B+

Susan Cooper’s first novel in her The Dark Is Rising sequence is a subtle introduction of wholesome adventure. Originally published in 1965, the novel feels very much like C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe without as much fantasy and magic.

The novel follows the Drew children as they vacation along in the English coastal village of Cornwall with their parents and mysterious Great Uncle Merry. On a dull, rainy day, the children explore their vacation house and find an ancient artifact that instantly intensifies a previously relaxing holiday.

As the children take part in a surprisingly exciting adventure, they find themselves in the middle of an ageless struggle between good and evil. They also discover that Great Uncle Merry has secrets of his own as he helps them to thwart the forces of the dark and uphold the values of the light.

Overall, the novel is simple, yet entertaining. However, the fantasy aspect of the novel is pretty minimal, though it is expanded significantly in the next novel in the sequence. The novel is definitely meant for children, but, as an adult, I still found the novel enjoyable. I would recommend Susan Cooper’s Over Sea, Under Stone to all fans of children’s fantasy series, especially The Chronicles of Narnia.