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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Highly entertaining if you ignore the fact that this was written by two males.
A King take on the fears that women have of men, of the men that generate those fears, and how they all react when mysteriously separated. King (and his son) still knows how to tell a good tale.
I was, admittedly, rather curious about the fate of non-binary/genderqueer individuals in this tale, but that was never addressed. On the one hand, it could have complicated an already King-length novel; on the other, it could have been an interesting complication (if handled well).
I was, admittedly, rather curious about the fate of non-binary/genderqueer individuals in this tale, but that was never addressed. On the one hand, it could have complicated an already King-length novel; on the other, it could have been an interesting complication (if handled well).
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
StoryGraph is asking me all of these usual questions, but I'm having a hard time describing this book. Even my opinion is kind of blurry, but I can at least try to put my feelings about this book into words.
I didn't love this book, but I also didn't hate it. Actually, in the beginning, I was quite enjoying myself, which I didn't expect. It's one of the rare occasions that I find myself picking up a fantasy book, and usually I don't have the highest expectations of fantasy, but this one was quite easy to get into (if you're okay with being introduced to many characters - because there are A LOT). I thought the perspective of the women's prison was an interesting perspective to take.
The true enjoyment took a while to set in, though. Actually, it got worse before it got better. In the middle (the start of part 2, to be precise), there is a long part where a lot is happening but we're not really building up to something, which makes the story drag. At this point, King & King kind of lost me, and it took a while for me to get invested in the story again.
This is where my main criticism of this book comes in: it is so damn long. And I don't mind long books, as long as there is a reason for them to be long. I don't think that this book had the right to be this long. It dragged on for a long time in the middle, and it could have easily done with 200 fewer pages.
At the end, though, I can appreciate this book for what it was, and the message it brought across. (Message: the world turns to shit when you let men rule it.) It just took a long time to get that point across, and I think it could have done it a lot faster. So, did I enjoy the book? Kinda. Did I regret reading it? I dunno.
I didn't love this book, but I also didn't hate it. Actually, in the beginning, I was quite enjoying myself, which I didn't expect. It's one of the rare occasions that I find myself picking up a fantasy book, and usually I don't have the highest expectations of fantasy, but this one was quite easy to get into (if you're okay with being introduced to many characters - because there are A LOT). I thought the perspective of the women's prison was an interesting perspective to take.
The true enjoyment took a while to set in, though. Actually, it got worse before it got better. In the middle (the start of part 2, to be precise), there is a long part where a lot is happening but we're not really building up to something, which makes the story drag. At this point, King & King kind of lost me, and it took a while for me to get invested in the story again.
This is where my main criticism of this book comes in: it is so damn long. And I don't mind long books, as long as there is a reason for them to be long. I don't think that this book had the right to be this long. It dragged on for a long time in the middle, and it could have easily done with 200 fewer pages.
At the end, though, I can appreciate this book for what it was, and the message it brought across. (Message: the world turns to shit when you let men rule it.) It just took a long time to get that point across, and I think it could have done it a lot faster. So, did I enjoy the book? Kinda. Did I regret reading it? I dunno.
I both read and listened to this book. It is enormous but engrossing. It is definitely a book you want to plan the reading of, (I ended up making a daily goal for it). I first attempted listening to it, (the narration was impressive. Seriously, get an Audible copy). Then I was able to get a hard copy from the library and started over, alternating between the two.
The story was extremely interesting for me. My family is from the area where it is set. I wish I could say that some of the setting wasn’t accurate but, with the current drug issues, sadly it was. With a setting I knew and characters I might, I was easily sucked into the story. I really enjoyed it when “ Our Place,” came in to the story. That was interesting and the ending was an incredible ride. The book seems more like drama than horror to me. Though I would be freaked if women were to fall asleep inside cocoons. I will choose to leave it there as I don’t want to spoil the story by mentioning other aspects that freaked me out. There were plenty of moments of horror but mostly I saw the story as drama. It didn’t keep me up, terrified to sleep, like earlier works did. But I was invested early and stayed invested to the end. It is interesting to read of this during a time when men and women are struggling to find balance in this “equality” for all society.
I enjoyed the story. It was fun to read a story written by father and son. I have read, and am a fan of, Joe Hill, (I loved seeing him get a nod). This is my first time reading Owen King. He didn’t disappoint me and I am interested in reading other work by him. It is amazing how much writing talent is in this family, (though somewhat expected given both parents are excellent storytellers). I would recommend the book though I would caution not to expect the horror of previous books like The Shining or It. I think if you go in knowing that, you will be able to enjoy the story more.
The story was extremely interesting for me. My family is from the area where it is set. I wish I could say that some of the setting wasn’t accurate but, with the current drug issues, sadly it was. With a setting I knew and characters I might, I was easily sucked into the story. I really enjoyed it when “ Our Place,” came in to the story. That was interesting and the ending was an incredible ride. The book seems more like drama than horror to me. Though I would be freaked if women were to fall asleep inside cocoons. I will choose to leave it there as I don’t want to spoil the story by mentioning other aspects that freaked me out. There were plenty of moments of horror but mostly I saw the story as drama. It didn’t keep me up, terrified to sleep, like earlier works did. But I was invested early and stayed invested to the end. It is interesting to read of this during a time when men and women are struggling to find balance in this “equality” for all society.
I enjoyed the story. It was fun to read a story written by father and son. I have read, and am a fan of, Joe Hill, (I loved seeing him get a nod). This is my first time reading Owen King. He didn’t disappoint me and I am interested in reading other work by him. It is amazing how much writing talent is in this family, (though somewhat expected given both parents are excellent storytellers). I would recommend the book though I would caution not to expect the horror of previous books like The Shining or It. I think if you go in knowing that, you will be able to enjoy the story more.
*2.5*
Although the character list can be pretty daunting when starting this book, I didn't feel too overwhelmed once I got to know the main ones. Though I found the new characters introduced towards the ends I was not nearly as interested in and they didn't fulfil a purpose in the grand scheme of the story.
Overall, I found this very interesting, though the timeline and relatively shorts scenes don't make it very easy to read this over a relatively long period of time.
I do find that a lot of the elements of characters development establish in the first half of the story are completely lost by the second half and loosely tied back at the end which makes the characters and their motives very shallow.
I must admit, the fox, rat and tiger got me completely lost.
Although the character list can be pretty daunting when starting this book, I didn't feel too overwhelmed once I got to know the main ones. Though I found the new characters introduced towards the ends I was not nearly as interested in and they didn't fulfil a purpose in the grand scheme of the story.
Overall, I found this very interesting, though the timeline and relatively shorts scenes don't make it very easy to read this over a relatively long period of time.
I do find that a lot of the elements of characters development establish in the first half of the story are completely lost by the second half and loosely tied back at the end which makes the characters and their motives very shallow.
I must admit, the fox, rat and tiger got me completely lost.
Premise and setting were great. The characters were too polarized. It felt like everyone was either terrible or perfect. I saw a lot of reviews commenting on how it was a man-bashing book and I can see how some people would view it that way. I give it 3.5/5.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars...very long and boooring...1000000 characters...DNF'ed at some point...if it had 400-450 pages would have been so much better.
The first 200pages were about introducing the 20million characters(I'm not joking) plus there were animal characters involved as well.
After all that it started getting good.
So many questions. What's going on with the women in the world? Why only them?? Who's that chick that can sleep and wake up? A witch?
Why can't men survive without women?
After all that it started getting good.
So many questions. What's going on with the women in the world? Why only them?? Who's that chick that can sleep and wake up? A witch?
Why can't men survive without women?