Book Review: The Dark is Rising Sequence

I recently reread The Dark is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper. It's a series of 5 books telling the story of the battle between the Light and the Dark for the freedom of mankind. They are chopped full of Authoritarian legends and grand adventures. This series is one of my all time favorites.

Over Sea, Under Stone (book one)
Rating: 5 starts out of 5
"it was amazing"

The 3 Drew children are on Holiday and find an old map in the attic that sends them on a quest to find an ancient artifact of the Light, King Aurthur's Grail. Lucky for them their 'Great Uncle' Merry (an Old One) is there to help protect them during their such as the Dark tries to stop them.


The Dark is Rising (book two)
Rating: 3 starts out of 5
"liked it"

Will Stanton is the last of the Old Ones to be born and completes the circle of the Light. This book tells the story of how Will finds out who he really is on his 11th birthday. He is the Sign Seeker and must find all 6 signs of power before the Dark does. Throughout his quest Will learns what it means to be an Old One and eventually comes into his full power to help fight back the Dark.

This is my least favorite of the series because I felt Will was just handed too much, but still a good book. This one happens to be my mothers favorite, so it's still a good book.

Greenwitch (book three)
Rating: 5 starts out of 5
"it was amazing"

The 3 Drew children: Simon, Jane, and Barney team up with Will Stanton on another Holiday. Merry has brought them all together at the time of the Greenwitch Ceremony to search for the missing manuscript (lost in book one). This is Jane's chance to really shine as her selflessness helps win the day.

The Grey King (book four)
Rating: 5 starts out of 5
"it was amazing"

Will Stanton is off to Wales to visit family while he recovers from a serious illness. While he's there he makes a new friend, Bran Davies, who is quite strange. Bran is albino, having white hair and no color in his skin, with strange tawny eyes. The locals fear his strangeness and are slow to be friends with him. This does not stop Will, they become instant friends and team up on Will's quest to find the Harp, another Thing of Power that belongs to the Light. In the middle of all that happens Bran discovers his own heritage, he is the son of King Aurthur brought out of time for protection. He is the Pendragon.

Silver on the Tree (book five)
Rating: 4 starts out of 5
"really liked it"

The 6 are brought together for the bang up finish. The six being the 3 Drew's, Will Stanton, Bran Davies, and Merry (who's full name is Merriman Lyon, but in Aurthur's day he was called Merlin). At this point the Light has 3 of the 4 Things of Power, they have the Grail, the Signs, and the Harp. This book tells of the journey to find the last, the Crystal Sword. Armed with all 4 Things of Power they will be ready to fight the final battle as the Dark comes raising.