The Dark is Rising, written by Susan Cooper, is the second book in The Dark is Rising Sequence. Unlike the first book (Over Sea, Under Stone), this book is split into three parts (The Finding, The Learning and The Testing) and also uses chapter titles instead of numbering them 1-13.
On Midwinter’s Eve, Will Stanton notices unusual things happening around him, animals cowering and radios turning off. On the following day (his 11th birthday) he learns this was the power of the Old Ones stirring inside him. Will must learn how to master his new power, and use it to gather and protect the six signs needed to defeat the Dark. In the midst of his mission, Will receives a strange carnival head from his oldest brother. Will he find the six signs? Will the Dark defeat Will? Will he discover the importance of the mysterious gift?
The only returning character from the previous book is Merriman, though he was referred to as Great Uncle Merry in Over Sea, Under Stone. This book has answered questions about Merriman that were left over from the first book. For example, Great Uncle Merry was able to read an ancient language in the previous book, and in The Dark is Rising it is revealed that he can use the Doors to travel through time. This suggests that he had been to the time when the language was common and knew it from there. Furthermore, this book explains why little was known about him in the previous book: he is an Old One. The Old Ones are a secretive group consisting of a select few who can use magic and the Doors. However, mysteries about Merriman remain, including his actual name: Will says to Merriman, ‘But I think that if that had really been your proper name, as an Old One, you would not have told me it.’
The major theme in this book is good vs evil. In this case, the conflict is the Old Ones vs the Dark. While there are many Old Ones using magic to defend against the Dark, Will Stanton and Merriman are the only main protagonists with Merriman helping Will collect the signs needed to defeat the Dark. Meanwhile, the Dark is more aggressive and cunning: they cause severe weather, control rooks and kidnap Will’s sister. The actions of the Dark are closely linked to another theme: family. Will’s large family is extremely precious to him and this is why the Dark kidnaps Will’s sister to exchange her for the signs. In another case, Will let in the Dark, causing an Old One to be severely weakened, because they made him hear his mother calling out for help.
This novel mainly takes place in Huntercombe Lane, a real village near the Thames. However, the Doors are used to travel back in time to the same area before the village was created. This means that the book takes place in the past and present. Some parts of the book take place in the past and present of the setting at the same time: in the last chapter, Will is at a smith in the past but can hear the flood from the modern day.
Are you older than 11 years old and looking for a challenging read? Do you like books with magic and time travel? Do you enjoy exciting books about good vs evil? These are the six signs that The Dark is Rising is for you!
