This series continues to be so deliciously atmospheric!

It creates a world that is both enchanting and captivating. However, is this a flawless book? Not at all.

There are certain aspects that could be improved upon. But despite its flaws, I am truly loving what this series is spinning out.

It weaves a story that keeps me hooked from beginning to end. The only exception being the first book, which, alas, is necessary to begin with but doesn't come close to the delights of the rest of this series.

The first book may lack some of the charm and excitement that the subsequent books possess, but it still serves as an important foundation for the overall narrative.

As the series progresses, it gets better and better, and I can't wait to see what else is in store.

I have to say that I had a rather different experience with this piece.

At first, during the first half, I found myself a bit disengaged. It just didn't seem to have that initial spark that could draw me in completely.

However, as I moved on to the latter half, something magical happened. It was like a switch had been flipped.

The story or the content suddenly took on a new life. It actually gripped me tightly.

Every word, every sentence seemed to have a purpose and a power that pulled me deeper and deeper into it.

I was completely absorbed, and time seemed to fly by as I was engrossed in this latter part.

It was truly a remarkable transformation, and it made me appreciate the overall work in a whole new light.

I'm really glad that I stuck with it and got to experience the captivating latter half.

It goes to show that sometimes, a work can surprise you and reveal its true essence only as you progress through it.

I'm truly undecided as to whether this is my absolute favorite book in the series. However, if it isn't sitting right at the very top, it's definitely at least number two. And, regardless of whether it's my favorite or not, The Grey King holds a special place in my heart as the "home" book of the series. It's the one that I always remember with the utmost clarity, the one that presents the clearest mental pictures in my mind, and the one whose eerie vibe lingers with me for the longest time.

I have a deep affection for Bran. He is so interesting because he is both normal, being just a boy with a dog he loves, and yet unearthly as the Raven Boy, the heir to the Pendragon throne. Will, as always, remains my favorite character. It really makes me feel uncomfortable how much his powers are diminished in this book compared to what I'm accustomed to. But, at the same time, this reduction in his powers actually raises the stakes and makes the story even more紧张. The Grey King reminds me strongly of the Landrost from the Pellinor series. It's truly creepy how the entire Light vs. Dark battle, especially in this book, takes on a form that no ordinary layman would even notice as being odd. It's just an angry man and some dogs.

There is one thing that I really don't understand, though. Why on earth can't Will speak Welsh? At first, I thought I understood it because he has amnesia about being an Old One. But even after he remembers himself, he still can't understand when other people are speaking Welsh. Why is that? In Silver on the Tree, he goes back in time to Roman Britain and speaks fluent Latin because all languages come naturally to the Old Ones... except Welsh? Is it a unique feature of the Welsh language itself? Is it a symptom of his sickness that he still hasn't healed from? Or is it some kind of power of the Grey King? I'm just so confused by this aspect of the story.

In my opinion, this is by far the best book of the series. The ending is extremely intense, leaving readers on the edge of their seats.

However, there is a content warning that needs to be noted. There is significant harm to animals in the story, which can be quite upsetting and a bit graphic. Part of it involves the family dog.

Although it is listed as a children and middle grade book, it might be too disturbing for some. It's important to consider this when deciding whether to recommend or allow children to read it.

Overall, while the book has its strengths, the content related to animals should be taken into account to ensure that it is appropriate for the intended audience.

I’m not entirely certain about the specific age range that the Dark Is Rising series of books is truly targeted at. As an adult who is currently revisiting these books (in fact, I began with book 2 The Dark Is Rising during Christmas), I do encounter some parts of the text that are rather difficult to get through and perhaps a bit dull. Nevertheless, there is also some really nice descriptive writing within the pages.

I always perceive this book as being a little melancholy because of the loss of the dog. However, it should be noted that it is intended for children, and as Disney films often illustrate, life can be extremely sad at times.

