The Grey King (Dark is Rising, Book 4)
by Susan Cooper
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Read in March, 2008
I'm really reluctant to say this, but this series isn't holding the same magic for me as an adult as it did as a child. There are other things I've gone back and reread, where I respond to them just as much (but differently) as an adult, but this isn't one of them. It holds up in a lot of ways - I'm still intrigued by the characters, and settings, and the way Arthurian legend plays a role in the plot. And I would still recommend it heartily to child readers, because I found the series incredi...more
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Read in January, 1991
recommends it for:
middle school onwards
This is one of the most well-written young adult books I've ever read. They don't write 'em like this anymore, kids! There's a reason Susan Cooper won the Newberry Medal for this. Her incredible, melodic descriptive language and her ability to interweave history, mythology, legend, and good old-fashioned fiction bring this book far beyond a traditional "boy with special powers" book. If you appreciate the English language and if you have an interest in history and legend, this one is...more
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Read in May, 2008
When Will Stanton is sent to Wales to recover from a severe illness he has no idea of what adventures he is going to stumble upon. He meets a very strange lad named Bran and his dog. The Dark also follows Will, trying to prevent him from waking the six sleepers and fulfill his part in the fight against the Dark and the Light
This was a pretty good book, I wasn't too impressed with the story line, but I thought Bran was a cool character. The Grey King was a little darker then the rest of th...more
This was a pretty good book, I wasn't too impressed with the story line, but I thought Bran was a cool character. The Grey King was a little darker then the rest of th...more
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Read in May, 2008
This fourth book in the series is good because it brings in some much-needed depth of character. So far, the other books had only developed people enough to play their role in the plot; this one still sticks to that, but one of those roles becomes more interesting and requires more backstory. I didn't think I'd missed characterization in the series, but once I saw a bit of it, I liked the thought that the characters had lives outside the action of the book--like, the battle-between-light-and-dar...more
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Read in January, 1992
Well, it's quite thrilling these are being made into movies.
I think The Grey King is the strongest in the series although Greenwitch is my favorite because it features a girl. The Grey King loops the whole series into the King Arthur myth and centers on the son of King Arthur, a moody Welsh boy named Bran with some sort of shockingly-colored hair. Slim and full of lots of fun Welsh words, this one was a quick read. I remember having some problems though figuring out which boy I should hav...more
I think The Grey King is the strongest in the series although Greenwitch is my favorite because it features a girl. The Grey King loops the whole series into the King Arthur myth and centers on the son of King Arthur, a moody Welsh boy named Bran with some sort of shockingly-colored hair. Slim and full of lots of fun Welsh words, this one was a quick read. I remember having some problems though figuring out which boy I should hav...more
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
older children w/ a good grasp on reality
It was very well-written and was one of those books that is impossible for me to put down. I think I stayed up till 3am reading it.
I think the content might be a little dark for younger children. I wouldn't let a child who isn't grounded in something safe read it necessarily. I'm quite old enough for child-fantasy and I felt afraid while reading it. The author does an amazing job of creating an enivronment that is seemingly safe and yet full of hidden danger. The descriptions perfectly capt...more
I think the content might be a little dark for younger children. I wouldn't let a child who isn't grounded in something safe read it necessarily. I'm quite old enough for child-fantasy and I felt afraid while reading it. The author does an amazing job of creating an enivronment that is seemingly safe and yet full of hidden danger. The descriptions perfectly capt...more
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Read in January, 2006
I know it's not a commonly held opinion among fans of The Dark is Rising sequence, but I actually have preferred the books with the Drews, rather than just Will Stanton, but this was still a great read. I'm grateful for the little Welsh pronunciation lesson Bran gave Will, otherwise I would have been way off the mark with the names. My only complaint is not enough Merriman, but overall it was really exciting and I'm anxious to start the final volume of the series.
