‘Once, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a King with two sons.‘
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King is a surprising and magical detour from ‘Once, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a King with two sons.‘
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King is a surprising and magical detour from the horror master’s usual nightmare fare. This story has everything a fantasy lover could want, a royal scandal, an evil sorcerer and a hero trapped in a tower.
King’s storytelling here is like being told a creepy bedtime story, with a narrator who keeps dropping hints of dread in all the right places. Evil sorcerer Flagg is the villain you’ll love to hate, practically oozing wickedness every time he steps on the page, and our true King Peter? He’s a hero who doesn’t just sit around waiting for a fairy godmother to save him. His cleverness and grit make for a fun, satisfying underdog story.
While The Eyes of the Dragon doesn’t have King’s typical horror elements, it still carries his flair for suspense and complex characters. If you’re a fan of fantasy with just a sprinkle of darkness (and the occasional escape by improvised rope scene), this book will charm the pants of you.
King gives us a tale that’s both enchanting and thrilling, proving he can do so much more than monsters and mayhem.
If you want a quick escape to a world where princes outwit sorcerers and honor still means something. Then this is the book for you!
‘People don't need a button box to do horrible things. There's plenty of evil fuckery in the human spirit.’
The Gwendy’s Button Box trilogy by Step‘People don't need a button box to do horrible things. There's plenty of evil fuckery in the human spirit.’
The Gwendy’s Button Box trilogy by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar is a blend of psychological suspense, supernatural elements, and coming of age themes. The trilogy starts with Gwendy’s Button Box, followed by Gwendy’s Magic Feather and concludes with Gwendy’s Final Task. I gave all three books in the trilogy the same rating and thus will be reviewing them together.
The first novel introduces Gwendy Peterson, a 12 year old girl in Castle Rock, who encounters a mysterious stranger, Mr. Farris, who gives her a box with buttons capable of altering reality. Each button represents a different continent, and its power is dangerous. The novel explores moral choices, the burden of responsibility, and the loss of innocence as Gwendy grows up with this box that could unleash catastrophic events. King and Chizmar craft a tight, suspenseful novella with a classic “what if” premise. The nostalgic setting in Castle Rock also connects it to King’s broader universe.
In the second book, Chizmar writes solo, continuing Gwendy’s story as an adult. Now a successful novelist and congresswoman, Gwendy is once again given the box when her life takes a darker turn. The novel maintains a tense, psychological tone as Gwendy faces both personal dilemmas and broader political challenges. While it lacks King’s direct involvement, Chizmar successfully captures the same moral weight and eerie atmosphere.
The final book brings King back as a co-author. Here, Gwendy embarks on a mission to take the box into space, far from Earth, to prevent it potentially falling into the wrong hands. The novel shifts in tone, blending science fiction with King’s familiar horror elements. As a conclusion, it ties up loose ends nicely and offers a reflective and emotional end to Gwendy’s journey.
The Gwendy trilogy is a fascinating mix of horror, sci-fi, and moral philosophy. King and Chizmar’s collaboration strikes a balance between supernatural thrill and the inner struggles of its protagonist.
As a whole, it’s an engaging trilogy for fans of King’s Castle Rock stories or those interested in character-driven horror.
I Highly Recommend.
‘Save your biggest smiles for the shitheads, and don’t take your eyes off theirs.’
‘People don't need a button box to do horrible things. There's plenty of evil fuckery in the human spirit.’
The Gwendy’s Button Box trilogy by Step‘People don't need a button box to do horrible things. There's plenty of evil fuckery in the human spirit.’
The Gwendy’s Button Box trilogy by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar is a blend of psychological suspense, supernatural elements, and coming of age themes. The trilogy starts with Gwendy’s Button Box, followed by Gwendy’s Magic Feather and concludes with Gwendy’s Final Task. I gave all three books in the trilogy the same rating and thus will be reviewing them together.
The first novel introduces Gwendy Peterson, a 12 year old girl in Castle Rock, who encounters a mysterious stranger, Mr. Farris, who gives her a box with buttons capable of altering reality. Each button represents a different continent, and its power is dangerous. The novel explores moral choices, the burden of responsibility, and the loss of innocence as Gwendy grows up with this box that could unleash catastrophic events. King and Chizmar craft a tight, suspenseful novella with a classic “what if” premise. The nostalgic setting in Castle Rock also connects it to King’s broader universe.