The next book in line is book 5 Silver On The Tree. I am looking forward to seeing what new adventures and challenges it will bring. Will it continue to have the same mix of engaging and less engaging elements? Only time will tell as I embark on this new literary journey.

I am still engrossed in reading The Dark is Rising saga. The author, Cooper, has an amazing talent for vividly describing places and landscapes. His words paint a detailed picture in my mind, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the story. However, I couldn't help but notice that this particular book seems to be rather male-dominated. The female characters don't seem to have as prominent a role or as much depth as the male ones. I think this is a bit of a shame because it would have been nice to see more well-developed female characters. Despite this, I still found the book enjoyable. The plot is engaging and the writing is of a high quality. I'm looking forward to seeing how the story progresses in the remaining books of the saga.

Time to embark on my exploration of my favorite Arthurian novels. Strangely, Robin Hood and King Arthur, the cream of the crop in British mythology and lore, have always been intertwined in my mind. To be honest, I've been slightly obsessed with both since I was a girl, and I have a special place in my heart for my first encounter with each in novelized form.

When it comes to Robin Hood, it was Robin McKinley's The Outlaws of Sherwood. With Arthurian lore, it was Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising Sequence. This sequence is actually a five-book series following two groups of people caught up in the centuries-old conflict between the Light and the Dark.

The first group consists of the three Drew children - Simon, Jane, and Barney - who become involved through their connections with their mysterious Great-Uncle Merry. The second is a long line of warriors for the Light known as the Old Ones, culminating in the last (and youngest) of the Old Ones, a seemingly ordinary boy named Will Stanton. The books alternate between these two groups, sometimes intersecting, sometimes going solo, until they all unite in the final volume.

The fourth (and my favorite) book is THE GREY KING. It opens with Will Stanton delirious with fever, certain he has forgotten something crucial but unable to remember what. Having contracted hepatitis, he is sent to stay with his aunt and uncle in Wales for his recovery. Slowly, as he regains his strength, his memory returns, and it becomes clear why he has been sent to an almost forgotten valley in Wales at this particular moment. The key lies in the lines from the prophecy.

Will soon meets an unhappy young boy named Bran, who lives with his father on a neighboring farm. With his white dog Cafall by his side, Bran introduces Will to the mist-shrouded land he calls home, and gradually, the lines of the prophecy start to take shape. Together, these two lost boys must join forces to defeat the rising Dark.

This book is hauntingly beautiful, filled with the lyrical Welsh language and an atmosphere as thick and rich as the fog around the peak of Cader Idris. I love the entire series, but THE GREY KING is where it all comes together for me. The character of Bran Davies is one of the main reasons. Cooper created such a compulsively sympathetic character in Bran! She crafted a young boy with a heart full of pain and confusion, burdened with a powerful legacy, yet managed to keep him so real it's astonishing. My heart went out to him when I first met him at 11 years old, and it still does today, so many years later.

The friendship between the two boys is fragile and captivating to watch develop as they both embody that incongruous and contradictory mix of youthful anguish and wisdom beyond their years. The supporting cast of characters is equally wonderful and diverse, none of them completely good or evil, but inhabiting the many shades in between those absolutes. This is the most moving and heart-wrenching of the books in the series, and it's where the Arthurian legend plays the strongest role as the identities of the raven boy, the eyes that see the wind, and the Sleepers themselves are revealed. The results are stunning and compel the reader to read the next and final volume in the sequence. This, my friends, is a book of the highest caliber. Winner of the 1976 Newbery Medal and fully deserving of that honor, I recommend it (and the whole series) for fans of Lloyd Alexander, Madeleine L'Engle, and anyone with a love for Arthurian tales.

Reading order: Over Sea Under Stone, The Dark is Rising, Greenwitch, The Grey King, and Silver on the Tree.

The 1976 Newbery Medal Winner is a remarkable work.

Although the first installment in the series initially seemed a touch sluggish to me, it soon became evident that it was laying the groundwork for something truly special.

