Start at the beginning
Begin with Over Sea, Under Stone even though The Dark Is Rising introduces a different hero; both threads matter to the complete story.
Book Series · 5 Books
The Dark Is Rising Sequence Books
In order from Over Sea, Under Stone to Silver on the Tree.
Susan Cooper's complete five-book fantasy sequence draws on Arthurian and Welsh mythology as children become part of an ancient struggle between the Light and the Dark.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read The Dark Is Rising Sequence
Read the five books in publication order, beginning with Over Sea, Under Stone. The first two introduce different children, and their stories converge in Greenwitch before continuing to the finale.
Sources: Simon & Schuster's official series order.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The publisher positions the books for ages 8–12, but their older vocabulary, mythology, and ominous atmosphere may suit confident readers best. Expect supernatural menace, child peril, frightening chases and battles, injury, grief, a beloved animal's death, and a racially charged bullying scene in the final book. The violence is not graphic.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$858
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1965
Over Sea, Under Stone
By Susan Cooper
Three siblings race to find a powerful grail before darkness consumes the world.
304 pages· 75,065 words· Est. 10.5 hour read
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: On a family holiday in Cornwall, the Drew siblings—Simon, Jane, and Barney—uncover an ancient map leading to a legendary grail. As the Dark rises, they must embark on a perilous quest to secure this vital weapon for the Light. With sinister forces closing in, the Drews face a race against time that could cost them everything. Will they succeed in their mission, or will the world fall into shadow?
In reading order
The Dark Is Rising Sequence Series
5 books · Published 1965–1977
#1
Sale price
$858
Over Sea, Under Stone
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1965
Three siblings race to find a powerful grail before darkness consumes the world.
#2
Sale price
$858
The Dark Is Rising
Chapter Book · Ages 9–14 · 1973
A boy must find magical Signs to stop the Dark's rise.
#3
Sale price
$858
Greenwitch
Chapter Book · Ages 9–14 · 1974
A stolen grail, a vengeful sea creature, and a battle against dark forces await.
#4
Sale price
$858
The Grey King
Chapter Book · Ages 9–14 · 1975
A boy must awaken ancient forces to battle darkness in Wales.
#5
Sale price
$858
Silver on the Tree
Chapter Book · Ages 9–14 · 1977
The Light's champions face the Dark's final rise. Can they prevail?
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Dark Is Rising Sequence series?
There are 5 books in the Dark Is Rising Sequence series. It began with Over Sea, Under Stone in 1965, and the newest book, Silver on the Tree, was published in 1977.
What order should you read the Dark Is Rising Sequence books in?
Start with Over Sea, Under Stone and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #5.
What ages are the Dark Is Rising Sequence books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–14, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Dark Is Rising Sequence book is the longest?
Silver on the Tree (Book #5) is the longest book in the series at 86,277 words (368 pages).
Which Dark Is Rising Sequence book is the shortest?
Greenwitch (Book #3) is the shortest at 41,131 words (192 pages).
The people
The Creative Behind the Books
The people who bring The Dark Is Rising Sequence to life.
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