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tessakwebb's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Really not my fave of this series. Love weaving in father Callahan and Salem's lot but this book was way too long
rwatkins's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing Overall: 5/5 (24.5/25)
Another incredible adventure, thankee, sai. King takes all the style tools he's been toying with throughout the series thus far and combines them into one epic culmination of story. This novel is a climax of sorts, bringing together threads from this series and also pulling inspiration from his works of horror, and mashing them all together to create fireworks. If you like epic shootouts, wheelchair assassins, boys bonding, Salem's Lot, demon babies, homeless traveling adventures, wordplay and prophecies, a singing tin-man or dancing cowboy, then give this book a read.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 4.5/5
The story follows Roland and his ka-tet as they continue along the Beam and towards the Dark Tower. They come across a town with a problem, some outlaws stealing their babies, and start an investigation to see if they can help. There are two B-stories, one that leads into the next novel as Susannah comes to term with a past decision. The other involves returning to New York through a new door in order to protect a version of the tower there, in the form of a rose.
The main story was excellent and kept me interested.
There is a brief summary of past events in the opening. Some aspects of previous books were returned to, such as using a framed story, mechanical technology and portal doors. There is an abridged summary of Salem's Lot. With all these things together, I did feel some parts were repetitious and redundant, stalling the story a bit and retelling things I've seen and heard already.
Otherwise, this would have been a perfect book for me.
Setting: 5/5
I loved Calla Bryn Sturgis. Especially the politics of a small farming town and its' residents. King is so good at bringing a large cast of characters to life and making every one of them distinct, so as not to confuse or feel stale.
King brilliantly returns to some cultural touchstones seen in other small towns, such as the stuffy-guys, while adding a unique problem and new rituals and flavor for Calla. From their song and dance, to the mysterious birthing of twins and roont curse, to the Sisters of Oriza and their throwing plates. There are so many details to this town, it feels more vivid in one book then some worlds are made to be over an entire epic fantasy series.
Characters: 5/5
Roland struggles with sharing things still with his ka-tet, but growth is evident.
Eddie and Susannah navigate their marriage as it is tested by a major complication.
Jake has some growing up to do as he sheds his innocence, experiences his final sleepovers and last days of play, before his coming of age is forced upon him.
Father Callahan, whom may be familiar from one of King's horror novels, doesn't get a character arc but seems to be joining the crew.
Andy the Messenger Robot, endearing and creepy at the same time, not an easy thing to pull off.
Every resident of Calla was unique and lively, easy to imagine and made the town feel lived-in.
The main characters all move along their character arcs, with some reaching a rewarding sense of completion. Every side character and background character feels alive and multi-dimensional, bringing this town and world to life. Excellent character work.
Style: 5/5
There are a lot of story choices King has made along the way, and some that were misses for me. All are brought back and perfected here. The frame-story (of Wizard and Keyhole) is returned through Callahan and his retelling of Salem's Lot. This worked the least for me. The rest of the flourishes were excellent. The puzzle of 19 and 99, numerous prophecies and secrets, referencing other literature and movies, the deadly crystal ball McGuffin, portals back to New York, and the steampunk/cyberpunk influences of machines and technology were all expertly used to tell a new story while paying homage to the rest of the adventure so far. It was a review of the past while also establishing the future of the last two books. I dinged the repetition in the plot already, but it worked for me stylistically. The story still felt fresh and new, the pacing pushing ever forward as I kept an eye on too many threads and not enough pages to cover them all. Which ones are resolved and which ones are left for what comes next? I cared and was truly curious about these questions in a way I've never been before in a book series. I can't praise King's stylistic decisions enough.
Themes: 5/5
King made me care about a coming of age story and that is no easy task. The Loss of Innocence thread, watching Jake count down an end to his childhood once he reckoned with what was looming ahead, grappling with trying to stay a kid and becoming a man - I think every teen and adult can relate to this, and it was done beautifully.
The mistrust, the strain on marriage that secrets kept can make and the toll it takes on a relationship, was another solid inclusion.
Learning to put your life in other's hands, trusting on your team to perform without having to take over things, is something a lot of leaders struggle with and Roland was no exception. The difficulties of leadership, the stress of feeling responsible for what's really out of your hands, wonderfully threaded throughout.
The way age sneaks up on you, hints at the end, saps your strength and causes you to rely on others more and how uncomfortable that can feel.
These themes alone would have gotten this book a full 5-stars - there is so much more thematic work explored and developed here though.
An expert writer writing expertly.
Another incredible adventure, thankee, sai. King takes all the style tools he's been toying with throughout the series thus far and combines them into one epic culmination of story. This novel is a climax of sorts, bringing together threads from this series and also pulling inspiration from his works of horror, and mashing them all together to create fireworks. If you like epic shootouts, wheelchair assassins, boys bonding, Salem's Lot, demon babies, homeless traveling adventures, wordplay and prophecies, a singing tin-man or dancing cowboy, then give this book a read.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 4.5/5
The story follows Roland and his ka-tet as they continue along the Beam and towards the Dark Tower. They come across a town with a problem, some outlaws stealing their babies, and start an investigation to see if they can help. There are two B-stories, one that leads into the next novel as Susannah comes to term with a past decision. The other involves returning to New York through a new door in order to protect a version of the tower there, in the form of a rose.