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Read in November, 2007
I just listened to this book with the family on our trip to OH for Thanksgiving. It was very well written but I still only gave it four stars. It wasn't quite to the level I would like for a Newberry Award winner. This may be because I expected ti to stand alone from the rest of the series that I have NOT read (this is book 4 of 5). The climax left me a little confused and too many loose ends not tied up neatly for me. But, it still was a great one to listen to and ours really held our atte...more
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Read in March, 2006
recommends it for:
children, young adult
Hands down, my favorite of the Dark Is Rising books. Will Stanton, who had been seriously ill, is sent to live with relatives living on the coast of Wales to recuperate. While there, he is set on an adventure to retrieve a golden harp and figure out how to wake the Sleepers while confronting the Grey King. He receives aid from Bran, a mysterious local boy whose roots are unknown (until the end). Will also starts to realize the enormity of his responsibilities as an Old One, and the moral dilemma...more
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What I love about the Dark is Rising series are the different tones the books take on as their settings change. Here, Will is in Wales, and aside from the obvious way this affects the plot, it also makes the whole story somehow feel different. I can't articulate this properly, but read the whole series and you'll know what I mean.
I missed the Drew kids, but Bran makes up for it. He's a wonderful character, and I like how his presence makes the Arthurian aspect of this series...more
I missed the Drew kids, but Bran makes up for it. He's a wonderful character, and I like how his presence makes the Arthurian aspect of this series...more
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recommends it for:
fans of fantasy & good children's literature
What to say about one of the books that influenced your childhood? I can't give an objective review of this; even after reading it again as an adult, I can't find a flaw either in the writing or in the subject matter.
It is fourth in the Dark Is Rising series, so I can't really recommend reading it without checking out the others first. The series itself is amazing, simple enough for children without being insulting, and still interesting to adults who enjoy a bit of fantasy every now and t...more
It is fourth in the Dark Is Rising series, so I can't really recommend reading it without checking out the others first. The series itself is amazing, simple enough for children without being insulting, and still interesting to adults who enjoy a bit of fantasy every now and t...more
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Read in July, 2008
As with all this series, I liked them, but they weren't gripping. This deals more with the Arthurian legends which I find fascinating. We meet Bran, an interesting new character who brings some fresh blood into the mix. And good old Will whom I love (in a purely fictional character sort of way).
In some ways it seems like the author held back in making things too scary or tense, but I wanted more! Still fun to read and I'm sure younger kids would like them.
In some ways it seems like the author held back in making things too scary or tense, but I wanted more! Still fun to read and I'm sure younger kids would like them.
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Read in April, 2008
I guess I'm amazed that this book won the Newbery Award. I personally think the 2nd book in the series deserved the award more than this one. Although it was really good. The ending didn't do it for me though. I think if I hadn't read the first 3 books, I would have been really confused. Or maybe it's just because I read it with a really bad cold. Anyone out there who's read just this book in the series and been okay with it? Just curious. . .
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Read in August, 2008
I read this first shortly after publication. One of the reasons I love this book and have kept it all these years is its setting in Wales. My great grandfather came from Wales. I have studied the Welch language, so it is fun for me to puzzle through the Welch dialoge. I liked how the story wove in mythology from the region, and I like the characters--of course!
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Read in May, 2008
My favorite (so far, I have not yet read the fifth and final book) of the Dark is Rising series. The Grey King loops the whole series into the King Arthur myth. Like the others in the series, it's readable for kids, but not too simple for adults. I was confused by the end, and still not really sure how things were resolved, but enjoyed it anyway.
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Read in August, 2007
The fourth book in the dark is rising series found Will Stanton following down the third of the objects of power as an old one all by himself. The thing which was kind of strange about this story was that it started off with will being deathly sick with hepatitis even though he can't be killed or die ... that didn't really make sense.
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Read in April, 2008
Will Stanton and the Drews meet--if a bit skittishly. And my second most favorite character in the series--the incommunicative Bran--is introduced (with his riveting dog). This one really gets into Cooper's non-existentialist philosophy as well as adding Wales to Cornwall in the connection to Mabinogianian myth. Heady.
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Fourth book in the series. Introduces a new, important character to the plot. Has more of the magical flavour as the Dark is Rising book (but maybe I'm just biased on Will, the main protagonist :p). I loved it; it also helped it was set in Wales, which I am inexplicably interested in.
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(Genre: teen fantasy) My favorite installment of "The Dark is Rising" series. Will has been seriously ill and is sent to Wales to recuperate. This puts him in the position to continue his work in fighting the Dark. A little spooky at times, it is intense and interesting.
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Read in June, 2008
A fantastic YA fantasy series and this book must be the crown jewel (I have yet to read the fifth/final volume) It is wonderful, atmospheric, and compelling storytelling. If you are into magic. mystery, and myth, the Dark Is Rising series is one of the best.
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