'Firestarter' is my ninth Stephen King book in chronological order and what a surprise package it was! Quite underrated and not much-talked-about, Firestarter is one hell of a terrifying book without any ghostly character.

Charlie McGee, a seven-year-old girl with her uncontrollable power of pyrokinesis, can create fire with her mind. Firestarter, like some of other Stephen King books, doesn't haunt you with demons or ghosts. It has the potential of causing fear, tension and paranoia. The twists and turns in the book made me turn pages quickly.

Stephen King has been a master storyteller, and 'Firestarter' is one such exemplary work of his in which when the plot gets slow-paced, he puts depth in the character development and makes it more interesting.

I loved Charlie's relationship with her father, Andy. It is adorable, and seeing Andy going through so much to save his daughter was unbearable and emotional. On the other hand, the antagonist gave me creepy vibes from his appearance and his obsession with Charlie. His demeanour and dialogues were hitting the bull's eye to create panic, and his love for Charlie made me sick.

If you're looking to start reading Stephen King or you're already a fan of him, 'Firestarter' is a must-read Stephen King book.

If someone knows how to write a horror book without horror or gory scenes, it's Stephen King. I just finished my eighth book by Stephen King which he wrote under his pseudonym Richard Bachman "The Dead Zone", and it is bloody brilliant.

My first Stephen King book I read in the shortest time. The book is compelling, gut-wrenching, and thought-provoking. It is fast-paced and unputdownable. Having written this book in 1979, it still stands true to today's terrifying political climate. I am almost convinced that Stephen King can also see the future.

I have always loved the way King weaves the narration smartly by starting with all the characters independently, and they tend to cross each other's paths at a certain point of the story impressively. His storytelling is one brilliant example of writing so many characters without confusing the reader. The last 25% of the book is so engaging and the ending is my favourite part of the book.

I loved Johnny Smith's character, and I was rooting for him most of the time. If this book's story doesn't fascinate anyone, the character analysis does. Probably, one of the best character-driven books I've read. The antagonist, Greg Stillson, echoes with today's political world as well and King portrayed him so effortlessly as one amongst us.

I'd recommend this book to everyone who loves reading an excellent character-driven book and exceptional storytelling. A must-read for Stephen King fans.

The title and the cover intrigued my interest when I first saw it nominated in the best horror novel for Goodreads Choice awards for 2019. One of my favourite genres and written by a Canadian author - I am sold.

Don't get fooled by the delicate furry animal on the cover. Bunny by Mona Awad is not delicate on readers. It is brain-wrenching, gut-wrenching and baffling. One such book which I kept turning pages to know what happened next because I was drowning in that "rabbit hole" and it was impossible to come out of it.

It is hard to review this book without giving anything away. All I can tell is, that 'Bunny' is a unique book and I've never read this kind of imaginative book before which blew my mind to that extent. I loved it, hated it, turned pages, put it away, but the end made me fall in love with it. It is one of those books which you can put it away but can't stop thinking about it.

All the characters in the book are unlikeable, including the main character Samantha. I didn't need to like the character to like the book. Her character is in sync with the flow of the story, and I enjoy it. The vivid descriptions of the settings and the characters, the categorical structure in three phases and the ending, all are excellent.

If you love reading a book which has imagination, mind-blowing storytelling, character-driven plot intertwined with cult horror, grab this book.

One of the most underrated books by Stephen King, "The Long Walk" is full of physical and psychological terror. I was thrilled to start reading this book knowing that this is just 300+ pages long as compared to his other books but these 300 pages give a real cramp in your legs.

The Long Walk, as the name suggests, is about a long walk, an infamous long walk. In a dystopian world, an oppressive government ruler organizes an annual contest of 'walk' in which 100 American youth participate. The rules are simple - keep the speed of 4 miles an hour at least otherwise you'll get a warning. Three warnings and you're out. Out means shot!

I have always wondered how Stephen King manages to write so many characters without confusing the reader. This book is no exception. So many walkers, stories they share while walking, their relationships, their relationships with each other - all are skillfully executed. The storytelling has been flawless and there has never been a dull moment.

I felt physical terror while reading this book. The exhaustion each walker goes through is so brilliantly portrayed that I felt exhausted reading this book. I did feel like I have muscle cramps in my legs several times reading about charlie's horse. I felt myself walking with all the boys participating in the Long Walk. All the walkers seem realistic and boys next doors. That made it even more terrifying to feel their exhaustion. It could have been 5 stars but the open-end was not my favourite thing in Stephen King's books.

