Customer Reviews
Muddled, but Enjoyable 
2008-07-18
(Some Minor Spoilers below.)
The Dark is Rising sequence is one of those ubiquitous book series that all children seem required to read, and although I had it on my "to-read" list, I never got to it as a kiddo. So, when I saw this nice boxed set I thought it was my chance to catch up with a series I had neglected.
Now I wish I had read it when I was younger; I think I would have found them more entertaining. As it is, I feel that the series is average. This isn't to say that singular books weren't exceptional -- but that the whole is not greater than its parts.
The first book, Over Sea, Under Stone, is my favorite of the five. I would easily give it 5 stars. It had me on my toes throughout the entire narrative! The children were sympathetic, realistic, and interesting characters; the plot, entertaining; the tension, quite real. For the first time in a long time, I wondered if the little heroes could pull through all right. Of course, the jaded adult in me said, "Of course they can! It's a children's book!" But this book is so well written, so entertaining -- like "The Goonies," or a child's Indiana Jones -- that I couldn't help but throw my jaded predisposition to the wind and just enjoy the ride.
The second book, The Dark is Rising, I was not so certain about. It reveals Will, the last of the Old Ones, and his mission to find all of the Signs necessary to stop the Dark in the final battle. In my opinion, this is where the series gets awkward. At first I was excited for Will, who finds out he is capable of great things and can set objects on fire with just a word (which I think everyone wants to do at some point). The Dark seemed doubly sinister -- the Dark Rider was a downright thrilling villain, and the Dark attacks people Will holds dear, controls the weather, and altogether seems capable of anything.
And yet, as the story progressed, it seemed Will became less and less a character I cared for, and more and more static and uninteresting. I didn't understand, and still don't understand, the limits of an Old One -- what they can and can't do in our world, what laws govern them in general. Furthermore, the Dark -- this supposedly terrifying, very powerful force -- seems incapable of really touching Will himself, a boy who has not completely grown into the power of an Old One. I found myself wondering if the Dark could really do anything at all, or if the author gave them all this "power" for show and no brains to go with it, for their powers and plots all came to naught with what seemed little effort. I couldn't help but compare them to the villains in the first book -- villains who were terrifying precisely because they could be anybody, anywhere, working in broad daylight just as well as behind the scenes. In a way, this made the fear more visceral and brought it home to the real world -- the Dark could be the hobo in the street or, just as easily, your neighbor. This is lost when Ms. Cooper transforms the Dark into a bogeyman.
A final problem: Ms. Cooper brings up old legends without any backstory, which I would have really appreciated (as I am not an Arthurian aficionado). A little blurb in the back of the book would have been perfect.
When I moved on to Greenwitch, and realized Will and the Drews would join forces, I looked forward to it. Will then proved himself to be an annoying pretentious little twit who I wanted to kick. Merriman told the Drews they were necessary, but as the book progressed I wasn't sure why -- it seemed that what the Drews did, anybody could have done. Although I enjoyed Jane's larger place in the narrative, and the ending was very satisfying, the Drew children ended up "tools," which is really unforgivable. This book also introduced a regretful element that Ms. Cooper abuses: making people forget the incredible things they have seen. Yes, this was done in The Dark is Rising, but I felt it was done for a good reason; it was to protect Will's family and the people in his community, and I had the feeling that Old Ones were to remain absolutely undetected at all times (which was reasonable). Here, it was not done for anyone's safety, and rather, seemed completely indiscriminate. "No, we can't have you Drews seeing Will and Merriman jump off a cliff and float away. I mean, sure you guys know about the fantastical Dark and all, but we can't trust you with any more, even though you helped us find the Grail and Simon saw some creepy supernatural thing happen to Barney and Jane is talking to a nasty spirit in her dreams."
The Grey King picks up, and is the second book in the series that I would give 5 stars to. Will becomes capable of making mistakes, actually manages to forget something, and is generally an interesting fellow. The new character, Bran, was equally as fascinating. The story picked up the same sharp tension that was so wonderful about the first book, and I enjoyed it the whole way through. I didn't completely understand the Arthurian elements, but that was all right; it was just as entrancing. The Grey King himself, and his horrible foxes, were delightful foes. This book would make for a fantastic movie.