In the second book, Chizmar writes solo, continuing Gwendy’s story as an adult. Now a successful novelist and congresswoman, Gwendy is once again given the box when her life takes a darker turn. The novel maintains a tense, psychological tone as Gwendy faces both personal dilemmas and broader political challenges. While it lacks King’s direct involvement, Chizmar successfully captures the same moral weight and eerie atmosphere.
The final book brings King back as a co-author. Here, Gwendy embarks on a mission to take the box into space, far from Earth, to prevent it potentially falling into the wrong hands. The novel shifts in tone, blending science fiction with King’s familiar horror elements. As a conclusion, it ties up loose ends nicely and offers a reflective and emotional end to Gwendy’s journey.
The Gwendy trilogy is a fascinating mix of horror, sci-fi, and moral philosophy. King and Chizmar’s collaboration strikes a balance between supernatural thrill and the inner struggles of its protagonist.
As a whole, it’s an engaging trilogy for fans of King’s Castle Rock stories or those interested in character-driven horror.
I Highly Recommend.
‘Save your biggest smiles for the shitheads, and don’t take your eyes off theirs.’
‘People don't need a button box to do horrible things. There's plenty of evil fuckery in the human spirit.’
The Gwendy’s Button Box trilogy by Step‘People don't need a button box to do horrible things. There's plenty of evil fuckery in the human spirit.’
The Gwendy’s Button Box trilogy by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar is a blend of psychological suspense, supernatural elements, and coming of age themes. The trilogy starts with Gwendy’s Button Box, followed by Gwendy’s Magic Feather and concludes with Gwendy’s Final Task. I gave all three books in the trilogy the same rating and thus will be reviewing them together.
The first novel introduces Gwendy Peterson, a 12 year old girl in Castle Rock, who encounters a mysterious stranger, Mr. Farris, who gives her a box with buttons capable of altering reality. Each button represents a different continent, and its power is dangerous. The novel explores moral choices, the burden of responsibility, and the loss of innocence as Gwendy grows up with this box that could unleash catastrophic events. King and Chizmar craft a tight, suspenseful novella with a classic “what if” premise. The nostalgic setting in Castle Rock also connects it to King’s broader universe.
In the second book, Chizmar writes solo, continuing Gwendy’s story as an adult. Now a successful novelist and congresswoman, Gwendy is once again given the box when her life takes a darker turn. The novel maintains a tense, psychological tone as Gwendy faces both personal dilemmas and broader political challenges. While it lacks King’s direct involvement, Chizmar successfully captures the same moral weight and eerie atmosphere.
The final book brings King back as a co-author. Here, Gwendy embarks on a mission to take the box into space, far from Earth, to prevent it potentially falling into the wrong hands. The novel shifts in tone, blending science fiction with King’s familiar horror elements. As a conclusion, it ties up loose ends nicely and offers a reflective and emotional end to Gwendy’s journey.
The Gwendy trilogy is a fascinating mix of horror, sci-fi, and moral philosophy. King and Chizmar’s collaboration strikes a balance between supernatural thrill and the inner struggles of its protagonist.
As a whole, it’s an engaging trilogy for fans of King’s Castle Rock stories or those interested in character-driven horror.
I Highly Recommend.
‘Save your biggest smiles for the shitheads, and don’t take your eyes off theirs.’
‘It was a dirty world, and the longer you lived, the dirtier you got.’
Blaze is a hauntingly tragic novel that showcases Stephen King’s ability to ‘It was a dirty world, and the longer you lived, the dirtier you got.’
Blaze is a hauntingly tragic novel that showcases Stephen King’s ability to craft compelling character driven narratives, even when he steps outside the supernatural realm. Written under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, the book is a departure from King’s usual fare, focusing instead on the inner turmoil of a man whose life has been shaped by tragedy and abuse.
The protagonist, Clayton “Blaze” Blaisdell, is a large, mentally impaired man whose tragic backstory unfolds alongside a present day crime scheme. However, the real heart of the novel lies not in the crime itself but in Blaze’s internal world, a man whose misfortunes have left him in the margins of society, yearning for connection and grappling with loneliness.