The Long Walk is my favourite Richard Bachman book by Stephen King and one of the best dystopian books I've read. I'd recommend it to anyone who is trying to get into Stephen King books. This could be a good start.

I might sound cliché but this is my most favourite so far from Stephen King. When I read 'The Shining', I never expected another book to surpass that compelling writing but here it is - The Stand.

There is no better time to read The Stand when the world is going through the pandemic and Stephen King writes about a "superflu" which destroyed 99% of the world's population. It is not only about the superflu but also the aftermath of the apocalypse. It has the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, the sin and the redemption.



If someone knows how to include 1 million characters and build a story around them without confusing the reader, it's Stephen King. His signature style of writing by weaving a story around 1 million characters and bringing them together at some point was flawless in this one. I never lost the plot or a character in this 1153-page long book. All the characters serve a purpose and they are developed brilliantly.

I've never been to the places mentioned in the book but they are realistic and therefore, relatable. Reading about the known places going through the plague gave me goosebumps.

The writing has been compelling and consistent throughout the book. His storytelling technique is incomparable. Like his other books, he mentioned bullying and its impact on someone's life in this book as well.

I recommend this book to all the new SK fans and to those who are not. I bet you'll be an SK fan after reading this.

Warning: This book can cause wrist or finger damages due to its size.

'The Shining' is my third book by Stephen King as I am reading his books in chronological order. It is unbelievably scary and I loved every bit of it.

The Shining is about Jack, Wendy and their 5-year-old son, Danny. Jack is struggling with issues of anger and alcoholism. It gets extreme when he breaks his son's arm in a fit of rage. As much as he is determined to control his anger, his craving for alcohol always hinders his determination. Danny, on the other hand, is blessed with "The Shining", a power to see things before they happen and to read people's minds. Jack is fired at his current job and is now offered a new job of an off-season caretaker at 'The Overlook Hotel'.

I used to wonder why Stephen King's books are huge. Since I started reading them, I understand that he lays the groundwork so brilliantly that the objects in his books are also unusual characters that you can't afford to miss. The Overlook Hotel is a character in itself. The hedges, elevators, dead wasps, and mallet - all play a crucial role in building the spooky and the quarantined atmosphere. I have never been afraid of just thinking about being quarantined in snowfall.

Stephen King always entwines a serious issue along with the scary element of the story. The Shining reflects the issue of alcoholism and its after-effects. It is said to be based on Stephen King's own experience of alcoholism when he was 30. The author points out the horror and the psychological distress the family suffers due to an alcoholic person in the family.

The characterization is as always brilliant. The background of the characters and how they enter into each other's lives and their relationships with each other is also masterly laid.

I have never read a Stephen King book so fast because I was so curious to know what happens next. It caused my hair on my arms raise with sheer horror but I did expect all the creepiness coming from a Stephen King's book.

I'd recommend this book to everyone who is a Stephen King fan or not, have watched the movie or not, like horror books or not, it is about writing and characterization!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Pub for sending me the free copy of 'The Return' in exchange for an honest review. Rachel Harrison's debut novel is going to haunt you with eerie atmospheric and creepy hotel details.

'The Return' is a mysterious, tense, and supernatural horror story of four friends. One of them, Julie, disappears for almost two years and suddenly reappears one day without having any memory of where she had been and what happened to her. All four of them decide to reunite in a hotel for a weekend and that's when the creepy incidents or rather accidents start happening.

First of all, I loved the plot. A woman disappearing and then reappearing after two years is a well-thought plot. I kept turning pages to know what happened to Julie when she was missing. The author did an amazing job to keep the reader intrigued till the end.

All the characters are well-conceived. The friendship between Julie, Elise, Mae, and Molly is devised well. It is a mix of highs and lows which seems relative. The story is narrated by one of the friends Elise who is closest to Julie.

This book reminds me of 'The Shining' by Stephen King. An isolated, eerie, and creepily-detailed hotel which is a character in itself. The author used all the possible structural details to entail the horror factor. The supernatural element is also assimilated well and the creepy details of the "supernatural element" is not overwhelming at all.

I like the end and it is not rushed at all. The author takes her time to let the supernatural element sink in. Short chapters and non-complex language make this a quick read. I have read a few horror books so it was not "too creepy" for me, I would rate it a "4-star read".

I would recommend it to those who love reading horror genre with a dash of friendship drama.