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hrguilder's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very well-written, although somewhat difficult to follow in parts! It kept me engaged. Could’ve done without all the weird sex stuff, however 😅 But I think you just have to expect that with Stephen King.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Rape
erin_codes's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The book is slow and the writing is indicative of a freshman author, not bad but not good. But it was an easy read. I was able to read it within a week, and I’m a slow reader.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Rape, Child death, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Abandonment
celey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.5
Well written, hauntingly strange, dreamlike high fantasy with a grounded touch. Explores the dark side of a world that’s dying, or perhaps already dead. Confusing and hard to follow sometimes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Violence, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Rape
brogancha's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-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: Car accident, Death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Murder, Gun violence, Rape, and Sexual content
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Sexism
vermispore's review against another edition
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A really good book if you like Stephan King and can tolerate high fantasy that doesn't explain much right away. Well written and a fun read, but its the kind of book you love or hate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Gore, Violence, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Pregnancy, Child death, Classism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, and War
allegeadventure's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Surprisingly lots of sex and sexuality. Approximately 50% of the pages in the first three chapters make mention of sex or attraction in some form. Which is fine, I was just surprised.
Most women are described breasts first, including a woman that has no physical body. Most women are also begging the main character to have sex with them, despite most being villainous or disliked by the main character. Even the section told from a woman's perspective gives her the single one dimensional motivation of having sex with a man, yet fails to explore why she may be attracted to any man. Clearly written by a 19 year old boy for men with a limited ability to inhabit a woman's point of view as full human persons.
The main character is not only an anti-hero, but deeply unlikeable.
That being said, this book, like many Steven King books, presents some uniquely novel ideas and defies limits of genre. The worldbuilding is fascinating, and despite the poor depiction of women, I am interested in knowing what happens next in the series.
Most women are described breasts first, including a woman that has no physical body. Most women are also begging the main character to have sex with them, despite most being villainous or disliked by the main character. Even the section told from a woman's perspective gives her the single one dimensional motivation of having sex with a man, yet fails to explore why she may be attracted to any man. Clearly written by a 19 year old boy for men with a limited ability to inhabit a woman's point of view as full human persons.
The main character is not only an anti-hero, but deeply unlikeable.
That being said, this book, like many Steven King books, presents some uniquely novel ideas and defies limits of genre. The worldbuilding is fascinating, and despite the poor depiction of women, I am interested in knowing what happens next in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Death, and Child death
Minor: Incest
zmac808's review against another edition
Didn’t check content warnings. My own fault on this one, the story itself was highly recommended so I neglected my own due diligence.
Detailed & graphic SA with a firearm. Inserted into pregnant woman as she begs for her unborn fetus’ (demon child but even still) life.
It is entirely plot related and necessary and if you can stomach it, Stephen King is a phenomenal visual writer but I personally can’t handle it to that degree.
It is entirely plot related and necessary and if you can stomach it, Stephen King is a phenomenal visual writer but I personally can’t handle it to that degree.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Rape, Suicide, and Gun violence
Moderate: Violence
pocketsknight's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I thought that was very interesting and a nice subversion of expectations (of my expectations, at the very least).
I hope we see Jake again: given the somewhat malleable texture of time, space and death in those books, it seems likely. He certainly won't be happy about any of this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
moonlitemuseum's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This book was incredible at putting me to sleep. I would turn on the audiobook (which is beautifully narrated by George Guidall) and let the blandness seep into my body like warm water. There is a lot of indescribably stupid and callous edgelord garbage in this book, which I enjoy on occasion, but it never feels anchored in anything that matters. Roland is a cipher. The women in the book, when they do appear, are there to have sex with or be bible-thumping harlots subject to sexual violence. Jake, probably one of the world's first Isekai protagonists, is a delight—King's strength is in the modern day, with modern things and modern landmarks—but even he feels curiously flat when Roland is using him as an emotional tether.
I really love King books, for the record, and I so want to like this book. His sprawling fantasy. And I do plan on reading the next one. But boy, this was rough. I just finished it and I barely remember anything about it. (I am going to request it from the library again though. Fantastic sleep aid!)
I really love King books, for the record, and I so want to like this book. His sprawling fantasy. And I do plan on reading the next one. But boy, this was rough. I just finished it and I barely remember anything about it. (I am going to request it from the library again though. Fantastic sleep aid!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Pregnancy, Mental illness, and Abortion
Moderate: Gun violence, Child death, Sexual assault, Car accident, Addiction, Vomit, Violence, Sexism, and Murder
Minor: Fatphobia
Whatever the hell is going on with that woman who is given a thing she is not allowed to ask about, with the knowledge that she will have to ask about it. No neat content warning for that, but it was weird and unpleasant.eggyleggy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
very very good! a little slow at parts
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child death, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Rape