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The Button Box #2
Gwendy's Magic Feather
Something evil has swept into the small western Maine town of Castle Rock on the heels of the latest winter storm. Sheriff Norris Ridgewick and his team are desperately searching for two missing girls, but time is running out to bring them home alive.
In Washington D.C., thirty-seven-year-old Gwendy Peterson couldn't be more different from the self-conscious teenaged girl who once spent a summer running up Castle Rock's Suicide Stairs. That same summer, she was entrusted or some might say cursed with the extraordinary button box by Richard Farris, the mysterious stranger in the black suit. The seductive and powerful box offered Gwendy small gifts in exchange for its care and feeding until Farris eventually returned, promising Gwendy she'd never see the box again.
One day, though, the button box shows up without warning and without Richard Farris to explain why, or what she's supposed to do with it. The mysterious reappearance of the box, along with the troubling disappearances in Castle Rock, leads Gwendy home again...where she just might be able to help rescue the missing girls and stop a madman before he does something ghastly.
From New York Times bestseller Richard Chizmar comes Gwendy's Magic Feather, a breathtaking novel that asks whether our lives are controlled by fate or the choices we make and what price we might have to pay for those choices when we reach for the things we most desire. Prepare to return again to Stephen King's Castle Rock, the sleepy little town built on a bedrock of deep, dark secrets, which is about to awaken from its quiet slumber once more.
In Washington D.C., thirty-seven-year-old Gwendy Peterson couldn't be more different from the self-conscious teenaged girl who once spent a summer running up Castle Rock's Suicide Stairs. That same summer, she was entrusted or some might say cursed with the extraordinary button box by Richard Farris, the mysterious stranger in the black suit. The seductive and powerful box offered Gwendy small gifts in exchange for its care and feeding until Farris eventually returned, promising Gwendy she'd never see the box again.
One day, though, the button box shows up without warning and without Richard Farris to explain why, or what she's supposed to do with it. The mysterious reappearance of the box, along with the troubling disappearances in Castle Rock, leads Gwendy home again...where she just might be able to help rescue the missing girls and stop a madman before he does something ghastly.
From New York Times bestseller Richard Chizmar comes Gwendy's Magic Feather, a breathtaking novel that asks whether our lives are controlled by fate or the choices we make and what price we might have to pay for those choices when we reach for the things we most desire. Prepare to return again to Stephen King's Castle Rock, the sleepy little town built on a bedrock of deep, dark secrets, which is about to awaken from its quiet slumber once more.
333 pages, Hardcover
First published November 19, 2019
2117 people are currently reading
15705 people want to read
About the author
Richard Chizmar
252 books3,437 followersRichard Chizmar is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Amazon, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author.
He is the co-author (with Stephen King) of the bestselling novella, Gwendy’s Button Box and the founder/publisher of Cemetery Dance magazine and the Cemetery Dance Publications book imprint. He has edited more than 35 anthologies and his short fiction has appeared in dozens of publications, including multiple editions of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and The Year’s 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories. He has won two World Fantasy awards, four International Horror Guild awards, and the HWA’s Board of Trustee’s award.
Chizmar (in collaboration with Johnathon Schaech) has also written screenplays and teleplays for United Artists, Sony Screen Gems, Lions Gate, Showtime, NBC, and many other companies. He has adapted the works of many bestselling authors including Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Bentley Little.
Chizmar is also the creator/writer of the online website, Stephen King Revisited. His fourth short story collection, The Long Way Home, was published in 2019. With Brian Freeman, Chizmar is co-editor of the acclaimed Dark Screams horror anthology series published by Random House imprint, Hydra.
His latest book, The Girl on the Porch, was released in hardcover by Subterranean Press, and Widow’s Point, a chilling novella about a haunted lighthouse written with his son, Billy Chizmar, was recently adapted into a feature film.
Chizmar’s work has been translated into more than fifteen languages throughout the world, and he has appeared at numerous conferences as a writing instructor, guest speaker, panelist, and guest of honor.
