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lengelman's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Death of parent
likethepickle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Exactly what the title states. A Fairy Tale in its truest and most messed up sense. Not particularly suspenseful or spooky like others in King’s catalogue, this leans more into uncanny and macabre than the outright dark.
The hero is very likable even knowing he has the capacity to be unlikable. The story is slow to start, but catches interest and holds it, especially for fans of fairy tales. a little meta in that sense but it works.
Most importantly, the dog lives.
The hero is very likable even knowing he has the capacity to be unlikable. The story is slow to start, but catches interest and holds it, especially for fans of fairy tales. a little meta in that sense but it works.
Most importantly, the dog lives.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Slavery, Torture, Excrement, and Death of parent
malaco's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Death
ilmariel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, and Grief
tortoisemonster's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Female characters were completely flat, they’re not much more than love interests, one character offering to “lie with” Charlie in a gesture of thanks was very off. King communicates evil characters through describing them as fat and ugly which is disappointing. I find it very odd that the main character (who is Jewish as far as I remember?), in order to become the prince that saves the day, has his hair change to blond and his eyes turn blue? Not sure King’s thinking behind that uncomfortable choice. Quite unremarkable and tedious at times but an uplifting ending to a basic fairy tale story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cursing, Death, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Fatphobia, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
wlreed312's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Stephen King has been writing novels as long as I've been alive, so at this point you probably know if his style is for you or not. This one was enjoyable, and reminded me strongly of The Talisman (one of my favorites) in places. I very much liked all the fairy tale references, and like most of the characters a lot (unsurprising. The way King writes characters has always been one of his strong points for me). I will say the dog doesn't die, but it was a rough road, and if you've lost a pet due to old age you might need to skip this. I didn't know much about it going in, but I don't think I would have read it at this time of year if I had realized Charlie was trying to save an aging dog. It definitely endeared Charlie to me, because given the chance, who wouldn't risk everything to have a few more years with their beloved pet? I would give everything I have to have more time with my Tara, so parts of this were incredibly emotional.
I did have a few issues with it. Number one, it's an incredibly hetero normative world (I refuse to believe Eris and Jaya weren't in love, and Eris hooking up with Charlie at the end made zero sense to me), with no mention of anyone who might be anywhere in the LGBTQIA+ pantheon. There are mentions of homelessness, including a character who is a villain that's homeless, but no examination on any underlying societal issues on what may have led to that. There is some examination on good vs. evil, and quite a bit on repenting and trying to be better, but it is still structured like a fairy tale, with clear distinctions on which characters are good and which ones aren't. Also, it definitely doesn't read like a 17 year old is telling the story (it is revealed at the end that the story wasn't written immediately, that Charlie waited a few years before telling it, so there is at least an explanation for that).
But overall this was a fun ride, I love Radar, and I would love to see what happens to Dora (she was my favorite).
I did have a few issues with it. Number one, it's an incredibly hetero normative world (I refuse to believe Eris and Jaya weren't in love, and Eris hooking up with Charlie at the end made zero sense to me), with no mention of anyone who might be anywhere in the LGBTQIA+ pantheon. There are mentions of homelessness, including a character who is a villain that's homeless, but no examination on any underlying societal issues on what may have led to that. There is some examination on good vs. evil, and quite a bit on repenting and trying to be better, but it is still structured like a fairy tale, with clear distinctions on which characters are good and which ones aren't. Also, it definitely doesn't read like a 17 year old is telling the story (it is revealed at the end that the story wasn't written immediately, that Charlie waited a few years before telling it, so there is at least an explanation for that).
But overall this was a fun ride, I love Radar, and I would love to see what happens to Dora (she was my favorite).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, and Death
Moderate: Excrement, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
senseioftheinternet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
- unnecessary romantic parts at the end
- romantic aspect rather unnecessary
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Slavery, Blood, Car accident, Death of parent, and Alcohol
simply_fran's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I enjoyed the beginning, the non-fantasy bit, a lot. When it got to the other world, I wasn't as engaged. I was surprised about that as that's the part I expected to like more. It drew attention to how unoriginal itself was (on purpose but knowing that didn't help). Also, lots of ableism on display...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Incest, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
ylienna's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Death of parent
Moderate: Cancer and Death
thebookishbugg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Death, and Gore
Minor: Cursing and Car accident