King does a masterful job of portraying Blaze as a deeply sympathetic figure, despite his involvement in the crime. His backstory is riddled with heartbreak. The plot flips between past and present, offering a fuller picture of Blaze’s life and how his innocence was slowly chipped away by a cruel world.
The pacing is tight, with King maintaining a sense of tension throughout, but unlike many of his other works, Blaze is more introspective than action packed. The crime element is secondary to the psychological and emotional exploration of the protagonist.
What makes Blaze particularly striking is its humanity. King allows the reader to sit with the uncomfortable reality that Blaze is both victim and perpetrator. There’s a sadness woven into the narrative that lingers long after the book is closed, especially as it becomes clear that Blaze’s aspirations for a better life are as unattainable as his grasp on reality.
Blaze may not be as widely celebrated as some of King’s other novels, but it’s a quietly powerful entry in his bibliography. It’s a story about loneliness, the impact of trauma, and the small tragedies that accumulate over a lifetime.
If you’re looking for something more introspective and emotionally resonant from King, this book delivers in spades.
‘...everywhere and nowhere as the March wind begins to rise and moan like a dead Berserker winding his horn, it drifted on the wind, lonely and sav‘...everywhere and nowhere as the March wind begins to rise and moan like a dead Berserker winding his horn, it drifted on the wind, lonely and savage.’
In Cycle of the Werewolf, Stephen King takes a classic monster and gives it his signature twist, a story packed with suspense, gore, and an unsettling reminder that no one is safe when the moon is full.
Set in the small town of Tarker’s Mills, this novella spins a tale of terror that unfolds month by month. At the heart of the story is Marty Coslaw, a 10 year old boy in a wheelchair whose sharp wit and sheer bravery make him an unlikely but unforgettable hero.
One of the fun aspects of Cycle of the Werewolf is its structure. It’s almost like a twisted calendar of horror, where you flip the page and get hit with another gruesome murder. Add in Bernie Wrightson’s eerie illustrations, and you’ve got yourself a spooky visual feast.
While it may not be as heavy as King’s longer works, this novella still packs a punch. It’s perfect for those who like their Werewolf stories with a side of small town charm and a whole lot of blood.
If you want a quick but satisfying Werewolf tale to sink your teeth into, Cycle of the Werewolf won’t disappoint. It’s classic King, creepy, thrilling, and just the right amount of grisly fun.
I Highly Recommend.
‘Something inhuman has come to Tarker’s Mills, as unseen as the full moon riding the night sky high above.’
“He sometimes believed that the compulsion to make fiction was no more than a bulwark against confusion, maybe even insanity. It was a desperate im“He sometimes believed that the compulsion to make fiction was no more than a bulwark against confusion, maybe even insanity. It was a desperate imposition of order by people able to find that precious stuff only in their minds . . . never in their hearts.”
Creating George Stark was easy. Getting rid of him won't be . . .
Thad Beaumont should be happy. For years now his secret persona 'George Stark', author of super violent pulp thrillers, has paid the family bills. But now, Thad is writing seriously again under his own name, and his menacing pseudonym has been buried forever.
And yet . . . something is terribly wrong in Thad Beaumont's world…..George Stark, doesn’t want to stay buried!
As with all of Mr King’s works, The Dark Half is a disturbing, psychological thriller that pushes the boundaries of reality. In The Dark Half, he brings together characters written about in other works in his very own creation of creepy, a piece of small town America, called Castle Rock.
I found the entire cast interesting, each added something unique to the story line. Though the plot itself did feel drawn out a little, the journey there was paced well and held my interest. Stephen King’s writing style is prominent, but felt more intimate than his earlier works.
The characters were people I cared about and George Stark was deliciously horrible! I also really enjoyed the ending. Some people say that Stephen King sometimes struggles with his endings but I Iiked this one. Quite macabre and slowly builds up to it's climax.
Sure, I’ve read creepier, gorier books from Mr King. But this one had just enough of both to satisfy this genre without making it difficult to read. The thriller-suspense is light, The Dark Half is pretty much a crime book. It could have been a tad shorter, a tad more intense, but it’s definitely a novel I’d be happy to recommend to all.
