Rating: 
Summary: Magic and fantasy at it's best....
Review: I first read this series when I was in grade school, and fell in love with the magic! I wished that I could have been one of the Old Ones, having incredible powers, immortality, and (because of these qualities) dangerous adventures. Nearly 15 years later, I was searching for a gift for a young relative in the family and found The Dark Is Rising series again. I made the purchase fully intending to give it away. That cousin never got the books. I just had to re-read them. And was enchanted once again!The storyline is great for kids, as one of the main characters, Will Stanton is 11 years old. The magic is fantastic....one of the powers, the ability to make people forget, could definitely be useful. I can think of a couple of instances where I would have loved to use it on my parents! Traveling through time has similar benefits.... But this is not a series just for children. The themes of constant struggle between good and evil, and the means by which evil seeks to attract followers are well developed, with details older readers appreciate. The story about Hawkins is a great example. He is clearly used by both sides, and he makes choices that have hard consequences for himself and others. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse, and his character demonstrates that people are not entirely good (deserving of extraordinary responsibility) or entirely bad (deserving of condemnation). There is an incredible attention to small details. You definitely pick these up with each reading. There is also enough familiar mythology/folk legend in the stories to make them not only believable, but feel like it is happening now. The series is wonderful. If you like imaginative, gripping stories, I highly recommend this series for adults and children!
Rating:
Summary: Some of the best....
Review: I first read these books when I was in grammar school. They continue to thrill me. Not raised with a television or anything like that, I was taught the -real- folk tales of Great Britain, the legends of my own country. And Cooper's books manage to throw small familiar tastes into a modern story. At times, it's hard to believe that these books have been around for over 20 years. If you grew up with the stories of the Drowned Hundred, Taliesin, King Arthur, the Great Hunt... trust me, it's all in there. Because of those "historical" details, the story has an even greater British with a capital B feel to it. From the rooks at the Sunday church service to the sheep herders in Wales, every book in this series has a distinct atmosphere to it. The stories flow from book to book, and very few questions are left unanswered. These books aren't difficult, even for younger readers. But they are so intriguing, the fact that they were written for children doesn't even faze you. They are thrilling, scary, joyful, full of hope...just really good storytelling.
Rating:
Summary: Magical, Mystical, Marvelous!
Review: I stumbled across this series in college, 10+ years ago. I have re-read the series at least once every year, and there are very few books that I do that with. If you are a fan of magical books, books such as The Lord of the Rings, or The Narnia series, you will LOVE this series. I can't wait for my children to grow up so I can read these stories to them. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this genre.
Rating:
Summary: A glorious, magical series!
Review: I had never heard of these books until I got them for a birthday present several years ago, and I didn't read them for awhile. But when I did - I was stunned (and was kicking myself for not having read them sooner). These are truly great books. Susan Cooper has a writing style that is perfect for these stories of mythological drama and power. At some parts, I get goosebumps from reading because she has such fabulous writing skills, and at the end of the last book, I almost cried - not many books can move me that much. This series is fairly long. It's over a thousand pages, small print. The reader never loses interest because the plot is so intricate, captivating, believable (even when magical doings are occurring right and left - this is a great quality not many books have) and complex that every single page is needed to bring the story to the big climactic confrontation. There are so many complexities and inconspicuous yet important details that you can discover things on the third or fourth readings that you never noticed the first two times. For example, in "Silver on the Tree," Gwion tells Bran and Will that three golden shields were made by King Gwyddno Garanhir for the Light, which took two to places of danger and left the third in Caer Wydyr. I didn't notice until the second or third reading that the other two shields were mentioned in earlier books: one is on the wall with the doors in the room where Will first meets Merriman and the Lady, and the other is on the back of the rocky wall with the doors leading into Craig yr Arden, Bird Rock. Another aspect of the plot is the mystery of it - some of them unsolved. A chest filled with something but which will remain sealed until the time of need, which hopefully will never come - it is never told what is inside it; who were the Sleepers?; who was the king Will took the Sign of Water from?; who is the Lady? ... this adds an extra dimension to these books and keeps you reading thoroughly and carefully, looking for clues to the mysteries. On the other hand, some mysteries are solved - who Hastings is, who the White Rider is, who the Walker is/was ... it is very interesting to find the answers to your questions. I particularly love the part about the Lost Land - that kingdom is so interesting, mysterious and powerful that you are on the edge of your seat, gobbling up the stories and hoping Will and Bran never leave. The end is extremely satisfactory and has an extremely moving mingling of happiness and sadness - it is one of the most effective book endings I have ever read. So - what I've been trying to say for the last four hundred and seventy-three words is: READ THESE BOOKS!
Rating:
Summary: I Still Get Goosebumps
Review: I have read the Dark is Rising Sequence close to 20 times. The pages of my books have become worn and yellow. I have taken them to summer camp, college, and they now sit comfortably in my living room. The characters have become dear friends and I still get goosebumps every time I read the books. I cannot wait to share this amazing series with my own children someday. Thank you, Susan Cooper, for bringing such wonderful stories into my life.
Rating:
Summary: Yes!
Review: I am glad to see these books still available. I read them once, long ago, borrowed from my pastor's kids. Looking back and realizing what I was actually reading, I am surprised the pastor (and my mom) approved them for us church-going kiddies. I am a little hazy on the stories, but I remember there being a sense of magic. It is surely something that helped form the person I am today, and I'm going to get them ASAP! :} Read them, yes, read them!
Rating:
Summary: The best!...
Review: I have read all the Dark is Rising books and I think they are great! They have loads of Celtic legend and are quite scary in places. I like the Lost Land idea too. It helps if you are interested in Celtic/Arthurian legend but you don't have to be to enjoy them.
Rating:
Summary: Second to none in the Fantasy Genre
Review: I first read these books when I was only ten years old. Since then, I have read the series upwards of eight times. I am now 16 and am reading them again. I know a good series-and a good author-when I see one. The books are filled with fantastical characters and events, and are a wonderful introduction to Fantasy literature. Susan Cooper weaves a story of such magic and adventure, combining the old Legends of Arthur and Merlin with her own unique style and modern twists. She accomplishes her goal with these books; they show children a new way to look at their world and introduces Celtic myth to them. An enjoyable read for all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I'm sorry this review will not describe the book's content, but I feel there is only one way to show you how wonderful these books are. The following is taken from the books, and a key to the entire series. "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 will return, and one go alone." "Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long; Wood from the burning, stone out of song; Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw; Six Signs the circle, and the grail gone before." "Fire on the mountain shall find the harp of gold Played to wake the Sleepers, oldest of the old; Power from the green witch, lost beneath the sea; All shall find the light at last, silver on the tree." That's the only thing that I can say about the series.
Rating: 
Summary: A very good series
Review: This series of books is owned by my brother and I'm sure that if he were writing this review he would give it 5 stars. I don't however because although it is an excellent series there are some things missing to me. I don't think the three Drew children are 3 dimensional characters and Bran is sometimes annoying and steps out of character. The plot is great and some parst are quite scary and there are a few surprised along the way. I think that if you are a fantasty lover you should definitly get this book and even if your're not you should consider it.
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