He is the co-author (with Stephen King) of the bestselling novella, Gwendy’s Button Box and the founder/publisher of Cemetery Dance magazine and the Cemetery Dance Publications book imprint. He has edited more than 35 anthologies and his short fiction has appeared in dozens of publications, including multiple editions of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and The Year’s 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories. He has won two World Fantasy awards, four International Horror Guild awards, and the HWA’s Board of Trustee’s award.
Chizmar (in collaboration with Johnathon Schaech) has also written screenplays and teleplays for United Artists, Sony Screen Gems, Lions Gate, Showtime, NBC, and many other companies. He has adapted the works of many bestselling authors including Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Bentley Little.
Chizmar is also the creator/writer of the online website, Stephen King Revisited. His fourth short story collection, The Long Way Home, was published in 2019. With Brian Freeman, Chizmar is co-editor of the acclaimed Dark Screams horror anthology series published by Random House imprint, Hydra.
His latest book, The Girl on the Porch, was released in hardcover by Subterranean Press, and Widow’s Point, a chilling novella about a haunted lighthouse written with his son, Billy Chizmar, was recently adapted into a feature film.
Chizmar’s work has been translated into more than fifteen languages throughout the world, and he has appeared at numerous conferences as a writing instructor, guest speaker, panelist, and guest of honor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,598 reviews
June 7, 2022
Great book!
Interesting build up!
Fascinating plot!
Mysterious characters!
Fell completely flat at the end!
Suddenly over . . .
Convenient and uninteresting resolution . . .
Huge build up for nothing but meh . . .
So sad because so much potential early on – and I mean SO MUCH POTENTIAL!
I was still hooked at page 300!
And . . . then . . . it was just over . . .
Blah . . .
Seriously . . . I am frustrated about how little I got out of this after such a huge build up!
I was gonna go two stars, but I am so frustrated by the waste of 300 or so great pages.
I gave the first book 5 stars – don’t even bother with this one.
Interesting build up!
Fascinating plot!
Mysterious characters!
Fell completely flat at the end!
Suddenly over . . .
Convenient and uninteresting resolution . . .
Huge build up for nothing but meh . . .
So sad because so much potential early on – and I mean SO MUCH POTENTIAL!
I was still hooked at page 300!
And . . . then . . . it was just over . . .
Blah . . .
Seriously . . . I am frustrated about how little I got out of this after such a huge build up!
I was gonna go two stars, but I am so frustrated by the waste of 300 or so great pages.
I gave the first book 5 stars – don’t even bother with this one.
November 25, 2022
Years have passed and Gwendy's a successfully published writer, documentary maker, campaigner... and Congresswoman! But as she heads back to Castle Rock for Christmas the world is on the brink, with a foul mouthed dumb President (I wonder who inspired King for that character :D), her photojournalist husband is working in a dangerous Timor, her mother is fighting a critical illness and someone might be killing girls in Castle Rock! So the best, but also worse thing that could happen to her is the return of a certain Button Box!
Chizmar picks up the reigns of this King-universe co-creation and doesn't do too bad a job with some neat world building, scene setting and the continuation of Gwendy's dilemma with holding so much magical and random power. I can see how some horror fans could be disgruntled with this read, but I think it fits well within the Gwendy sub-verse :). I found this is a nice addition to the post Needless Things' Castle Rock timeline. 6 out of 12.
2022 read; 2020 read
Chizmar picks up the reigns of this King-universe co-creation and doesn't do too bad a job with some neat world building, scene setting and the continuation of Gwendy's dilemma with holding so much magical and random power. I can see how some horror fans could be disgruntled with this read, but I think it fits well within the Gwendy sub-verse :). I found this is a nice addition to the post Needless Things' Castle Rock timeline. 6 out of 12.
2022 read; 2020 read
July 17, 2023
“Gwendy's Magic Feather” by Richard Chizmar and Stephen King (Foreword) is the second book in Gwendy’s Button Box Trilogy as I was genuinely excited to continue the story after reading the first one. Needless to say, it was great to continue the story after the awesome events of the first entry to continue on with Gwendy, now as an adult.
