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peterkeep's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the Dark Tower series (as a whole -- I didn't love each book individually) so I had some mixed feelings going into this. I was excited to read a bit more about Roland, Susannah, Eddie, Jake, and Oy, but I also didn't want to read it and be "done" with this series again. I knew this book didn't feature the main characters a ton, so I was a bit unsure about how it would all go down.
It's the classic story within a story within a story. Overall, there's really not a lot happening in the book. It's short, and there are three stories being told, so two of them end up being pretty short. Which is totally good with me. I like that the main ka-tet's story didn't move too much, since I don't want to change anything from the rest of the series (of which this takes place in the middle somewhere). The second-level story is interesting and cool and gives some more backstory to Roland's weird childhood, so that was good to read. I like the little bits of Roland's teenage and 20-something years that we get to see throughout the series, so I felt at home in the second story.
The third story took me a bit to get into. Maybe it was because of all of the switching of stories, or my busy schedule, or that it just took me a bit to get interested, but it is what it is. Somewhere in the middle I started enjoying it a lot, which was my reaction to [b: Wizard and Glass|5096|Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4)|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327946510s/5096.jpg|750558] as well. It's a nice story that fits in the world, adds some fun perspective, and is pretty creative/doesn't seem to redundant. The conclusions of all three stories take place pretty quickly, and I thought that everything was nicely wrapped up. Roland and the gang head to the Calla and keep on their quest for the Dark Tower, but the little pit-stop they make here is enjoyable and memorable.
It's the classic story within a story within a story. Overall, there's really not a lot happening in the book. It's short, and there are three stories being told, so two of them end up being pretty short. Which is totally good with me. I like that the main ka-tet's story didn't move too much, since I don't want to change anything from the rest of the series (of which this takes place in the middle somewhere). The second-level story is interesting and cool and gives some more backstory to Roland's weird childhood, so that was good to read. I like the little bits of Roland's teenage and 20-something years that we get to see throughout the series, so I felt at home in the second story.
The third story took me a bit to get into. Maybe it was because of all of the switching of stories, or my busy schedule, or that it just took me a bit to get interested, but it is what it is. Somewhere in the middle I started enjoying it a lot, which was my reaction to [b: Wizard and Glass|5096|Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4)|Stephen King|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327946510s/5096.jpg|750558] as well. It's a nice story that fits in the world, adds some fun perspective, and is pretty creative/doesn't seem to redundant. The conclusions of all three stories take place pretty quickly, and I thought that everything was nicely wrapped up. Roland and the gang head to the Calla and keep on their quest for the Dark Tower, but the little pit-stop they make here is enjoyable and memorable.
samcurler13's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
beethatasitmay's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
donatello's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
hinesight's review against another edition
5.0
King can flat tell you a story. I loved it; I wish there was a series of stories (a Gilead version of the Tales of Beedle the Bard, sort of) tied in with Roland's youth and the Tower mythology, so that this book could be about five times as long as it was.
rwatkins's review against another edition
2.0
It was okay. Overall: 2/5 (11/25)
This is a story within a story within a story. Most of the book is irrelevant to the larger Dark Tower series, and can be skipped entirely. But if you like Swampthing, animorphing, children in prison, cool storms, or Oy causing drama, then give this book a try.
Minor Spoilers below.
Plot: 1.5/5
The story relevant to the Dark Tower series follows the ka-tet as they bunker down to wait out a storm. Roland then tells the second story, one from his younger days as a teenage gunslinger. In this story, young Roland is sent to a dying mining town and must weed out a serial killer who appears to be a skin-changer. Then, the third story is told by the younger Roland to a boy who is witness to, and survivor of, the latest murder spree. This story takes up most of the novel, and is one Roland's mother used to tell him, about yet another boy inheriting an abusive steppa and going on an adventure to gain the means of dealing with his step-dad.
One too many layers to this shorter novel, as the framed story within a framed story within a story becomes too distant to remain meaningful to the larger, main story.
Setting: 2.5/5
With the past looking a lot like the present in Mid-World, and old childhood fables referencing things that also look like the present in Mid-World, time really becomes confusing. But it was never clear, as King likes to play with warping reality in this series, and time has never been linear.
New additions from the fable that were cool include swamp mutants, the dance of the bumblers, and even a dragon sighting!
From the brief main storyline, the starkblast is a cool spin on magical and deadly storms. Little else directly related to the main story world is developed.
The skin-changer and mining town are underdeveloped, as Roland's past takes a back seat to the elements within the longer fable.
Too much focus on building up a story that doesn't matter and not enough focus on new elements to the established world. Luckily, some aspects remain relevant, as stories have a habit of coming to life in this world.
Characters: 2/5
Roland has a touching moment at the very end that was missing from Wizard and Glass and was nice to see included here. Otherwise, there is another glimpse of him in his youth, which is similar to what has been shown before. No growth or arc is given to him.
The other main characters from the series just serve as audience to Roland's storytelling.
