Editorial Review

Joined by destiny, the lives of the Drew children, Will Stanton, and aboy named Bran weave together in an exquisite, sometimes terrifying tapestry ofmystery and quests. In the five-title series of novels known as The Dark IsRising Sequence, these children pit the power of good against the evil forces ofDark in a timeless and dangerous battle that includes crystal swords, goldengrails, and a silver-eyed dog that can see the wind. Susan Cooper's highlyacclaimed fantasy novels, steeped in Celtic and Welsh legends, have won numerousawards, including the Newbery Medal and the Newbery Honor. Now all fivepaperback volumes have been collected in one smart boxed set. These classicfantasies, complex and multifaceted, should not be missed, by child or adult.The set includes Read more

Features

• Box set

Reviews (194)

One of the Best
Easily ranks up among other great series like Narnia, Potter and His Dark Materials, this series just didn't get the exposure. Fabulous. I read these as a child (80's) and purchased them to read again now.

Best Kids Books EVER
I've read these books about 10 times each since I was a kid and they never get old.

Underappreciated
To any parent of a young teen or a child heading toward that age, this is an absolute must have collection.To any fan of fantasy of any age, this is an absolute must have collection.To any fan of superbly written prose and compelling plots...well, you get the idea.Susan Cooper is one of the greatest writers of teen fantasy ever.Her Dark is Rising Series may not have made her a billionare, like Harry Potter did for Rowlings, but it has provided tremendous joy to countless young readers for decades.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fantasy    4. Fiction    5. General    6. Great Britain    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Horror & ghost stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / Greek & Roman   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (137)

The Dark is Rising
Like young Arthur of the thousand-year old legend of Camelot, our hero, Will Stanton, is surprised early in his adolescence to learn that in fact he is not a normal boy. He is someone for whom great things are destined, and who naturally feels totally unprepared for the daunting responsibilities thrust on him. It's a classic trope, one that has been used thousands of times, most familiarly for this generation in the Harry Potter series. Unlike J.K. Rowling however, Susan Cooper puts Will firmly in the middle of a loving family. Both parents are positive characters, and even his many siblings, with their teasing and pranks, ultimately support and care for each other. I recommend that parents read this book with their children, it won't bore them, and it has themes that can be discussed over and over.

DIR Review
Dark is Rising is a fantasy book about a kid named Will Stanton who learns that he is the last of The Old Ones, a group of immortal people. Through the Winter in England, Will is taught by The Old Ones, who fight the forces of evil.
6th Grader's Review

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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. England    4. Fantasy fiction    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Fantasy    9. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Features

• Unabridged
• Unabridged

Reviews (59)

4th volume of THE DARK IS RISING Sequence
"...Those men who know anything at all about the Light also know that there is a fierceness to its power, like the bare sword of the law, or the white burning of the sun...at the very heart, that is. Other things, like humanity, and mercy, and charity, that most good men hold more precious than all else, they do not come first for the Light. Oh, sometimes they are there; often indeed. But in the very long run the concern of you people is with the absolute good, ahead of all else...At the centre of the Light there is a cold white flame, just as at the centre of the Dark there is a great black pit bottomless as the Universe."
Myth, magic, and mystery!
This is the fourth book in Susan Cooper's wonderfully written Dark Is Rising series. Once read, it is a book not easily forgotten. Unlike other authors writing at the same time, Cooper writes with a mature but lyrical prose which in no way talks down to younger readers and consequently can be read and enjoyed by anyone no matter their age.
The best book in an excellent series
The Grey King is the 4th book in the 5 part Dark is Rising series, and it is, in my opinion, the best one in the series.This book builds off of the first three (mostly the second), and resumes the story of Will Stanton (of the 2nd and 3rd books) and introduces Bran Davies who becomes a leading character in this and the 5th book.Susan Cooper retains all of the richness of the first three book, and she once again utilizes her skill as a writer to paint a vivid picture of the battle between good and evil (see me review of The Dark is Rising to see my thoughts on how she deals with this topic).
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Subjects:  1. Audio Adult: Books On Tape    2. Audiobooks    3. Children's Audio - 4-8    4. Children's audiobooks    5. Fantasy fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (74)

