After feeling disappointed with Books V and VI, this was a welcome surprise. A great way to end the series. A real tear-jerker. Oh, poor little Oy... ( )

Stephen King's piece-de-resistance. I love this series. I read it a few years ago and am currently listening to it on audio. It's all encompassing - massive in scope. It's an epic story, a never-ending one. The descriptions are visually enticing - so typically Stephen King. These books make the statement "in bold" that I believe all his other books do in maybe more subtle ways. Definitely worth a read. ( )

Wow, what a finish! Such an epic tale could not have ended any other way, I believe. By the end of the whole series, I knew each member of the ka-tet and felt deep sadness at its demise. Amazing!! ( )

The last, and probably the thickest (with the possible exception of Wizard and Glass) volume in the Dark Tower series is in itself a contradiction: absurd and moving, deeply satisfying and unsatisfying in its long-awaited conclusion to Roland’s question, disappointing and ultimately redeeming. Of course, King kills off a bunch of major characters, which was foreshadowed all along, but don’t forget the line from Volume I: “Go on, then; there are other worlds than these.” So don’t get too upset.

Several aspects of the story border on the ridiculous: Roland’s were-spider son, who dies an ignominous and rather disgusting death after eating a sick horse; the Lovecraftian creature that chases Roland and company through the tunnels under Castle Discordia; the fairy-tale troll that awaits them in a little cabin and the note from King himself that saves them. You may find King inserting himself into his own novel as a mighty important linchpin in the universe to be a shocking bit of hubris, but his characterization of himself is frankly so unflattering as to take away all accusations of ego. At some point, though, you’re ready for the Dungeons and Dragons escapades to stop and the serious story to resume.

But the ending makes up for it. Our favorite characters get the promise of a life they deserve, and Roland – well, I won’t give it away, but I imagine I’m one of the few readers who didn’t howl in frustration and throw the book against the wall when we find out what happens to Roland. It seems that King was toying with us all along, and it will take a bit of musing to unravel the tangled web of story upon story, world interconnected with world, that King has created in this epic. That’s just the way I like it. I won’t say Volume VII is my favorite in the series – the first three are far better, and King’s gaffes concerning Susannah’s occasional standing or walking when she has no legs are almost unforgivable – but I will say that he wrote an ending I never saw coming, and that’s why I liked it so much. ( )

The ka-tet is together again and their quest to the Dark Tower continues - and finishes - in the final volume of King's epic Dark Tower series. Roland Deschain of Gilead's journey to the Dark Tower began several thousand pages and seven books ago and King is finally wrapping up the story.

This volume has many exciting and entertaining plot twists, and will keep the reader on their toes throughout all 830 pages (excluding the appendix, which includes Robert Browning's poem "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came", the basis and influence for King's series). As the quest continues, the ka-tet is being followed by Mordred Deschain - the son of both Roland and the Crimson King, as well as the son of Susannah and Mia - who is plotting to kill anyone in his way to fulfill his destiny by killing Roland. Along the way, the ka-tet finds itself in Thunderclap, at the place where the children from the Callas are sent to have their brains tampered with before being sent back roont and must save the beam - and in doing so find themselves in the company of a very old friend (and one that many fans will smile, upon reading about again). Around pages 570, it seems as if H.P. Lovecraft took the reins and wrote about one of his monsters for a few pages (a la At the Mountains of Madness). And finally, along the way, the Artist is drawn, to help accomplish the remaining tasks prior to the showdown between the Crimson King and Roland.

Aside from the story, King actually changed his style of writing in some respects, and unfortunately the changes are not for the better. One of his writing changes is he now addresses the reader, and refers to the reader in his tale. For example, "We have reached that point...and all I can do now is point here and there and hope you can bring your own order out of the general chaos" (370), or "This was quite a bit more than Roland actually said (as we should know, having been there)" (623), among others. This is either new to the seventh volume, or very unnoticeable in the previous volumes and the change takes away from the story, ever so slightly.

Another unfortunate change in his writing style is that King reveals what is going to happen well before it happens. When a particular happenstance takes place that affects one of the many characters (not necessarily the main characters, and for better or worse), King reveals it is going to happen well before it is able to unfold. Examples include (names are omitted to protect anything from being given away) "little did he know that he stepped on the glass that will eventually kill him", or "this is the last time _____ would ever be together", and many more instances take place in the book. Again, this deviates from the previous volumes, and is an unwelcome change in his writing style.

Another issue, this time in the story itself as opposed to King's writing style, is how King handled the character of Randall Flagg in this final volume. (If you've yet to read this volume, perhaps you should skip this brief section). Throughout the series, Flagg is the antithesis of Roland. He is Roland's mortal enemy, one he has encountered many times (and appears in several of King's books). His death is very unsatisfying. It seems as if King merely remembered he had to do something about him and decided "oh shoot, I'll just take care of him here, on this one page."

All in all, the series was a blast. King did a marvelous job with his story telling, and brought to life some very memorable characters and developed them very nicely. The growth of Roland is exceptional throughout the series and his change is dramatic from the pages of The Gunslinger to The Dark Tower. This is easily the best epic tale, spanning several books, since Lord of the Rings and should not be bypassed by any curious reader looking for a wonderful tale full of many stories that are sad, happy, exciting, thrilling, and will leave the reader with a sense of wonder unrivaled in modern fiction. While the length of the series (roughly 4,000 pages worth) may deter some readers, King had a particular quote in the final volume regarding such a concern:

I hope you came to hear the tale, and not just munch your way through the pages to the ending. For an ending, you only have to turn to the last page and see what is there writ upon. But endings are heartless. An ending is a closed door no man (or Manni) can open.

And that sentiment echos in the heart of the series, as the true glory and wonder is the tale that takes place, not the ending itself.

And remember, ka is a wheel - Say thankya. ( )