Silver on the Tree was my least favorite in the series and brought to a head all of the problems plaguing the series. Ms. Cooper was just too vague and arbitrary. Why were some choices bad and some choices good? I'll never know. Why did they do this and not that? Heaven knows why. WHY did she take a character I love and turn them to the Dark? Why, why, why does she make the Drews and Bran forget everything at the end? When Bran tried to give Jane his green pebble I wanted to cry. It's like Ms. Cooper utterly undid any sort of character development that may have gone on in the entire narrative. All the elements that could have made this book satisfying -- Bran meeting his father and realizing his destiny -- might as well have never occurred. Sure, the Lost Land was all sorts of wonderful fun; sure, the Mari Llwyd was utterly terrifying. But it doesn't make up for what seemed to be a storyline thrown together at random and a world whose rules I never quite understood (if there were any at all).
Long ago, I realized that a book can only be as good as its villains. I sometimes wonder if Ms. Cooper really thought through what the Dark was responsible for... what it really meant to banish it, and what it meant to have it in the first place. Because it's when she dives into the supernatural, and what being an Old One really means, and how Old Ones relate to the world, that the plot, characters, and Arthurian legend start to seem muddled, forced, and rushed. Two huge questions remained for me at the end of this series: Why was it important to banish the Dark if evil still dwells in the heart of man? What was so dangerous about it in the first place?
My final word: get these books at the library, and read them while you're young. Maybe there's something you'll see that I can't anymore.
Lyrical .... 
2008-07-17
A friend of mine has a son who is 12 and since he knew that I loved the Harry Potter series, he decided to share with me this series. He said it was better than Harry but I have to disagree with him on this one. While this series is beautifully written, it is nothing like Harry.
That said, I can assure you that this is a beautiful series of books that I would recommend to youth ages 9 and older. I definitely would like my boys to read this one when they're older. It is beautifully written, lyrical and inspiring enough to keep me reading through the entire series in one week. It is about the classic battle between good and evil, using old Welsh myths and lore (which I know nothing of). I wish I had read this as a kid because I think I would have appreciated it much more than I do now. As an adult, I am jaded and don't appreciate the lovely story as much as I should. I kept looking for more of the story-line when it is simply done as an excellent story.
Out of this series, my favorite books are: The Dark is Rising (the second book) and Silver on the Tree (the final conclusion). Silver on the Tree really had most of the background information that my heart desires. It has a wonderful conclusion to the stories. There were some twists in the book I did not expect.
This is a wonderful series for youth and their parents to read and to discuss. I am looking forward to the day when I can discuss these with my own children.
7/17/08
Beautifully written fantasy 
2008-07-11
"The Dark Is Rising" series is a beautifully written series based on British folklore. It is a children's series, but adults with an interest in British lore will enjoy it as well. The characters are well drawn, and the rising suspense makes this a page-turner for all. These are books you may well find yourself rereading as an adult!
Good series 2008-06-29
I'm re-reading the series. The first time I read it, I was 10, but I'm finding that 14 years later, the story is still good. Enjoyable plot and characters.
The Dark is Rising (Boxed Set) 2008-06-02
I had forgotten how great these books by Susan Cooper are. I had a hard copy book set when they first came out. I love stories about the quest, and the battle of Light vs Darkness, and The Arthurian legend. They also fit into the Narnia Chronicle mode too. Susan writes with a descriptive style that makes you feel like you are right there experiencing Will Stanton's Adventures and the Drew family too. I recommend them for teens and anyone who loves fantasy fiction.
D. Sutton
The Dark is Rising Sequence 2008-05-02
Susan Cooper's brilliant
Dark is Rising sequence has enthralled readers since the first book,
Over Sea, Under Stone, was published more than forty years ago. The second book,
The Dark is Rising, was named a Newberry Honor Book and is now a major motion picture. The fourth,
The Grey King, won the Newbery Medal. This handsome boxed set includes all five books in the celebrated sequence.
