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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
dark
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
This is the second time I’ve read and finished the series and as always I’m left feeling a bit mixed about the ending.
Downsides: I hate the meta of it all, Stephen King being part of the story allows all the convenient deux et machinas to occur, which to me just seems a bit lazy.The anticlimactic ends to Walter/Flagg, Mordred and the Crimson King are disappointing. (I read another review where they speculated that perhaps this was the point, we build things up in our heads so they are worse but the reality is different and this is what Roland did with his enemies. Maybe so, but it still felt a little weak to me). Given Mordred’s end, it kind of made the whole demon pregnancy/Mia storyline a bit irrelevant. Susannah’s happy ending was also a bit odd but I couldn’t put my finger on why until I read a different review which said that these were not her Eddie and Jake - these were different people who had not gone through the hardships her Eddie and Jake had. Also, her memories of being with Roland might fade but they would always be there and how could they understand, not being the ones that had been with her through that time? And then the ending - or rather the “let’s just leave it there” ending. Again, not necessary!
Upsides: the actual ending I did like.As we’ve been constantly told ka is a wheel and it is Roland’s ka, or doom, to repeat this journey until…when? I wonder what the difference is with him having the horn and why that is important. We are still left with questions but I don’t see that as a bad thing. What will he do differently this time around and will it mean he can break the cycle? Whilst I wish Eddie, Jake and Oy hadn’t died they did make me cry. As did Roland’s approach to the Tower, calling all their names.
All in all, a mixed bag but then King has spent an inordinate amount of time with these characters and series. It has a loyal and dedicated following so perhaps it’s not surprising that there is a little stage fright there, a fear of not being able to finish such a vast project to everyone’s satisfaction, especially after the car accident that really did affect him both mentally and physically.
For me, though, there’s enough I love about it to make a series I’ll revisit.
Downsides: I hate the meta of it all, Stephen King being part of the story allows all the convenient deux et machinas to occur, which to me just seems a bit lazy.
Upsides: the actual ending I did like.
All in all, a mixed bag but then King has spent an inordinate amount of time with these characters and series. It has a loyal and dedicated following so perhaps it’s not surprising that there is a little stage fright there, a fear of not being able to finish such a vast project to everyone’s satisfaction, especially after the car accident that really did affect him both mentally and physically.
For me, though, there’s enough I love about it to make a series I’ll revisit.
A Towering Finale with Heart and Grit
What a way to finish this epic series. Obviously, I have mixed emotions about how King handled the storyline, but as he stated, he writes what he sees. So for that, I commend his efforts to complete this massive story. As a whole, the series is 4.6/5. Well done, wordslinger. And I say thankee-sai.
What a way to finish this epic series. Obviously, I have mixed emotions about how King handled the storyline, but as he stated, he writes what he sees. So for that, I commend his efforts to complete this massive story. As a whole, the series is 4.6/5. Well done, wordslinger. And I say thankee-sai.
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
Spoilers ahead - read with caution.
The ending was not something I expected. From the fourth book on (Yes, the fourth - Wizard and Glass was not my favorite), I was quite disenchanted with the series. There was far too much New York and not enough Mid World. There were far too many people and not enough monsters. Sure, I loved Eddie, Jake and Susannah as much as the next guy, but there just wasn't enough scary and/or weird. I was expecting something so different that I just didn't want to finish the series anymore.
I pressed on because I was already in so deep, and I had to know the fate of the ka-tet.
So, I continued, and it took me ten months to finish this book. Ten. Because I saw an ending coming that I didn't want. I saw Stephen King sitting in the tower, looking at Roland. King would be Gan - or, King would be the Crimson King (although I felt that was too obvious). I truly believed that the book, which was already ultra meta, would become more meta. It's something I absolutely did not want.
Boy, was I pleasantly surprised.
I cried my whole way through the Epilogue. I couldn't handle Jake being Eddie's younger brother - couldn't handle the way he spoke to Susannah.
I read King's warning before going on. As I was sitting on my bed, crying, I realized that Roland going into the tower and the doors slamming shut behind him was perfect. I almost stopped reading - almost. But, my friends, we've come so far, and I needed to see what was inside the tower. My need was as great as that of Roland throughout his long and arduous journey.
And then, we saw.
I could not imagine a better way to end the series, and I understand when King says it was the right ending. There was no other way to do it. Any other would have had people more mad, I suspect, than they may have been with the current ending. Roland's desire swept him up into a journey that he forever repeated until he got it just right. Now, with the Horn of Eld, perhaps he can finally rest. Our dear gunslinger may finally find peace. And that thought, coupled with the knowledge that Eddie, Jake and Susannah lived is enough for me.
The ending was not something I expected. From the fourth book on (Yes, the fourth - Wizard and Glass was not my favorite), I was quite disenchanted with the series. There was far too much New York and not enough Mid World. There were far too many people and not enough monsters. Sure, I loved Eddie, Jake and Susannah as much as the next guy, but there just wasn't enough scary and/or weird. I was expecting something so different that I just didn't want to finish the series anymore.
I pressed on because I was already in so deep, and I had to know the fate of the ka-tet.
So, I continued, and it took me ten months to finish this book. Ten. Because I saw an ending coming that I didn't want. I saw Stephen King sitting in the tower, looking at Roland. King would be Gan - or, King would be the Crimson King (although I felt that was too obvious). I truly believed that the book, which was already ultra meta, would become more meta. It's something I absolutely did not want.
Boy, was I pleasantly surprised.
I cried my whole way through the Epilogue. I couldn't handle Jake being Eddie's younger brother - couldn't handle the way he spoke to Susannah.
I read King's warning before going on. As I was sitting on my bed, crying, I realized that Roland going into the tower and the doors slamming shut behind him was perfect. I almost stopped reading - almost. But, my friends, we've come so far, and I needed to see what was inside the tower. My need was as great as that of Roland throughout his long and arduous journey.
And then, we saw.
I could not imagine a better way to end the series, and I understand when King says it was the right ending. There was no other way to do it. Any other would have had people more mad, I suspect, than they may have been with the current ending. Roland's desire swept him up into a journey that he forever repeated until he got it just right. Now, with the Horn of Eld, perhaps he can finally rest. Our dear gunslinger may finally find peace. And that thought, coupled with the knowledge that Eddie, Jake and Susannah lived is enough for me.
After all this time, some read a couple times, it is finally over. I am saddened. But... What will I do with my life now? Go back, to the very beginning. Probably start with Carrie, and read all King's hooks, find all the Easter eggs and connections. Once you fall into the King universe(s) nothing else really seems to compare. I try to read other books, but they just end up boring me.
So, this book was a very sincere, well plotted ending to a very long, drawn out trip. The characters I loved. Will always remember.
There simply is not anything like The Dark Towers, just like with television series, there simply is not anything like Twin Peaks. They are one of kind creations that just stand apart from the rest.
So *Go now, there are other worlds than these* No... There really isn't.
So, this book was a very sincere, well plotted ending to a very long, drawn out trip. The characters I loved. Will always remember.
There simply is not anything like The Dark Towers, just like with television series, there simply is not anything like Twin Peaks. They are one of kind creations that just stand apart from the rest.
So *Go now, there are other worlds than these* No... There really isn't.
I really enjoyed this series! Highly recommend reading Hearts in Atlantis before book 6!