I believe Stephen King is one of the greatest writers of our time. Several of his novels, including The Stand, ‘Salem’s Lot, and Wizard and Glass, are among my all-time favorites. So, when I discovered he had written another fantasy novel titled Fairy Tale, I bought it immediately and dove right in. My review has been a long time coming, but as they say, better late than never.
The story is narrated by seventeen-year-old Charlie Reade, a high school student navigating a heavy load of personal tragedy stemming from the sudden death of his mother and his father’s battle with alcoholism. The tale begins when Charlie encounters an aging German Shepherd named Radar and her elderly owner, Howard Bowditch. Howard harbors a bevy of secrets, including a safe full of gold coins and a nondescript shed he avoids ever talking about. But Charlie soon discovers there’s something inside that shed, clawing at the walls and itching to get out.
The mystery surrounding Howard and his shed occupies the first quarter of the novel and, in many ways, is the most engaging part of the book. Things get quite a bit stranger when Charlie learns what’s really inside the shed: a portal to a fairy tale world plagued by a terrible curse. Charlie ventures into that world when he learns of a magic sundial that can reverse aging – a device that might save Radar’s life. But he becomes even more invested in this new realm when he discovers the curse is turning the good people of this kingdom gray and slowly erasing the features from their faces. On top of that, there’s a beautiful princess who needs saving from her wicked brother, who has unlocked some unimaginable evil in the bowels of the family’s castle. In short, this world needs a savior, and Charlie is just the man for the job.
What follows is a page-turning fantasy, Stephen King style. Throughout the story, I was reminded of pieces from King’s other novels, particularly the Dark Tower series. Let’s just say Charlie the Choo-Choo would have felt at home in this fairy-tale world. There’s also an unmistakable homage to H.P. Lovecraft, whose early works of horror undoubtedly inspired some of King’s own. The book is fun and riveting, but ultimately it’s a story about a boy trying to save his aging dog. Anyone who’s had a beloved pet at the end of his or her years will relate to Charlie’s quest.
This book won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s not fantasy in the spirit of Tolkien or A Game of Thrones, but rather a true “fairy” tale. Imagine a Brothers Grimm-type story mixed with a dash of Lovecraftian horror and a heaping of King-style characters. While it falls short of King’s masterpieces like The Stand and ‘Salem’s Lot, if you like King’s fantasy entrees such as the Dark Tower series and The Eyes of Dragon, I suspect you’ll enjoy following the adventures of Charlie and Radar in the world of Fairy Tale.