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xandra_lyn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was good, but it's definitely dated in some respects. I'm not sure I would say this is for children, as it would definitely require some explanation on the part of the parents. See content warnings for details.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping and Racism
Kidnapping: the kidnapping was kinda creepy, and knowing that this sort of thing happens in real life (for non-fantasy purposes) was really creepy. Racism: the children talk casually in the first few chapters of "natives" and say some flippantly derogatory things. It's definitely inappropriate by today's standards and should be discussed with any child who reads it.marmar0326's review
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
3.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Colonisation, Racism, and Misogyny
francescaastraea's review
adventurous
mysterious
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
Devastated I never read this as a child and missed the opportunity to become OBSESSED with Arthurian legend, caves and finding lost kings.
(What's that sound? My copy of the Raven Cycle bristling? Hahaa.)
(What's that sound? My copy of the Raven Cycle bristling? Hahaa.)
Content Warnings
Minor: Colonisation and Racism
craftysnailtail's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I adored this series as a kid, so I thought I'd reread them. I was unaware of just how old this series is, so the racism in the first book really took me off guard and quite upset me. It's simply not something I noticed as a kid in the 90s, but I do understand that it was written in the 60s from a very posh, white-centric view. The later books don't have this sort of casual racism, so thankfully Cooper did change with the times... Still something important to note, in my opinion.
The plot itself is still just as good as I remembered. Not as exciting now that I'm an adult, but I still love Cooper's style of writing and the overall mystery surrounding the light and the dark. It's very easy to get lost in her stories and I found it both fun and relaxing to read, but maybe that's because I knew how it would end.
If you enjoy easy, adventurous reads with a Narnia/magical realism feel, that focus on Arthurian legend, then you'll probably really enjoy this series.
The plot itself is still just as good as I remembered. Not as exciting now that I'm an adult, but I still love Cooper's style of writing and the overall mystery surrounding the light and the dark. It's very easy to get lost in her stories and I found it both fun and relaxing to read, but maybe that's because I knew how it would end.
If you enjoy easy, adventurous reads with a Narnia/magical realism feel, that focus on Arthurian legend, then you'll probably really enjoy this series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation and Racism
readingthroughthelists's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Certainly the weakest entry in The Dark is Rising Sequence, in that it has almost nothing to do with any of the characters or themes of the later books. But also…who cares? This is a pure children’s fantasy, about children and for children.
After all, what kid hasn’t dreamed about finding an ancient map in a dusty, old attic, about hunting for clues to an ancient treasure, about fleeing the dark and mysterious forces that threaten them?
I suspect this would land well in a 2nd-3rd grade classroom, or with anyone who wants to relive their childhood treasure-hunting days.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
eileenp59's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Classism, Kidnapping, and Racism
ferrumage's review
Tried reading this because it's useful for context in later books of Aaronovitch's "Rivers of London" series. Too old now. Also, too annoyed by the consistent messaging of who real, proper good people are - i.e., proper English people, certainly not Catholics, not vaguely queer people, and definitely not vaguely dark-skinned people. Y i k e s. Definitely says out loud what my distrust of anyone who gets really passionate about Arthuriana is based on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
bigkidbookworm's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
3.0
If you wished The Penderwicks had a bit more King Arthur to it, this one is for you. It’s charming, albeit dated, and full of mystery and intrigue. A lovely start to the series and I’m intrigued to see where these characters go from here!
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
half_bloodreader's review against another edition
DNF at page 167
I just wasn't feeling it. The 3 siblings, particularly the eldest, Simon, were annoying. There were very dull moments in the narrative too.
This is one of those stories where the kids are smarter than the incompetent adult villains (how obvious can they be that they are up to no good? Seriously). There were a lot of them in the 80s.
I know this was published in the 60s, but to have to deal with conversations between the children like "rude natives (...) it's the sort of thing natives are. It's what all the explorers call them." is not what I came for.
Is that sort of racist commentary really needed for the story?? A fantasy-ish children's adventure based on Arthurian folklore, and the eternal battle of good vs evil, gains what exactly from that coloniser propaganda?
All things considered, I decided there's better things I'm more excited to read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
shann_42's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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
1.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism
The main child characters make several off-hand racist/colonial comments when "playing explorers" in the beginning of the book.