The Dark is Rising (The Dark is Rising Sequence) (original 1973; edition 1999)

As lyrical and wonderful as ever. ( )

These are those books where you wonder if those 5 star reviewers even read the same book as you. This was extremely boring and poorly written. ( )

Check out my review of The Dark is Rising over at John C Adams Reviews.

https://www.johncadamsreviews.com/single-post/john-c-adams-reviews-the-dark-is-r...

#TheDarkIsRising #SusanCooper #JohnCAdamsReviews #JohnCAdams #FantasyFriday #book #review #books #reviews #bookreview #bookreviews ( )

Pretty decent boy-wizard story but i preferred the previous book [b:Over Sea, Under Stone|11312|Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising, #1)|Susan Cooper|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443993959s/11312.jpg|742] which had less magic but more adventure.
This suffers from the usual Chosen One problem, too much predestination which undermines the tension of the story. Also its a bit video-gamey. The plot involves collecting magical items and at one point something happens which i can only describe as Leveling Up, it took all my self restraint not to shout 'Level 2' Achievement Unlocked: Uncompelling!

The other problem i had was that its really dark in tone in the first half, it felt like a kids version of The Omen or something. This dissipates significantly once the character Levels.

I know i sound like i'm trashing it but the writing is generally very good. The protagonist has a big and functional family which was interesting and not something you tend to see much of anymore.

I actually thought i might have to give it 4 stars, as the third quarter was really compelling and uncertain, but things felt more predestined again towards the end.

So not bad at all, really nice writing but not great plot. ( )

This book passed me by in childhood, although the classics cover of it looks very familiar. Anyway I read it with Milly and we both really enjoyed it. It feels like a local and manageable adventure for young Will to become engaged in, but with big themes of light and dark and saving the world. It happens over Christmas and we feel the cold and the snow as well the air of menace coming from the Black Rider. ( )