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"Fire on the Mountain Shall Find the Harp of Gold Played to Wake the Sleepers, Oldest of the Old..."
With the final battle between the Light and the Dark soon approaching, Will sets out on a quest to call for aid. Hidden within the Welsh hills is a magical harp that he must use to wake the Sleepers - six noble riders who have slept for centuries.
But an illness has robbed Will of nearly all his knowledge of the Old Ones, and he is left only with a broken riddle to guide him in his task. As Will travels blindly through the hills, his journey will bring him face-to-face with the most powerful Lord of the Dark - the Grey King. The King holds the harp and Sleepers within his lands, and there has yet to be a force strong enough to tear them from his grasp...
A strange boy and dog remind Will Stanton that he is an immortal, whose quest is to find the golden harp which will rouse others from a long slumber in the Welsh hills so they may prepare for the ultimate battle of Light versus Dark.
That was the only thing to be done, now. The music of the harp was the only magic within his reach that would release Pen from the power of the warestone. In any case, it was time now to bring the harp to the pleasant lake, to accomplish its deeper purpose. Everything was coming together, as if two roads led to the same mountain pass; he could only hope that the pass would now be blocked by some obstacle able to hinder both at once. This time more than ever, the matter of holding the Dark at bay depended as much on the decisions and emotions of men as on the strength of the Light. Perhaps even more.
Broken sunlight flickered in and out of his eyes, as clouds scudded briskly over the sky. At least, he thought wryly, we've got a good day for it all. His wheels sang on the road; he was nearly at Clwyd Farm now. He wondered how he was to explain his sudden arrival, and equally sudden departure afterwards, to Aunt Jen. She would probably be the only one there. She must have been there for Caradog Prichard's appearance earlier that morning, and the changing of his two mutilated tyres. Perhaps he could say that he had come to get something to help put Prichard off the scent, to keep him from finding Pen... something John Rowlands had suggested... but still he would have to leave thehouse with the golden harp. Aunt Jen would not be likely to let that sacking-swathed object past her sharp eye without at least inquiring what was wrapped up in there. And what possible reason could anyone have, least of all her nephew, for not letting her see?
Will wished, not for the first time, that Merriman were with him, to ease such difficulties. For a Master of the Light, it was no great matter to transport beings and objects not only through space but through time, in the twinkling of an eye. But for the youngest of the Old Ones, however acute his need, that was a talent too large.
He came to the farm; rode in; pushed through the back door. But when he called, no one came. He realised suddenly with a great lightening of the spirits that he had seen no cars in the yard outside. Both his aunt and uncle must have gone out; that was one piece of luck, at any rate. He ran upstairs to his bedroom, said the necessary words to release the golden harp from protection, and ran down again with it under his arm, a rough sacking-wrapped bundle of odd triangular shape. He was halfway across the yard to the bicycle when a Land Rover chugged in through the gate.
For a second Will froze in panic; then he walked slowly, carefully, to the bicycle, and turned it ready to leave.
Owen Davies climbed out of the car and stood looking at him. He said, "Was it you left the gate open?"
"Oh, gosh." Will was genuinely shocked: he had committed the classical farm sin, without even noticing. "Yes, I did, Mr Davies. That's awful. I'm most terribly sorry."
Owen Davies, thin and earnest, shook his flat-capped head in reproof. "One of the most important things to remember, it is, to shut any gate you have opened on a farm. You do not know what livestock of your uncle's might have slipped out, that should have been kept in. I know you are English, and no doubt a city boy, but that is no excuse."
"I know," Will said. "And I'm not even a city boy. I really am sorry. I'll tell Uncle David so."
Taken aback by this implication of honest confidence, Owen Davies surfaced abruptly from the pool of righteousness that had threatened to swallow him. "Well," he said. "Let us forget it this time, both of us. I dare say you will not do it again."
His gaze drifted sideways a little. "Is that Bran's bike you have there? Did he come with you?"