“Cut him. Cut him while I stand here and watch. I want to see the blood flow. Don't make me tell you twice.”...more
“Sometimes, Dolores, you have to be a high riding bitch in order to survive, because being a bitch is all a woman has to hold on to..“
When Vera Do“Sometimes, Dolores, you have to be a high riding bitch in order to survive, because being a bitch is all a woman has to hold on to..“
When Vera Donovan dies suddenly, her housekeeper Dolores Claiborne is suspected of killing her. But Dolores is ready to tell her version of what happened, all the way back to her disintegrating marriage and the suspicious death of her violent husband, Joe St. George, thirty years earlier. Dolores needs to put things straight, so her story is going to be told her way and it’s going to include everything!
Dolores Claiborne is very different from any of the other Stephen King books I have read. For one, there are no chapters in this book, the entire story is written through from start to finish with no breaks, double-spacing between paragraphs, or other section breaks. The text is a single continuous narrative which reads like the transcription of a spoken monologue. Told from the point of view of the main character and in her very distinctive voice, Dolores is in an interrogation room after the death of Vera Donovan. The entire story is told exclusively by Dolores and from her perspective. A heartbreaking and profound monologue in which Dolores retraces the long years of her marriage and her time working for Vera Donovan.
We hear about her children, her home life and her difficult marriage to Joe, but it’s her love/hate relationship with Vera and how the two women’s lives connect through the years and impact on Dolores, that make this such a powerful and moving tale. There is a strong feminist undertone to this story, which I appreciated immensely.
The writing and use of language in this novel is superb and had me hooked from page one. An incredible storyline that captivated me in a way I wasn't expecting. The relationship between Dolores and Vera is so incredibly well written. This book grabs you and doesn't let you go. It’s funny, heart warming, sad and a little scary but most of all its the wonderful characters, you feel like you've known them your entire life and are deeply invested in what happens to them.
I recommend this novel to everyone. It is so beautiful and unexpected.
Edit: When I was little, my Grandmother (Nanna) used to pile my brother, sister and I into her big king sized bed, she would lay in between us and tell us the story of Hansel and Gretel. She did all the different voices and I remember her long nails clicking together as she told the story of the witch and her house made out of Chocolate and Lollies. She would even pinch our arms and legs like the witch did to Hansel and Gretel (to check if they were fattened up, ready to eat). I can't count the amount of times we would ask her to tell us that story. Even when we got older. This is one of my favourite memories from my childhood. The reason I bring it up now is because I got all of those same feelings reading Dolores Claiborne. The way in which this book is written is akin to being read a bedtime story by your Grandmother. Pure Magic....more
"Late last night and the night before, Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers, knocking at the door."
There's something strange in the woods in Haven, Maine."Late last night and the night before, Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers, knocking at the door."
There's something strange in the woods in Haven, Maine. Bobbi Anderson, out walking her dog quite literally stumbles over it. A few weeks later when Jim Gardener, poet and drunk decides to visit Bobbi, his only real friend, he finds a woman who's changed. Obsessed, intense, she's inventing things, making things happen. She's developed telepathic powers. But oddest and most ominous of all is what she's discovered buried down beyond the end of her garden.
In my opinion this is the type of story Stephen King does best, horror in a small town. What I liked most about The Tommyknockers was the vast and complex plot featuring lots of gruesome imagery and the building anticipation surrounding the meaning behind a mysterious object and what the consequences of its discovery will be.
The first half of this book is pure character development, the second half is all action. Is it a little overwritten? Maybe, but I still really enjoyed it. So it has some super weird bits (I’ll never look at a Coke vending machine the same way ever again) but I love that. Small town residents go crazy, nastiness, extreme gore and aliens! No one destroys a whole town like Stephen King!
If you like strange and unusual, you'll like this. If you are a slow/impatient reader, I wouldn’t recommend this one....more
“The record changer clicked; another record dropped down. In the sudden, brief silence, she heard something within her turn over. Perhaps only her “The record changer clicked; another record dropped down. In the sudden, brief silence, she heard something within her turn over. Perhaps only her soul.”
