A review by bleaksalad
Misery by Stephen King

dark sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The plot of Misery captured my attention immediately. As someone entrenched in the world of fandom, this horrific scenario is not that far fetched. I was a little disappointed at how slow the story unraveled. I honestly was starting to question whether or not this was really a horror novel. But finally we got 75% of the way through and the gruesome nastiness came hard and fast. 

What I liked most here was the inclusion of topics such as addiction, PTSD, and the mindset of someone truly trying to survive. 

What kept this book from being a 5 star read was King’s infamous wordiness and random sprinkles of misogyny. As well as the novel within the novel that I couldn’t make myself care about. 

Overall, I feel like this is a great introduction to the horror genre for anyone who wants something atmospheric with just enough gore that anyone can stomach. 
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