Before I get into my review, I wanted to share some trigger warnings I found while reading. In “Gwendy's Magic Feather” there are events that happen around cancer and dealing with cancer treatments. If that triggers you, please don’t read this novel.
Moving along, the foreword by King was awesome as I never knew a lot of the things he revealed about this trilogy writing alongside Chizmar. I see why Chizmar primarily wrote this novel as it all made sense to me. I also loved how this continued the same formatting and awesomeness of the first one with another incredible story and graphic illustrations throughout when it made sense to add more immersion. The chapters are quick and it was another genuine page-turner but with a bit of a slow-burn to things that once they started being revealed, did not disappoint.
I enjoyed all the thrilling suspense as this was more of a fantasy thriller with a bit of creepy horror thrown in. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything for you but this was another magical ride involving Gwendy’s Button Box. I also loved and smiled at all the Stephen King references to other novels such as “Cujo” and even “Shawshank Redemption” which added a nice touch involving my all-time favorite author.
As I said before, it’s a slow-burn kind of read that totally makes up for it with a huge, climactic ending. It was brilliantly written and when it happened, it delivered big time. I enjoyed it so much and couldn’t believe that’s what happened as it added another layer to my favorite character of this trilogy, Gwendy.
I can’t wait to finish writing this review so I can jump right into “Gwendy's Final Task” to see how this all ends. I’m completely hooked on Gwendy and this entire Button Box situation she’s in. I literally have no idea how this trilogy will end and that has me beyond excited to start reading it immediately.
I give “Gwendy's Magic Feather” by Richard Chizmar and Stephen King (Foreword) a perfect 5/5 as it continued the great story of the original entry and was incredibly suspenseful, thrilling, and had a bit of horror thrown in to check all the boxes. I will say it’s a bit of a slow burn while reading but it totally makes up for it when it matters most towards the end. I loved this unique story that’s basically a horror fantasy with great characters, an amazing storyline, and so much more. I can only imagine what awaits me in “Gwendy's Final Task” as this is shaping up to be one of my favorite trilogies ever.
Before I get into my review, I wanted to share some trigger warnings I found while reading. In “Gwendy's Magic Feather” there are events that happen around cancer and dealing with cancer treatments. If that triggers you, please don’t read this novel.
Moving along, the foreword by King was awesome as I never knew a lot of the things he revealed about this trilogy writing alongside Chizmar. I see why Chizmar primarily wrote this novel as it all made sense to me. I also loved how this continued the same formatting and awesomeness of the first one with another incredible story and graphic illustrations throughout when it made sense to add more immersion. The chapters are quick and it was another genuine page-turner but with a bit of a slow-burn to things that once they started being revealed, did not disappoint.
I enjoyed all the thrilling suspense as this was more of a fantasy thriller with a bit of creepy horror thrown in. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything for you but this was another magical ride involving Gwendy’s Button Box. I also loved and smiled at all the Stephen King references to other novels such as “Cujo” and even “Shawshank Redemption” which added a nice touch involving my all-time favorite author.
As I said before, it’s a slow-burn kind of read that totally makes up for it with a huge, climactic ending. It was brilliantly written and when it happened, it delivered big time. I enjoyed it so much and couldn’t believe that’s what happened as it added another layer to my favorite character of this trilogy, Gwendy.
I can’t wait to finish writing this review so I can jump right into “Gwendy's Final Task” to see how this all ends. I’m completely hooked on Gwendy and this entire Button Box situation she’s in. I literally have no idea how this trilogy will end and that has me beyond excited to start reading it immediately.
I give “Gwendy's Magic Feather” by Richard Chizmar and Stephen King (Foreword) a perfect 5/5 as it continued the great story of the original entry and was incredibly suspenseful, thrilling, and had a bit of horror thrown in to check all the boxes. I will say it’s a bit of a slow burn while reading but it totally makes up for it when it matters most towards the end. I loved this unique story that’s basically a horror fantasy with great characters, an amazing storyline, and so much more. I can only imagine what awaits me in “Gwendy's Final Task” as this is shaping up to be one of my favorite trilogies ever.
