Susan Cooper - The Dark is Rising: The Dark is Rising / Greenwitch / Over Sea, Under Stone / Silver on the Tree / The Grey King

Pros: beautifully written, gripping, and satisfying
Cons: a little confusing, slightly slow opening

Maybe it’s just me and the kinds of books I like; but the moment I stepped into this book, an entirely new experience from its prequel, something magical happened. I haven’t experienced that in a long time. I forgot what a delicious sensation...

Pros: Great fantasy in the tradition of Lewis and Tolkein
Cons: None come to mind

Susan Cooper, born in England and emigrated to New Hampshire, wrote a series of five books which she called The Dark is Rising, giving this title also to the second book of the series. The others are Over Sea, Under Stone; Greenwitch; The Grey...

Pros: Brilliant blend of realism and fantasy
Cons: May be too scary/complex for younger readers

On the night before Will Stanton's 11th birthday, strange things happen. Animals act strangely around him and even the radio crackles when he draws near. A neighbor tells him, "this night will be bad, and tomorrow beyond imagining." Indeed, the...

Pros: Beautiful fantasy, underlying realism
Cons: None that I can recall

On Midwinter's Eve, the night before his eleventh birthday, what Will Stanton wants most is a good snowfall. Within hours he has the snowfall, deadly enemies and knowledge of his destiny: he is the last-born of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to...

Pros: Great characterizations, atmosphere. A gripping read
Cons: Could have been a wee bit longer

"The Dark is Rising "is the second book in Susan Clark's wonderful series of the same name. It concerns a young English boy named Will Stanton. Unbeknownst to him, at least until the late middle of the book, Will is the seventh son of a seventh son. As ...

Pros: Super story line, beautiful writing,
Cons: A bit serious for younger children

Susan Cooper's "The Dark Is Rising" series are by far my favorite books from a childhood spent reading everything I could get my hands on. I would recommend these books to parents, children, teenagers, adults, everyone!!! They are for a...

Pros: great novel, entertaining, a classic
Cons: none

The Dark is Rising is a necessary book in any child’s science fiction and fantasy library. It is actually in a series of books with the same name, and is an amazing read for anyone interested in fantasy. I taught this book to a few fifth graders last...

Pros: beautifully written and told/adults can enjoy
Cons: there are only 5 books and no more!

This wonderful series ranks right up at the top with The Hobbit, Harry Potter, and the old Swallows and Amazons series. The Dark is Rising books are beautifully written and well-illustrated.
I am a published author now, but the series was...

Pros: Absolutely capturing
Cons: None

I am 24 years old and I still LOVE this book. I originally read it when I was 12 or 13, at a time when I was very interested in fantasy/science fiction. I immediately became enraptured by the entire Dark is Rising series. This book is a timeless,...

Pros: Exciting fantasy, thrilling, and very detailed.
Cons: It is sometimes hard to keep up with what is going on.

Dark vs. Light, the general concept of most fantasy stories. This book is different however. Susan Cooper gives a whole new meaning to Dark vs. Light. Will Stanton -the last of the Old Ones- becomes an Old One on his eleventh birthday and is appointed to task of the Sign-Seeker. Will's only wish is for the snow to fall on his birthday. The snow falls and continues to fall driving everyone in England mad! Will is numbered, only twelve days till the Dark comes to power and in that time he must find all six signs. Together Will and another one of the Old Ones-Merriman Lyon-helps him seek out the signs. This book may be confusing to people under the age of ten.
Susan has also written The Boggart, Silver on the Tree, The Gray King, Greenwitch, Over Sea, Under Stone, King of Shadows, The Magician's Boy, Green Boy, Frog, The Boggart and the Monster, Dawn of Fear, and The Silver Cow:A Welsh Tale.