I didn't like this book quite as well as its two predecessors, but I would still give it four stars. The highlight of the story, aside from its continuing to push the main quest forward, is that it introduces a third magical force separate from the Light and the Dark, and shows that there can not truly be any neutral ground between the two. This third force also draws much of the book's plot away from the main quest, however, and ends up interfering with the events of that quest in a way that is too convenient. I complained that in "Over Sea, Under Stone," it sometimes felt like the children were figuring things out too quickly, but in this book things just seem to happen without any figuring out at all; the Old Ones already know everything that's supposed to happen, and the children don't seem to have as much to do here. Their characters suddenly appear weaker when they are brought together with Will Stanton. However, there is a slight surprise at the end of the book in regards to the Dark character in this story, which lent at least some feeling that not everything in the story was completely predictable. ( )

This short book, The 3rd entry in "The Dark Is Rising" series, features both the Drew children and Will Stanton as they endeavor to redeem the scroll that in the first book Barney threw into the sea to avoid the Dark getting it. The scroll is needed to decipher the message on the grail. Another plot twist is that the grail has been stolen from the museum that was guarding it—while it was on display. (You would think that the Old Ones could think of a safer way to keep it until they need it! –one of many plot holes in this series. If my son who gave me this set of books was unhappy with the “plot holes” he found in the Harry Potter series I think he had better avoid this series altogether.) The story was interesting but again, the Drew children sometimes detracted from the story. Also, Cooper does not seem concerned with developing the characters of the children so they seem to be more deus ex machine to move the plot along rather than real characters. However, again I found the story interesting and the Greenwitch story somewhat moving. My other son, who read the series last year, says that this book is a bridge to the last two. This is now a series I would recommend to middle school children who are good readers and interested in fantasy. ( )

While many of the young adult fantasy series out there (Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, etc.) are perfectly readable and enjoyable for adults, this series is probably not one of them. It tends to be a bit too simplistic with the problems too easily solved. This is the third book in "The Dark is Rising" sequence and brings together characters from the first two books. One of the characters is clearly in control of the situation, not needing to work it solving the problems at all and the other three are just stumbling around blindly, never understanding what's happening at all. The climax comes and goes before you know it--very simplistic. I wouldn't recommend this as a serious read for adults. ( )

http://spwebdesign.livejournal.com/31... ( )