favourite character of the series. Barney is cute, but Bran has more depth. He has a troubled past and a lot to deal with. There's also subtlety in the emotions of all the characters. There's a level on which it works best for adults, like understanding Owen Davies' feelings. But I think it also works for everyone, on all levels.

This book is also more subtle in terms of seeing the Light and the Dark as extremes. Each can be bad in its own way. John Rowlands talks about the Light as being cold absolute good, without mercy or love. That's an interesting way of looking at it. It makes you think about the nature of good and evil and how they're not always as straightforward as we might think.

The Grey King is perhaps my absolute favorite book within this sequence. And I firmly assert that this isn't merely due to the fact that it is set in my homeland. It is an exquisitely lovely book. I believe this is the most intricately layered of the books. What I mean by that is that this is the book that has the most to offer for individuals of all ages. There are the more overt and blatant emotions of Bran - such as grief, pride, and arrogance - and the more complex grief and guilt of Owen Davies, which I'm not entirely certain a younger reader would be capable of fully comprehending.

The characters in this book are all outstanding. We have one new main character, completing our set of six, and that, of course, is Bran. I find him to be a truly fascinating character. His aloofness and sense of exclusion are portrayed extremely well, without being overdone. And the moments when he behaves just like a normal boy with Will are truly beautiful. He is incredibly human, and yet at times he also exhibits a princely or kingly demeanor. The juxtaposition of these two aspects is as captivating with him as it is with Will. However, it's not just Bran who proves to be an interesting character. I'm also drawn to Owen Davies and John Rowlands. Both of them are so very human. Owen is, in some ways, quite unfair to Bran, and yet it's evident that he loves him and desires to do right by him. John is one of those individuals who is truly good and, most of the time unwittingly, serves the Light. It's interesting to observe a character like that, aside from the fact that he is simply likeable.

This is also the book in which the hints at an Arthurian background begin to bloom a little more. Still not to the extent as in the last book, but we've progressed from realizing that Merriman is Merlin at the end of the first book to actually seeing the real King Arthur and his son.

My absolute favorite scene in the entire sequence occurs on the very last page of this book: "Bran went to Davies and put his arm round his waist, and stood close. It was the first gesture of affection between the two that Will had ever seen. And wondering, loving surprise woke in Owen Davies's worn face as he looked down at the boy's white head, and the two stood there, waiting."

I reread this book again in December 2009. It is truly beautiful. It made me cry. It swept me off into its enchanting little world, just as it always does.

It wasn't exactly amazing, but I still found it quite likable. This kids' fantasy is best tailored for preteens who won't be bothered by Cooper's aversion to systematic worldbuilding. Instead, they will be fully engaged with the real-world stakes such as reputation and livelihood. They will be content to simply let the wondrous aspects of the story remain as they are, wondrous and unresolvable. It's a fantasy that caters to those who enjoy feeling their way forward, step by step. It offers a unique blend of real-world elements and fantastical elements that can capture the imagination of young readers. The lack of a highly structured worldbuilding might seem like a drawback to some, but for the intended audience, it allows for a more free and immersive experience. They can let their own imaginations run wild and fill in the gaps as they explore the story.

Another slim book, with a length typical of young adult literature, which I believe, to some extent, hampers the arc of this story that encompasses both the harp and the sleepers.

Although the author's writing never gives the impression of being rushed in terms of description or tone, it appears that more time could have been beneficial for the details and the character development within the story.

Things unfold rapidly, even when described in a leisurely manner. Many questions remain unanswered. Why does Will experience memory loss only to have it return so easily? Why do Bran and Cafall exhibit their initial behavior, aside from creating irrelevant conflict? Why does the fire occur, other than to fulfill the poem? Why are there foxes, except in relation to Cafall? Why is Caradog present at all? Why are there riddles, and really, what is their purpose? Why is the pebble significant, other than due to the threats of the Grey King (which didn't amount to much)? Why does an Old One have a bicycle?

The Grey King and the release of the six sleepers seemed almost anti-climactic after what transpired with Cafall, and the looming threats came to nothing. Even the pebble battle seemed to possess more magic than the release of the sleepers. And Caradog, as a minion, appeared rather ineffective yet still posed more of a threat than the Grey King.

The story manages to hold together, but it is rather poorly stitched in certain areas, despite the fact that the overall fabric is quite well made.

Will seems to have moments where he has the opportunity to be a boy again, rather than the cipher he was in the previous book. There are some excellent passages, such as those set under the stars, and John Rowland has some astute observations.

Moreover, the story does seem to have a bit of a theme, namely loss. Bran experiences a dual loss, Owen has a loss, even Caradog has a loss, and Gwen had a loss. And the human choice of how to respond to hurt or loss plays out in a couple of different ways.