Will pressed the shrouded harp tight between his elbow and his side. "I borrowed it. He was out riding, and I was... up the valley, walking, and I saw him, and we thought we'd have a go at flying a big model plane I've been making." He patted the bundle under his arm, swinging his leg over the bicycle saddle at the same time. "So I'm going back now. Is that all right? You don't need him for anything?"
"Oh, no," Owen Davies said. "Nothing at all."
"John Rowlands took Pen to Mr. Jones at Ty-Bont all safe and sound," Will said brightly. "I'm supposed to be having dinner there, late-ish Mrs. Jones said would it be all right if I took Bran back with me too, Mr Davies? Please?"
The usual expression of alarmed propriety came over Owen Davies's thin face. "Oh, no, now, Mrs Jones is not expecting him, there is no need to bother her with another -- "
Unexpectedly, he broke off. It was as if he heard something, without understanding it. Puzzled, Will saw his face become oddly bemused, with the look of a man dreaming a dream that he has dreamed often but never been able to translate. It was a look he would never have expected to find on the face of a man so predictable and uncomplicated as Bran's father.
Owen Davies stared him full in the face, which was even more unusual. He said, "Where did you say you and Bran were playing?"
Will's dignity ignored the last word. He kicked at the bicycle pedal. "Out on the moor. Quite a long way up the valley, near the road. I don't know how to describe it exactly -- but more than halfway to Mr Jones's farm."
"Ah," Owen Davies said vaguely. He blinked at Will, apparently back in his usual nervous person. "Well, I daresay it would be all right if Bran goes to dinner as well, John Rowlands being there -- goodness knows Megan Jones is used to feeding a lot of mouths. But you must be sure to tell him he must be home before dark."
"Thank you!" said Will, and made off before he could change his mind, carefully closing the gate after he had ridden through. He shouted a farewell, with just time to notice Bran's father's hand slowly raised as he rode away.
But he was not many yards along the road, riding awkwardly one-handed and slowly with the harp clutched in his aching left arm, before all thought of Owen Davies was driven from his head by the Grey King. Now the valley was throbbing with power and malevolence. The sun was at its highest point,
though no more than halfway up the sky in that November day. The last part of the time for the fulfilling of Will's only separate quest had begun. His mind was so much occupied with the unspoken beginnings of battle that it was all his body could do to push the bicycle, and himself, slowly along the road.
He paid little attention when a Land Rover swished past him, going fast in the same direction. Several cars had passed him already, on both journeys, and in this part of the country Land Rovers were common. There was no reason at all why this one should have differed from the rest.
xBlauBaerx
Posted October 26, 2011
Maybe I wasn't trying hard enough to understand the plot. Maybe the book was just written confusingly. Maybe I just didn't like it. Anyway, I did not enjoy this book at all. I found it slow, and almost childish. The opening was confusing, seeming like it had been written by a rambling old man. It was so slow that I had to put the book down and do something else many times throughout the first part. The ending of the book was the opposite: it was strangely paced and the obstacles seemed like they were invented by a child afraid of the dark. The book provoked absolutely no emotional response in me. If the main character had been eaten by a giant spider, I would not have cared less. The author did a terrible job establishing any real relationship with the protagonist that a lot of fantasy seems to have. If not for a somewhat followable plot, I would try to rate this 0/5 stars. It was legitmately one of the most slow, oddly-paced, confusing books I've ever read. I would rate it as pure child's fantasy: fit for a preteen who has had absolutely no exposure to good fantasy in their life. If you are any age above 13, don't waste your reading time on this book. Even if you are under that age, this book just isn't satisfying. Perhaps the same character and situation could've been used, and the author just completely botched establishing character relationships and setting the pace for the book. We will never know. A waste of time. 1/5 stars.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 12, 2009
I Also Recommend:
The story of Will Stanton and his fight against the Dark continues. This time everything is on the line and Will can not fail! With the help of a new ally, Bran and his ethereal dog, Cadfall, Will fights his most dangerous enemy the Grey King. Armed only with an ancient poem and his wits, Will must follow the signs left by the Old Ones and search the Welsh hills to find the coveted Magical Harp that will shift the tides of power.
