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Summary: A childhood love, a grown-up treasure
Review: This series of books made me want to be a writer when I grew up. I remember distinctly reading these books and realizing the power that authors have to create a world and populate it with living characters. Ms. Cooper has created a universe in which magic lives just under the surface of the "real" world--her theme, that the power of magic is accessible to believers, and that we have a responsibility to fight against evil in both the real and magical realms, continues to resonate with me and many other readers.I highly recommend The Dark is Rising series to children and adults. It's for a slightly older audience than the Harry Potter series, and makes a nice next level for kids who want more. I am thrilled that the series is still available and I am adding it to my collection in the hope of passing it on to the children in my life. That, and I'm going to re-read them myself-- they're just too good to pass up!
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Summary: An excellent fantasy series that is HIGHLY underrated
Review: I first stumbled upon Susan Cooper's THE DARK IS RISING sequence when I was in sixth grade. I was required to read a Newberry Award-winning book and do a report, and the cover of THE GREY KING looked kind of cool, so I gave it a shot. Fifteen years later I still can't believe I haven't heard more about this series. C.S. Lewis set the standard for children's fantasy literature with THE NARNIA CHRONICLES, and Susan Cooper has equaled Lewis' accomplishment in these books. In some ways, the stories are much better because Cooper's target audience is a bit older, wiser, and more mature. Evil characters are not always obvious in Cooper's world, nor are they always super-intelligent. Cooper weaves elements of Arthurian legend and Welsh mythology into modern day England in a way that tends to swallow the reader whole. Even as an adult I find these books rich and enjoyable; it is easy to forget that one is reading 'children's literature'. Fans of THE NARNIA CHRONICLES or HARRY POTTER will find that THE DARK IS RISING is another series readers will enjoy no matter what their age may be. My one caveat would be to parents of young children: there are scenes in these stories that may not be appropriate for children under the age of 10 or so. As always, be aware of what your children are reading. Once your children have reached an appropriate age, however, I would highly recommend THE DARK IS RISING for both you and your children!
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Summary: The Dark is Rising Sequence
Review: For all fans of Harry Potter the Dark is Rising books would also be a great book sequence. It includes magic, fantasy, and many other things. I cannot stop thinking about them! Susan Cooper uses such good descriptions that you actually feel as if you were there. This is a great sequence I can't get Merriaman, Lyon, Will Stanton, Jane, Simon, and Barney Drew, the lady, the Grey King, and all the others out of my head. You would reaaly enjoy these books. They are great books. (...)
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Summary: An excellent book for anyone interested in fantasy.
Review: This is an excellent series, combining pieces of British folklore with a group of magical people called The Old Ones. Characters come vivisly to life as you follow Will Stanton and his companions all over the United Kingdom in a quest to overcome the powers of darkness. By far the best books in the series are The Dark is Rising, in which you meet Will Stanton, Greenwitch, which takes place during a festival in Cornwall with ancient, somewhat sinister roots and features both Will and Jane, and The Grey King, which takes place in Wales, the home of King Arthur, and of the lonley boy called Bran. These books combine information and a thrilling plot in such a way that you don't even know you're learning anything until you have finished the series. As Will learns: "When the dark comes rising six shall turn it back three from the circle, three from the track. Wood, Bronze, Iron, Water, Fire, Stone, Five shall return And one go alone." Enjoy reading these masterpices of juvenile fiction!
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Summary: The Dark Is Rising
Review: The Dark is rising sequence - I first discovered this book in sixth grade in a friend's house. It was the hardcover edition and the pictures were interesting so I read it. Later on, I bought these books right here.
The books are about the Light and the Dark. One of the main reasons I thought this book was excellent was that they weren't just for young people. The characters were highly understandable and the language wasn't just one of those easy-to-read ones. Personally, I like 'The Dark Is Rising,' 'The Grey King,' and 'Silver On the Tree' better than others. Books taking place in Cornwall was kind of vague and not adventurous.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers of all ages.
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Summary: Deeply moving books
Review: With deep roots into English and Celtic mythology, these books are a masterfully written saga that transcends generations. Although billed as children's books, the issues raised in these books are the issues we all face all our lives. This isn't really a book about Authur and the Old Ones; this is really a story about being caught up in circumstances beyond your control, about duty and honor and deciding what it means to be truly human, about the pain and sacrifice that always accompanies change and growth, about friendship and love and the inevitability of death, and not least about the human capacity to always do both better and worse than we imagine we can. These books will live in your heart and memory long after the last page is turned.
