A review by lukerik
Holly by Stephen King

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Set during Covid and after the January 6th insurrection.  There’s a fair bit of social commentary on the cultural split America having at the moment.  It’s not a horror novel, there’s no magic in the plot, rather very much Silence-of-the-Lambs-esque, but it is about magic, the little magical things people do.

The baddies are particularly funny.  They have a plan to cheat age involving a bizarre diet that satirizes the supplements industry and this idea that everything will be ok if you just consume more.

King actually says in the afterword that he hopes he’s been fair.  I believe he votes Democrat.  I think he has been fair.  He doesn’t spare Holly.  So it’s the height of Covid, but she’s travelling around meeting people but thinks she’s going to be ok because she’s wearing a mask.

This is the best of the Holly novels so far.  I probably would have 4 starred it, but have just read Rowling’s latest.  These two writers should be served in the opposite order from wine.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings