The Grey King (The Dark Is Rising Sequence) [UNABRIDGED]

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: I first read this book two years ago. I have been hooked on the series ever since. I think The Grey King deals with human emotions more than any other book in the series. Susan Cooper uses this to draw us into the book, so much so that we cry with Bran when Cafall dies, and feel the bittersweet triumph as the Sleepers ride and Caradog Prichard goes mad. The story is full of Celtic and Arthurian legend, two of my favourite topics. This book won the Newbery Medal and I'm not surprised. I will not spoil it for those who have not read the book, but I can say that it was wonderful. Simply wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: This poem is told at the start of the book, I love this book
Review: On the day of the dead when the year too dies the youngest must open the oldest of the hills throught the door of the birds where the breeze breaks. And there shall fly the raven boy, the siliver eyes that see the wind, and the light shall have the harp of gold. On kafatan's (?) lake the sleepers lie, On kestrals's (?) way the the the kestral's call, though grim the grey king shadows fall. Yet singing the golden harp shall guide to break their sleep and bid them ride. When the light from the lost land shall return, six sleepers shall ride six signs shall burn, and when the midsummer trees grow tall by pendreting's sword, the dark shall fall!

Rating:
Summary: The most amazing book!
Review: By far the best book in the series, The Grey King has it all, humor, trajedy, love, hope, adventure, and of course MAGIC!!!!! It was a fantastic book, but what I liked best was how it really took you into the places so that you cry with Bran at the loss of his dog, or are white with terror of Caradog Prichard. It was the perfect painting of a great fantasy! Susan Cooper has an uncanny talent for making simple print into whole worlds of wizardry. You must read it!!

Rating:
Summary: The most amazing book!
Review: I loved this book sooooo much because it had it all. Adventure, humor, sadness, trajedy, and even a little romance. And of course it was jammed packed with MAGIC!!! I enjoyed this book so much, and I know you will too!

Rating:
Summary: It is like being in another world in a forgotten time.
Review: The journey of Will Stanton continues as on the day of the dead, he, the youngest, opens the oldest hills through the door of the birds. Then fire flys from the Welsh 'raven boy' Bran when his dog's silver eyes see the wind and the Light has it's harp of gold. Will becomes ill and has to make a trip to Wales to recover. He meets up with a Welsh boy Bran and travels through a quest that only he may do. But without his master Merriman can he make it? For Will is no ordinary boy but last born into the circle of the light and the 'Old Ones'. But his friend Bran is also not so ordinary for he is the Pendragon(King Arthur's son)who was brought to this other time and other world. Enchanting story for all ages above 11.

Rating:
Summary: Among the best books written in this century
Review: As a child of ten I read The Grey King many times and each time grew to love it more. The book gave me many things: a love for the Welsh people and language, a wish to own a sea-blue hooded cloak, a desire to write my own books, and an understanding of ways in which the mythology of a people speak beyond time and place. An inspired work that will capture the imaginations of children and adults alike.

Rating:
Summary: Definitely stands out in fantasy-fiction books!
Review: Although I won't spoil the plot for those of you who haven't read it, I must say that this book (and indeed, all in the series, except maybe Greenwitch which was the weakest) superbly knitted Arthurian legend, supernatural elements, believable characters, and an awesome sense of storytelling into one intense novel! This book will be enjoyed by a span of readers older than 9-12, and indeed the language seemed elevated for that group age. I myself read the whole series at 13 and recommended them to older teenage friends who have enjoyed fantasy authors such as C.S. Lewis, J.J.R. Tolkien, Madeleine L'Engle, and David Eddings. Needless to say they liked the books A LOT! If you like fantasy fiction, these series are a MUST!

Rating:
Summary: Will's back!!
Review: Will and his friend, Bran seek the golden harp, a thing of power that will aid the light in defence against the dark. But, to get it, they have to give Caradog Prichard the slip, pass the test of the high magic, and awnser three riddles correctly.

Rating:
Summary: Plot 4, Writing Skill 1
Review: I am sorry to put in a discouraging word here, but the statement that the book is suitable for readers 9 to 12 is seriously misleading, either as a book to read or to have read to. While the author has a grip on a reasonably good story, her convoluted sentence structure slows the pace of story-telling enormously and begins to be a teeth-gritting experience for all but the most fluent readers. My 11 year old fifth grader from a very advanced independent school just crawled through it. When I asked what was the matter and read the thing myself I was appalled. Take for example the following two sentences from page 133: "Will knew exactly what was likely to happen when he get there, and there was nothing he could do. He was held back by the power of the Grey King, and reluctantly now he was facing an idea to which he had not given a thought before: the possibility that this power, much greater than his own, was in fact so great that he might never be able to accomplish his allotted quest." No kidding, it goes on like this throughout the book. Frankly, if you are going to endure 19th Century sentence structure, you might as well buy an actual classic. That's my opinion, I could be wrong.

Rating:
Summary: Great!Everything a book needs!
Review: In the book the Grey King it has everything a good book needs. From fantasy to the authors descrpition of the characters. The reason I gave this book 4 stars, is that when I read a book I don't like going back to the next page to remember something that you need to know to understand the next page. Here is a little information about the book. The Grey King is a North Wales Legend about a king who rules all evil. Will is visting his Aunt Jen who is his cousin. Will and the raven boy are on a quest to find the Golden Harp and don't forget to read the proludge it makes you undersatnd the book. If you like all the things above this is the book for you.