Scan barcode
nottrettburner's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jessileemiller's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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? Yes
4.0
_joyfullyyy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-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? No
4.0
rwatkins's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it. Overall: 3/5 (16/25)
This installment in the Gunslinger series was a Western Romantic Tragedy. If you like young ill-fated love, cowboys versus outlaws, or Wizard of the Oz references, then this book may be for you.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3/5
The book starts by finishing up the cliffhanger from the previous novel, with the riddle-off between Roland's ka-tet and Blaine the Train. Then, there is a switch to a Western-style plot, with two competing posses meeting, conflicting, then jockeying for leverage over one another until the final confrontation. But this is mostly background, apart from the initial meeting and the final battle. The main plot focused on is the Romantic Tragedy between Roland and Susan. Similar to Romeo and Juliet, the kids meet and there is immediate attraction, but they are not supposed to be together. They spend half the book fighting their urges then half giving in to them, until tragedy comes-a-knockin'. The book ends back with the new ka-tet and a mini Wizard of Oz retelling.
The Romance aspects went a little too long. The The Wizard of Oz stuff at the end felt forced, or shoehorned in, and wasn't enjoyable but was expected and thematic for the reality-bending story being told throughout this series.
A few plot holes, but otherwise enjoyable.
Setting: 4/5
The novel starts aboard a demonic train, then moves to a strange (maybe familiar if you're a King fan) Topeka ruined by a superflu. Most of the story will be told about Hambry, a seaside town in Mid-World when the effects of the Dark Tower are still relatively new. King brings this horse-herding town to life vividly, not through lengthy descriptions but by delving into its inhabitants and their daily lives. The people of this town and their connections are the setting and there is wonderful depth there.
For fantasy elements, Hambry has a thinny nearby, which is a strange lake of green goo with a siren's call. There is also a local witch in the woods with a pink crystal ball that allows for selective scrying.
Other elements I was drawn to included the ancient oil fields and some light Mexican/Hispanic influences (unfortunately designated mostly to servants).
Hambry felt real and alive and it was easy to get pulled into the setting.
Characters: 4/5
With such a focus on Roland's backstory, he has the most growth throughout this novel. This is his journey from young, hopeful boy into cynical, gruff guy through the experience of heartbreak.
Susan Delgado is a horse-loving western debutante caught up in the thrills of fancy dinners, dances and old men's attentions. Until she meets Roland, then her teen emotions become conflicted as she falls hard and fast for the boy hero. She struggles to beak free from her aunt's influence, a promise she no longer wishes to keep, and a town growing ever more hostile around her.
While Roland and Susan got the spotlight, Cuthbert and Alain get shafted a bit. Cuthbert is sarcastic and talkative, good with a slingshot, and that's about it. Alain gets even fewer distinguishing details. King ignores their wants, needs, motives - they are Roland's ka-tet, there to do as he says, and no more. With how much attention and development is given to even minor townsfolk, I expected more for the two best friends and companions-in-arms.
Sheemie, the slow-witted boy and unsung hero who you can't help but to like. Seeing him develop his independence, his confidence, from whipping boy to ka-tet member, was a highlight.
Rhea of the Coos, the witch full of hate, spite and curses. Jonas, the failed gunslinger and leader of the opposing posse who wants to finish this job and move onto the next town. Cordelia Delgado, the greedy aunt who mocks ignorance and hurt every time Susan calls her out on her bs. Mayor Thorin, looking for some lustful action with a young girl, despite his marriage. There are so many great secondary characters that all feel unique and distinct from one another. One of King's greatest writing skills is in having large casts of characters and helping the reader to not get them confused with one another.
So many great characters, with only a few duds.
Style: 3/5
The beginning was well-paced in its handling of the previous book's cliffhanger. Things run smoothly until the romance, which drags on for a long time and slows the pacing down considerably. In fact, the boys are even stalling development of the plot in-novel just so Roland can have his fun.
This focus on being a Romance takes away from other interesting parts. At the end, Roland has conflict with his mother and this gets barely a couple pages, but hundreds and hundreds of pages are spent on a summer fling, as if it should be more emotionally impactful than those interactions with his mother. His brotherhood, bonded friends for life, skimmed past and kept in the background. Less of the romance and more time spent balancing out other aspects would have been an improvement.
A character is kept alive in the last book and killed immediately upon discovery in this one. Why did he even get saved? Seems to be no purpose. Take out all the Oz stuff, actually, and I wouldn't miss it.
This is still King, and descriptions, tone, characterizations (except for poor Alain and Bert) and setting choices are all on-point.
Themes: 2/5
The Oz tie-ins thematically didn't work for me. They made sense and their inclusion is understandable, but were obvious (I expected, soon as Kansas was mentioned in The Wastelands) and that entire section felt rushed. The major imbalance in time spent on portions of this story, with most of the book focused on the romance section, left most themes much more interesting to me ignored or underdeveloped.
