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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
Every epic fantasy must have an epic battle of some sort: it is known. This, my friends, is the battle of Roland's ka-tet. That's all I'll write here, say sorry: part of the joy of these books, for me, has been knowing nothing about where the story was going, and I'd like to preserve that for anyone reading the series for the first time.
I've read the Dark Tower books more or less back-to-back, something I never do with series, and I'm starting to have an affected manner of speaking, as if I were in these adventures with Roland and company, speaking with them. It's unnerving and strange, as I've never done that with another book; occasionally I'll pick up a slight accent after watching too many hours of a tv show, so this makes the new affect that much more curious. Immersion therapy, I suppose. Not that I'd want to stay in Mid-World; it's a rough place to be.
The road to the Tower grows ever shorter, now. I hope I'll be ready when I reach it.
I've read the Dark Tower books more or less back-to-back, something I never do with series, and I'm starting to have an affected manner of speaking, as if I were in these adventures with Roland and company, speaking with them. It's unnerving and strange, as I've never done that with another book; occasionally I'll pick up a slight accent after watching too many hours of a tv show, so this makes the new affect that much more curious. Immersion therapy, I suppose. Not that I'd want to stay in Mid-World; it's a rough place to be.
The road to the Tower grows ever shorter, now. I hope I'll be ready when I reach it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
I adored this book. So many plots are unfolding at once, giving vital insights into each of the Ka-Tet, and building a suspense I haven't felt in any of the other books in this series (which is saying a lot; they're all extremely gripping).
The loss of Jake's innocence through his friendship with Benny is not only a heartbreaking arc, but the eventual end of that story flipped my expectations greatly in a way that really sold Jake's emotions.
Roland has a heart. The way that King writes Roland in this book is superb, and follows on perfectly from Wizard and Glass. I can still never tell if, or even when, he will betray his Ka-Tet, and I think that adds a valuable amount to the suspense of the book.
Susannah-Mio is one of my favourite storylines in the final few books of the series, and I love the mystery Susannah is shrouded in for most of this book. Introducing Mia as a potential third Personality is a fantastic misdirection. While I think Susannah has her best arc in the 6th book, Calla lays a perfect groundwork for that.
I think Eddie comes into his own as a leader in this book in a huge way. Everything he has learned from Roland kicks in while the Ka-Tet is in Calla Bryn Sturgis. He is strong and stoic in a way that still feels vulnerable and true to himself. The love he feels for Susannah never fails despite Mia's appearance, and that loyalty defines him.
Callahan is such a welcome addition to this series. He just works. I like that he has serious flaws and pitfalls.
Fav moments:
- Roland's final chat with Slightman the Elder
- Callahan's story
The loss of Jake's innocence through his friendship with Benny is not only a heartbreaking arc, but the eventual end of that story flipped my expectations greatly in a way that really sold Jake's emotions.
Roland has a heart. The way that King writes Roland in this book is superb, and follows on perfectly from Wizard and Glass. I can still never tell if, or even when, he will betray his Ka-Tet, and I think that adds a valuable amount to the suspense of the book.
Susannah-Mio is one of my favourite storylines in the final few books of the series, and I love the mystery Susannah is shrouded in for most of this book. Introducing Mia as a potential third Personality is a fantastic misdirection. While I think Susannah has her best arc in the 6th book, Calla lays a perfect groundwork for that.
I think Eddie comes into his own as a leader in this book in a huge way. Everything he has learned from Roland kicks in while the Ka-Tet is in Calla Bryn Sturgis. He is strong and stoic in a way that still feels vulnerable and true to himself. The love he feels for Susannah never fails despite Mia's appearance, and that loyalty defines him.
Callahan is such a welcome addition to this series. He just works. I like that he has serious flaws and pitfalls.
Fav moments:
- Roland's final chat with Slightman the Elder
- Callahan's story
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Probably my favorite besides The Gunslinger. I enjoyed the characters being able to settle down in one place for a little while, the build-up to the days the Wolves come, the interaction of the new characters with the ka-tet. You really got to feel Roland's humanity, his isolation. The Last Gunslinger. And now we add Callahan into the mix; I liked reading his story again, how it was woven in to the current action. The middle dragged a bit again, and the ending felt a bit rushed. Overall, a strong entry.
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
Yes
STEPHEN KING WHAT THE HELL IS THAT LAST CHAPTER.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
What a return to form! This book is the good of the previous ones, but with much better pacing than the last book. It also introduces new weirdness that is really welcome, in my opinion.
Here we have the ka-tet helping a small town that gets attacked by a child-stealing gang, every 20 years or so. Roland and the ka-tet decides to help them... and lots of things happen.
One of the best books of the series up to this point, for sure!
Here we have the ka-tet helping a small town that gets attacked by a child-stealing gang, every 20 years or so. Roland and the ka-tet decides to help them... and lots of things happen.
One of the best books of the series up to this point, for sure!
I struggled through the last book in the series but found this one easier to stomach. At least the story mostly took place in one location. For the modest part this was just another side step along the way to the tower but it did give more insight to that single rose mentioned previously in the series. I won’t go into spoilers but I was happy to get that story moving along. Time to head into the next book and soon finish out the epic that is the dark tower.
I didn't enjoy most of Wizard's Glass all that much, but thought the ending was great. I enjoyed almost all of Wolves of the Calla, but didn't like the ending. The self-referential stuff is a bit much, and I also thought the way the secret of the Wolves' was kept from readers through character dialogue cutting off like a TV commercial break was a pretty cheap trick.
But on the whole these are minor complaints, and don't stop this from being a fun and often moving read.
But on the whole these are minor complaints, and don't stop this from being a fun and often moving read.