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natasha_k's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a good horror story, masterfully written.
However, it felt a little too long.
However, it felt a little too long.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Blood, Grief, and Murder
ratmaninrut's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Grief, and Car accident
nadia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
I went into this book with really high expectations — probably because this is the favourite King of the person who inspired me to do my big King chronological read and our book tastes are very similar — and I left really liking this book, but it wasn't the five-star read (and what would have been my first King five-star, 17 books in) I hoped it would be.
The writing was brilliant, as was the portrayal of grief, and it evoked chilling feelings at time, but I just wasn't captivated by the book as much as I hoped. It didn't have as big of an emotional impact as I thought. It felt like a big chunk in the middle lagged and I wanted the story to pick up the pace!
The writing was brilliant, as was the portrayal of grief, and it evoked chilling feelings at time, but I just wasn't captivated by the book as much as I hoped. It didn't have as big of an emotional impact as I thought. It felt like a big chunk in the middle lagged and I wanted the story to pick up the pace!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Blood, and Grief
fallen_angel1002's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A Halloween classic. One of King's strongest works, this supernatural tale deals with the subject of loss and grief and how those things can change someone in ways that no one could expect. With themes of death and grief present throughout, it can at times be hard to get through for some readers, but if horror and the supernatural are your things, then this is definitely one for the TBR list. The length might be intimidating, as a lot of King's works are, but the story is worth it to finish reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Toxic friendship
christinaanna's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexism and Suicidal thoughts
garinatorsch55'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? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I am still a bit of a novice when it comes to reading horror books, but I felt genuinely uneasy and frightened reading this book. Wow, what an introduction to the Stephen King horror-verse for me.
I have kind of strayed away from horror in my quest of storytelling because a lot of my experience with the genre was more unrealistic tales where I was not really caring about the characters, which led me to feeling like the genre was just ridiculous, not scary. This book has definitely shown me what horror should really be. A cast of characters you can identify with, the circumstances you can relate to, and a "plausible" belief of the horror they experience. There is a reason King notes in the foreword that he almost always references this book as one of his scariest stories.
The main character has a drive to keep everyone safe and also (being a doctor) feels the need to revitalize anyone in distress. And when death comes knockin', the grief from his perceived failure drives him to take advantage of the horror he knows holds a big risk to his family. This story really flips the outlook of "we take life for granted" to "we take death for granted".
My only complaints are that the book uses a bit of cultural appropriation usinga Native American burial ground as the setting for pets and people to be resurrected. Also, the fact that Jud just outright shows Louis the burial ground ultimately leading to the demise of the ending. I know the narrative kind of makes it so Jud didn't have control (except he still kind of does have control?). I felt Jud's intentions were pretty confusing to understand, which may have been the point.
I have kind of strayed away from horror in my quest of storytelling because a lot of my experience with the genre was more unrealistic tales where I was not really caring about the characters, which led me to feeling like the genre was just ridiculous, not scary. This book has definitely shown me what horror should really be. A cast of characters you can identify with, the circumstances you can relate to, and a "plausible" belief of the horror they experience. There is a reason King notes in the foreword that he almost always references this book as one of his scariest stories.
The main character has a drive to keep everyone safe and also (being a doctor) feels the need to revitalize anyone in distress. And when death comes knockin', the grief from his perceived failure drives him to take advantage of the horror he knows holds a big risk to his family. This story really flips the outlook of "we take life for granted" to "we take death for granted".
My only complaints are that the book uses a bit of cultural appropriation using
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, and Cultural appropriation
bretagnenoelle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Masterful. King is the master and this is probably his masterpiece
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, and Grief
alanareads747's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
jinnsan's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Car accident
arellareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I like Stephen King books because his literary style is so dependable, and this one is no exception — full of descriptive language and symbolism, insights into the human psyche, and an ever-growing tension that’s rooted in quality rather than cheap thrills.
“Pet Sematary” is powerful because of the overarching themes of grief and its toll on family relationships. King has an exceptional way of merging horror with deep psychological and philosophical questions. Although the surface elements are dark and gore-y, the naivety and curiosity of children when confronted with death is so realistic, and so are the hardships that the family has to endure.
Part one is a bit slow, but part two has some of the most poignant and bone-chilling writing. King’s recurrent personification of death through “Oz the Gweat and Tewwible” and the physiological turmoil and hysteria of human grief is so visceral and so raw.
The only thing that holds this book back is some of the off-putting language and appropriation. In part one, the women feel like they exist as plot devices; this does get remedied toward part two as we see more of Ellie, and especially Rachel, who actually has a backstory and intrinsic motivators.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of “othering” toward different races and cultures. The supernatural elements of this book are built on Indigenous Micmac folklore, twisting a sacred burial site into a place of evil, while the townsfolk often talk about the Natives as un-human. King builds his story on Indigenous lore, but doesn’t properly address or resolve these issues in the ending.
Unfortunately, there’s a lot of “othering” toward different races and cultures. The supernatural elements of this book are built on Indigenous Micmac folklore, twisting a sacred burial site into a place of evil, while the townsfolk often talk about the Natives as un-human. King builds his story on Indigenous lore, but doesn’t properly address or resolve these issues in the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, and Cultural appropriation
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death