Fourth in the Dark Is Rising Series, this book pulls the whole series together in such a way that leaves you spellbound long after you turn the last pages. This was the book that sent me, as a kid, searching the hills behind my house for ancient secrets and daydreaming out the window. It was the first book I read in the Fantasy genre and it has left an everlasting impression. Of all the books in the series, this one is the most challenging because it does contain Welsh names and words that can be difficult for younger readers. I also recommend this book for higher level readers as it contains some intense scenes and requires good comprehension skills. You do not have to read the other books in this series before reading this one. Although, it does help to have read the second novel, The Dark Is Rising, as that is when Will Stanton is first introduced.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 25, 2005
This book is very bad. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS BOOK. IT IS WAY TO CONFUSING
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 17, 2003
This is sort of like a dream world that everyone (everyone like me) would want to escape into.. I love how Susan Cooper blends in a lot of myths and legends and forms an explaination for all of them, making all of them connected. Susan Cooper's works are, in my opinion, similar to LotR, but in a good way, unlike other authors works. She is second best only to JRRT (JRR Tolkien). In this book, the Dark gave Will Stanton, the youngest Old One of the Light, a bad cold (worse than you'd think) in order to slow him down in their attempt to rise into power. Will Stanton is aided by the strange albino boy, Bran (the son of someone very famous :) I won't spoil it for you), in order to defeat the Grey King, a terrible Dark Lord. In this book, Bran realizes that sacrifices must be made.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 15, 2002
I think that The Grey King was a good book because I enjoy reading fiction books. It is about a boy named Will Santon. He is part of a group of people called the Light, who have to stop another group of people called the Dark from taking over the world. I would recomend this book to someone who likes to read fiction books.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 18, 2011
The whole "Dark is Rising" series holds a special place in my heart. This is one of the great YA books out there, I wish she would write some more!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 29, 2008
I first encountered this book as an elementary student, more than 30 years ago. I will never forget picking the book off the library shelf and being riveted in place and time as I read the opening poem. I read The Grey King before I read any of the rest of this series, and it remains my favorite amongst them all to this day. I have read and reread this one story dozens of times over the course of 30 years and continue to be moved by the way in which Cooper weaves a magical tale around a larger theme: that in the heart of every young child is a yearning to wake up and discover that they are powerful and important in this world. I now enjoy discussing this classic with my son who, at 14, has read it many times already and loves it as much as I. I highly recommend this book to children, parents, and teachers. It is an outstanding piece of young adult literature and a wonderful story of triumph over darkness.
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Posted November 28, 2004
I can't recommend this series highly enough. Those who think these are boring don't know good literature. This isn't the best in the series, but it's still totally awe-inspiring.
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Posted October 20, 2004
The Dark is Rising series is STILL, in my opinion, the best series ever written. I love the characters, especially Will and Bran, and the creative story. It's always nice to see someone take an original approach to a classic struggle- good vs. evil. Even after 13 years of devouring book after book, this series tops them all.
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Posted March 29, 2004
this was a horrible book. what was susan cooper out of her mind when she wrote this book?Excape while you have the chance.Run do not walk
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 5, 2003
This book was amazing. I love fiction books and couldn't find one to read for a book report, so I picked this one up. Everybody should read it because it is so engrossing.
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Posted March 31, 2010
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Posted October 10, 2009
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Posted January 18, 2009
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Posted February 23, 2011
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Posted October 20, 2009
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Overview
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"Fire on the Mountain Shall Find the Harp of Gold Played to Wake the Sleepers, Oldest of the Old..."
With the final battle between the Light and the Dark soon approaching, Will sets out on a quest to call for aid. Hidden within the Welsh hills is a magical harp that he must use to wake the Sleepers - six noble riders who have slept for centuries.
But an illness has robbed Will of nearly all his knowledge of the Old Ones, and he is left only with a broken riddle to guide him in his task. As Will travels blindly through the hills, his journey will bring him face-to-face with the most powerful Lord of the Dark - ...