The Dark Is Rising (The Dark is Rising, #2) in Overdue Podcast

Dec 02, 2019 Tracey rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, fantasy, cornwall

I remember loving this book dearly. I read it over and over as a kid, as a teen.

Now? I have enjoyed the writing, very much. I have enjoyed the nostalgia, the fun of being able to recite the verses along with the narrator from old, old memories. Some of the characterization is beautifully done - and the accomplishment of making nine children in one family plus their parents distinguishable from each other and even a little fleshed out and colored - that's nothing to sneeze at. The exploration of I remember loving this book dearly. I read it over and over as a kid, as a teen.

Now? I have enjoyed the writing, very much. I have enjoyed the nostalgia, the fun of being able to recite the verses along with the narrator from old, old memories. Some of the characterization is beautifully done - and the accomplishment of making nine children in one family plus their parents distinguishable from each other and even a little fleshed out and colored - that's nothing to sneeze at. The exploration of how an 11-year-old boy feels upon being drafted into an ages-old fight is pretty well done, but ...

But.

Towards the end, there's a bit where Will basks in the pride he feels coming from Merriman ... and ... why? Will is set to a quest to find six symbols - wood, bronze, iron, water, fire, stone - and - spoiler - he does almost nothing to obtain these six. The first one is literally handed to him, for pete's sake. After that, either he is again handed the quartered circle or is told exactly what he has to do to obtain it. Compared to pretty much every quest I've ever seen outside of a beginner's level D&D game, there are no stakes (I never had the idea that anyone or anything was really at risk - so and so is gone? 'S ok. They'll be back), no effort, no ... quest, really. I have no idea what the big deal is with Will here. He just didn't do all that much.

Nobody seems to do all that much. The agents of the Dark seem to put their back into a bit, but they could have done a lot worse - they were pretty lame, all shadow and fog. And the agents of the Light basically looked stern and joined hands and ... something happened. Will doesn't even have to swot over becoming an Old One - he reads one book and *wham* all set. No instruction required. Even the Wild Hunt was pretty weak tea, where it's supposed to be bloody terrifying.

It bothered me a little that all the animals were afraid of Will when the change was coming over him. It bothered me a little that the vicar and his faith and church were pretty much discounted - even though however religion is considered in this world they should have been agents of the Light, or at least helpful. I don't know if that latter would have bothered me as much before I read a friend's review which pointed up some jabs at Christianity ... yes, it would, because I was pretty annoyed with the "vicar" being a bad guy in Over Sea, Under Stone. And the Old Ones were pretty condescending.

This almost felt like an abridgment. I wanted more. Of everything. Of Will's family life, his internal struggle with his "Yer a wizard Harry" transformation, of the work that should have gone into getting each of the signs ...

Oh well. Not everything holds up. Still, the narrator was absolutely wonderful ... and I see he doesn't narrate The Grey King. Well, crap. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 28, 2017 Kate Sherrod rated it really liked it

I didn't like this one quite as much as the first book, mostly because Chosen One, but I enjoyed the family stuff and the bittersweet story of Hawkin. ...more

Like · see review

Jan 09, 2015 Abby rated it really liked it

Loved it. I was nervous and excited and a little freaked out from the beginning to the end.

Like · see review

Jul 16, 2007 Patty rated it liked it

Shelves: good-for-students

I picked up this book after seeing the preview for the upcoming Walden Media film; I'm crazy about Ian McShane and wanted to read the book before seeing him in the movie. Not realizing that it's second in a series, I'm afraid I probably missed some nuances of the story. I'll be reading its predecesor, Over Sea Under Stone , next. Hopefully, it will answer some of the questions I had about this story. ...more

Like · see review

Sep 04, 2007 Samantha rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I listened to this book on audio. Like I said with the previous title, I had a hard time with the jump between books. I felt like this book just starts and it takes a while to sink into the book. This is a book about a quest, and much of the quest feels like it happens too easily. I'm interested in seeing the trailer. ...more

Like · see review