It was nine-fifteen
Carrie is the story of a young girl and her sudden discovery of telekinetic abilities. Repressed by a domineering, ultra-religious mother and tormented by her peers at school, her efforts to fit in lead to a dramatic confrontation during the senior prom. With her full abilities unleashed, Carrie decides that she will make them all pay, and she does.
Carrie was the first book published by Stephen King in 1974 and to date has been a bestselling success and a book faithfully remembered among its countless fans. Which, I can now confirm that I am one of! Carrie, a beautiful, sweet and innocent girl tortured by her classmates and her mother. They pushed her too far, she snapped and all hell broke loose.
Stephen King lets the events in this story unfold so organically, with mishaps and road blocks, most of these events are in the form of reports, documents, journal entries, and police reports into an investigation of Carrie White, her supposed telekinesis and the events surrounding the deaths and fire at the town of Chamberlain.
I loved the layers in this book: fact vs. imagination, innocence & guilt, black and white mix to make grey... we see inside Carries head, hear her thoughts and feel her pain. You can't help but feel so heartbroken for Carrie and this is testament to Kings strength in his character building.
What a brilliant first novel this is. I can’t believe it took me so long to finally read it.
My Highest Recommendation.
Edit: Just read this quote online, not sure who from. Had to share. Nails it! Edit 13/10/22: Thank you Julie for researching and finding the owner of this quote, the author Ramsey Campbell ...more
“Part of her wanted to run. Never mind how flowing water was bound to take her to people eventually, all that was likely just a crock of Little Hou“Part of her wanted to run. Never mind how flowing water was bound to take her to people eventually, all that was likely just a crock of Little House on the Prairie shit.”
Nine year old Trisha has only veered a little way off the trail but in her panic to get back to the path and her mother and brother, she ends up going deeper and deeper into the terrifying woods. At first it's just the bugs, midges and mosquitoes. Then comes the hunger. For comfort she tunes her Walkman into broadcasts of a Red Sox baseball game and the performances of her hero Tom Gordon. As darkness begins to fall, Trisha realises that she is not alone. There is something else in the woods. Watching. Waiting.
As always with Stephen King, this is well written and brilliantly descriptive. The way the wilderness is described is fantastic, and I found Trisha to be a very resourceful character. Especially for a nine year old! However, this is not your typical King novel, it does not provide the usual scares and intensity he is adored for. The baseball talk and references were also lost on me, which is why I think it didn't completely blow me away.
I had also hoped for more substance to the plot as it became relatively slow paced and predictable near the end, which was extremely anti-climatic. She finally faces this thing that she feels has been stalking her during her time in the forest, she survives, and then…. The End.
Overall, the story was still good and enjoyable, there were just some details that needed to be tightened up, which surprised me for a Stephen King book....more
‘There’s a dark well in everyone, I think, and it never goes dry. But you drink from it at your peril. That water is poison.’
Fairytale by Stephen ‘There’s a dark well in everyone, I think, and it never goes dry. But you drink from it at your peril. That water is poison.’
Fairytale by Stephen King is an enthralling read that seamlessly weaves together elements of horror, fantasy, and psychological suspense. From the first page to the last, King's storytelling is on full display, immersing readers in a world where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs.
At the heart of Fairytale is a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. King expertly crafts tension and suspense, leading readers down a twisted and unpredictable path. Each twist and turn is executed with precision, keeping readers guessing until the very end.
One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its characters. King creates a cast of memorable and deeply human characters, each with their own fears, desires, and flaws. From the protagonist grappling with their inner demons to the sinister antagonist lurking in the shadows, every character feels fully realized and three dimensional.
The novel combines elements of horror with nods to classic fairy tales, creating a unique and captivating reading experience. King expertly subverts familiar tropes and conventions, breathing new life into age old stories.
Beyond its thrilling plot and compelling characters, Fairytale also offers thought provoking commentary on themes such as power, fear, and the nature of storytelling itself. King's prose is as sharp and evocative as ever, drawing readers into a world that is at once terrifying and irresistible.
Fairytale is a tour de force that showcases Stephen King at the height of his powers. A must read for fans of the genre and newcomers alike.
