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benjaminpritchardreads 's review for:

The Talisman by Peter Straub, Stephen King
4.0

After an initial attempt to read The Talisman two years ago, I struggled to connect with it and set it aside. Coming back to it now with fresh eyes, I’m glad to say it was well worth the second chance.

The novel feels epic in scope, with multiple locations and a rich cast of characters. Jack Sawyer, is both brave and compelling as he undertakes a long and dangerous journey to save his mother. His strength and determination make him a memorable and incredibly liable character.

The pacing, for the most part, is excellent propelling the you through a dark, imaginative world. There were a few slower sections, particularly when Richard is introduced, which I found a bit harder to get through, especially in contrast to the intensity of the preceding chapters. That said, these moments didn’t detract significantly from the overall experience.

In the end, The Talisman turned out to be a great read. I'm very glad I gave it another try.