Grate adventure!
I began this series in the wrong order as I read the dark is rising first. I then formed a theory which I was anxious to see fulfilled. So I began over sea under stone.
Wonderful classic of children's fantasy literature
It doesn't matter that this book was written 30 years ago, it easily withstands the test of time. It's actually superior to so much of the children's literature that's being put out these days. A compelling start to the series
By one of those strange coincidences, I read this book shortly after the new "Ulysses Moore - The Door to Time", and a comparison of the two will reveal many similarities.This story was copyrighted by Susan Cooper in 1965, and tells the tale of three children who discover an old map in the house where they are vacationing. Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Cornwall (England : County)    5. England    6. Fantasy    7. Fiction    8. General    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Large type books    11. Magic    12. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    13. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (1)

A classic series
Susan Cooper's "Dark is Rising" sequence has joined the Prydain Chronicles as timeless books that are technically for kids, but not necessarily JUST for kids. With her use of myth and folklore, rich language, and a time-spanning battle between good and evil, Cooper spins up a rare tale in her majestic prose. Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    2. Fantasy    3. Short stories   

Features

• Audiobook
• Unabridged

Reviews (29)

silver on the tree
For the last time, the Dark will attempt to rise once again. But Will and his friends of the Light will be there to stop it. This book is the ending to an ancient rivalry between the Light and the Dark. For centuries the Old Ones, a group of magical beings, have been preventing the Dark from rising since the beginning of time. I suggest this to people who like books with mystery and magic and magic because this book is full of it. Susan Cooper's series are suspenseful and exciting; you'll always be back for more. When you read this book you'll find out how badly Will and the Light need to defeat the Dark and stop it from rising this one last time.

A wonderful slice of imagination.
This is the magical conclusion to an equally magical series of books. Susan Cooper's seamless mix of timeless legend, wonderful imagination and beautiful use of language, make it difficult to find many to equal her.
Silver on the Tree, ages 9-11 or 11-14?
Silver on the Tree, written by Susan Cooper, has a wonderful amount of description to it.
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Subjects:  1. Audio: Juvenile    2. Children's Audio - 9-12    3. Children's audiobooks    4. Classics    5. Fantasy fiction    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    10. Space and time    11. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (1)

Rich and "Dark"
Susan Cooper has yet to equal "The Dark is Rising," the second book of her classic Dark is Rising Sequence. Independent of the first book "Over Sea Under Stone," this is also darker, more magical, more intense, and one of the most beautifully written fantasy novels in existance. Read more

Reviews (30)

Greenwitch
Greenwitch is the third in the superb Dark Is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper.
A great adventure/quest!Shared it with my grandson!
Greenwitch is a wonderful book.I bought it at a garage sale for my grandson.He's twelve and thinks he's too big for me to read it to him, so let me borrow it when he was through.
Book One continued
The third continues from Book one
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fantasy    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic   

Reviews (2)

A pretty good book
I really liked this book. It's filled with adventure and excitement, and I couldn't put it down. Since I loved the first book, I decided to try the second. It was horrible. the first book is great, I would recommend it to anyone who'd like to try it. It may sound dark and scary, but it really isn't. It's a great children's book.

The journey begins
"Over Sea Under Stone" is perhaps the weakest of the classic "Dark is Rising" series, though in itself it's quite a good book. In this, Susan Cooper kicks off her epic fantasy sequence with doses of Celtic legend, a good vs. evil battle, and a hunt for a mysterious, magical treasure.
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Reviews (1)

"King" rules
"The Dark Is Rising" is a hard book to top, but Susan Cooper nearly matches it in "Grey King," the fourth book of her Dark is Rising Sequence, A stunning, atmospheric Welsh fantasy tinged with Arthurian legend, it also introduces one of the most important and unusual characters in this classic series.
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