The battle that rages between good and evil is frequently mentioned as a battle that is never won by either side, but never completely lost by either the parchment found by the children reads '.For only in the western land did men still love God and the old ways,' and then, speaking of a grail, says, '.each panel told of an evil overcome by Arthur and the company of God.' Great-Uncle Merry's housekeeper sings hymns and one of the bad characters poses as a vicar. The evil characters are smooth, sly, and deceptive Great-Uncle Merry and the children work to fight against the dark and uphold what is good. Jane specifically feels bad about telling half truths and refuses to all-out lie. The three children, while never specifically lying to their parents, hide the truth behind the map found in the attic, as well as breaking the rule that they are not to touch any of the books or locked up items in the house. The discovery launches them into a timeless battle of good against evil and begins Cooper’s 'The Dark is Rising' sequence. While spending their holiday at Cornwall with their parents and Great-Uncle Merry, the three Drew children - Simon, Jane, and Barnabas - accidently find an ancient parchment in a concealed attic of the Grey House in which they are staying. A suspenseful tale ideal for teenaged readers, though with occasional slowness in plot development.

Under stone over sea