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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Really good, but not necessarly a conclusive end to an epic series. I was left wanting more for Roland. I also didn't love anyones endings.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I have mixed feelings about how the series ended. Some parts I enjoyed, others felt rushed or forced. Eh.
About four or five years ago (2018ish) I decided to tackle The Dark Tower Series. It was probably one of the first major series I had ever read. In truth, I’m not a big series reader, but if anyone knows how to spin a long epic yarn, it’s King. (Besides, he was working on the Dark Tower before series were cool, may it do ya fine.) With the culmination of The Dark Tower Series with book 7, eponymously named, King has given us both a gift and a curse.
Now, in 2023, I’ve revisited the series, this time on audiobook, and with the exception of the last three entries, it has lost none of that original charm. First, I think that the series ends exactly as it should. King’s reputation as a writer of lackluster conclusions does not follow him into his magnum opus. Judging by King’s own comments, one can tell he may in fact disagree. And I know it’s because he felt rushed.
And it shows. The first four books came few and far between. King gave them time to percolate before putting pen to page. And they are all nearly perfect. Not simply perfect in a King way, but perfect in the world of literature as a whole. The final three is where the major cracks begin to show — not that the first four are flawless by any means — but it is here, in book seven, where King makes some considerable missteps. There is a lot of great stuff in The Dark Tower VII: the battle at Blue Heaven is a memorable set piece (if not bloated) and the beginning of the novel is as strong as any in the series.
One glaring flaw is King’s use of villains, or lack thereof. Without trying to be spoilery, I will just say they are even more lame than The Lawnmower Man. And there is a sense that even up to the very end King didn’t know all the details behind Roland’s obsession himself; there is certainly no shortage of loose ends left untied.
Still, even with its foibles it really couldn’t have had a better ending. And maybe that’s why I read so few series. I know there’s some great stuff out there, but The Dark Tower is so darn satisfying do I really need to spoil that?
Now, in 2023, I’ve revisited the series, this time on audiobook, and with the exception of the last three entries, it has lost none of that original charm. First, I think that the series ends exactly as it should. King’s reputation as a writer of lackluster conclusions does not follow him into his magnum opus. Judging by King’s own comments, one can tell he may in fact disagree. And I know it’s because he felt rushed.
And it shows. The first four books came few and far between. King gave them time to percolate before putting pen to page. And they are all nearly perfect. Not simply perfect in a King way, but perfect in the world of literature as a whole. The final three is where the major cracks begin to show — not that the first four are flawless by any means — but it is here, in book seven, where King makes some considerable missteps. There is a lot of great stuff in The Dark Tower VII: the battle at Blue Heaven is a memorable set piece (if not bloated) and the beginning of the novel is as strong as any in the series.
One glaring flaw is King’s use of villains, or lack thereof. Without trying to be spoilery, I will just say they are even more lame than The Lawnmower Man. And there is a sense that even up to the very end King didn’t know all the details behind Roland’s obsession himself; there is certainly no shortage of loose ends left untied.
Still, even with its foibles it really couldn’t have had a better ending. And maybe that’s why I read so few series. I know there’s some great stuff out there, but The Dark Tower is so darn satisfying do I really need to spoil that?
Simply Amazing. I finally have finished this incredible series after having started the first book 4-5 years ago. My eagerness to finally see the dark tower through King's words was at war with my desire to stay on this journey with Roland for as long as possible. The culmination of this epic alone is worth the time for anyone interested in diving into this incredible series. I will miss this series and know that the world building and rich storytelling will always be a benchmark for anything that I read in the future.
Wow, just wow. I finally finished the last book of this series, and I am just blown away. I've spent so much time reading these books, and spending time with these characters. It is such an emotional blow for it all to be over. I am so torn up inside, but wow was this a great series to read. Stephen King is an incredible author, and I am so looking forward to reading more of his works. Eddie, Susie, Jake, Roland, it hurts for their stories to be over, but it was such a pleasurable time while it lasted. Also, what a strangely bittersweet ending to all of it. I don't know if it was a happy ending. It is going to be a while before I am over these books, and if I keep up my reading, there is sure to be a lot more blows like this. I highly recommend these books.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The most perfect ending I could have asked for. I could not stop talking about it for weeks after I finished, it was that good.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Yes