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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
I kind of wish I'd known it was a follow-up to another book before I'd read it. Pretty creepy in parts, but a little too much Dark Tower overlap for my tastes.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
This one was kinda weird, it almost felt like a Stephen King fan trying to write like Stephen King and actually doing a better job then Stephen King, if that makes any kind of sense. I've found that most of King's books aren't really horror, but fall more into the sci-fi/fantasy thriller category. This book was most definitely horror and a horror more visceral then 99% of anything else he has written. Also King seems to struggle with his endings, but this book stuck the landing beautifully. In fact the ending was epic and the highlight of the book. King and Straub seem to write well together and I wish they would get together for another collaboration, perhaps even a sequel so we get a Talisman trilogy.
As good as Black House was I have to say I prefer The Talisman. I loved the Narniaesque adventure feel more then the dark and brooding body horror so readily on display in Black House. But both were still really good and they do compliment each other nicely just like King and Straub's writing styles.
As good as Black House was I have to say I prefer The Talisman. I loved the Narniaesque adventure feel more then the dark and brooding body horror so readily on display in Black House. But both were still really good and they do compliment each other nicely just like King and Straub's writing styles.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was great revisiting to the Talisman world in a story that felt like remembering a forgotten childhood. I love how Jack came back to life and was given a new story to revitalize that essence that is him. Jack has always been a character that’s meant to strived for- who doesn’t want to have his strength, confidence, and inside knowledge? He’s an upstanding guy, who still struggles with his human vices. I loved reading about him as an adult!
I also will never stop gushing about Henry, one of my new favorite King/Straub characters! Just another cool cat that I wish I could embody. I liked having a murder mystery that morphed into a story about the Territories, I thought it was a good way to ease back into this series’ universe. I could read books worth of Jack just solving crimes on Earth. Highly recommend the sequel if you’ve read the Talisman- I’m glad they made it a two-parter!
I also will never stop gushing about Henry, one of my new favorite King/Straub characters! Just another cool cat that I wish I could embody. I liked having a murder mystery that morphed into a story about the Territories, I thought it was a good way to ease back into this series’ universe. I could read books worth of Jack just solving crimes on Earth. Highly recommend the sequel if you’ve read the Talisman- I’m glad they made it a two-parter!
By far, this was my least favorite SK novel yet. It had extremely slow pacing with dull new characters and was a lackluster follow up to the story of an already mediocre character of Jack. I could’ve tolerated all of that to potentially bring this up to a 4 star book if I had been able to get any joy from the books resolution. But it wasn’t all that enjoyable. Show up to evil place, shoot evil guy in head, kid breaks down building, they all leave happy go lucky. This was missing the final showdown that I’m sure comes in later books. It just felt like the middle episode of a series that gets you to the final resolution that will likely be fantastic. It’s the boring leg work that must be done, but I was just disappointed because I truly had faith good ole Stevie would’ve done better.
I personally don’t understand the collaborative nature of the Talisman series, especially when they are somewhat tied into SK’s connected universe and the Dark Tower series.
I thought the writing choices in this book were extremely unenjoyable. The use of an omnipotent raven being the narrator but then choosing to enter into certain characters minds to get their thoughts before jumping back out to the first person of the narrator was not the right choice in my opinion. Especially when that wasn’t the format of the previous Talisman book.
Lastly, authors who put statements like, “if you stop the story here it all ends happy” or “I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to stop now before the happiness is spoiled” need to be stopped. You’re an author. You want us to keep reading the last 100 pages you wrote. You know very well I didn’t read 800 to not read the last 100. Especially when I’m reading a book from the horror genre that I never expect to end with a happy ending. Just stop. It’s not cute. It’s not funny. It’s not creative. Stop. Please?
I personally don’t understand the collaborative nature of the Talisman series, especially when they are somewhat tied into SK’s connected universe and the Dark Tower series.
I thought the writing choices in this book were extremely unenjoyable. The use of an omnipotent raven being the narrator but then choosing to enter into certain characters minds to get their thoughts before jumping back out to the first person of the narrator was not the right choice in my opinion. Especially when that wasn’t the format of the previous Talisman book.
Lastly, authors who put statements like, “if you stop the story here it all ends happy” or “I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to stop now before the happiness is spoiled” need to be stopped. You’re an author. You want us to keep reading the last 100 pages you wrote. You know very well I didn’t read 800 to not read the last 100. Especially when I’m reading a book from the horror genre that I never expect to end with a happy ending. Just stop. It’s not cute. It’s not funny. It’s not creative. Stop. Please?
It says much about the pandemic year that a reread of a novel about a cannibalistic serial killer is comforting.
Or maybe that says something about me.
Or maybe that says something about me.
So...I found the last few chapters the most interesting and fans of the Dark Tower series...if you have never read this you should. I believe that series was born inside this book....
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
All Oct he dark tower content made this book for me. I could see some readers thinking it’s too long but if you’ve read the Dark Tower Series by King it makes this book so much more enjoyable.
One of my all time favourites. I loved that I got to travel with Jack again and that I met new friends along the way, and most of all that the dark tower beckoned in the distance.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No