I knew going into this book that it would have a different feel for me, both in terms of my usual reads and as a book by King. I expected that.

What I didn't expect was to be left feeling totally underwhelmed.

There are some aspects of the book I enjoyed. It started well, with a great sense of atmosphere that kept building. The tension seemed to peak early on when the main character, Roland, tells the story of his travels through Tull. The vivid descriptions of the desolate town and its inhabitants were gripping. As well as the aftermath of his visit. However, after that, the story seemed to lose momentum, and I found myself constantly wanting more.

I personally didn't warm to Roland. While it's fine not to "like" main characters to enjoy a story, Roland’s solitary journey made it hard for me to stay invested. His stoic and distant nature left me struggling to connect with him, which made large portions of the book feel slow and unengaging.

On the other hand, I loved the character of the young boy, Jake. He was a beacon of innocence amidst the bleakness, and his presence added much-needed depth and intrigue to the story.

Overall, though I was left feeling a bit meh, after putting it down and while I was disappointed in ending I was also too disengaged to care. 

I understand that this book and the following series are extremely popular, so I know my views are in the minority. However, this just didn't live up to the hype for me. I've heard that the second book has a totally different feel, so I'm going to give the series another chance because I really do want to like it.