Scan barcode
shellballenger's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
Type of read: Commuter Read.
What made me pick it up: Stephen King is a regular on my TBR and it's always been a goal of mine to read The Dark Tower series in completion.
Overall rating: I very much appreciate that each book in the series has had a bit of a recap at the beginning. It's nice to get the refresher and be in the right mindset as you dive back into the world of Roland. 'The Waste Lands' is a trip. You get to dive more into the character development of Jake and Eddie, specifically, I feel like we get an idea of who Eddie is as an individual and how he and his experiences are important to the weary band of travelers that has become a broken but strong gunslinger family. We also learn more about our world's interconnectedness and how Ka comes into play. Here's the thing I love about King, he makes you think. You will literally read a page that will be the most bonkers dialogue and scene building, turn the page, and sit there and be like 'huh, yeah, I guess that does make sense, but what if the lobstrositites....' and legitimately think that it's normal and sane. I do think there's quite a bit of filler in 'The Waste Lands' but it's necessary filler to get to that next step in the story. Definitely not mad and definitely looking forward to the next adventure in the next book.
Reader's Note: If you're familiar with King's writing, 'The Waste Lands' is very much in his normal vein of vulgarity. I read this as a paperback that I owned and my extended reading time is an indication of my overzealousness with library books and battling return due dates, not my interest in the story.
What made me pick it up: Stephen King is a regular on my TBR and it's always been a goal of mine to read The Dark Tower series in completion.
Overall rating: I very much appreciate that each book in the series has had a bit of a recap at the beginning. It's nice to get the refresher and be in the right mindset as you dive back into the world of Roland. 'The Waste Lands' is a trip. You get to dive more into the character development of Jake and Eddie, specifically, I feel like we get an idea of who Eddie is as an individual and how he and his experiences are important to the weary band of travelers that has become a broken but strong gunslinger family. We also learn more about our world's interconnectedness and how Ka comes into play. Here's the thing I love about King, he makes you think. You will literally read a page that will be the most bonkers dialogue and scene building, turn the page, and sit there and be like 'huh, yeah, I guess that does make sense, but what if the lobstrositites....' and legitimately think that it's normal and sane. I do think there's quite a bit of filler in 'The Waste Lands' but it's necessary filler to get to that next step in the story. Definitely not mad and definitely looking forward to the next adventure in the next book.
Reader's Note: If you're familiar with King's writing, 'The Waste Lands' is very much in his normal vein of vulgarity. I read this as a paperback that I owned and my extended reading time is an indication of my overzealousness with library books and battling return due dates, not my interest in the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug use, Gore, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
laurenmarietta's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Not sure how King pulled off writing a fantasy series where the underlying premise isn't explained in earnest until the third book??? But it's nice to finally start understanding the 'why' of the series in this installment. Pretty hard to swallow King's relegation of the only female character to the margins except in scenes depicting sexual violence, though, and the overdone New York and southern accents in the audiobook really expose just how ridiculous this crew of characters King has assembled is. Regardless, still an entertaining story to while away the hours. *shrug*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, and Sexual assault
mayastone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
frankyreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Racism
haunted_klaus's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Minor: Pedophilia and Rape
sylvester749's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pretty fun, and weird, book. same problem as previous dark tower novel in that it doesn't really feel like a complete story on its own and just one part of a larger book that you don't have access to at the moment. also the same problem as the previous one in that the disabled, black character is so much of an intense racist caricature at times that it is genuinely almost something i couldn't get past.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Rape
More...