Fairy Tale: a novel
£5.20£9.50 (-45%)
WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Charlie Reade looks like a regular high school kid, great at baseball and football, a decent student.
But when Charlie is seventeen, he meets a dog named Radar and her aging master, Howard Bowditch, a recluse in a big house at the top of a big hill, with a locked shed in the backyard. When Bowditch dies, he leaves Charlie a cassette tape telling a story no one would believe – inside the shed is a portal to another world.
Legendary storyteller Stephen King goes into the deepest well of his imagination in this spellbinding novel about a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the stakes could not be higher – for their world or ours.
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Additional information
| Publisher | 1st edition (8 Jun. 2023), Hodder Paperbacks |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 608 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1399705458 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1399705455 |
| Dimensions | 12.8 x 4 x 19.6 cm |
by Adrian Dooley
King is writing some cracking novels in the latter part of his career. It’s like he’s got a second wind in the last couple of decades and Fairytale is a great(and unique)addition to the hits.
The story of a teenage boy who saves an old man’s life after hearing his dog barking, he visits him in hospital and ends up caring for him when he gets home.
At the end of his garden is a shed with a big secret. A portal to another world. A fairytale world that is more brothers Grimm than Walt Disney. A world where Charlie(our teenage hero) goes on an adventure with the dog that drew him to the old man.
I really loved this for the most part. It takes its time in the beginning, the actual fairytale element not taking place until maybe a quarter or a third of a way through the book. That was a plus in my book. I really enjoyed the whole relationship between Charlie, Mr Bowditch(the old man) and Radar the dog. It’s a mini book in itself and a great read.
When we get into the magical world, there is plenty of magic but even more darkness and some pretty extreme violence.
The creative ways that King manages to reference actual fairytales and their characters in this other world are great fun and very impressive.
Although a kind of straight forward good against evil story, this is anything but. There’s some really dark passages and some impressively bizarre ideas and characters.
As with a lot of King books it’s a little too long. Only just mind. It’s a minor niggle in what is a hugely enjoyable and totally engrossing tale.
by Peter
he’s back on his form, this elegant, entertaining, fascinating trip into another world / dimension in the company of a believable character had me entranced. So much so that I got the audiobook and the reader of the story does such an incredible job, I’d have to say a perfect reading. This is a book I know I will re-read in the future. So glad he wrote this lovely tale.
by KF
I have to say from the outset, that this is not the normal Genre of book that I would read. The first part of the story I enjoyed (I won’t give any spoilers here) and then you get into the “meat of the book”. As already stated, it is lengthy. The further on I got the more I wondered if it would ever end. The stories are fantastical (it is a fairy tale) although it is sprinkled with just about any foul language you could think of; that’s a bit different for a fairy tale! There are so many twist and turns, that although I was at times bored with it, somehow, I just had to keep reading it. At last we arrive at the end, which arrives quickly. The peculiar thing is that it does have a “Fairy Tale” ending and when I had finished it, I found myself rather sad that it was over. The characters are so rich that you relate to them. In conclusion, whilst, as I said, it is not really my genre (I purchased it because it was reduced in price), I’m glad I read it. It is an adult fairy tale and clearly you can see why Stephen King is a master of his craft. READ IT.
by Dáithí Farrell
I recently read Stephen King’s latest book “Fairy Tale” and I have to say that it was an absolute masterpiece. From the very first page, King has you hooked with his evocative descriptions and vivid imagery, transporting you into a world that feels both familiar and fantastical.
What I loved most about this book was its characters. Each one was so unique and well-developed, with their own distinct personality and backstory. King has a way of crafting characters that feel so real, you almost forget they’re not actually people you know. I found myself rooting for them, feeling their pain and celebrating their victories.
The plot of “Fairy Tale” was equally impressive. I won’t give away any spoilers, but suffice it to say that King knows how to keep his readers on the edge of their seats. The twists and turns in this book were unexpected, yet made perfect sense in hindsight. And the ending? Let’s just say that it left me thinking about it for days afterwards.
Finally, I have to mention King’s writing style. It’s unmatched. His command of the English language is incredible, with beautifully crafted sentences that flow seamlessly from one to the next. Reading King’s prose is like savoring a fine meal or listening to a masterful musician – you can’t help but be in awe of his talent.
Overall, I absolutely loved “Fairy Tale” and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good suspenseful story with complex characters. It’s easily one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I can’t wait to see what King has in store for us next. Five stars all the way.
by Hobday
I haven’t read Stephen King for about 30 years but I quickly fell back into his style.
Found this book was different because it wasn’t the usual ‘horror’ but it did have some gruesome elements.
Really interesting concept & the ending wasn’t quite what I thought it would turn out to be but that made it more enjoyable.
by Mark Budding
It is long and a little bit twee – but it is cleverly written and good fun. Enjoy it! I did.
by Bluebell03
A dark poetic tale of courage, justice and life’s failings.
Certainly one to keep on my shelf of treasured books and revisit from time to time.
Love conquers all?
by W. Green
King at his best at last! An awesome tale of another world, magic & terror. Just the right mix for a truly marvellous tale. Bring it back Mr. King, Crimson King, Gunslingers, bring them or those like them back….