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The Unintentional Wish (42 KP) created a post in Wishing Well
Dec 31, 2019
Sarah (7798 KP) rated If It Bleeds in Books
Jul 3, 2020
Masterful writing
I know I'm biased when it comes to Stephen King as he's my favourite writer, but I don't think anyone can deny how brilliant a writer he is. Not pretentious, just masterful writing, and this definitely comes across in this collection of stories.
The titular story and the one with the returning Holly Gibney, If It Bleeds, is definitely the best story in the book. After reading The Outsider I've definitely had a better appreciation of Holly as a character so it was nice to see her back again, especially as this story follows on in a way from the events in The Outsider. The other 3 stories in this book are good, but they don't quite match up to If It Bleeds, to the point where the first stories are barely memorable. They're also not quite as horror filled as you would come to expect from King, which was slightly disappointing. In all honesty if it hadn't been for If It Bleeds, this collection probably would've only gained itself a 6. Still I'll always enjoy reading a Stephen King book, even if this collection isn't one of my favourites.
The titular story and the one with the returning Holly Gibney, If It Bleeds, is definitely the best story in the book. After reading The Outsider I've definitely had a better appreciation of Holly as a character so it was nice to see her back again, especially as this story follows on in a way from the events in The Outsider. The other 3 stories in this book are good, but they don't quite match up to If It Bleeds, to the point where the first stories are barely memorable. They're also not quite as horror filled as you would come to expect from King, which was slightly disappointing. In all honesty if it hadn't been for If It Bleeds, this collection probably would've only gained itself a 6. Still I'll always enjoy reading a Stephen King book, even if this collection isn't one of my favourites.
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2) in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<h2><strong>It's no secret I disliked <a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/the-cruel-prince-by-holly-black/"><em>The Cruel Prince</em></a>.</strong></h2>
And I mean, I disliked <em>The Cruel Prince</em> A LOT. I didn't give a single fuck for the romances involved, and very much hated the whole Jude/Cardan ship. But I still liked some parts of <em>The Cruel Prince</em> and that's what got me into <em>The Wicked King</em>. I loved Jude and her stabby, human self, and I <em>really</em> enjoyed the world Holly Black built so.
<h2><em><strong>The Wicked King</strong></em><strong> is amazing.</strong></h2>
Okay, I said it. If you're in the minority like me who didn't like <em>The Cruel Prince</em> for:
~ being slow in pacing
~ the main ship
~ the other romances
You'll be happy to know <em>The Wicked King</em> is much, much better than the first book.
<h3><strong>The pacing picks up!</strong></h3>
I didn't <em>want</em> to put down the second book in <em>The Folk of the Air</em> trilogy down. I wanted to know what happened next all the way until the last page of the book. <strong>There are so many twists and turns throughout </strong>and now I want to know what happens in <em>The Queen of Nothing</em> when it comes out. But if there's any advice I should give anyone who hasn't read <em>The Wicked King</em> yet, trust no one at all. NO ONE. I'm just saying.
<h3><strong>I still don't care for the main ship in <em>The Wicked King</em> but...</strong></h3>
We get more behind the scenes in the court, resulting in more Jude and Cardan together. There's no avoiding it this time - they kind of have to deal with each other.
And I mean, I disliked <em>The Cruel Prince</em> A LOT. I didn't give a single fuck for the romances involved, and very much hated the whole Jude/Cardan ship. But I still liked some parts of <em>The Cruel Prince</em> and that's what got me into <em>The Wicked King</em>. I loved Jude and her stabby, human self, and I <em>really</em> enjoyed the world Holly Black built so.
<h2><em><strong>The Wicked King</strong></em><strong> is amazing.</strong></h2>
Okay, I said it. If you're in the minority like me who didn't like <em>The Cruel Prince</em> for:
~ being slow in pacing
~ the main ship
~ the other romances
You'll be happy to know <em>The Wicked King</em> is much, much better than the first book.