It was a quick and easy read, and I enjoyed the atmosphere, but the depth and complexity of the story are simply too pared down for my liking.

Oh my stars and garters!

I simply cannot believe that I had forgotten Bran's secret!

It has been approximately thirty-odd years since I last delved into this series, but still, this revelation is one of the most significant in the entire saga!

I guess one silver lining of having a rather lousy memory is the ability to experience the thrill of such revelations more than once! Ha!

This installment was yet another excellent addition to the series, and I find myself quite grief-stricken at the thought that there is only one more book remaining in this magical re-read.

P.S. For some strange reason, my autocorrect attempted to change 'grief-stricken' to 'brief-stricken'.

Somebody really should inform it that being brief-stricken is something entirely different!

Man, I have to say that my handful of Welsh lessons on Duolingo were simply NOT up to the task of this!

You know, in real life, no one actually asked anyone if they liked celery, or offered them a cup of tea (at least not in Welsh). It's quite different from what I learned on Duolingo.

And another thing, Duo did NOT talk about the "lake in the pleasant place" or the deep Arthurian lore. These are the things that I really wanted to know and learn about Welsh culture, but unfortunately, Duolingo didn't cover them.

I guess I'll have to look for other resources to further my understanding of the Welsh language and culture.

I firmly believe that Greenwitch has been the best up until now, but this one is also quite good.

However, I'm not entirely convinced that Bran is Arthur's son. He could potentially have been a reincarnation or something similar to the other kids.

Nonetheless, I have a strong feeling that Silver on the Tree will provide a detailed explanation as to why it had to be this way.

Maybe there are some hidden secrets and connections that will be uncovered in the next installment of the series.

I'm really looking forward to finding out more and seeing how the story progresses.

It's always exciting to explore new theories and possibilities while reading these captivating books.

Cooper abandons her successful formula from Greenwitch. She parts ways with the three children from the first and third books of the series and instead focuses on Will Stanton. Sadly, this means we are once again presented with the magical Will, the last of the Old Ones. He essentially just observes as various mystical events unfold around him. He is a bit more involved in this book than he was in The Dark Is Rising, which was the previous book that centered solely on him. However, the outcome is almost equally dull. Once again, the vibrant British mythology is prominent, but it holds little significance or interest due to the lackluster plot.

Moreover, there are several plot elements that generate tension but ultimately seem extremely trivial and pointless. (Spoiler alert!) For instance, why on earth does it matter that the grey foxes are attacking sheep and making it appear as if it is the work of a main character's sheepdog? Clearly, this adds tension to the story for the main characters. But a) it seems rather absurd on the part of the foxes - why do they have a vendetta against this particular sheepdog? - and b) it is completely inconsequential compared to the greater stakes of the dark rising and the takeover of the world. This is just another example of Cooper's inconsistent plotting and her inability to depict the nature of evil or darkness with any depth. When compared to other youth fantasy classics such as Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia, it comes across as superficial and flat in every aspect (except for its interesting mythology).

As an afterthought, I attempted to read the final book of the series, simply to have the satisfaction of completing it, but I gave up. I don't believe I will return to this series.

Okay, the series has once again become enjoyable!

It's quite funny actually. I believe Cooper understood that she had made Will almost infallible in the previous book. So, at the beginning of this one, she hit him with an illness that induces memory loss. It might seem a bit clumsy, but I'm just extremely grateful that she realized the corner she had written herself into!

The illness also serves as an excellent excuse to shift the entire story to Wales. (Because, you know, when you're recovering from a life-threatening fever, rainy Wales is the PERFECT place to do it. Sarcasm intended.) But putting the sarcasm aside, I really enjoyed the change of scenery. I found the language and the local myths to be really cool.

I'm realizing more and more that these books are consistently written for 10-year-old children. If I may make a very small comparison to Potter here, that's one thing I noticed Rowling did really cleverly. She aged the kids up a year in each book. You got a realistic sense of their growth as humans, which is something that can't be said for Will.

The oh-so-wise passive-voiced Will returns about halfway through this one. And I can't believe I'm writing this, but I'd choose tween angst over his somber calculations any day.

But aside from these complaints (coming from a grown-up reading a children's novel), I really did enjoy this one. Cooper has a real gift for creating mood and ritual, and Wales is a wonderfully interesting backdrop.

I think my main thought about these books is: I should have read them as a kid.

I vividly remember devouring this book when it was first released and absolutely loving it. It held a special place in my heart as my favorite of the series. There were several reasons for this. Firstly, the Welsh setting added a unique charm and allure. Secondly, I was completely obsessed with King Arthur. And thirdly, let's face it, I was around fifteen years old at the time. All these years, I have remembered it fondly. After the disappointment of Greenwitch, I told myself, "Never mind, The Grey King is next, and you love that one!"

