The first book in the series, it has some rough patches where you can tell that maybe the author hasn't yet found her voice. From what I understand, the books continue to get better (if darker) through the rest of the series. Overall, though fun read and makes me look forward to the next book ( )

This is the first in the Dark is Rising sequence, but really forms a kind of prequel to the series because it is a classic story of children solving a mystery to find something - the Grail cup, it seems. It even has a slight Narnian vibe, when the children dislodge an old wardrobe to find stairs behind it, which take them into an attic where they discover the manuscript which will give them the clues throughout the tale.

Classically, their parents are oblivious to everything, and the children more or less run around unsupervised apart from the occasional involvement of their mysterious honorary great uncle Merry, a history professor but much more. There are a few hints that he might be a guardian character as in the rest of the series, and the youngest boy, Barnaby, even works out a clue at the end to his identity, which fits with the Arthurian theme. The force known as the Dark is present, in the form of a villainous opponent of Merry, aided by a couple of sidekicks and bolstered by locals in the Cornish village where the children are holidaying. A nice element is that even people who are jolly and make nice scones might really be nasty spies who endanger children without a qualm.

The children have to solve puzzles using logic and reasoning, which is a nice touch. The story is also well written on the whole. However, there are some niggles. For those who come to the book after 'The Dark is Rising' and its sequels, as I did originally, there is a definite disappointment: as stated above, it is not an overt fantasy. The fantasy elements are very low-key and alluded to occasionally, but the book is more a Famous Five (Enid Blyton) type adventure story. Secondly, although it must be borne in mind that this is a product of its time (1965), the three chidren are fairly privileged middle class kids, whose parents are a doctor and an artist, and gender stereotypes are well enforced. Not only does Jane have to be carried on one occasion, although she is not the youngest child, but the phrase 'poor Jane' jumped out three times, rather jarring. The boys were definitely not 'poor Simon' or 'poor Barnaby' no matter what discomforts and alarms they were put through.

So although it is quite a page turning read, it is not particularly memorable. In some respects, it sets up the series, but I don't think it is essential to read this book in order to understand the rest of the novels. ( )

On holiday in Cornwall, the three Drew children discover an ancient map in the attic of the house that they are staying in. They know immediately that it is special. It is even more than that -- the key to finding a grail, a source of power to fight the forces of evil known as the Dark. And in searching for it themselves, the Drews put their very lives in peril.

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First off, I'm much older than the intended audience for this book. I give this three stars reading it as an adult; I can see why I liked it as a kid, but there is a big gap between then and now! ( )