Status
Available
Local notes
PB Coo
Collection
Publication
Simon Pulse (1987), 256 pages
Description
Jane's invitation to witness the making of the Greenwitch begins a series of sinister events in which she and her two brothers help the Old Ones recover the grail stolen by the Dark.
Subjects
Awards
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee — 1979-1980)
Margaret A. Edwards Award (2012)
Tir na n-Og Award (Winner — English — 1978)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1977
Physical description
256 p.; 4.4 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member StormRaven
Silver on the Tree is the fifth and final book in Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising sequence. In some ways, the book feels a little anti-climactic, which may have been inevitable following the mostly excellent books that preceded it. Still, the main difficulty with the book is that it tries to do
The book brings back all of the main characters from the earlier books: Will, Bran, Merriman, the Drew's and others. They prepare for a final show down against the forces of the Dark, seeking once again to decipher ancient prophecies in the form of poems and hunt down required McGuffin artifacts. The whole plot seems to have something of a rehashed feel to it, and the outcome never really seems to be in doubt. The book wraps up all the story lines and packages them neatly with a bow on top, which is probably to be expected of a young adult novel, but after the more mature tone showing through in parts of The Grey King, this book seems like somewhat of a disappointment.
The book is still quite good, and is better than most young adult fiction out there (and better than a lot of fantasy fiction written for the adult market), but it just isn't as good as the book that preceded it, which makes reading it something of a disappointment. As with all of Cooper's books, it is better written than most young adult offerings, but it just feels like a series as good as The Dark Is Rising sequence should have had a better final book. I still recommend it, just not as highly as Over Sea, Under Stone, The Dark Is Rising, and The Grey King.
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two, possibly incompatible things: it tries to make the Dark a formidable and dangerous foe, and tries to keep the tone of the book firmly aimed at the young adult market. One or the other of these goals needed to give way, and unfortunately, the end result is that the Dark is less ominous and threatening than one would have hoped.The book brings back all of the main characters from the earlier books: Will, Bran, Merriman, the Drew's and others. They prepare for a final show down against the forces of the Dark, seeking once again to decipher ancient prophecies in the form of poems and hunt down required McGuffin artifacts. The whole plot seems to have something of a rehashed feel to it, and the outcome never really seems to be in doubt. The book wraps up all the story lines and packages them neatly with a bow on top, which is probably to be expected of a young adult novel, but after the more mature tone showing through in parts of The Grey King, this book seems like somewhat of a disappointment.
The book is still quite good, and is better than most young adult fiction out there (and better than a lot of fantasy fiction written for the adult market), but it just isn't as good as the book that preceded it, which makes reading it something of a disappointment. As with all of Cooper's books, it is better written than most young adult offerings, but it just feels like a series as good as The Dark Is Rising sequence should have had a better final book. I still recommend it, just not as highly as Over Sea, Under Stone, The Dark Is Rising, and The Grey King.
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LibraryThing member RebeccaAnn
Spoilers ahead:
I found this be a mostly satisfying conclusion to this series, even if it was a bit sad. The action was exciting the whole tone of the bookw as much darker than previous ones (with possibly the exception of the fourth book - The Grey King). Some parts of the book I found almost
I do the ending was just a little disappointing, and perhaps this is because I'm not very familiar with Welsh mythology, but I didn't understand how the winner in the battle between the Light and the Dark could be decided by who slices through a bush of mistletoe on one special tree. It seemed a little...anticlimatic.
The very end was also just a little bit sad. I mourned for Will because neither Bran nor the Drew children would remember any of their adventures or how much they helped the Light. I think the ending was supposed to be happy, but that's not how I saw it. Still, it was a very good book and I greatly enjoyed the series as a whole. It's a keeper and one that, at some point in the future, I hope to reread.
I found this be a mostly satisfying conclusion to this series, even if it was a bit sad. The action was exciting the whole tone of the bookw as much darker than previous ones (with possibly the exception of the fourth book - The Grey King). Some parts of the book I found almost
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theatrical in nature. The scene where Will and Bran are in the maze of mirrors and all the glass shatters musically left me breathless.I do the ending was just a little disappointing, and perhaps this is because I'm not very familiar with Welsh mythology, but I didn't understand how the winner in the battle between the Light and the Dark could be decided by who slices through a bush of mistletoe on one special tree. It seemed a little...anticlimatic.