<h3><strong>The pacing picks up!</strong></h3>
I didn't <em>want</em> to put down the second book in <em>The Folk of the Air</em> trilogy down. I wanted to know what happened next all the way until the last page of the book. <strong>There are so many twists and turns throughout </strong>and now I want to know what happens in <em>The Queen of Nothing</em> when it comes out. But if there's any advice I should give anyone who hasn't read <em>The Wicked King</em> yet, trust no one at all. NO ONE. I'm just saying.
<h3><strong>I still don't care for the main ship in <em>The Wicked King</em> but...</strong></h3>
We get more behind the scenes in the court, resulting in more Jude and Cardan together. There's no avoiding it this time - they kind of have to deal with each other.
Cumberland (1142 KP) rated The Lost Sisters in Books
Mar 11, 2019
This is a short story that shows Taryn's POV of the events that took place during The Cruel Prince. This should be read after The Cruel Prince, but before The Wicked King.
I didn't like Taryn during the first book and honestly I hate her character even more after reading this. I was also disappointed that no new information was included. Instead the story just gives the reader a few more details about things that had already been established. It still a good story, but at $3 its a little pricey for what you get. Something like this should really only be $1. I like Holly Black so I don't want to call this a cash grab, but I was definitely left a little disappointed.
I didn't like Taryn during the first book and honestly I hate her character even more after reading this. I was also disappointed that no new information was included. Instead the story just gives the reader a few more details about things that had already been established. It still a good story, but at $3 its a little pricey for what you get. Something like this should really only be $1. I like Holly Black so I don't want to call this a cash grab, but I was definitely left a little disappointed.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Outsider in TV
Apr 17, 2020
A great adaptation
I've had this series recorded on my box for quite a while, lockdown has finally allowed me time to watch it and it really is a brilliant adaptation of the King book.
It isnt an entirely accurate adaptation of the book, but it is a very good attempt. There are some changes but there are a lot of things that match the book too, and the majority of the changes aren't necessarily for the worst either. The story is a great one, not a surprise considering it's based on a King novel. It moves seamlessly from a detective crime thriller to a supernatural horror and the cinematography and soundtrack support this so well along with a decent amount of gore. It also has a fantastic cast. Ben Mendelsohn is perfect as Ralph and Cynthia Erivo is too as Holly, backed by a wonderful supporting cast.
There are some changes that I didn't appreciate as much though, some fairly small and minor nods towards the books - especially the references to Holly from the Bill Hodges trilogy series. Also I didn't appreciate the mid credits scene at the end of the final episode which appears to hint towards another series and a different ending. This series works so well as a standalone and I really dont appreciate them potentially looking at turning this into yet more series! It's also frustrating that the Bill Hodges trilogy has been turned into the Mr Mercedes series for another network, as really these 2 series should be linked with the same cast and theme.
Overall though this is a brilliant adaptation and definitely worth a watch.
It isnt an entirely accurate adaptation of the book, but it is a very good attempt. There are some changes but there are a lot of things that match the book too, and the majority of the changes aren't necessarily for the worst either. The story is a great one, not a surprise considering it's based on a King novel. It moves seamlessly from a detective crime thriller to a supernatural horror and the cinematography and soundtrack support this so well along with a decent amount of gore. It also has a fantastic cast. Ben Mendelsohn is perfect as Ralph and Cynthia Erivo is too as Holly, backed by a wonderful supporting cast.
There are some changes that I didn't appreciate as much though, some fairly small and minor nods towards the books - especially the references to Holly from the Bill Hodges trilogy series. Also I didn't appreciate the mid credits scene at the end of the final episode which appears to hint towards another series and a different ending. This series works so well as a standalone and I really dont appreciate them potentially looking at turning this into yet more series! It's also frustrating that the Bill Hodges trilogy has been turned into the Mr Mercedes series for another network, as really these 2 series should be linked with the same cast and theme.
