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_marycappiello3's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Violence, Gun violence, Death, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Cursing, and Grief
tgannon's review against another edition
3.0
Though entertaining, "Firestarter" lacks the substance of King's earlier work. Paced oddly, King is more interested in getting to the "on the run from the government" side of the story, yet he fills The Shop and its experiments with more intrigue than that side of the story. I would, however, like to know what Charlie gets up to as an adult. She has great potential as a character and a story McGuffin -- a revisit to her story akin to "Doctor Sleep" might have some legs to it.
toph821's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
qjbrown96's review
4.0
You don’t hear much about this book from people but it’s one of my favorites of his for sure. I would give it 5 stars but I hate inconclusive endings. The story follows a man and his daughter running from a secret government agency called “The Shop”. He has the ability to control your mind and she controls fire. Together they use their powers to stay on the run as long as they can from being killed or being captured and used as lab rats. A fast paced thriller with and interesting antagonist.
hillaryallison's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jenmat1197's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is the story of Andy McGee and his daughter Charlie. Andy and his late wife, Vicky, had volunteered in college as test subjects. While they developed psychic abilities, their child Charlie developed pyrokinesis, and has become extremely dangerous because she cannot control it. Charlie and her dad are on the run from "The Shop" - the folks that ran the experimental testing on her parents - to end Charlie's life because they fear that she may set the world on fire.
This was a weird book. King is a gifted writer, but the story itself was a bit strange. It started out strong, and then it started to drag a bit. There was so much dialogue, that I found myself wanting Mr. King to just get on with it and get back to the point. It was a good novel (and an old one) but not his best in my opinion.
Stars: 3.5
bookwoom's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
cody_madden's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kaelaceleste's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn't on my radar for the near future but I saw Zac Efron was in the movie adaptation and literally read it immediately.
It was pretty good - 3-3.5 prob. I wouldn't necessarily call it horror and it's probably in my lower ranking of King books I've read so far but it was still good. I really liked the whole beginning-to-middle parts - all the backstory of their powers, Charlie and Andy on the run, etc. Love a bit of anti-government propaganda. But I didn't care for the way Rainbird was written or most of what happened at the testing facility. Things felt like they were going in circles for a bit and once it picks back up it's fine again. For once I think I liked the ambiguous ending too.
Overall not my favorite but definitely not bad! Middle of the pack for sure.
Also I regrettably must report that I watched the new movie immediately after reading this and it sucked :)
It was pretty good - 3-3.5 prob. I wouldn't necessarily call it horror and it's probably in my lower ranking of King books I've read so far but it was still good. I really liked the whole beginning-to-middle parts - all the backstory of their powers, Charlie and Andy on the run, etc. Love a bit of anti-government propaganda. But I didn't care for the way Rainbird was written or most of what happened at the testing facility. Things felt like they were going in circles for a bit and once it picks back up it's fine again. For once I think I liked the ambiguous ending too.
Overall not my favorite but definitely not bad! Middle of the pack for sure.
Also I regrettably must report that I watched the new movie immediately after reading this and it sucked :)