Customer Reviews

Greenwitch

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The third continues from Book one

Along the Cornish shore

With Simon, Jane and Barney Drew

And Merriman once more

Someone's made off with the Grail

It's got to be the Dark

This time Will Stanton's in the mix

And Barney makes his mark

The Grail requires a secret code

To understand the writing

This fell into the deep blue sea

while Light and Dark were fighting

The Greenwitch claims a soggy prize

They need to get it back

While Jane tries her best to be nice

The Dark starts to attack

A lone dark minion on a quest

Gets greedy with his role

He stirs up all the Wild Magic

Before losing control

Will they locate the precious Grail

And break its ancient code?

And will the Greenwitch be appeased

Surrendering her load

For younger fans of fantasy

This series is a must

So go tell your Librarian

"Susan Cooper - or bust!"

Amanda Richards, January 26, 2006

The middle book of the "Dark is Rising" sequence suffers a little from the middle-book syndrome, and a few items in it feel slightly strained. However, these are quickly swamped under by an unusual, well-written story and great character growth.

When a golden chalice (first found by the Drews in "Under Sea Over Stone") is stolen from its museum, the mysterious Old One Merriman enlists their help and the help of the youngest Old One, Will Stanton. At first, the kids don't really get along; things seem fairly uneventful, except for Jane participating in an ancient ritual in which the women of the village get together and weave a vaguely humanoid figure, the Greenwitch. The Greenwitch is then thrown into the sea, after people touch it and make a wish. Jane, followed by strange impressions of the Greenwitch, makes a very unusual wish indeed.

But then her brothers and Will bump into someone else -- a strange painter who steals a picture of Barney's, and then lures the Drew boys into his home. He's a member of the Dark, and he forces Barney to scry out a message about the Grail for him. Then a strange, wild chaos strikes the town, with a ghost ship and the angry Greenwitch herself...

While this book is not the best of the series (the second takes that honor), it nevertheless is an excellent piece of work, as fantasy and as a study of the characters. The first chapter was a little weak; it felt too much like a part of "Over Sea Under Stone." However, this ceases as soon as Will comes on to the scene. The book then takes on a tone that seems, somehow, to balance out between "Dark is Rising" and "Over Sea Under Stone."

The Drews are better fleshed out and individualized in this book. Jane proves that Cooper is one of the few fantasy writers who can create genuinely strong female characters; this is, in a sense, her book. Barney's abilities aside from his siblings are explored, giving them all a sense of being separate people. Will is clearly more comfortable with his role as an Old One, as he is more knowledgeable and smoother at handling situations with the Dark. At the same time, he's also able to shift into being a preteen boy, tapping Morse code to the Drew kids through the wall. (I think that I would have a crush on Will if he weren't about nine years too young)

The writing in this book is versatile, becoming dreamy, stark, magical, frightening, or ordinary as the scene requires. The underwater scene with Tethys was one of the best written fantasy scenes I've ever read, while we are also given a horrific nightmare (Jane's) and the chilling pirate ship attacking a modern-day town when reality goes out of whack. Though the Greenwitch ceremony is women-only, Cooper doesn't bash the reader with any ideas; the Greenwitch herself is intriguingly written, childlike and possessive and kind of needy.

This is a nice part of an amazing series, and definitely worth the read.

Simon, Jane and Barney are horrified when they learn that the Grail they tried so hard to find a year ago has now been stolen by the powers of the Dark. They are even more horrified to learn that the Dark may use the Grail to discover the manuscript needed to understand the message vital to the Light which is etched on the side of the Grail. They decide that, along with their Great-Uncle Merry, they must return to Cornwall, exactly where they went a year before, and stop the Dark from succeeding. But when they get there, they are annoyed by the fact that Will Stanton is there as well, seemingly getting in the way and stopping them. But what they don't realise is that Will and Merriman(their Great-Uncle) are Old Ones, here to stop the Dark just as much as they are. But now the Dark has angered the Greenwitch and her mother Tethys, and where is Great-Uncle Merry, and why has Jane seen Will wearing a cloak and, with her Great-Uncle, challenging the Dark. . .?

This book concentrates much more on Jane than the first book, and shows that sometimes all you need is a little bit of love and caring to win over someones' heart - as shown in Jane's immortal words: 'I wish you could be happy.'

Don't we all.

Let's carefully examine the fantasy series books that are considered classical literature appropriate for adults as well. You have your "Lord of the Rings" and your "His Dark Materials" series by Philip Pullman. And between these two greats we have sandwiched in the center the "Dark Is Rising" books by Susan Cooper. Dark is the right word for them too. Belying their ridiculous Aladdin Paperback covers (The paperback of "Greenwitch" shows a kindly, albeit green, old grandmother rather than an untamed featureless product of Wild Magic) the books cull Celtic tradition, English myth, and Gaelic and Welsh influences to produce a series that is so fully original and intelligent that it is all a person can do not to force it into the hands of every fantasy-luvin Harry Potterite. "Greenwitch", the third in the series, brings together characters we've met in separate novels and does so with dexterous skill.

When Simon, Jane, and Barney found the Trewissick Grail in, "Over Sea, Under Stone", they never expected it to disappear so quickly. But disappear it has and from a national museum no less. Of course, without the lead case that translates the words on the Grail, the object in and of itself is of little use. Now their great-uncle Merriman has decided to take them back to Trewissick in search of the item, and with them comes a new addition. Young Will Stanton appears to the other kids to be a likable but slightly stupid young addition to their crew. Unbeknownst of them, of course, he's an Old One like Merriman and has powers far beyond their understanding. Together, these stalwart five will do battle with an emissary of the Dark, utter prophecies, and meet representatives of the Wild Magic. And none are quite so wild as the impressive Greenwitch herself.