The very end was also just a little bit sad. I mourned for Will because neither Bran nor the Drew children would remember any of their adventures or how much they helped the Light. I think the ending was supposed to be happy, but that's not how I saw it. Still, it was a very good book and I greatly enjoyed the series as a whole. It's a keeper and one that, at some point in the future, I hope to reread.
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LibraryThing member JudithProctor
This is a very well written series in terms of writing, but the plot really lets it down. It's like a game of D+D where you're collecting a load of unrelated artefacts to save the world.
Some of the descriptive text is beautiful and she manages a good feel for magic (in the sense of writing about
Some of the descriptive text is beautiful and she manages a good feel for magic (in the sense of writing about
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magical places and mythical events), but I do so wish there had been a better, more connected story behind it all. Show Less
LibraryThing member PhilSyphe
For me, each book in the series isn’t as good as the previous one. “Silver on the Tree” continues this trend.
The three Drew siblings from Books 1 and 3 add their usual brightness, though sadly they’re kept in the background too much. These three characters are endearing and likable.
My attention was put to the test when Will Stanton and Bran go to some sort of magic kingdom. Maybe I would’ve enjoyed this part more if I’d read in during my boyhood, it’s hard to say. I like action, drama, conflict, intrigue, suspense, yet this magic kingdom has next to none of these things.
Regarding conflict, what bit there is of it is rarely exciting. The Dark Rider had the potential to be a great antagonist in this novel, and in the second of this series, but this potential was never realised. He’s an interesting character in his own right, but the problem is you never feel he can cause the protagonists any physical harm.
This has been an issue from Book 2 onwards. Never does it feel like the protagonist are in real danger, especially Will, whose magic is a guarantee against harm. So, apart from certain instances with the appealing Drew trio, especially in Book 1, no real sense of “threat” is apparent. This lack of threat leads to a lack of suspense and evokes little concern for the non-magic characters and no concern for the likes of the "untouchable" Will.
I’m not a big fan of time-travelling scenarios, at least not to the extent featured in this novel. It’s over-complicated and often it's hard to suspend belief.
I feel the number of times that a memory-loss spell is employed is overused, especially when applied to main characters. It feels like being cheated in some way.
Style-wise, the author is good at bringing the landscape to life but is too fond of adverbs. Adverbs "tell", not "show".
Overall, then, a disappointing end to a series that opened with an enjoyable story in “Over Sea, Under Stone”, which is the only one of the five that I’d read again.
The three Drew siblings from Books 1 and 3 add their usual brightness, though sadly they’re kept in the background too much. These three characters are endearing and likable.
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They’re “real”, whereas most of the other characters are somewhat dull or one-dimensional.My attention was put to the test when Will Stanton and Bran go to some sort of magic kingdom. Maybe I would’ve enjoyed this part more if I’d read in during my boyhood, it’s hard to say. I like action, drama, conflict, intrigue, suspense, yet this magic kingdom has next to none of these things.
Regarding conflict, what bit there is of it is rarely exciting. The Dark Rider had the potential to be a great antagonist in this novel, and in the second of this series, but this potential was never realised. He’s an interesting character in his own right, but the problem is you never feel he can cause the protagonists any physical harm.
This has been an issue from Book 2 onwards. Never does it feel like the protagonist are in real danger, especially Will, whose magic is a guarantee against harm. So, apart from certain instances with the appealing Drew trio, especially in Book 1, no real sense of “threat” is apparent. This lack of threat leads to a lack of suspense and evokes little concern for the non-magic characters and no concern for the likes of the "untouchable" Will.
I’m not a big fan of time-travelling scenarios, at least not to the extent featured in this novel. It’s over-complicated and often it's hard to suspend belief.
I feel the number of times that a memory-loss spell is employed is overused, especially when applied to main characters. It feels like being cheated in some way.
Style-wise, the author is good at bringing the landscape to life but is too fond of adverbs. Adverbs "tell", not "show".
Overall, then, a disappointing end to a series that opened with an enjoyable story in “Over Sea, Under Stone”, which is the only one of the five that I’d read again.
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LibraryThing member MFeaver
Excellent, Excellent children's series. I was obsessed with this series as a child. It made me want to learn Welsh and I bought the whole series at a school book fair and recommend it to people looking for a great children's series. I've kept them for when I have children!!
