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aziraphales's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
4.25
was prepared to find the meet-the-author part really cringe. i did! a bit! but there was so much that was incredibly touching and tense, and it continues to amaze me how openly stephen king can look back on his own flaws and the mistakes he's made and that near-death experience AND work them into his own writing. i'll be in tears when i finish this series.
mayastone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
babyshoes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.25
Book is a good read, especially getting good at the end. I love how at the end there is a Coda from the authors perspective that ties into the story and it's just done really well. Excited for the Dark Tower VII
rwatkins's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked it. Overall: 3.5/5 (18.5/25)
There is a little action, some new themes, and a huge fourth-wall breaking. If you enjoy spotting Stephen King in his movies, pregnancy drama, a good ole Maury-style who's-the-daddy mystery, or big trucks spilling lumber, this one will be perfect!
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3/5
The ka-tet is split-up, and every d&d nerd knows to never split the party! Each has their own responsibilities to take care of before they are able to reunite to hopefully help with Susannah. This last bit doesn't get resolved in this book, saved for the final installment. Good thing I don't mind cliffhangers!
Characters: 4/5
This book is for Susannah and Eddie, with Roland and Jake mostly in the background (although Jake gets a moment or two, for sure).
Susannah fights against herself or the entity Mia now inhabiting her body. She is dealing with the challenges of pregnancy, time and world traveling and Mia trying to take over her mind. There is inner and outer struggle here as she comes to terms (dad pun intended!) with what her child might be and the potential consequences if she loses her battle with Mia.
Eddie is focused only on finding Susannah despite having his own issues and conflict at hand. Mirroring Roland's one-track quest for the Dark Tower, Eddie must find a way to be present in the now and trust in his wife to handle her own demons until they find each other again.
Setting: 3/5
More playing with time and space here, new worlds and old, past, present and future.
Not a lot new gets added, but the crossovers with other King books and beyond is returned to and in the forefront. The Dark Tower is near and worlds blend together, fitting the atmosphere of the series. This can feel a little fan servicey at times, but it wasn't overdone for me.
Style: 3.5/5
The character work and themes were fantastic, but a few stylistic choices didn't work for me.
The biggest risk taken was the self-insert for sure, and this didn't hit solidly for me but was a little awkward, maybe even unnecessary.
Susannah's chapters were slow, stalling the plot instead of moving it forward smoothly. The other chapters did some heavy-lifting in the action and plot development departments, but some of them, too, such as with the self-insert, also stammered. The character work was great but the plot/pacing circled about a little too long.
King is still a genius at character work and although I didn't need Trudy's pov, I immediately understood her and felt I knew who she was within a few pages. King does this so well and so quickly I am envious as an aspiring writer.
Themes: 5/5
This installment leans hard into the dystopian themes of technology without magic destroying the world(s). It's been there most of the series but is explicitly put forward in this book.
A glimpse into what may be if the heroes lose, flashes into the Crimson King's lands, adds tension through setting.
The perils of pregnancy, complications of motherhood, distortion in identity, confusion in duality all are explored thoroughly through Susannah.
The worries of a man failing to protect, provide, being distracted by responsibility and life are seeded in Eddie.
A boy learning to shed emotion, pressured to turn everything into anger, rage, as part of becoming a man sits as an undercurrent for Jake.
Meeting your maker, exploring Godhood and creating universes through imagination, personal-inflection on serious issues facing writers bearing such responsibilities, such as unsafe drug and alcohol use are touched on. I didn't love the way this was explored stylistically, but the themes are still excellent and interesting ones to play with.
There is a little action, some new themes, and a huge fourth-wall breaking. If you enjoy spotting Stephen King in his movies, pregnancy drama, a good ole Maury-style who's-the-daddy mystery, or big trucks spilling lumber, this one will be perfect!
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3/5
The ka-tet is split-up, and every d&d nerd knows to never split the party! Each has their own responsibilities to take care of before they are able to reunite to hopefully help with Susannah. This last bit doesn't get resolved in this book, saved for the final installment. Good thing I don't mind cliffhangers!
Characters: 4/5
This book is for Susannah and Eddie, with Roland and Jake mostly in the background (although Jake gets a moment or two, for sure).
Susannah fights against herself or the entity Mia now inhabiting her body. She is dealing with the challenges of pregnancy, time and world traveling and Mia trying to take over her mind. There is inner and outer struggle here as she comes to terms (dad pun intended!) with what her child might be and the potential consequences if she loses her battle with Mia.
Eddie is focused only on finding Susannah despite having his own issues and conflict at hand. Mirroring Roland's one-track quest for the Dark Tower, Eddie must find a way to be present in the now and trust in his wife to handle her own demons until they find each other again.
Setting: 3/5
More playing with time and space here, new worlds and old, past, present and future.
Not a lot new gets added, but the crossovers with other King books and beyond is returned to and in the forefront. The Dark Tower is near and worlds blend together, fitting the atmosphere of the series. This can feel a little fan servicey at times, but it wasn't overdone for me.
Style: 3.5/5
The character work and themes were fantastic, but a few stylistic choices didn't work for me.
The biggest risk taken was the self-insert for sure, and this didn't hit solidly for me but was a little awkward, maybe even unnecessary.
Susannah's chapters were slow, stalling the plot instead of moving it forward smoothly. The other chapters did some heavy-lifting in the action and plot development departments, but some of them, too, such as with the self-insert, also stammered. The character work was great but the plot/pacing circled about a little too long.
King is still a genius at character work and although I didn't need Trudy's pov, I immediately understood her and felt I knew who she was within a few pages. King does this so well and so quickly I am envious as an aspiring writer.
Themes: 5/5
This installment leans hard into the dystopian themes of technology without magic destroying the world(s). It's been there most of the series but is explicitly put forward in this book.
A glimpse into what may be if the heroes lose, flashes into the Crimson King's lands, adds tension through setting.
The perils of pregnancy, complications of motherhood, distortion in identity, confusion in duality all are explored thoroughly through Susannah.
The worries of a man failing to protect, provide, being distracted by responsibility and life are seeded in Eddie.
A boy learning to shed emotion, pressured to turn everything into anger, rage, as part of becoming a man sits as an undercurrent for Jake.
Meeting your maker, exploring Godhood and creating universes through imagination, personal-inflection on serious issues facing writers bearing such responsibilities, such as unsafe drug and alcohol use are touched on. I didn't love the way this was explored stylistically, but the themes are still excellent and interesting ones to play with.
zoth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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? Yes
3.75
colin1192's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.75
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
3.75
directorpurry'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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Rape and Car accident
ianacook's review against another edition
2.0
Subtitle: “In which Stephen King is God and the very book series you're reading is critical to existence.” Grossly egotistical.
It was less bad than I feared when I heard what was contained. That said, it was still sufficiently masturbatory that I feel sullied.
It was less bad than I feared when I heard what was contained. That said, it was still sufficiently masturbatory that I feel sullied.