The Dark is Rising sequence is one of my favorite young fantasy series, and I've read most of them. The only one that compares, really, in my mind, is the Philip Pullman "His Dark Materials" series (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass), at least as far as rather serious, high fantasy is concerned. Harry Potter, of course, is awesome, and getting more serious as it goes on, but I don't think it will ever qualify as high fantasy.

I also really like the "Young Wizards" series by Diane Duane, which begins with So You Want to Be a Wizard.

I love HP too, Nova... I always make it a point to get the books before my mom and sister and then taunt them... and they have gotten darker, I almost wanted to smack Harry most of the last book (then had to remind myself, oh yeah... 13 year old boy). All I know is before it's all over, someone else is going to go (someone we like, that is), and my bets are on Mrs. Weasley, or Percy (because he's such a weiner), or Dumbledore... ooh! just had a brain flash... does Dumbledore remind anyone else of Deth/The High One in McKillip's "Riddle Master of Hed" trilogy? Maybe subconsciously that's why I think he's gone...

We had a great bit of HP snark in Literary awhile before NovaChild and Hun E began posting here... we decided that Aunt Petunia will end up playing a major role, because she won't be able to deny her wizard heritage any longer; and that this will include her telling Uncle Vernon to shut the hell up. How we look forward to that happy day!

I was a little disappointed in the last Wizard book I read (A Wizard Alone); it felt a bit too... conveniently interlocking. If that makes any sense. I did love the first three, though.

However, in order to avoid my wrath, Duane better get back to finishing the Rihannsu novels. And then The Door into Starlight. But I expect her publisher thinks there's more market for YA fantasies about wizards than about a five-person polyamorous marriage involving a dragon's shadow. Can't imagine why. t rolls eyes

does Dumbledore remind anyone else of Deth

Um, nope. And you might want to whitefont that sentence, anyway, Hun. You just gave away the spoiler for the entire trilogy.

We don't have spoiler rules here, as such, but it's considered good manners to whitefont the stuff with high HSQ.

How about Petunia running off with Snape? They have lots in common...

yeah... sorry about that

I'd pick Snape over Uncle Vernon, but I'd make him wash his hair.

Yeah, but Petunia seems to have blind spots about those she loves, so maybe she'll overlook it, or Snape could take up regular bathing as a sign of his devotion...
Regarding the Dumbledore thing I just remembered that in book 5 of HP, Dumbledore's actions/plans had unintended consequences on Harry which almost ruined the whole thing, also he spoke of letting his love for Harry overcome his common sense, somewhat how Deth's actions affected Morgon in unexpected ways, and in the deep bond between the two characters. Also Dumbledore and Voldemort are set up as almost foils for each other (the whole good wizard/evil wizard), and Dumbledore's powers the only ones V is said to fear and are possibly what kept Voldemort and his followers from total power. Harry is, like Morgon, prophecied to bring the end to the "war" and is somewhat to be considered Dumbledore's heir, as Morgon was heir to the High One. Also the parallels between Morgon and Harry's journey in that each has found powers that they did not realize they had, powers which will in the end make the difference in the battle... Also Morgon's parents were killed by the ancient ones and Harry's by V. Sorry... that went a little beyond what I was intending, but once I got started, the parallels between the two series and their characters just kept jumping out at me...
sorry... spelling check

I also love Rosemary Sutcliffe's books. I'll have to look for The Thief.

I also enjoyed an Arthurian Trilogy by somebody who I cannot remember but the books are Gillian Bradshaw's: Hawk of May, Kingdom of Summer, and In Winter's Shadow.