LibraryThing member N.T.Embe
Well it all comes full circle here. The last book in the Dark is Rising series is done. Yet, why do I feel so empty? I thought at first perhaps that this was part of the cost of re-reading a book or series again, that you had read the first time when you were much younger. But no, because thinking
I feel like magic in this series is a heavy burden. It doesn't come easily, and it doesn't even feel natural. It's a strain on everyone that uses it, and whenever it inevitably interferes with the normal world and people's lives, the solution is always wiping their memories. I don't know about you, but when I've fought that hard, struggled for so long, for a cause... I don't want my memories of what I fought for to be lost! And in a way, whenever they did that in previous books to other characters that started getting a hint of what was going on, I balked at it! I cringed and grit my teeth. How do you just do that?! Wipe my mind and pretend like it didn't happen! Like you're all too powerful for me to be of any use if I knew! I get it, the Light in this series is trying to protect humanity. But know what? We can fight for ourselves too! Otherwise you wouldn't have used Barney and Jane and Simon! It all started with them! And then we get everyone else just... treating them like they can't do anything in the long run. Worse, like they don't deserve the respect of remembering.
...you just don't do that. Messing with people's heads is one thing, but stealing their memories from them is taking away a part of who they are. Unless they willingly sought it, which I wouldn't praise or be happy about anyway, that's... not something you do.
But going back to this book in particular, things are as they've been in the last few books. We get the entire battle of Light and Dark fought and ended. And it's an obvious ending. One would think it would be. It's again filled with so much going on that you're basically being dragged along for the ride without even getting a chance to experience what's happening. The empathy whenever it comes to these magical things... just isn't there. Whenever we focus on Will or the Light's dealings, even the Dark's dealings, it's cold. Distant. Unfeeling. You can't find anything to cling to that'll give you any feelings at all. Just like Jane, Barney, and Simon throughout many parts of this book: You're just standing there, quietly, watching all the important people talk and completely ignore you. And that's what a lot of this series is when it's all summarized. That is why it gets Two Stars from me. Is it alright? Yeah. It is. But the only good parts, and I mean, the really, actually enjoyable parts, are with the Drew kids. Will, the Light, the Dark, and what have you... they just... make you feel bland.
I think if this story was written more from the Drew's adventures, it would have been far more pleasant and fun. But it just comes off as hard to connect to, full of fancy show and flashy stuff, but there's nothing really concrete or logical in the procession of anything. Things just HAPPEN because they DO and they come whenever they want. You're being dragged behind a speeding car, but you have no idea where you're going. They stop to ask your opinion every once in a blue moon, or during a pit stop, but then you're back in the trunk or something, stashed away until you're needed.
Eh. It's a shame. Because there's a lot of stuff here that is lovely, but it's got no substance. It's just there, and you don't feel anything for it.
So that's the conclusion for this series. It was fine. It was okay. But I wish you got a chance to actually feel like you experienced something worthwhile. Because you're hoping for it throughout the entire series and then... you just get... nothing really. Everything goes back to how it was before you ever started the series. As far as you're concerned, nothing's changed--because nothing feels like it changed.
Give these books a shot if you want. But they're not the best. Definitely not as magical as I once thought they were. Funny that, all my memories from when I was a kid were of the parts where the Drew's or Bran was involved. Huh. Guess it goes to show you what really matters~ And in this case, it's worth it only for them, but even then, just barely. Take it out of a library, but don't buy this at first go. It's not really worth your money, I'm sorry to say.
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back now--this must have been what the longing I felt was all about. Things finally draw to a conclusion at the end of this book, and life moves on, but there's still that lingering "But..." that I just want to end all my sentences with. This was supposed to be the last great adventure, and there are parts that I like and love, but there are too many other things in hindsight that weighed down those feelings and just left me feeling... underwhelmed.I feel like magic in this series is a heavy burden. It doesn't come easily, and it doesn't even feel natural. It's a strain on everyone that uses it, and whenever it inevitably interferes with the normal world and people's lives, the solution is always wiping their memories. I don't know about you, but when I've fought that hard, struggled for so long, for a cause... I don't want my memories of what I fought for to be lost! And in a way, whenever they did that in previous books to other characters that started getting a hint of what was going on, I balked at it! I cringed and grit my teeth. How do you just do that?! Wipe my mind and pretend like it didn't happen! Like you're all too powerful for me to be of any use if I knew! I get it, the Light in this series is trying to protect humanity. But know what? We can fight for ourselves too! Otherwise you wouldn't have used Barney and Jane and Simon! It all started with them! And then we get everyone else just... treating them like they can't do anything in the long run. Worse, like they don't deserve the respect of remembering.