The new characters, both from Roland's past and from his mother's fable, are mostly underdeveloped. Tim, the mc of the fable, gets the biggest spotlight. He is a boy dealing with adult problems before he's ready, and is likable enough.
This is a short book trying to do justice to three different stories, and all the characters suffer for it.
Style: 1.5/5
I always enjoy King's prose.
I did not like the overly complex story in story in story framing device. This risky style choice was a big fail for me, as it became too far removed to be important. I even thought about skipping past the fable all together and jumping to the end. It's bad to be wanting to skip over 2/3's of a book because it's going to be pointless.
Too many stories means underdeveloped characters, less time for details and descriptions, an inattention to feelings and facing consequences. The result to having 3 in 1 story-telling is that choice caused a lot of things to suffer.
Themes: 3.5/5
A child in over his head as the world around him turns dangerous is a central theme. Familial love and loss are touched upon, as is guilt and grief.
King plays with time in storytelling and explores fables and lore as a strange blend of allegory with truth.
Survival in nature gets highlighted, with the starkblast in the present and in the fable, and through Tim's adventure through the swamp.
King's thematic work still draws out questions and it's so much fun to see themes stretched and poked to see what happens.
This is a story within a story within a story. Most of the book is irrelevant to the larger Dark Tower series, and can be skipped entirely. But if you like Swampthing, animorphing, children in prison, cool storms, or Oy causing drama, then give this book a try.
Minor Spoilers below.
Plot: 1.5/5
The story relevant to the Dark Tower series follows the ka-tet as they bunker down to wait out a storm. Roland then tells the second story, one from his younger days as a teenage gunslinger. In this story, young Roland is sent to a dying mining town and must weed out a serial killer who appears to be a skin-changer. Then, the third story is told by the younger Roland to a boy who is witness to, and survivor of, the latest murder spree. This story takes up most of the novel, and is one Roland's mother used to tell him, about yet another boy inheriting an abusive steppa and going on an adventure to gain the means of dealing with his step-dad.
One too many layers to this shorter novel, as the framed story within a framed story within a story becomes too distant to remain meaningful to the larger, main story.
Setting: 2.5/5
With the past looking a lot like the present in Mid-World, and old childhood fables referencing things that also look like the present in Mid-World, time really becomes confusing. But it was never clear, as King likes to play with warping reality in this series, and time has never been linear.
New additions from the fable that were cool include swamp mutants, the dance of the bumblers, and even a dragon sighting!
From the brief main storyline, the starkblast is a cool spin on magical and deadly storms. Little else directly related to the main story world is developed.
The skin-changer and mining town are underdeveloped, as Roland's past takes a back seat to the elements within the longer fable.
Too much focus on building up a story that doesn't matter and not enough focus on new elements to the established world. Luckily, some aspects remain relevant, as stories have a habit of coming to life in this world.
Characters: 2/5
Roland has a touching moment at the very end that was missing from Wizard and Glass and was nice to see included here. Otherwise, there is another glimpse of him in his youth, which is similar to what has been shown before. No growth or arc is given to him.
The other main characters from the series just serve as audience to Roland's storytelling.
The new characters, both from Roland's past and from his mother's fable, are mostly underdeveloped. Tim, the mc of the fable, gets the biggest spotlight. He is a boy dealing with adult problems before he's ready, and is likable enough.
This is a short book trying to do justice to three different stories, and all the characters suffer for it.
Style: 1.5/5
I always enjoy King's prose.
I did not like the overly complex story in story in story framing device. This risky style choice was a big fail for me, as it became too far removed to be important. I even thought about skipping past the fable all together and jumping to the end. It's bad to be wanting to skip over 2/3's of a book because it's going to be pointless.
Too many stories means underdeveloped characters, less time for details and descriptions, an inattention to feelings and facing consequences. The result to having 3 in 1 story-telling is that choice caused a lot of things to suffer.
Themes: 3.5/5
A child in over his head as the world around him turns dangerous is a central theme. Familial love and loss are touched upon, as is guilt and grief.
King plays with time in storytelling and explores fables and lore as a strange blend of allegory with truth.
Survival in nature gets highlighted, with the starkblast in the present and in the fable, and through Tim's adventure through the swamp.
King's thematic work still draws out questions and it's so much fun to see themes stretched and poked to see what happens.
emilyrosebooks's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
This is book 4.5 of the Dark Tower Series, and if you are someone who needs momentum to stick with a story, skip this one and come back to it. It is a story within a story within a story. Roland and the ka-tet are moving on and they get stuck in a big storm. While they wait out the storm, Roland tells a story of his youth, and within that story he tells a young boy another story. It is interesting, it does lend depth to Roland and his backstory, but absolutely NOT necessary to move on with the series and see what happens.
If you like Stephen King stories with easter eggs of Randall Flagg/The Man in Black, this is one of them. In that sense, it is good, but I think it kills the momentum of Roland's quest for the dark tower.
If you like Stephen King stories with easter eggs of Randall Flagg/The Man in Black, this is one of them. In that sense, it is good, but I think it kills the momentum of Roland's quest for the dark tower.