January 26, 2020
I made the mistake of thinking this would be similar to Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King. Although Richard Chizmar got the okay for this sequel, it's a complete disappointment. 1 of 10 stars
July 25, 2019
3.5! Rounded up for Goodreads
I read Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar two summers ago. I rated it 5 stars and had this to say,
"Every good story, even a short one, has conflict--maybe something dangerous or threatening so that our protagonist can work through it and grow, make choices, handle the conflict. In this story, we get to ask ourselves, what would you do?"
I highly recommend reading the first book before jumping into this one for two reasons; the first is that Gwendy has a character arc that starts back in Button Box when she's twelve years old and in Magic Feather, she's in her late thirties. That's a lot of life experience! Secondly, there are so many flashbacks and references to Button Box that readers would feel cheated out of knowing everything the rest of us know going into this book. Richard Chizmar does a fine job catching potential new readers up to speed but I still think it would be beneficial. No need to re-read though, there's enough refresh for those of us who read it already.
The first half (about 150 pages) of Gwendy's Magic Feather was a little slow going for me. I enjoyed learning about all of Gwendy's accomplishments and relationships but then the novelty of that wore off pretty quickly and I found myself growing impatient with the day-to-day transcription of a pretty normal, uneventful life.
There were a few sub-plots introduced: Something from Gwendy's past resurfaces and there are some girls that have gone missing in Castle Rock (Gwendy's hometown) that catch her attention. However, there are many chapters that go by where Gwendy is at the office, hanging out with her parents, jogging, eating, bathing and I started longing for the story to get interesting.
Finally, around the halfway mark--there are some juicy plot developments and from here on, I was rapidly turning pages and getting more and more invested as the story moved on. I only wish that the compelling nature of a specific plot development happened earlier so that the reader could spend more time thinking about it--everything gets resolved rather quickly and without much fanfare or complication. Just sort of a *slap-slap-of-the-hands* and that's a wrap! All the loose ends are tied up neatly and all our burning questions are answered, which in some ways is satisfying but in other ways, it feels like the reader wasn't trusted to work things out for ourselves. There weren't very many breadcrumbs to trail after.
I did love the supernatural elements Chizmar brought into the story to add some magic. The ending was especially sweet and potentially left open for another Gwendy adventure? I'd be all for it.
I would recommend this book to readers who love: The first book, short chapters, illustrations (yes! This book has lovely pictures!), magical realism, cozy mysteries, YA literature, Castle Rock tales, and supernatural elements.
I read Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar two summers ago. I rated it 5 stars and had this to say,
"Every good story, even a short one, has conflict--maybe something dangerous or threatening so that our protagonist can work through it and grow, make choices, handle the conflict. In this story, we get to ask ourselves, what would you do?"
I highly recommend reading the first book before jumping into this one for two reasons; the first is that Gwendy has a character arc that starts back in Button Box when she's twelve years old and in Magic Feather, she's in her late thirties. That's a lot of life experience! Secondly, there are so many flashbacks and references to Button Box that readers would feel cheated out of knowing everything the rest of us know going into this book. Richard Chizmar does a fine job catching potential new readers up to speed but I still think it would be beneficial. No need to re-read though, there's enough refresh for those of us who read it already.
The first half (about 150 pages) of Gwendy's Magic Feather was a little slow going for me. I enjoyed learning about all of Gwendy's accomplishments and relationships but then the novelty of that wore off pretty quickly and I found myself growing impatient with the day-to-day transcription of a pretty normal, uneventful life.
There were a few sub-plots introduced: Something from Gwendy's past resurfaces and there are some girls that have gone missing in Castle Rock (Gwendy's hometown) that catch her attention. However, there are many chapters that go by where Gwendy is at the office, hanging out with her parents, jogging, eating, bathing and I started longing for the story to get interesting.
Finally, around the halfway mark--there are some juicy plot developments and from here on, I was rapidly turning pages and getting more and more invested as the story moved on. I only wish that the compelling nature of a specific plot development happened earlier so that the reader could spend more time thinking about it--everything gets resolved rather quickly and without much fanfare or complication. