Scan barcode
heathergrayyy's review against another edition
3.0
This book took me a long time to get into. After following Roland's juicy back story in the previous book, I had a hard time not wishing this was a continuation of that tale. That said, once I pushed through and got back into the story, it did pick up speed eventually. This was probably my least favourite of the series so far, BUT it did redeem itself in the end, once the action finally arrived. The massive cliffhanger ending left me hungry for the next book in line.
timgarris's review against another edition
3.0
The problem with this book is that you know how it's going to end. In contrast to the other Dark Tower volumes so far which were very much about the journey, this novel places our heroes in a set location, ready to stand against a band of no goods coming into town. It's all very straightforward from the very beginning, and the rest of the book is all filler. Hell, a full third of it is flashbacks. The rest is a scant bit of advancement on a few subplots, and the conflict with the titular Wolves which occurs in the last third of the book, and has pretty much nothing to do with the overall plot of the series (at least from what I can tell now; admittedly it's still difficult to tell what the plot -is-). The characters are still interesting enough that this was worth the read, but I definitely think I'll look back on this as the weak point in the saga.
batrock's review against another edition
4.0
Stephen King nailed together a go-kart, carried it to the top of the tallest mountain, and then threw it and himself down the steepest incline. After years of dormancy, King had a painful wakeup call by way of a minivan and wrote the final three Dark Tower novels in one shot, releasing them across nine months between 2003 2004.
Wolves of the Calla is a stronger, reinforced version of Wizard and Glass: Roland and Friends follow the path of the Beam to Calla Brynn Sturgis, where they are charged with defending the town from the titular Wolves. Their ka-tet receives a special guest star, familiar to Constant Readers, and anyone who has been following the path the Dark Tower tag on my own Goodreads account.
Wolves of the Calla is a long novel, but a zippy one. Elements that were vices in Wizard and Glass become virtues here: much of this novel is a series of stories being told by and to the ka-tet. Interspersed throughout rather than told in one hit, King builds the world of the Calla and its denizens effectively. One might question his penchant for inventing an entirely new register of speech for the characters that he carries through to his final conclusion, but it works well enough.
The personal irony of Wolves of the Calla is that it contains the elements that drew me to The Dark Tower in the first place, but I wish I hadn't known them in advance. If you've somehow got to this point with all of the supplemental reading without these small but significant plot developments, you've done well. Hopefully they tickle you.
Next: Quickly! To the Dogan!
Wolves of the Calla is a stronger, reinforced version of Wizard and Glass: Roland and Friends follow the path of the Beam to Calla Brynn Sturgis, where they are charged with defending the town from the titular Wolves. Their ka-tet receives a special guest star, familiar to Constant Readers, and anyone who has been following the path the Dark Tower tag on my own Goodreads account.
Wolves of the Calla is a long novel, but a zippy one. Elements that were vices in Wizard and Glass become virtues here: much of this novel is a series of stories being told by and to the ka-tet. Interspersed throughout rather than told in one hit, King builds the world of the Calla and its denizens effectively. One might question his penchant for inventing an entirely new register of speech for the characters that he carries through to his final conclusion, but it works well enough.
The personal irony of Wolves of the Calla is that it contains the elements that drew me to The Dark Tower in the first place, but I wish I hadn't known them in advance. If you've somehow got to this point with all of the supplemental reading without these small but significant plot developments, you've done well. Hopefully they tickle you.
Next: Quickly! To the Dogan!
tsthompson74's review against another edition
5.0
I am really enjoying this story very much. This book in particular began slowly for me, but by the end (by the middle, even), I was really enjoying the story as a whole. I like the characters; I think that's what draws me.
gbweeks's review against another edition
5.0
This might be my favorite of the Dark Tower series so far. I loved bringing in Father Callahan and giving him an entire back story. Meanwhile, the story of the wolves and the townspeople is interesting and engaging. I think Jake in particular really grew as a character in this book.
The meshing of fiction (Star Wars, Harry Potter, and even Stephen King himself) and "reality" is creepy and weird, which adds to the tension and the mystery of what the tower really is. Is there a true "when" and "where" or just many of them?
I've seen this in other reviews as well, but after sitting and reading this for stretches, I end up almost responding to people in "thankee-sai" kind of language. That's how well done King's world-building is.
Just two minor complaints. First, you can stop hammering on us about 19 already. Second, I don't like the times when we're told the characters talk to each other and learn things, when those things remain hidden to us. As a plot device, it's just annoying.
The meshing of fiction (Star Wars, Harry Potter, and even Stephen King himself) and "reality" is creepy and weird, which adds to the tension and the mystery of what the tower really is. Is there a true "when" and "where" or just many of them?
I've seen this in other reviews as well, but after sitting and reading this for stretches, I end up almost responding to people in "thankee-sai" kind of language. That's how well done King's world-building is.
Just two minor complaints. First, you can stop hammering on us about 19 already. Second, I don't like the times when we're told the characters talk to each other and learn things, when those things remain hidden to us. As a plot device, it's just annoying.
mattingtonbear's review against another edition
4.0
I'm starting to realize w/ these books I find myself thinking about them and enjoying more than actually reading them. for the most part they are fine, if occasionally overlong, novels that are jumping off point for truly inspired ideas and thoughts, and this book was no different. I found myself kinda slogging through this one but overall really enjoying and looking forward to the next book after its cliffhanger of an ending. this one might actually be the best yet b/c it seems to be running on all cylinders and possibly the purest expression of what King is attempting w/ this series which is a book that refuses to be boxed into one genre and attempts to be every genre. and the crazy thing is more often than not he pulls it off.
bobbylovesyou's review against another edition
4.0
Some things wrap up a little too neatly at the end but otherwise a very enjoyable read. Eddie is the least annoying he's been in the whole series.
motionab's review against another edition
5.0
Unlike the previous one, this one does not drag on forever talking about the teenage love affair and occasionally mentions that plot.
This is probably the fastest I've ever read a book!
What's different about this one, is that it ends on a cliff hanger! It is however, like all of King's books excellently satisfying. Not to forget that at this point, I'm legitimately in love with the leading characters. (meaning I want to scream at them for their horrible choices, as well as hug them). Eddie Dean, is a fantastic relatable character that I can't get enough of.
5/5 such a good plot.
This is probably the fastest I've ever read a book!
What's different about this one, is that it ends on a cliff hanger! It is however, like all of King's books excellently satisfying. Not to forget that at this point, I'm legitimately in love with the leading characters. (meaning I want to scream at them for their horrible choices, as well as hug them). Eddie Dean, is a fantastic relatable character that I can't get enough of.
5/5 such a good plot.