Overall though this is a brilliant adaptation and definitely worth a watch.
Liliannar (58 KP) rated Mr Mercedes in Books
May 29, 2018
Character development (1 more)
Extremely well narrated
Audible version
From the very earliest of pages the reader is drawn into the horrific events that kick of Mr. Mercedes. It isn't much of a spoiler to say that a deeply troubled person commits an awful crime leaving 8 dead. This happens in the first few pages of the book. From there the reader is taken on an in-depth journey into finding out who this heinous person is and what drove them to commit the act. Along the way characters are developed on both sides of the crime as the reader gets to know Detective Bill Hodges, Holly, Gerome, and of course, Mr. Mercedes. This is a great example of how King can build an extremely full world of characters while telling a compelling story.
In true King style there are bits of the story that just don't seem to add, but aren't necessarily a detraction. Bits of the story move much slower than the main story line but they are intermittent and short in nature. As a whole it doesn't detract from the engrossing nature of the book.
In true King style there are bits of the story that just don't seem to add, but aren't necessarily a detraction. Bits of the story move much slower than the main story line but they are intermittent and short in nature. As a whole it doesn't detract from the engrossing nature of the book.
Rhys (240 KP) rated The Outsider in Books
Jun 30, 2018 (Updated Jul 7, 2018)
Contains spoilers, click to show
‘The Outsider’ is a crime/horror novel of four distinct parts. The first is the murder and investigation described in the blurb. This part is more traditionally crime novel than horror and introduces the main characters, giving them all distinct personalities and building up to the twist. Part two takes place after said twist (obviously, giving this away would destroy the enjoyment of the first part) and involves a new focus on the ‘antagonist’ of the third part: Ralph Anderson.
Part three introduces Holly, a character from the Finders Keepers books (that I have not read at this time) and continues for most of the book. This part is heavily inspired by several vampire novels and series including ‘Dracula’ and ‘The Strain’ but keeps a distinct Stephen King feeling.
(Part four is epilogue, which ties up loose ends and ensures that the characters who survive, as well as some who do not, have a happy ending.)
Previous King novels can feel forced, or full of ‘fluff’ that exists only to pad out the time between gruesome murders and intense horror. In this novel, every piece of dialogue has a purpose, whether to build on a character’s.... character... or to make the world seem more real, ground the supernatural in reality.
Despite what is said on the ‘bad’ section, this novel works well as a stand alone. Holly, the character that connects this to previous works, is written as though it will be a reader’s first encounter with her. She is built up from scratch and goes through development at the same rate as the other characters (her previous appearances are described enough that a reader will know the gist, but do not give away anything from the ‘Mr. Mercedes’ trilogy other than that Bill Hodges at some point dies.)
(For context, I am not a regular reader of King’s novels, having tried ‘It’ and ‘Insomnia’ but quickly loosing interest in both.)
Why not full marks? Around half way through the novel there is a scene that simply does not fit in with the rest of the story. The character that will eventually become King’s equivalent of Renfield from ‘Dracula’ meets the Outsider in the bathroom, with said character appropriately terrified. Why is this such an odd scene? Throughout the tense conversation (in which the Outsider’s powers are shown in full) Jack is suffering from an upset stomach (and King seems strangely obsessed with describing.) Horrible, yes, but horror it is not.
Overall, I would recommend this novel to a fan of Stephen King or to someone who wants to get into his writing.
Part three introduces Holly, a character from the Finders Keepers books (that I have not read at this time) and continues for most of the book. This part is heavily inspired by several vampire novels and series including ‘Dracula’ and ‘The Strain’ but keeps a distinct Stephen King feeling.
(Part four is epilogue, which ties up loose ends and ensures that the characters who survive, as well as some who do not, have a happy ending.)
