The six champions of the Light join forces at last to fight the Dark in this fifth and final installment of Susan Cooper’s epic and award-winning The Dark Is Rising sequence, now with a brand-new look!
The last great battle between the Light and the Dark has arrived, engulfing Will Stanton; his ageless master, Merriman; the three heroic Drew children; and Bran, the Welsh boy whose destiny is tied to the Light.
On a quest through time and space that touches the most ancient myths of the islands of Britain, the six heroes fight fear and death in the darkly brooding mountains of Wales. And in the haunting Lost Land, Will and Bran find dream and nightmare, but also achieve the final talisman against the the crystal sword.
In the dreadful last moment when the Dark rises, all the servants of the Light join to combine the powers of the sword and the six ancient signs. But even with the Signs on their side, can Light prevail?
And now, the end is near, and if it weren't a spoiler I'd continue that lyric. Will, Merry, Bran and the Drews are finally all together for the prophesied battle - but before that, there's one last quest for Will and Bran, and adventures for the Drews to make sure they all reach the final battle alive.
Susan's foreword says that she wrote the very ending of this last book when she started The Dark is Rising, and I'm impressed that she stayed on course - when I write I tend to wander off in all different directions! The ending does fit beautifully here.
Again I had remembered some parts of this story - Arthur's boat, though not it's name, and the beautiful conversation between him and Bran. John Rowlands and his wife - who seems to have appeared between books, I don't remember her being mentioned in Grey King! Parts of, but not all of, the Lost Lands - and, of course, the Mari Lwyd who scares poor Bran so much!
This is a fabulous ending to a wonderful series; I'm really glad I got to read it again, and I highly recommend it to everyone.
Silver on the Tree publishes in this version on the 14th of November, 2023. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.
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