...you just don't do that. Messing with people's heads is one thing, but stealing their memories from them is taking away a part of who they are. Unless they willingly sought it, which I wouldn't praise or be happy about anyway, that's... not something you do.
But going back to this book in particular, things are as they've been in the last few books. We get the entire battle of Light and Dark fought and ended. And it's an obvious ending. One would think it would be. It's again filled with so much going on that you're basically being dragged along for the ride without even getting a chance to experience what's happening. The empathy whenever it comes to these magical things... just isn't there. Whenever we focus on Will or the Light's dealings, even the Dark's dealings, it's cold. Distant. Unfeeling. You can't find anything to cling to that'll give you any feelings at all. Just like Jane, Barney, and Simon throughout many parts of this book: You're just standing there, quietly, watching all the important people talk and completely ignore you. And that's what a lot of this series is when it's all summarized. That is why it gets Two Stars from me. Is it alright? Yeah. It is. But the only good parts, and I mean, the really, actually enjoyable parts, are with the Drew kids. Will, the Light, the Dark, and what have you... they just... make you feel bland.
I think if this story was written more from the Drew's adventures, it would have been far more pleasant and fun. But it just comes off as hard to connect to, full of fancy show and flashy stuff, but there's nothing really concrete or logical in the procession of anything. Things just HAPPEN because they DO and they come whenever they want. You're being dragged behind a speeding car, but you have no idea where you're going. They stop to ask your opinion every once in a blue moon, or during a pit stop, but then you're back in the trunk or something, stashed away until you're needed.
Eh. It's a shame. Because there's a lot of stuff here that is lovely, but it's got no substance. It's just there, and you don't feel anything for it.
So that's the conclusion for this series. It was fine. It was okay. But I wish you got a chance to actually feel like you experienced something worthwhile. Because you're hoping for it throughout the entire series and then... you just get... nothing really. Everything goes back to how it was before you ever started the series. As far as you're concerned, nothing's changed--because nothing feels like it changed.
Give these books a shot if you want. But they're not the best. Definitely not as magical as I once thought they were. Funny that, all my memories from when I was a kid were of the parts where the Drew's or Bran was involved. Huh. Guess it goes to show you what really matters~ And in this case, it's worth it only for them, but even then, just barely. Take it out of a library, but don't buy this at first go. It's not really worth your money, I'm sorry to say.
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LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson
[Spoilers] In this last book of the Welsh fantasy adventure, the 3 English children are instrumental in working with 'Uncle Merry' and the 2 boys, Will and Bran to achieve the success of the quest. Disappointed by the ending, because the English kids have their memory of the quest taken from them
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by the "old ones", which did not resonate with me and just felt really arrogant. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookworm12
**This review won’t make much sense if you haven’t read the rest of the series**
This is the final book in The Dark is Rising series and I’ll admit, it was sad to say goodbye. Everything has been building to the final battle between the dark and the light and this book provided a satisfying
Will has really grown as a character, balancing his life as a young man and as an Old One can’t be easy, but it seems like he has matured. His role in the series is actually pretty tragic. It broke my heart when Will tells his brother who he really is and his brother doesn’t believe him. He then has to make him forget what he said. It seems like the people who fight for what’s right often lead such lonely lives.
This book features some wonderful new characters, like Gwion, and some intense scenes, like Will and Bran being chased by the skeletal horse. There’s also a great scene where Will and Merriman travel back in time to when the Romans were in Britain. Also, Jane’s role becomes vital in this book, because she and the Grey Lady are both females, so they have a special connection.
One of the aspects I’ve enjoyed the most from this series is the way the “Dark” attacks people. It’s not about violent attacks or brute force; instead they plant seeds of doubt and prey on people’s fears. They manipulate and tempt and those are much more effective ways of getting what you want. It’s much easier to stand strong against a physical attack than it is to resist the idea that you aren’t good enough or that someone has betrayed you.
