Reviews

Blaze by Stephen King

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phil629's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

4.0

I must say I have enjoyed the Blackman novels (one to go) and actually prefer them to King’s other works. Here we have a fairly simple but sad tale but by exploring the narrative from the antagonist's perspective is a captivating concept, and not every writer can successfully evoke empathy for the so-called "bad guy." In the case of Blaze, despite his wrongful actions, his innocence and generous nature make him an unexpectedly endearing character. The storytelling delves into the tragic events of his life, compelling readers to genuinely feel sympathy for a man whose primary desire was a simple, happy life. This book resonated with me.

the_enobee's review against another edition

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4.0

This definitely read like a Bachman, so if you're a fan of those King works, I heartily recommend. Frankly, I've always had a soft spot for the Bachman books (and even his send off The Dark Half), and this fits right in. Really glad King released this and listed it as a Bachman. Same tone as Roadwork and Rage, which I loved as a teen. That shit rocked me, and this is mining the same vein.

duparker's review

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4.0

A real sleeper. This book is more suspense then horror, because there is a later of dark humor throughout. I liked the pace and the care free nature of the tale. A few times the backstory for long, but overall I quite enjoyed it. I wonder what happened to Joe?

emmada11ow's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

not_so_british's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Following the point of view of the bad guy is an interesting plot in general, but getting the reader to feel empathetic for the "bad guy" is something not every author can easily achieve. Blaisdell's actions were wrong, yet his innocent and big heart make him a very loveable character. The way his story is told and all the tragic events in his life that we follow get us ro really feel bad for a man that wanted nothing more than a happy life. I absolutely fell in love with this book.

Content Warnings