The Grey King

The Grey King, one of the forces of evil in the world, was building up a wall to enclose the golden harp, which had to be used to rouse the six sleepers of the Welsh hills from their long slumber to right the malevolent forces of the Dark. It is Will Stanton's quest to wake the ancient sleepers, for Will is one of the Old Ones, the immortals who fight for the forces of Light, and he must draw on all his magic powers. Will seems an ordinary boy, but his memory of his quest is awakened when he meets a strange boy, Bran, and his white dog with silver eyes, eyes that can see the wind. Realism and fantasy are deftly blended in a compelling narrative, fourth in a sequence of five books called "The Dark Is Rising." The structure is taut, the Arthurian motif intriguing, and the characters strongly etched. There is, in addition to the pace and suspense of the adventure, a sweep and grandeur to the timeless concept of the vigilance and dedication needed in the struggle between good and evil.