The Grey King by Susan Cooper

The fourth volume of The Dark is Rising Sequence finds Will Stanton recovering from a serious illness at his Aunt and Uncles farm in Wales. There he learns of a malevolent force in the local mountains, known as the Grey King, who is working with the Dark. With the help of a local boy, Bran, he finds the next relic in his quest to help the Light win the long battle with the dark, which leads to a showdown with the forces of the Dark and the Grey King. The book is full of Welsh expression, facts and information. The author notes that while that characters are fictional, the places are real. The book is enjoyable and suspenseful, but I would recommend it be read in after the others in the series for greatest appreciation and understanding. The Grey King by Susan Cooper. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1975.