The main story was excellent and kept me interested.
There is a brief summary of past events in the opening. Some aspects of previous books were returned to, such as using a framed story, mechanical technology and portal doors. There is an abridged summary of Salem's Lot. With all these things together, I did feel some parts were repetitious and redundant, stalling the story a bit and retelling things I've seen and heard already.
Otherwise, this would have been a perfect book for me.
Setting: 5/5
I loved Calla Bryn Sturgis. Especially the politics of a small farming town and its' residents. King is so good at bringing a large cast of characters to life and making every one of them distinct, so as not to confuse or feel stale.
King brilliantly returns to some cultural touchstones seen in other small towns, such as the stuffy-guys, while adding a unique problem and new rituals and flavor for Calla. From their song and dance, to the mysterious birthing of twins and roont curse, to the Sisters of Oriza and their throwing plates. There are so many details to this town, it feels more vivid in one book then some worlds are made to be over an entire epic fantasy series.
Characters: 5/5
Roland struggles with sharing things still with his ka-tet, but growth is evident.
Eddie and Susannah navigate their marriage as it is tested by a major complication.
Jake has some growing up to do as he sheds his innocence, experiences his final sleepovers and last days of play, before his coming of age is forced upon him.
Father Callahan, whom may be familiar from one of King's horror novels, doesn't get a character arc but seems to be joining the crew.
Andy the Messenger Robot, endearing and creepy at the same time, not an easy thing to pull off.
Every resident of Calla was unique and lively, easy to imagine and made the town feel lived-in.
The main characters all move along their character arcs, with some reaching a rewarding sense of completion. Every side character and background character feels alive and multi-dimensional, bringing this town and world to life. Excellent character work.
Style: 5/5
There are a lot of story choices King has made along the way, and some that were misses for me. All are brought back and perfected here. The frame-story (of Wizard and Keyhole) is returned through Callahan and his retelling of Salem's Lot. This worked the least for me. The rest of the flourishes were excellent. The puzzle of 19 and 99, numerous prophecies and secrets, referencing other literature and movies, the deadly crystal ball McGuffin, portals back to New York, and the steampunk/cyberpunk influences of machines and technology were all expertly used to tell a new story while paying homage to the rest of the adventure so far. It was a review of the past while also establishing the future of the last two books. I dinged the repetition in the plot already, but it worked for me stylistically. The story still felt fresh and new, the pacing pushing ever forward as I kept an eye on too many threads and not enough pages to cover them all. Which ones are resolved and which ones are left for what comes next? I cared and was truly curious about these questions in a way I've never been before in a book series. I can't praise King's stylistic decisions enough.
Themes: 5/5
King made me care about a coming of age story and that is no easy task. The Loss of Innocence thread, watching Jake count down an end to his childhood once he reckoned with what was looming ahead, grappling with trying to stay a kid and becoming a man - I think every teen and adult can relate to this, and it was done beautifully.
The mistrust, the strain on marriage that secrets kept can make and the toll it takes on a relationship, was another solid inclusion.
Learning to put your life in other's hands, trusting on your team to perform without having to take over things, is something a lot of leaders struggle with and Roland was no exception. The difficulties of leadership, the stress of feeling responsible for what's really out of your hands, wonderfully threaded throughout.
The way age sneaks up on you, hints at the end, saps your strength and causes you to rely on others more and how uncomfortable that can feel.
These themes alone would have gotten this book a full 5-stars - there is so much more thematic work explored and developed here though.
An expert writer writing expertly.
stephenvhenn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A joy to read. While the end is in sight, the greater excitement is the story coming together in way that is both enticing but also clarifying.
manuflo97's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
billpapas's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ajmartin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
sarahdavy's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
One of the best so far in the series. I have come to love the characters and the world building. For a 700 page book, this is very fast paced and I love how King pulls it together.
tomgenue's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ianacook's review against another edition
2.0
I just have to keep thinking, hoping, praying that maybe, potentially, there's a chance that eventually, maybe within the next 1000 pages, King might, perhaps, finally get to what might vaguely approach the point.
Also, writing about a book store featuring yourself, and then having a character be ripped wholesale from another of your own books and write about them being shocked when they discover that book about themself… it just feels hoaky and contrived, and like King is just trying to self-shill.
Also, writing about a book store featuring yourself, and then having a character be ripped wholesale from another of your own books and write about them being shocked when they discover that book about themself… it just feels hoaky and contrived, and like King is just trying to self-shill.
moonsea97's review against another edition
2.0
Story: 0.5
Characters: 0.5
Pacing: 0
Writing: 0
Impact: 1
OVERALL: 2/5 (D)
Characters: 0.5
Pacing: 0
Writing: 0
Impact: 1
OVERALL: 2/5 (D)