When I was a kid there was nothing I hated more than to read the first book in a series (such as "The Wizard of Oz") then move on to the second book and find that characters I loved in the first (like Dorothy) were nowhere to be seen. Yet I didn't really dislike this fact when it came to "The Dark Is Rising". In the first book "Over Sea, Under Stone" we meet the Drew children, Simon, Jane, and Barney. We also meet their mysterious great-uncle Merriman. In the second book "The Dark Is Rising" the Drews are nowhere to be seen but Merriman's back and so is our hero Will Stanton. So when all four kids meet up in "Greenwitch" it feels especially satisfying. Like you're in for the extra special treat of watching the normal children (who take an instant disliking to Will) interact with a fellow who is without age. I particularly loved the moments when it was clear that Will was a kind of superhero at times. Jane's the only one who picks up on this at the beginning, but Simon and Barney definitely have it knocked into their skulls by the end. Interestingly, the book mostly takes the point of view of the Drews. In "The Dark Is Rising" we were privy to Will's thoughts and feelings. Now he's become almost as withdrawn and mysterious as Merriman, closing out not only the other kids but the readers as well.

One thing that Cooper does in the books (and this is the same objection I had to the end of fellow fabulous Celtic fantasy novel "The Hounds of the Morrigan") is that the good guys (i.e. The Light) are able to make the children forget things. So when Jane asks Merriman if he has "magicked" her brothers to sleep and he replies, "Nothing has been done to any of you, or will be", he's not being completely honest. Something has been done to the kids. They've been told to forget something earlier in the book that would have disturbed them. It seems an odd thing to happen to our heroes. After all, what good are allies if you keep on messing about with their memories? Or are they trying to preserve some odd notion of childhood innocence? Whatever the case, I could do without it. Cooper also has never quite grasped the importance of humor. Unlike Lloyd Alexander's, "Prydain Chronicles" (or "Harry Potter" for that matter) she uses it scantily at best. Her other books (like the lovely "Boggart" duo) are a little better, but definitely don't expect "Greenwitch" to be some kind of laugh riot. We're looking at vast prophecies and the potential end of the world here, people. No giggling please.

Aside from that, the book is incredibly readable. Of course, if the child you hand it to hasn't read the first two books, it might still grab their attention. Just not as closely. And Cooper has a fondness for description that definitely turned me off as a child (I would skim for pages and pages until I reach an island of dialogue, thereby completely missing 75% of the plot). So get ready for some well-written if wordy descriptions in this puppy as well. It makes for a fine addition to the series and a fine read too.

This is my favourite book in 'The Dark Is Rising'sequence, as it was the most intresting all the way through. The problem with several of the other books is they always seemed to have one part where they lagged a little, but not so with this book. I was glad to see the Drews return in this book, because I always liked the books with them in better then the two which they aren't in('The Dark Is Rising' and 'The Grey King'.) Will is my favourite character, though.
In this book, some of the best parts are those involving the Greenwitch, especially the ceremony on the beach, and I also liked how the characters of the Drews were developed more in this book, especially Jane. In 'Over Sea, Under Stone' they were a little two-dimensional, and like another reviewer said, a bit like some of E. Nesbit's characters!
Anyway, I recommend this sequence of books and especially this one to anyone who likes fantasy, they are really good and the kind of books you can read again and again. I still think that Susan Cooper's best book is 'King of Shadows', though.

Susan Cooper has captured the reader's attention in Greenwitch. This mythological book contains great metaphors and symbolism. It keeps you at the edge of your seat to the very last page. I recommend this book to anyone who loves old English tales, and a good old fight between Light and Dark.

Greenwitch is a wonderful book. I bought it at a garage sale for my grandson. He's twelve and thinks he's too big for me to read it to him, so let me borrow it when he was through.

We discussed it afterward and agreed that it was an exciting "witch" adventure/quest. It's an older book, but I'm going to try to find the rest of this series.

Ms. Cooper has incorporated all the elements that should make this book a classic to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Great job; highly recommended for boys and girls. Grandparents, too. LOL

I think this is one of her most magical and enchanting stories. A shining gem in the Dark Is Rising series - not that the others aren't marvelous too, in their own way. The idea of the sad, melancholy elemental, and the child who is the only one to perceive the sadness, and whose sympathy is rewarded - beautiful. And the Cornish setting is drawn with just the right number of deft touches.

When the Trewissick Grail is stolen, Simon, Jane and Barney know that the Dark must be responsible. The three of them arrive in a small coastal town to assist their mysterious Uncle Merry in retrieving the item. While there, they are annoyed to have to share their adventure with a strange boy that Uncle Merry brings with him-- one Will Stanton.

I have to admit to liking the Will Stanton focused books (Grey King, Dark is Rising) a little bit better than I like those with the Drews, they seem a written to a slightly older level than the others. All the same, Greenwitch is a classic of children's literature, exemplary of the moral fantasy at which Cooper excels. The whole series is a good gift for children *and* grown-ups.

This book brings the Drew children and Will Stanton together, in an at first uneasy coalition, and serves as a bridge between the two earlier books. The everyday world is here, as in the first book, but the world of myth is very close to the surface. I was fascinated by the myth of the Greenwitch. Susan Cooper has a truly unique take on Arthurian legend here. It is worth reading what ever age you are!