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A review by boywonder
The Institute by Stephen King
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I'll say first: I've been a King fan since I was a kid. I don’t think this is King at his finest or most gripping. The climactic action of the book is great and I sped through it. But I think a lot of this has Liberal White Dude problems in a way not all of his stuff does? It's a solid book if you're not severely upset by fictional mistreatment of children, though if you are I think you'd know to steer clear.
The bad people in this sometimes read as caricatures but we're also getting them from the pov of children, so it makes sense.
The single most effective thing in this book is the way people will hurt and kill others, even kids, and tell themselves they're somehow in the right. That reads as chillingly accurate.
Overall though it's kind of mid for King. Read Fairy Tale instead.
The bad people in this sometimes read as caricatures but we're also getting them from the pov of children, so it makes sense.
The single most effective thing in this book is the way people will hurt and kill others, even kids, and tell themselves they're somehow in the right. That reads as chillingly accurate.
Overall though it's kind of mid for King. Read Fairy Tale instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Gore and Blood
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, and Vomit