Previous King novels can feel forced, or full of ‘fluff’ that exists only to pad out the time between gruesome murders and intense horror. In this novel, every piece of dialogue has a purpose, whether to build on a character’s.... character... or to make the world seem more real, ground the supernatural in reality.
Despite what is said on the ‘bad’ section, this novel works well as a stand alone. Holly, the character that connects this to previous works, is written as though it will be a reader’s first encounter with her. She is built up from scratch and goes through development at the same rate as the other characters (her previous appearances are described enough that a reader will know the gist, but do not give away anything from the ‘Mr. Mercedes’ trilogy other than that Bill Hodges at some point dies.)
(For context, I am not a regular reader of King’s novels, having tried ‘It’ and ‘Insomnia’ but quickly loosing interest in both.)
Why not full marks? Around half way through the novel there is a scene that simply does not fit in with the rest of the story. The character that will eventually become King’s equivalent of Renfield from ‘Dracula’ meets the Outsider in the bathroom, with said character appropriately terrified. Why is this such an odd scene? Throughout the tense conversation (in which the Outsider’s powers are shown in full) Jack is suffering from an upset stomach (and King seems strangely obsessed with describing.) Horrible, yes, but horror it is not.
Overall, I would recommend this novel to a fan of Stephen King or to someone who wants to get into his writing.
Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2) in Books
Feb 14, 2019 (Updated Feb 14, 2019)
Twisty stuff
Holy plots twists on a stick, I am agog. I thought I knew what was what and then Holly Black pulled the rug well and truly from under my feet and I cannot wait but will somehow have to wait until book three.
Jude Duarte remains a flawed relatable heroine. She's fierce, she overestimates her abilities and she has some hidden weaknesses - her family and that darn King. Carden was both weak and wiley in this book and frankly a little shocking. He continued to appeal to me but I felt a bit like Jude, I shouldn't like him. I am sick once again about Jude's family and where it all ends up.
I felt gripped to this story and enjoyed it more than THE CRUEL PRINCE, the storyline was totally gripping, from the undersea to Elfhame. This is shaping up to be a fantastic cresendo in book three. Sign me up.
Jude Duarte remains a flawed relatable heroine. She's fierce, she overestimates her abilities and she has some hidden weaknesses - her family and that darn King. Carden was both weak and wiley in this book and frankly a little shocking. He continued to appeal to me but I felt a bit like Jude, I shouldn't like him. I am sick once again about Jude's family and where it all ends up.
I felt gripped to this story and enjoyed it more than THE CRUEL PRINCE, the storyline was totally gripping, from the undersea to Elfhame. This is shaping up to be a fantastic cresendo in book three. Sign me up.
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated End of Watch in Books
May 16, 2018
Whew, I finally finished End of Watch and man... It's been more than twenty-four hours and I'm still messed up about it. King definitely has a way of drawing the reader in, even if said reader is as nihilistic as me when it comes to developing character attachments. Unlike Finders Keepers, book two of the trilogy, King dives right into continuing the story with our main characters, Bill, Holly, and Jerome rather than beginning from the left field as he had with the Saubers family and the Rothstein manuscripts.
The Mercedes Killer himself, Brady Hartsfield, is back thanks to the help of Dr. Babineau. Desiring to truly earn his name as the Suicide Prince, he continues on his rampage of convincing people to kill themselves. His bitterness towards Hodges is stronger than ever and our trio of heroes soon find themselves within the scope of Harsfeild's thirst for blood.
This time around, we aren't really introduced to a whole ton of new characters. In fact, the majority of characters in End of Watch we've already met. Because of that, King is able to jump right into the action and wastes no time in doing what King does best: keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. (Not counting From a Buick 8, of course, but let's not get into that. I'd review it, but I don't even want to pick it up again, let alone buy it.)
