Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Much more entertaining than I expected, despite AlexLit shouting at me to read The Dark is Rising for the entirety of the website's existence. Cooper provides descriptive action that is superior to most children's lit of the era, and it feels very cinematic in quality at points.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a fun little adventure, very similar in tone to Treasure Island, with parts that reminded me a little of the beginning of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It has some wonderfully tense parts, and a very nice climax. Despite being part of a series, this story works as a standalone novel. Also, the book is so well written I pictured the tiny sea port where the book is set (Trewissick) nearly exactly as the town it is based on looks (Mevagissey).
As a middle-schooler, I’d have given this 5 stars. As someone over 50, a few parts knocked it back a little for me, mainly that the astronomical “clues” they are following would be incredibly rare and thus it is a huge coincidence for things to happen to be lined up for them.
But in the end, it was a really enjoyable adventure story, and I plan to read the next book in the series.
As a middle-schooler, I’d have given this 5 stars. As someone over 50, a few parts knocked it back a little for me, mainly that the astronomical “clues” they are following would be incredibly rare and thus it is a huge coincidence for things to happen to be lined up for them.
But in the end, it was a really enjoyable adventure story, and I plan to read the next book in the series.
I didn’t actually realize this was a kids book before I started it. It’s very much a kids book, and a kids book from the 60s. So the writing style reminds me a lot of the old Nancy Drew books. But it was cute enough, and I’d be willing to recommend it to a kid.
Read this for my class on YA lit. Thought it was fun, but felt geared more towards kids in early middle school to me. Also because it was written in the 60s it gave me that fake "wholesome 1950s" vibe which was not annoying? Just a little too....pure/naive for me? If that makes sense. Anyway, thought it was a cute adventure story.
This is an excellent adventure story that kept me reading late into the evening. I was surprised that the overall story didn't have the typical aspects of a fantasy at all even though this is book one of the fantasy series The Dark is Rising. It seemed to me to be more of a mystery with some good adventure thrown in for excitement. The author did a great job creating the major characters so that they were interesting and critical to moving the story along. Looking forward to remainder of the series being as good.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A fantastic childrens' author. I read this as a child and then reread again and as an adult and still holds up to the test of time. Would recommend this whole series (and then go onto Alan Garner Weirdstone of Brisingman)
I found a really nice omnibus of all 5 volumes, and I thought I would re-read as I thought they were all set at Christmas...and this one is not. Genuinely can't remember if I have read this before, but it feels very familiar. Probably because the writing is so evocative of classic children's adventure stories. Anyway, it stands up