Monday, March 26, 2012

Over Sea, Under Stone (MG)

Over Sea, Under Stone (Dark Is Rising, #1) Susan Cooper. 1965. 208 pages.

"Where is he?" Barney hopped from one foot to the other as he clambered down from the train, peering in vain through the white-faced crowds flooding eagerly to the St. Austell ticket barrier. "Oh, I can't see him. Is he there?"

 I liked this one, I definitely liked it. But it wasn't quite love for me. Not love, love, love at any rate. Over Sea, Under Stone reminded me in so many ways of fantasy novels that I've read and enjoyed in the past. And it definitely had its charming moments, its cute moments. But sometimes a book needs just a little bit more than that. Still. I liked it. I liked the setting. I liked the characters. Perhaps the three Drew children (Simon, Jane, and Barney) weren't the most amazingly well-developed characters I've ever met. But Great-Uncle Merry (Gumerry) made me more than a little curious. And I definitely want to read more in this series.

Read Over Sea, Under Stone
  • If you're looking for a classic fantasy novel
  • If you're looking for children's fantasy
  • If you're looking for a children's fantasy set in Britain
  • If you like books with more than a little charm

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

9 comments:

Unknown said...

I read this one a few years ago, but never made it any further in the series, hoping to correct that this year.

Anonymous said...

The Dark is Rising is a better book, and is one of my favorites. Hopefully you will give it a chance.

~Jo

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

I just read this whole series over the past year or so and I had a similar reaction to the first book. Just a heads up, the second book has NONE of the same characters except Uncle Merry. I kept waiting for the Drews to show up. They return in the 3rd book.

Kailana said...

I never really loved this series from the two books I have read so far. I will probably finish it at some point, but I am not in a lot of hurry.

Jessica said...

how funny as I saw this book and I thought of getting it but I had never heard of it ever and then a few days later your review pops up!

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Sarah Bible said...

Over Sea, Under Stone is not my favorite of the series, but definitely give The Dark Is Rising a try. For me, it is the best, and the ones that follow are good too, my second favorite being Greenwitch.

Buried In Print said...

That's exactly how I felt too. Seems to be a consensus on that. I can't recall if I finished the second book, but I've always wanted to read the later books.

Melissa said...

No, this isn't the best one in the series. (And you don't even really need to read it to properly enjoy the series, either.) But it is kind of nice to see the Arthurian legend play a role.