This installment in the Gunslinger series was a Western Romantic Tragedy. If you like young ill-fated love, cowboys versus outlaws, or Wizard of the Oz references, then this book may be for you.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3/5
The book starts by finishing up the cliffhanger from the previous novel, with the riddle-off between Roland's ka-tet and Blaine the Train. Then, there is a switch to a Western-style plot, with two competing posses meeting, conflicting, then jockeying for leverage over one another until the final confrontation. But this is mostly background, apart from the initial meeting and the final battle. The main plot focused on is the Romantic Tragedy between Roland and Susan. Similar to Romeo and Juliet, the kids meet and there is immediate attraction, but they are not supposed to be together. They spend half the book fighting their urges then half giving in to them, until tragedy comes-a-knockin'. The book ends back with the new ka-tet and a mini Wizard of Oz retelling.
The Romance aspects went a little too long. The The Wizard of Oz stuff at the end felt forced, or shoehorned in, and wasn't enjoyable but was expected and thematic for the reality-bending story being told throughout this series.
A few plot holes, but otherwise enjoyable.
Setting: 4/5
The novel starts aboard a demonic train, then moves to a strange (maybe familiar if you're a King fan) Topeka ruined by a superflu. Most of the story will be told about Hambry, a seaside town in Mid-World when the effects of the Dark Tower are still relatively new. King brings this horse-herding town to life vividly, not through lengthy descriptions but by delving into its inhabitants and their daily lives. The people of this town and their connections are the setting and there is wonderful depth there.
For fantasy elements, Hambry has a thinny nearby, which is a strange lake of green goo with a siren's call. There is also a local witch in the woods with a pink crystal ball that allows for selective scrying.
Other elements I was drawn to included the ancient oil fields and some light Mexican/Hispanic influences (unfortunately designated mostly to servants).
Hambry felt real and alive and it was easy to get pulled into the setting.
Characters: 4/5
With such a focus on Roland's backstory, he has the most growth throughout this novel. This is his journey from young, hopeful boy into cynical, gruff guy through the experience of heartbreak.
Susan Delgado is a horse-loving western debutante caught up in the thrills of fancy dinners, dances and old men's attentions. Until she meets Roland, then her teen emotions become conflicted as she falls hard and fast for the boy hero. She struggles to beak free from her aunt's influence, a promise she no longer wishes to keep, and a town growing ever more hostile around her.
While Roland and Susan got the spotlight, Cuthbert and Alain get shafted a bit. Cuthbert is sarcastic and talkative, good with a slingshot, and that's about it. Alain gets even fewer distinguishing details. King ignores their wants, needs, motives - they are Roland's ka-tet, there to do as he says, and no more. With how much attention and development is given to even minor townsfolk, I expected more for the two best friends and companions-in-arms.
Sheemie, the slow-witted boy and unsung hero who you can't help but to like. Seeing him develop his independence, his confidence, from whipping boy to ka-tet member, was a highlight.
Rhea of the Coos, the witch full of hate, spite and curses. Jonas, the failed gunslinger and leader of the opposing posse who wants to finish this job and move onto the next town. Cordelia Delgado, the greedy aunt who mocks ignorance and hurt every time Susan calls her out on her bs. Mayor Thorin, looking for some lustful action with a young girl, despite his marriage. There are so many great secondary characters that all feel unique and distinct from one another. One of King's greatest writing skills is in having large casts of characters and helping the reader to not get them confused with one another.
So many great characters, with only a few duds.
Style: 3/5
The beginning was well-paced in its handling of the previous book's cliffhanger. Things run smoothly until the romance, which drags on for a long time and slows the pacing down considerably. In fact, the boys are even stalling development of the plot in-novel just so Roland can have his fun.
This focus on being a Romance takes away from other interesting parts. At the end, Roland has conflict with his mother and this gets barely a couple pages, but hundreds and hundreds of pages are spent on a summer fling, as if it should be more emotionally impactful than those interactions with his mother. His brotherhood, bonded friends for life, skimmed past and kept in the background. Less of the romance and more time spent balancing out other aspects would have been an improvement.
A character is kept alive in the last book and killed immediately upon discovery in this one. Why did he even get saved? Seems to be no purpose. Take out all the Oz stuff, actually, and I wouldn't miss it.
This is still King, and descriptions, tone, characterizations (except for poor Alain and Bert) and setting choices are all on-point.
Themes: 2/5
The Oz tie-ins thematically didn't work for me. They made sense and their inclusion is understandable, but were obvious (I expected, soon as Kansas was mentioned in The Wastelands) and that entire section felt rushed. The major imbalance in time spent on portions of this story, with most of the book focused on the romance section, left most themes much more interesting to me ignored or underdeveloped.
mklynch27's review against another edition
3.5
I don’t care about Roland by himself enough to have loved this and really disagree that his backstory had to be so much of the book. But I was pretty into and it did make me cry so whatever
laurenmarietta's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Easily my favorite book of the series thus far - in large part because the story within a story that King tells here is complete and cohesive, without any lingering loose threads or messy multivers-y-ness. It helps me understand why King is so famous. Even while the characters were truly absurd in their exceptionalism (three fifteen-year-old boys easily slaughtering dozens of men?? one teenage girl whose beauty was so extreme it almost derailed multiple plots??? etc.), it was impossible not to be swept away by King's immersive (and, here, satisfying) storytelling.
tomgenue's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
moonsea97's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0