One thing I wished I’d known about the series before I began it is that there is a central cast of characters, but they aren’t in every book. The main characters include Simon, Jane and Barney Drew, Merriman Lyon, Will Stanton, Bran and a few others. The first book features the Drew sibling, we don’t meet Will until the second book and the Drew siblings aren’t even in that one. Bran doesn’t show up until the fourth book, etc. It all comes together in the final book, but I think I would have enjoyed the second book much more if I had stopped waiting for the Drew siblings to appear.
All-in-all, I really enjoyed the whole series, especially the references to the Arthur/Merlin legend. I wish I’d read them when I was young, but I’m glad to discover them now.
“‘Why should some of the Riders of the Dark be dressed all in white and the rest all in black?’
Will said reflectively, ‘I don’t know. Maybe because the dark can only reach people at extremes, blinded by their own shining ideas or locked up in the darkness of their own heads.’”
This is the final book in The Dark is Rising series and I’ll admit, it was sad to say goodbye. Everything has been building to the final battle between the dark and the light and this book provided a satisfying
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conclusion. For me, the action sequences have never been the draw. It’s the relationships that make the series a success and in this book, all the characters are together for the first time. Of course, when everyone is finally together there’s a bit of rivalry, but that would happen with any group. Will has really grown as a character, balancing his life as a young man and as an Old One can’t be easy, but it seems like he has matured. His role in the series is actually pretty tragic. It broke my heart when Will tells his brother who he really is and his brother doesn’t believe him. He then has to make him forget what he said. It seems like the people who fight for what’s right often lead such lonely lives.
This book features some wonderful new characters, like Gwion, and some intense scenes, like Will and Bran being chased by the skeletal horse. There’s also a great scene where Will and Merriman travel back in time to when the Romans were in Britain. Also, Jane’s role becomes vital in this book, because she and the Grey Lady are both females, so they have a special connection.
One of the aspects I’ve enjoyed the most from this series is the way the “Dark” attacks people. It’s not about violent attacks or brute force; instead they plant seeds of doubt and prey on people’s fears. They manipulate and tempt and those are much more effective ways of getting what you want. It’s much easier to stand strong against a physical attack than it is to resist the idea that you aren’t good enough or that someone has betrayed you.
One thing I wished I’d known about the series before I began it is that there is a central cast of characters, but they aren’t in every book. The main characters include Simon, Jane and Barney Drew, Merriman Lyon, Will Stanton, Bran and a few others. The first book features the Drew sibling, we don’t meet Will until the second book and the Drew siblings aren’t even in that one. Bran doesn’t show up until the fourth book, etc. It all comes together in the final book, but I think I would have enjoyed the second book much more if I had stopped waiting for the Drew siblings to appear.
All-in-all, I really enjoyed the whole series, especially the references to the Arthur/Merlin legend. I wish I’d read them when I was young, but I’m glad to discover them now.
“‘Why should some of the Riders of the Dark be dressed all in white and the rest all in black?’
Will said reflectively, ‘I don’t know. Maybe because the dark can only reach people at extremes, blinded by their own shining ideas or locked up in the darkness of their own heads.’”
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
Love - or the ability to forge relationships that create loyalty and sacrfice - this is the deciding factor between light and dark. It's not an uncommon theme in fantastical novels. In the end, what saves the light are those bonds forged as people loved. I liked two parts in particular - when John
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rejects his "wife's" claim of possession declaring that people are free to choose. And again in the end when Merriman tells the children that the earth is left to men, who must choose against their own worst selves in order to keep themselves in the light. Show Less
LibraryThing member BruceCoulson
The book that ruined the series. Since everyone who might have learned something is forced to forget everything they've learned and done, the whole book (and the previous ones) become pointless.
LibraryThing member kraaivrouw
This is the last of the Dark is Rising sequence and, in keeping with my re-read of the Prydain Chronicles, this is probably my least favorite book, again because it is the most epic.
In this last tale the Dark and Light are gathering for one last battle and Will Stanton and his Welsh friend, Bran,
Everyone is here, but for me the book is marred by the long section all about looking for the crystal sword through the Lost Land. The pace in this large section seemed off and I had trouble caring about what happened. The ending of this novel also feels off, somehow - like Cooper ran out of steam and worked to tie up loose ends all at once. Choices are expediently made or not made at all and Gummery, predictably, goes off to the Summer Country (or the Old One equivalent).
Still and all this is a wonderful series for both children and adults (and excellent for reading aloud chapter by chapter)!
