Fairy Tale by Stephen King

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A dark and magical storybook fantasy.

Charlie Reade comes to the aid of the reclusive Mr Bowditch when he finds him injured, and quickly forms a bond with the old man and his dog, Radar.

Charlie discovers that Mr Bowditch's property hides a secret - a subterranean passage through which is the gateway to an enchanting and mysterious other world.

As Radar nears the end of her life, Charlie is desperate to find a way to give her more years. He embarks on a perilous journey into this other realm, risking capture by the monstrous evil that has taken hold there.

'Fairy Tale' is an epic character-driven fantasy novel by Stephen King, a captivating and enchanting fairy story for grown-ups. Narrated from the perspective of main character Charlie, we experience the tragedy of his mother's death at an early age and his father's descent into alcoholism before, at seventeen, he meets Mr Bowditch, crotchety and isolated, and Radar. It is these relationships which anchor the tale, the emotional heart around which the otherworldly fairy tale events flourish.

The narrative riffs on many traditional fairy tale themes, melding them together into a shared universe – at times I was reminded of elements of TV series 'Once Upon a Time'. Jam-packed with allusions, nods and references to classic fairy tales, as recorded by the Grimm brothers, the colourful Disney adaptations and inspirations, plus even 'Star Wars' and the Lovecraft universe and much more, this meta approach allows us to explore the notion that our storytelling has been influenced by tales and events from across time and space and from other worlds - absorbed into our mythology and folklore, our religion and our fiction; the magic of storytelling on a spiritual level, timeless stories revisited again and again.

Thrilling and immersive, overflowing with action and exploration, emotional and heart-wrenching moments, and the escalating threat keeping the suspense bubbling as Charlie is pulled deeper and deeper into the mystery, this is a gripping novel that keeps you hooked from the opening chapter to the final moments - a slice of pure escapism, with the nostalgia of familiarity and the suspense of thrilling adventure rolled into one. As with many of King’s novels, the plot and characterisation are on an epic scale, a journey vividly realised through the depth of character development, detailed world-building and fast-moving plot, while, like all the best fairy tales, there is deeper meaning laced between the lines.

A truly magical novel, 'Fairy Tale' is a fantastical thrill-ride that both enthrals and entertains, and proves that we're never too old to go down the rabbit hole.



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