The subsequent books in the series have been nothing short of thrilling, filled with intense suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

It serves as a highly worthy prequel to the grand finale that awaits in the last book.

The author has masterfully crafted a story arc that builds momentum with each passing volume, captivating the reader's imagination and leaving them eager for more.

Overall, this series is a must-read for fans of engaging and suspenseful literature.

4.5 stars

Throughout the series, I always had a sense that something was amiss. For some inexplicable reason, I couldn't fully immerse myself in the other books. However, "The Grey King" finally gave me what I had been longing for all along.

Some of the other volumes seemed too juvenile at times, as if the stakes weren't high enough to truly engage me. But with this book, the moment Will met Bran, I was instantly hooked.

Books can看似具备所有的要素，在纸面上无可挑剔，但仍可能让人感觉有些不对劲。也许缺少的就是那份核心的情感。你感受不到文字背后的激情。又或许只是那个世界没有完全在你面前鲜活起来。在这个系列的其他大部分书中，我都有这样的感觉。

而《灰国王》确实有那份“核心”。作者提到她对威尔士的那个地方很熟悉，我想这一点在书中体现得很明显。我从未踏足过威尔士，但我却感觉自己仿佛置身其中。我能看到眼前的湖泊和农场。但最重要的是，我看到了一段友谊的诞生，并且知道那个白化病男孩身上还有更多的故事。而且， Bran这个角色刻画得非常生动。书中对他的描写细致入微，让人很容易就能想象出他的模样。

这个系列的前两本书感觉有点过时。第三本则非常有趣，因为它让一个女孩掌握了权力。而在这本书中，故事又回到了男孩们身上，但如果能让我看到更多像这样精彩的内容，我并不介意。它在有趣、神秘、冒险、诱人、神奇和悲伤之间达到了很好的平衡。

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written and engaging story. It has the power to transport you to another world and make you feel a part of it. Whether you're a fan of the series or new to it, "The Grey King" is definitely worth a read.

5

I’m kind of unsure what to say about this one.

There are indeed several aspects to appreciate. The atmosphere she creates remains outstanding, and I particularly relished the Welsh setting in this installment. From the language to the real landmarks that she incorporated as significant elements of her plot, it added a unique charm. For me, this is the point where the main character has finally evolved enough to engage with, and I have a great liking for many of the new characters introduced in this book. Additionally, I was rightfully excited by the references and connections to Arthurian legend. Her subject matter is, in many ways, weighty - unusually so for children’s literature - and there are some thoughts and ideas that are difficult to resolve, which is both admirable and frustrating.

I think I’m still grappling with the fact that I’m finding it hard to cheer for the heroes in this series. A recurring theme throughout is the notion that goodness and light, in the grander context, can seem just as cold and unforgiving as darkness and evil. A concept that, in theory, I’m not completely against, but somehow the way she’s presenting it makes it challenging to determine what (if anything) the difference is between them.

However, it could simply be that I’m not approaching it from the most receptive mindset at the moment, or perhaps she was playing a long-term game and everything will become much clearer in the final book. I’m excited to read it and discover what all of this has been leading up to.

The book that made me fall in love with Wales is truly a remarkable piece of literature.

It takes the reader on a captivating journey through the beautiful landscapes, rich history, and unique culture of Wales.

From the moment I opened the pages, I was immediately drawn in by the vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling.

The author's love for Wales shines through in every word, making it impossible not to be charmed by this enchanting country.

As I read, I felt as if I was actually there, experiencing the breathtaking views of the Welsh countryside, visiting ancient castles, and participating in traditional festivals.

This book has not only deepened my appreciation for Wales but has also inspired me to visit this wonderful place in person.

It has become a cherished possession, one that I will return to time and time again to relive the magic of Wales.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Wales or simply loves a good read.

It is sure to leave you with a lasting impression and a newfound love for this remarkable country.