In this last tale the Dark and Light are gathering for one last battle and Will Stanton and his Welsh friend, Bran,
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must gain the crystal sword and join with the Drew siblings to aid Merriman.Everyone is here, but for me the book is marred by the long section all about looking for the crystal sword through the Lost Land. The pace in this large section seemed off and I had trouble caring about what happened. The ending of this novel also feels off, somehow - like Cooper ran out of steam and worked to tie up loose ends all at once. Choices are expediently made or not made at all and Gummery, predictably, goes off to the Summer Country (or the Old One equivalent).
Still and all this is a wonderful series for both children and adults (and excellent for reading aloud chapter by chapter)!
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LibraryThing member veracite
It's a pity that this last book is relatively weak. Jane, Simon, Barney and Merriman have come all the way to Wales for climax of the series and, instead of some adventures with them, we get pages and pages and pages of Cooper's imaginative lost land. Yes, it's lovely. Yes, it would be great in the
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graphic novel. Cooper, who is so good at keeping action happening seems to drop the ball here. Show Less
LibraryThing member scampus
The fifth and best of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence, bringing everything to what is for me a very satisfactory conclusion.
"... the Dark came rising." I've found very few more shiver-inducing sentences in all of children's fantasy literature.
"... the Dark came rising." I've found very few more shiver-inducing sentences in all of children's fantasy literature.
LibraryThing member Othemts
This book is the anti-climactic conclusion to the Dark is Rising Sequence. One of my main problems of the series is that everything seems to be accomplished to easily and the Dark do not appear to be a formidable foe. The antagonists are given the steps to follow and some easy clues to figure out
“’You can’t convince them and you can’t kill ‘em You can only do your best in the opposite direction – which you did.’” – Mr. Stanton (p. 54)
“’All life is theatre, … we are all actors, you and I, in a play nobody wrote and which nobody will see. We have no audience but ourselves … Some players would say this the best kind of theatre there can be.’” – Gwion (p. 135)
“’For ever and ever, we say when we are young, or in our prayers. Twice, we say it, Old One, do we not? For ever and ever … so that a thing may be for ever, a life or a love or a quest, and yet begin again, and be forever just as before. And any ending that may seem to come is not truly an ending, but an illusion. For Time does not die, Time has neither beginning nor end, and so nothing can end or die that has once had a place in Time.” -- Gwion (p. 188)
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and then head out on their journey with occasional hindrances from the Dark but no real concern that their quest will fail. The Drews seem particularly out of place in this novel having some colorful but irrelevant time travel adventures. Anyhow, I did enjoy the descriptions of the Lost Land, especially the skeleton horse, the Mari Llywd. “’You can’t convince them and you can’t kill ‘em You can only do your best in the opposite direction – which you did.’” – Mr. Stanton (p. 54)
“’All life is theatre, … we are all actors, you and I, in a play nobody wrote and which nobody will see. We have no audience but ourselves … Some players would say this the best kind of theatre there can be.’” – Gwion (p. 135)
“’For ever and ever, we say when we are young, or in our prayers. Twice, we say it, Old One, do we not? For ever and ever … so that a thing may be for ever, a life or a love or a quest, and yet begin again, and be forever just as before. And any ending that may seem to come is not truly an ending, but an illusion. For Time does not die, Time has neither beginning nor end, and so nothing can end or die that has once had a place in Time.” -- Gwion (p. 188)
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LibraryThing member readafew
This is the 5th and final book in the Dark is Rising series and it is for the final prize, winner takes all, will it be the Light or the Dark?. All of our favorite characters come back in this one to do their part to help the Light win.
This is a neat set of books for young adults/Middle school
This is a neat set of books for young adults/Middle school
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kids. I read them when I was in Middle school and found them a little spooky, having reread them as an adult I found them an easy read and definitely written for younger readers. Great books to get younger readers interested in reading. Show Less
LibraryThing member sirfurboy
Possibly the best series of books I ever read. I have visited every location mentioned in the books! A powerful set of stories when I was younger, I would still enjoy them now. The movie is bound to be a huge let down - but I still can't wait to see it!