Other than that I really don't have a whole lot to say about the final installment in this series that I haven't already said on the books before it. I loved the fact that we were able to immediately return to the story that was left open ended at the conclusion of Mr. Mercedes, rather than being dragged through the filler episode that was Finders Keepers. (I couldn't think of a much better way to word that because before I turned to reviewing books, I spent quite a bit of time reviewing anime and if you've ever watched the mainstream, popular series you know exactly what I mean.) I would have felt alright for the most part if I had skipped Finders Keepers, as it plays a very small role outside of the company being created.
The Mercedes Killer himself, Brady Hartsfield, is back thanks to the help of Dr. Babineau. Desiring to truly earn his name as the Suicide Prince, he continues on his rampage of convincing people to kill themselves. His bitterness towards Hodges is stronger than ever and our trio of heroes soon find themselves within the scope of Harsfeild's thirst for blood.
This time around, we aren't really introduced to a whole ton of new characters. In fact, the majority of characters in End of Watch we've already met. Because of that, King is able to jump right into the action and wastes no time in doing what King does best: keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. (Not counting From a Buick 8, of course, but let's not get into that. I'd review it, but I don't even want to pick it up again, let alone buy it.)
Other than that I really don't have a whole lot to say about the final installment in this series that I haven't already said on the books before it. I loved the fact that we were able to immediately return to the story that was left open ended at the conclusion of Mr. Mercedes, rather than being dragged through the filler episode that was Finders Keepers. (I couldn't think of a much better way to word that because before I turned to reviewing books, I spent quite a bit of time reviewing anime and if you've ever watched the mainstream, popular series you know exactly what I mean.) I would have felt alright for the most part if I had skipped Finders Keepers, as it plays a very small role outside of the company being created.
Maris (8 KP) rated The Wicked King (The Folk of the Air, #2) in Books
Jun 10, 2019
All my book reviews are SPOILER FREE!
The Wicked King was my top three anticipating books of 2019. Let me just say I believe Holly Black knows what she is doing with this story and she has not let me down and more than likely she won't when she ends this story.
When I started to read the first pages I was having a hard time getting into the story and where we are now in the story. I was getting a little confused with so many characters. The beginning of the book was okay but everything started to pick up for me towards the very end of the story, which is kinda a bummer for me since the first book hooked me the moment I started to read.
Once the action started to flow in I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. I have a lot of feelings for some characters in this book and what are they planning and motives. I was surprised to see some characters backstab Jude and confused in a good way as to why they are doing it to where I need answers.
The ending was everything, just like the first book! It didn't fail me! I love the ending more than anything and it was the best part of the book. I had to flip back pages to read it again, it was that good!
The writing, of course, is wonderful and very detailed for me to feel like I was apart of the world that Holly Black has created. The first book was definitely my favorite so far but the second one is not bad at all. I am looking forward to the final book "Queen Of Nothing" to see what happens with Jude and the other characters in the story and unfortunately, I have to wait another whole year just to find out.
The Wicked King was my top three anticipating books of 2019. Let me just say I believe Holly Black knows what she is doing with this story and she has not let me down and more than likely she won't when she ends this story.
When I started to read the first pages I was having a hard time getting into the story and where we are now in the story. I was getting a little confused with so many characters. The beginning of the book was okay but everything started to pick up for me towards the very end of the story, which is kinda a bummer for me since the first book hooked me the moment I started to read.
Once the action started to flow in I was hooked and couldn't put the book down. I have a lot of feelings for some characters in this book and what are they planning and motives. I was surprised to see some characters backstab Jude and confused in a good way as to why they are doing it to where I need answers.
The ending was everything, just like the first book! It didn't fail me! I love the ending more than anything and it was the best part of the book. I had to flip back pages to read it again, it was that good!
The writing, of course, is wonderful and very detailed for me to feel like I was apart of the world that Holly Black has created. The first book was definitely my favorite so far but the second one is not bad at all. I am looking forward to the final book "Queen Of Nothing" to see what happens with Jude and the other characters in the story and unfortunately, I have to wait another whole year just to find out.