Reviews

The Dark Tower by Stephen King

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osborne2read's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

mrs_tea's review against another edition

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5.0

I haven’t left a review for any books in the series, so it seems fitting to do so now that I have come to the end. Or the beginning again.

The first book, The Gunslinger, was something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It was definitely written in the same fashion that I love from King but the story seemed empty and wanting. However, I didn’t judge the series by the first book thankya big big, and what followed was an incredible journey unlike anything I’ve read and each character became part of me, like my own Detta Walkers.

My only complaint from the final book was the departure of Susannah from mid world. I understand that all of the characters needed their end, for the story to reach the tower, however, Eddie, Jake and even Oy went out as true gunslingers. Protecting their ka-tet, fighting for the good. But Susannah just… left. She had an out and she took it. I wish her journey ended more fearlessly, like the gunslinger she had become.

I would have been happy with the final poignant scene of the door slamming behind Roland as he entered the tower. I heard that slam. It was powerful. But the heartbreaking yet ingenious twist of what Roland found at the top of the tower has left me in awe of Sai King. To masterfully take the story full circle, back to the desert, back to the man in black. But hadn’t he been telling us Constant Readers this the whole time? Because “Ka was like a wheel, its one purpose to turn, and in the end it always came back to the place where it had started.”

Brilliant.

delaneybull's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

Did anyone really expect a happy ending? Personally, I loved it.

jenhurst's review against another edition

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4.0

I absolutely loved the majority of the book. I loved how King integrated themselves, the journey and I was very invested in the story. But the ending… it ended? Just very disappointing.