LibraryThing member callmecayce
I absolutely love this series. I love the world Cooper's created, along with the characters. I love the fuzziness of good versus evil, along with the idea that some things are black and white (aka the light is good and the dark is bad) but not everything is (hence the fuzziness. I love Bran and
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Will, I love the Drews and I love Merry. I enjoy all the side characters who flit in and out of the books. In this final book, Cooper manages to write her characters as older and more mature (including the Drews). The ending, of course, broke my heart a little and it makes my heart ache to think about Will as the only one who remembers after everyone else has forgotten or is gone. I'm also very glad that I listened to these books, they were just as good as when I read them, but the experience was actually better on audio. I'm not sure if it was the reader(s) or what, but they were a pleasure to listen to. Show Less
LibraryThing member Crowyhead
A lovely conclusion to the Dark is Rising sequence.
LibraryThing member dk_phoenix
Finally, I finished the Dark is Rising series! I thought the ending was alright, but once again, I’ll admit that Cooper’s non-direct style of writing sometimes bothers me. I like being told what’s going on in clear language, so there were places in this book that just annoyed me…but
It wasn’t my favorite of the series – I think that one goes to The Grey King – but on the whole, I’m glad I took the time to read the books and recommend them to enthusiasts of classic children’s literature or fantasy. Time well spent.
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ultimately, I applaud her consistency throughout the series, and found the ending sad but necessary.It wasn’t my favorite of the series – I think that one goes to The Grey King – but on the whole, I’m glad I took the time to read the books and recommend them to enthusiasts of classic children’s literature or fantasy. Time well spent.
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LibraryThing member Steph78
When I last read the dark is rising sequence as a child, the silver on the tree was my least favourite of the books. Rereading this now, I think it may actually be my favourite. Many of the scene and settings are incredibly vividly realised, and the tension in the book builds with ever increasing
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speed and intensity as the story progressed. Wonderful Show Less
LibraryThing member booksandwine
The Silver On The Tree is the conclusion of the Dark Is Rising sequence. It wraps up all of the lose ends of the story so eloquently. The Drew children, Will Stanton, and Bran Davies all come together to turn back the rising of the dark. It was a great end to an epic journey, and last few pages are
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so well written I will definately pick this book up again just to re-read the resolution. Show Less
LibraryThing member Yoshikawa
Silver on the Tree will have you very frustrated as you see all of the destruction made by the Dark.
LibraryThing member satyridae
The end of the series, but not the pinnacle.
After re-reading the entire series, I understand why I don't re-read it regularly. It's too uneven, though 2 of the 5 books are brilliant. This volume flounders under the weight of both what comes before in Cooper's world and the canon of Arthurian
After re-reading the entire series, I understand why I don't re-read it regularly. It's too uneven, though 2 of the 5 books are brilliant. This volume flounders under the weight of both what comes before in Cooper's world and the canon of Arthurian
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Legend. At the end I find it well-done but somehow lacking. I don't know that I can be more precise, other than to say read this, and read The Mists of Avalon, and read Le Morte d'Arthur and read White's books, and read Mary Stewart. Read it all. Show Less
LibraryThing member reannon
Fifth and final book in the Dark is Rising series. Excellent series overall, that revived my belief in magic. Overall, I thought the first book was the weakest, the 2nd was excellent, the third good, and the 4th and 5th excellent. Short and fast reads, they create a wonderful whole, that draws
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strongly on Celtic and other mythology. Show Less
LibraryThing member atreic
The final book in the Dark is Rising sequence, after the final confrontation with the Dark, five remain and one goes on alone.
These books! I read them again for Yuletide, for the first time in a very long time, and... There is clearly so much I love about them. There's a great sense of British
These books! I read them again for Yuletide, for the first time in a very long time, and...
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place, Cornwall, Wales, Windsor Great Park. There's a glorious sense of mythology and legend, the return of the Pendragon, the Six Signs, the battle between Dark and Light. There is betrayal, and human weakness, and human strength. So why don't they quite click for me? I think most of it is that the protagonists are all firmly on a conveyor-belt through the plot. They don't have to work out how to defeat the Dark. They are told 'go and find the mcguffin', and they mostly get moved through set pieces until they are in the same place as the mcguffin, and then the final battles happen around them. I read them carefully for charactorisation, and it's there, lightly - Will the choirboy, Barney the artistic one, the initial tensions between the Drews and Will - but many of the conversations could have any of the protagonists swapped in. It's been a hard year for me for lots of reasons, so maybe I didn't give them a fair run, but I found them a slog to get through at times. Show Less
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