Disappointing 
2008-04-30
I purchased this series hoping to find one of those timeless classics like the "Wrinkle in Time" books or Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle. The Dark Is Rising series just doesn't measure up. I found some of the characters quite likeable, but the plotting is very slow in places and the description of what's going on or what the characters are seeing is sometimes incomprehensible. It's not that the books are bad, exactly; they just don't engage and hold the reader's attention the way truly great books (whether or not they're for children) do. I passed these books along to my 9-year-old son as I finished them, and he only read a few chapters into the first book before putting it down and telling me that he just didn't find it very interesting (and this is the type of book he usually likes). These books won't hold the attention of young readers who have already devoured the intricate plots and clever dialogue of the Harry Potter series.
I can see that there are a lot of people who read and loved these books as children, and if you're one of them then by all means, this boxed set is a nice presentation of the series. But if you aren't one of those people, give The Dark Is Rising a pass. I'd recommend C.S. Lewis' Narnia books, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus Trilogy, or Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain, instead.
Great set! & Great price! 2008-03-24
I really enjoyed all 5 of these books. I had read The Dark is Rising previously and liked it enough to purchase and read the other books in the sequence; and I was not disappointed. If you like Arthurian lore, British history and fantasy then this is for you!
The Good, The Bad, and Everything Else 2008-02-22
While I admit that I have read the first two books, "Over Sea, Under Stone" and "The Dark is Rising" many times, I can't say that I remember reading the rest of the series. So here are my thoughts:
Over Sea, Under Stone (OS): Wonderful beginning to the series. Very believable character and an interesting plot line. The book never seems to drag and before you know it, you are finished. Characters are very good and you really feel a part of their quest. My rating: A
The Dark is Rising (DR): The second book in this series garnished a Newbery Honor and it is well deserved. While a bit more on the darker side, this book introduces a new character and finally clues us into the struggle that is happening in the world we were introduced to in OS. The plot is excellent and there are many mysteries that need to be solved which draw the reader into the story. Again, excellent characters and character development. My rating: A
Greenwitch (GW): Here is where the series gets interesting and where I start having a hard time. We see character from OS and DR come together in this story. While the story is intriguing, it doesn't really seem to fit with the series as a whole and seems to have been an afterthought to bridge the gap between DR and GK. However, there is one crucial piece of prophecy that is given that is essential for the remaining books. My rating: C+
The Grey King (GK): This story takes an even darker route than DR and GW and introduces us to a new character that is part of the remaining struggle between the light and the dark. While this story won the Newbery Medal, I can't see why. The book introduces many Welsh and Arthurian customs, terminology, and mythology that makes the book hard to follow. While it does use the prophecy given GW, the overall book seemed to be lacking and I was ready to give up on the series but pushed on as I was only one book away from the end. My rating: C
Silver on the Tree (ST): The conclusion to the entire series started off dragging and again I thought about giving up on the series. At first, the characters seem to be going nowhere, there is nothing to move the plot, and the story is rich again in Welsh mythology and Arthurian legend. The characters from OS, DR, and GK all meet up in this story for the final battle between the light and the dark. The story did pick up toward the end of the first part and then took a twist that I had a hard time with. Will and Bran are whisked away to the mysterious "Lost Land" for the second part of the story. It almost seems as if they are in a dream the entire time in the lost land. I had a very hard time with this part. While there are important things happening in the lost land, it just didn't seem to fit with the rest of the book. Once out of the lost land, we enter the final rising of the dark. Suddenly we are pulled through multiple times and locations in the matter of a couple pages and then expected to bring it all together as they finally enter into the final struggle. While the final struggle was very believable, I just didn't have the background in Welsh and Arthurian tradition to understand everything. However, it end up being a good read. My rating: B-
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this series to children. While well written, there is too much outside the books that readers are expected to know as they read the series, especially in regards to Arthurian and Welsh legends. The series had a good moral and when all said and done was a good read. I would definitely recommend OS and DR to anyone. They were my favorites in this series.
Overall series rating: B
Great high adventure for youth 2008-01-28
Really a grand adventure story. I can't imagine any 10 to 12 yr old boy not loving these stories. I enjoyed them myself. I plan on reading these to my children, I think they will be fascinated.
