The Grey King cover art

The Grey King

Book 4 of The Dark Is Rising Sequence

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The Grey King

By: Susan Cooper
Narrated by: Richard Mitchley
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About this listen

 There is a Welsh legend about a harp of gold, hidden within a certain hill, that will be found by a boy and a white dog with silver eyes - a dog that can see the wind. Will Stanton knew nothing of this when he traveled to Wales to recover from a severe illness. But when he met Bran, the strange boy who owned a white dog, he began to remember. For Will is the last-born of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to saving the world from the forces of evil, the Dark. And it is Will's task to wake with the golden harp the six who must be roused from their long slumber in the Welsh hills to prepare for the last battle between the Dark and the Light.Listen to more in the Dark Is Rising Sequence.©2007 Susan Cooper (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group. Fiction Primary Education Science Fiction & Fantasy Fantasy Dogs

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Critic reviews

Newbery Honor Book

"Susan Cooper is a consummate storyteller, and Richard Mitchley is an extraordinary narrator. His voice resonates with the atmosphere of the British Isles. The power and depth of his voice as the Grey King cause the listener to cower, and his icy tones create chills as the Brenin Llwyd blows by. As Will comes to understand the eerie might of the warestones, Mitchley brings goose bumps to the listener's skin. The interplay of past and present is compelling and believable, given his masterful presentation. This is a fabulous listen!" (AudioFile)
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Susan Copper is such a wonderful writer. Her stories weave ancient and modern, the known and unknown in a deeply spiritual reality within the pages. The reader was excellent, blending the English and Welsh and keeping the flow of the narrative.

Wonderful🌸

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Loved it as a child in the 80s. Loving it all over again with my daughter. Mythical tales from ancient Britain with exciting, compelling modern stories.

Fantastic series

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Love this story & it was entertaining & beautifully read full suspense & drama

The Grey King

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So beautifully read by Welsh actor - I enjoyed every minute. I already knew the book but I am now listening to the whole Dark is Rising -at 70 years old !

Fabulous

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I have loved this series since a child. It doesn’t feel too dated, although for a female author in particular, women barely feature in this story. This book deals with some relatively adult themes of love and grief.

Classic children’s book

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Another exciting installment wrapped in Welsh myths. I was very impressed with the narrator having to pronounce all the Welsh names. I think that is another reason I have preferred listening to this book series, just so I can hear all the words spoken in the way they are meant to be. With each of Cooper's books you can feel her passion for the parts of the country she is writing about and interweaving myths into the story and making them her own. I'm really looking forward to listening to the final book :)

Wrapped in Welsh Myths

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Part of my favourite set of stories, rich with British myths and legends woven into a wonderful children’s story

Magical

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Where does The Grey King rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I thought it was very well read and also thought the narrator must be Welsh. The previous narrator of the series Alex Jennings is good but Richard Mitchley'svoice was superb for this tale set in Wales. very evocative.

What other book might you compare The Grey King to, and why?

It is part of a series by Susan Cooper. I read one "the dark is rising" and wanted to read the whole series

Have you listened to any of Richard Mitchley’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No but I will now be looking for his other books I think the narration can make a book and will often choose audio books based on the narrator. Mind you Richard Mitchley reads Allan Carr's how to stop smoking so I might draw the line at listening to that purely for his dulcet tones. (I am not a smoker. 😀)

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No I preferred a bit at a time I found it quite exciting.

Any additional comments?

Would recommend the series and the narrator.

Beautifully read great story

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Great book and expertly read. Although I enjoy Alex Jennings reading this book really benefited from a native Welsh narrator. Great performance. Highly recommended

Wonderful story

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I loved the whole series as child and this one most of all. Rediscovering them on Audible has been a joy and confirmed me in my love. They are brilliantly written, far more subtle and deeper than much modern children's literature. The plot for this one in particular is brilliantly crafted.

One of the best

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