It took a while but I am back to the Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper! The first book, Over Sea, Under Stone, felt like Enid Blyton with fantasy as we followed the Drew children on holiday as they get pulled into an adventure. The second book shifted to a darker tone pretty abruptly when we follow Will, the seventh son of a seventh son who comes into his power as the last Old Ones. In Greenwitch, we have a melding of the two as we return to Cornwall, where the events of the first book take place. Plus, Will and the Drew children finally meet, though the Drew children do not actually know who Will is.

I thought it was pretty interesting to see Simon, Jane, and Barney (the Drew children) in contrast with Will. Will has aged quite a bit after becoming an old one and the three children felt so young in contrast with him! But I suppose this is intentional since Will is only partly a child right now. I particularly enjoyed Jane’s role in the story; she has a natural sense of compassion that serves her well.

As always, this book is suffused with myth. The central figure in this tale is the Greenwitch, which appears to be a version of the Green Man. This figure dominates the tale, from its making onwards. It does feel a bit different from the earlier books, which referenced more legends (at least, more obviously to me) but having one myth dominate does make for a more terrifying and atmospheric book.

Honestly, this was an interesting blend of the first two books. I did think the contrast between Under Sea, Over Stone and The Dark is Rising was very big, but Greenwitch sits somewhere between the two. My guess (being that I’ve completely forgotten what I’ve read) is that these books are going to grow darker from here on, as the battle between the Light and the Dark intensifies.

If you enjoyed the earlier books in the Dark is Rising sequence, there’s no reason not to pick this one up! As for me, I’m definitely looking forward to continuing the series!