Well, that was true forty years ago. Now, not so much. I can't really condemn the book too harshly - it's me who has changed. And when I say "changed", I mean I have become a completely different person. Given the four decades that have passed, this isn't really that surprising. However, other YA and children's books have stood the test of time much better for me than this one. Even in the action sequences, I found myself skimming a great deal.

OK, I'll admit that Will, the Youngest Old One, has been seriously ill with hepatitis - although how he contracted it is never discussed. But he seems much less mature and much younger than he was in The Dark Is Rising. I was a bit surprised to find that when he is given an aspirin after hurting his arm, he spends most of the afternoon in a "dreamy, suspended state of mind". Where can I get aspirins like that? And despite all his experience, Will is still wandering around, wondering what to do, and making the wrong choices even though he knows better. This place is dangerous, he knows he shouldn't go there, but hey! In he goes, with no backup. At least Cooper doesn't go into too much detail about those "words in the Old Speech" or try to invent them. We have enough with her Welsh lessons this time around. Somebody just had a near-death fall - but that's okay, we can revive him with a good discussion about the origins of the name of the place where he almost fell to his death!

I guess I'm just not very good at enjoying fantasy anymore. We had the Old Magic as the "oldest" and "strongest", right? Then no, we found out that the Wild Magic is much more potent and uncontrollable. And now, yes, aha! We have the High Magic, "a power beyond Light or Dark or any allegiance - the strongest and most remote force in the universe." Well, sweetie, it looks like the Force wasn't with you. Later, she speaks of "the merciless starlight of infinity" that "observes and judges" (now, wait, didn't we just say there was no allegiance involved here?) from an energy "as unthinkable as the holocaust of the sun." Uh-huh. I have had Christian friends try to treat this as an allegory; well, I guess we see what we are conditioned to see. Mind you, many people see the real Arthurian cycle as an allegory, with Arthur as a Christ-figure, instead of what it was - your basic oral-tradition telenovela for entertainment. Once again, Owen's Christianity is basically a sham, going through the motions to atone for his past contact with "paganism" (or whatever); it has no real strength in Cooper's world.

All of this quest/harp/sword stuff must have been predetermined, with all these magic rooms and such set up since time immemorial. But that would imply a predetermined outcome - so what is the point of all this? Yes, I know what the point is - adventure fiction. But still. It's also the classic coming-of-age story, as Will and Bran are pretty much left to fend for themselves with little to no help from the other Old Ones - crap, it's almost like they don't really care how it all turns out, isn't it?

And the ending was just silly. I know, I know - I'm too old for this type of fantasy fiction. Once you learn to analyze a text, the gaps, holes, and nonsense become too obvious.

I'll read the last book because I have it, and because I suddenly remembered a piece of dialogue between Will and one of his many brothers that hasn't occurred in any of the previous books. This means I must have read Silver on the Tree at some point, but again, I have no memory of it. Coming from me, that is pretty damning; I'm the sort of person who catches the phrases that have been cut from "unabridged" audiobooks of books I haven't read on paper for decades. But what a disappointment this re-visit to old friends has been.

This book didn't quite reach the same level of excellence as "Greenwitch", yet on the whole, it was still a significant improvement over "The Dark is Rising". For the very first time, Will actually gives the impression of being a proper character. We gain the sense that he truly has personal interests, and we get to witness him making actual choices that have consequences.

This book also benefits from the decision to keep Merry/Merriman on the sidelines. This way, Will can't simply have everything walked through for him. That was a factor that made "The Dark is Rising" perpetually unbearable, so it was great not to have to deal with that here.

However, Will is still overshadowed by another character, much like the situation in "Greenwitch" with Jane. In this case, it's Bran. Bran is immediately an interesting and sympathetic character, and frankly, one who gives the impression that he should have been the main character of this story from the outset.

I also admired the decision to introduce characters who aren't strictly Light or Dark. They are simply humans with their own morality and choices who can still have an impact on the story. John Rowlands and Caradog Prichard are both major parts of this story. The opposing sides use them in their own ways, but overall, they have their own choices. I've been bothered by the extent to which this series has relied on the idea that "all these things happen because they were always going to happen and no one really has a choice." I feel that this book especially pulled away from that, and it increased the tension.

I do wish the book hadn't ended so abruptly. I'm the kind of person who enjoys reading about the aftermath and seeing how the events have affected everyone.

I also don't understand at all the decision to start the book with Will suffering from amnesia. It seems to serve little purpose and was so poorly explained that I didn't realize at first that it had occurred. And then it was quickly over and done with. It was just a really unusual decision that had no long-term impact.