Reviews

‘Salem's Lot by Stephen King

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kingjustiniii's review against another edition

4.0

This book feels very much like Stephen King’s love letter to the vampire stories that inspired him and it does them all proud. I still enjoy some of his other stories a bit more, but this book really is vintage old school King horror at its peak.

I do wish we got to see a little more of big bad Barlow. While every scene we got with the main vampire baddy in it was really well done, there were shockingly little of them. Any time we got to hear him talk he was so genuinely creepy in that perfectly charming Dracula way I so desperately wanted to hear more.

ALSO all these “M” first name characters got really confusing! I was constantly confusing Matt with Mark and Mark with Mike. I got so excited every time one of them died because I wouldn’t have to worry about mixing them up anymore!

Overall a fantastic vampire novel as to be expected from “King” of horror himself!

butterreadsbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

I went in not knowing what the book was about, which i recommend doing! It makes it more enjoyable. I really enjoyed the hints and then the reveal. It has a slow start. I found myself not picking it up. Then i crossed maybe the 70-100 page threshold and i couldn’t put it down! I would read this if you’re sensitive to graphic scenes. Child abuse and stuff. But it is a very good story. I enjoyed it. The ending was the tiniest bit disappointing but it was fitting in a way.

arivazagan's review against another edition

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dark sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes

3.5

jerantium's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

febrvaryfriday's review against another edition

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slow-paced

3.0

heyitschessa's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Meandering my way through SK's work in no particular order makes for interesting discoveries. Having started with the Dark Tower there are connections to be seen everywhere you look (all roads lead to The Tower, as it goes). The mention of gunslingers in this book, and some of the way Mark is described is very Jake/gunslinger-esque....

Anyway! SK can really set a stage. He has a way of writing where you truly feel like you know this town. Even just these small glimpses into side characters helps to build the background and I could picture the whole town, people's houses, even the town dump. I know some people find this aspect of his writing tiresome but I really love all the description and detail he puts into it.

My skin was crawling in the best way.