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samcurler13's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dyanna456's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
brennan_l's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
4.75
Hard to read at times but still a masterpiece. I'm loving this series so far.
emily_katelyn's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
readingwithvivien's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beethatasitmay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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? It's complicated
5.0
rwatkins's review
5.0
Amazing. Overall: 4.5/5 (23/25)
This book was a major upgrade from Gunslinger. It maintains the distorted reality of the setting established in Gunslinger, but improves upon the plot, characters and themes in a major way. I can't wait to see where King takes this series next.
Spoilers Below.
Plot: 4.5/5
Divided into 3 parts with 3 new MC's plus Roland.
The first part follows Eddie, a heroin addict smuggling drugs into the country for a cartel/mobster type. He deals with Customs Agents and a paranoid drug dealer while experiencing withdrawl. This storyline was entertaining, energetic, suspenseful. It was was amazing. (5/5)
In the second part we get Detta and Odetta, dual personalities sharing a physical body. There isn't much plotline here until Roland brings them back to Mid-World. One personality is in denial but turns into being almost too chill with her new situation, while the other turns savage on her nappers, Eddie and Roland. There's a romantic Insta-Love B-plot that could have been scrapped. Overall, I found this section harder to follow and swallow. I still liked it. (3/5)
Last is Jack Mort, the guy who killed Jake. Roland has a conundrum to solve in this plotline, namely struggling with recruiting such a bad dude into his new gunslinger unit. The plot is resolved satisfyingly. Again, entertaining, energetic and suspenseful - hard to pull off with a shopping spree! It was amazing. (5/5)
If you dig the ending, this book will work for you. There are some racial slurs used frequently, mostly in Part 2, which might bother some Readers.
Setting: 3.5/5
This is a portal fantasy between Mid-World and New York City in three different timelines. The time changes are acknowledged and varied enough in description to be distinct. The scenes come alive and I can easily imagine the places being described. The airplane in the '80's, the department store in the 60's, and the gun/drug stores in the 70's all feel familiar without a need for excessive descriptions.
Most of the time spent in Mid-World is on a beach fighting or avoiding monstrous lobsters, and looking for the three doors/portals. We don't learn much more about Mid-World in this book.
I liked it, but to be amazing something more interesting needed to be revealed about Mid-World.
Characters: 5/5
Roland is still himself, with inner struggles over who to recruit and coping with his past actions. The new trio are all fantastic and unique. Eddie has to get sober and Odetta/Detta has to reconcile with her full self. Jack gives insight into the mind of Jake's killer and sets Roland's moral limits. This cast of characters were firing on all cylinders.
Style: 5/5
Pacing was great. Most of the action is in the front and back ends, travelogue in the middle. The setup and payoff in the conclusion were excellent.
It was easy to follow along, except a couple parts involving Odetta/Detta.
Each character's voice is made distinct through dialogue and inner thoughts. All of them are interesting and lively.
Style choices made were the right ones - King does some of his finest writing - It was amazing.
Themes: 5/5
Distorted Reality, questioning reality is the thematic glue connecting this series together. This novel hones in on Drugs and how they not just warp reality in your mind while on them, but also change your actual reality over time. King explores the ramifications of being an addict through Eddie, discussing how clouded his reality truly had become. There is a lot of depth here and King's writing what he knows is at it's best. Using Odetta/Detta to examine duality and Trauma, healthy and unhealthy coping with her most severe hurts, and touching on how the mind can force a false reality when poisoned by pain and hate. Jack is a testament to Evil existing, through selfishness and lack of empathy and compassion. The book made me think on some things and made it an amazing read.
This book was a major upgrade from Gunslinger. It maintains the distorted reality of the setting established in Gunslinger, but improves upon the plot, characters and themes in a major way. I can't wait to see where King takes this series next.
Spoilers Below.
Plot: 4.5/5
Divided into 3 parts with 3 new MC's plus Roland.
The first part follows Eddie, a heroin addict smuggling drugs into the country for a cartel/mobster type. He deals with Customs Agents and a paranoid drug dealer while experiencing withdrawl. This storyline was entertaining, energetic, suspenseful. It was was amazing. (5/5)
In the second part we get Detta and Odetta, dual personalities sharing a physical body. There isn't much plotline here until Roland brings them back to Mid-World. One personality is in denial but turns into being almost too chill with her new situation, while the other turns savage on her nappers, Eddie and Roland. There's a romantic Insta-Love B-plot that could have been scrapped. Overall, I found this section harder to follow and swallow. I still liked it. (3/5)
Last is Jack Mort, the guy who killed Jake. Roland has a conundrum to solve in this plotline, namely struggling with recruiting such a bad dude into his new gunslinger unit. The plot is resolved satisfyingly. Again, entertaining, energetic and suspenseful - hard to pull off with a shopping spree! It was amazing. (5/5)
If you dig the ending, this book will work for you. There are some racial slurs used frequently, mostly in Part 2, which might bother some Readers.
Setting: 3.5/5
This is a portal fantasy between Mid-World and New York City in three different timelines. The time changes are acknowledged and varied enough in description to be distinct. The scenes come alive and I can easily imagine the places being described. The airplane in the '80's, the department store in the 60's, and the gun/drug stores in the 70's all feel familiar without a need for excessive descriptions.
Most of the time spent in Mid-World is on a beach fighting or avoiding monstrous lobsters, and looking for the three doors/portals. We don't learn much more about Mid-World in this book.
I liked it, but to be amazing something more interesting needed to be revealed about Mid-World.
Characters: 5/5
Roland is still himself, with inner struggles over who to recruit and coping with his past actions. The new trio are all fantastic and unique. Eddie has to get sober and Odetta/Detta has to reconcile with her full self. Jack gives insight into the mind of Jake's killer and sets Roland's moral limits. This cast of characters were firing on all cylinders.
Style: 5/5
Pacing was great. Most of the action is in the front and back ends, travelogue in the middle. The setup and payoff in the conclusion were excellent.
It was easy to follow along, except a couple parts involving Odetta/Detta.
Each character's voice is made distinct through dialogue and inner thoughts. All of them are interesting and lively.
Style choices made were the right ones - King does some of his finest writing - It was amazing.
Themes: 5/5
Distorted Reality, questioning reality is the thematic glue connecting this series together. This novel hones in on Drugs and how they not just warp reality in your mind while on them, but also change your actual reality over time. King explores the ramifications of being an addict through Eddie, discussing how clouded his reality truly had become. There is a lot of depth here and King's writing what he knows is at it's best. Using Odetta/Detta to examine duality and Trauma, healthy and unhealthy coping with her most severe hurts, and touching on how the mind can force a false reality when poisoned by pain and hate. Jack is a testament to Evil existing, through selfishness and lack of empathy and compassion. The book made me think on some things and made it an amazing read.
debbiecollectsbooks's review
4.0
I really liked this book and can not wait to start the fourth in the series! I would definitely recommend this book to others. I do not think it is a book for first time readers of Stephen King, they should start with another book by Stephen King. Seasoned readers will love it!!!!