The Grey King by Susan CooperMargaret K. McElderry Books, 1975

Welsh place-names, lessons in pronunciation, hills and lakes and grey mist. This book felt less sinister than some of the others in this series, perhaps because it’s more about preparation than open conflict between the Dark and Light, perhaps because there is more of High Magic in it, perhaps because the Grey King and his minions, while frightening, don’t take on human forms.