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Summary: Best fantasy series ever written!
Review: I first read the Dark Is Rising sequence when I was in 5th grade (16 years ago - yikes!) and I have yet to find another fantasy series that feels so genuinely, hauntingly magical. Cooper's writing style is simple and lacks the flowery prose that is common in many popular fantasy novels, but the enchanted atmosphere she creates is perfect. I can't recommend this series enough. If you like these books, I would also recommend reading Seaward.
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Summary: Harry Potter fans will love this!
Review: If you haven't read this collection of stories, and you like fantasy, then you are missing out! I just recieved them as a gift, and I can't put them down. I've read one book per night, and I am currently towards the end of The Grey King. These books are appropriate for children, but they are a wonderful, quick read for adults as well! They have completely sucked me in, and I know you will enjoy them.
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Summary: Great for adults who have little time to read "adult" books
Review: My son picked up The Dark is Rising from the library and pointed it out to me. Well, since I have very little time to attack thick books, I started reading it. I LOVED this book. I had never heard about it as a kid even though I read lots of myth, fairy tales, science fiction at that time. If you or your children like the Harry Potter books, then you will very likely enjoy this book (I haven't read the whole series yet). It's a magical world that she creates. I looked up Susan Cooper on the internet and read that she was not the one who categorized these books as "children's" books. She writes, and her publisher is the one who put them in this category. I think that it's not just for kids!
Rating: 
Summary: Strong series
Review: I re-read this series recently, wondering if it would still seem as good as it did when I was a child. And the answer is, it doesn't. But it still has a great deal to offer.
The five books are set in Britain, not tied particularly closely to any decade within the twentieth century. They are all quest stories, with the child heroes seeking various magical artefacts to help the Light in its struggle against the Dark.
"Over Sea, Under Stone" introduces Simon, Jane and Barney Drew, following a mysterious manuscript in search of a golden grail. This adventure takes place during the summer holidays in Cornwall, and introduces their enigmatic Great-Uncle Merriman.
"The Dark is Rising" is the story of Will Stanton, who comes into his power as an Old One, a champion of the Light, on his eleventh birthday. Assisted by Merriman, he is destined to find the Six Signs.
"Greenwitch" unites the Drews, Will and Merriman in Cornwall as they hunt for a second manuscript, lost in the hunt for the grail. But can they win out over the power of the Greenwitch?
"The Grey King" sends Will to Wales in search of the golden harp that is needed to wake the Sleepers, warriors of the Light. He meets Bran, a lonely and troubled boy, who proves to be surprisingly important in his search and the struggle against the Dark.
"Silver on the Tree" reunites all the characters as they search for the crystal sword, the last necessary artefact, and travel to the final confrontation with the Dark.
There's a great deal to like in these books. Cooper pitches the writing at a suitably adult level so that, while not too difficult for children, they never feel twee or condescending. They are suitably atmospheric, with the settings brought alive by good descriptive writing and a healthy injection of Celtic mythology. Many of the characters are interesting and likeable; Will is the stand-out in this regard. The two "Will" books, "The Dark is Rising" and "The Grey King" are the best of the series. There is more action and a greater sense of risk and tension in these books.
So why has my regard for this series dropped over the years? There are two reasons. The first is that, reading as an adult, I don't find the books all that well-grounded in their mythological territory. Tolkien wrote stories set in a world that feels real. Cooper's ideas of magic, Light and Dark, heroes and villains, are very thin by comparison. As a consequence, to me there is little sense of what is truly at stake in what is supposed to be an all-time epic struggle, little sense of real risk; and all too often there are deus ex machina solutions as the magical heroes suddenly "know", without explanation, just what they need to do to win out.
The second reason is "Silver on the Tree". I found this a weak end to the saga, with too many deus ex machina solutions and too many vitally important plot points coming out of nowhere (Mrs Rowlands being one, Bran's love for his human father another). Much of the book seemed pointless filler. The final confrontation lacked power (both with regard to Cooper's writing and in plot terms) and seemed all too easy.
However, these caveats are things that may seem far less important to younger readers - I know they didn't bother me the first time I read this series. And the series as a whole is certainly well-crafted, exciting and enjoyable.
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