Awesome book for the fantasy lover!
Customer Rating: 
Like many who have written these other reviews I read and re-read these books 30-odd years ago as a child. I had forgotten about them until the film came out (which does the books no justice whatsoever by the way!). That inspired me to re-read them and yes, even though nowadays I am not a fan of fiction, I still enjoyed the mystery and the power contained within them and got totally engrossed in the fight between light and dark all over again. You almost feel like you're there, joining the fight.
So many of the other reviews on here say these are a great book for kids, reluctanat readers etc, and yes I agree, but ONLY if they are into fantasy. If your child enjoyed Deltora Quest, Harry Potter etc they'll love this because it's deeper and way better!
I have to say my 8 year old finds these books boring, hated Deltora Quest and is totally uninterested in The Dark is Rising, he has a very scientific / analytical sort of brain and these books really did not inspire him at all, I couldn't get him to read more than a few chapters and he is an avid reader, usually reads a chapter book a day. So please don't think these books are perfect for ALL readers, they're not.
However in saying that....
My nine year old son I can currently get no more than a grunt out of lately because he is so absorbed in the series he always has one of these books in his hand, I have to wrench it off him at the dinner table and I can't wait for him to finish them so I can get him to tidy his bedroom! He has fallen up bus stairs because he wouldn't get his head out of the book as he got on the school bus, his teacher tells me she catches him with his desk half up as he's sneakily trying to read these and he tells me that when he finishes the series he's going to read them all over again, much to his sisters dismay because she's dying to get her hands on them too!
So yes, absolutely recommended, I believe equally enjoyable to adults and children; to those that enjoy the mystery and the power of the realm of fantasy fiction, enjoy.
One of the best series ever written...
Customer Rating: I can't even begin to describe this series and I won't try to. I'm afraid I'd only do it a disservice! Susan Cooper says SO much in so few eloquent words that her books are rather like listening to fine music. I rank this easily with the Narnia series as well as Lord of the Rings. And while I adore the Harry Potter books and think JK is a fabulous writer, I truly feel that even they cannot live up to the quiet serious intensity of these books.
Every year I read this series again. I love it more and more with each read.
Recently many illiterate folks have called these books 'boring' and 'flat'. Those same modern day readers often have to be babied through text & dazzled with fancy action scenes. It has also become a fad to bash things that have won awards or recommendations.
This is a story told with very deep and quiet emotions and if you give it a chance then I can promise you, you won't be disappointed. :)
