Susan Cooper, The Dark Is Rising Sequence

I didn't think there were any good points, I hated this book and thought it was so dumb and long and boring. The book didn't make sense to me either. I don't recommend it, it gave me a headache.

I read the first book 'Under sea and over stone' when my mum pointed it out to me, at the age of 12. I was immmediately enthralled by the storyline. The quest for the grail was something that peaked my imagination.

I immediately began reading the second book 'The dark is Rising' and I was completely blown away with this even greater battle with the dark all taking place over a 2 week period really. I love the magic in the book, there is no silly wand waving but it is steaped in lore. The magic seems to derive more from rules and laws than actual powers. Things happen because they have to happen not because someone says an incantation. Though little magics are done in this way in the book. This book holds many, many clues to what happens in future books which you only realise when you read them in the other books.

Reading the Greenwitch was also a thrill, as the story revolves mostly around the only female character in the book, which makes it much more interesting. The working of the wild magic and the great being which is the Greenwitch left me in awe at the power nature contains, which men (even Old ones) know so little about and even fear. Though the shortest of the five books it does not lack for it. In terms of storyline.

The Grey King is also another favourite of mine in the series. It made me wish to see the places in which will travelled for myself. I loved the hinting which goes on at Bran's ancestry and even greater magics coming to life, simply because of the age of the land, I also love the use of welsh writtin in the book which adds much more realism into the story and the area in which it is placed. It makes me admire Susan Cooper for not opting out and just saying that they spoke in the language, instead whole sentences are completely incomprehensible to me and I love the feeling. The story invovles the boy Bran beginning to unravel the mystery of his past with the help of will and the dog Cafal. The poems displayed in previous books come to life in this one as the battle against to grey king and his unknowing servant comes together. This book had me almost in tears for the unfairness of it at one point, but also the reality behind it.

In the final book 'The Silver on the Tree' the plots come together beautifully. All the characters which have been shown in their own light letting you get to know them each in turn come together to mix their skills. I love the story for its sadness of the end coming. Will, becomes as wise as Merriman, and has an even greater responsibility laid upon him in this final fight. The traveling through the lands and even the lesson in the magical properties of wood peaked my interest. In the end though I was always not going to like this book more than the others, not beacuse its bad, not because its not as good as the others simply becasue its the last book and I hate things to finish no matter what the ending.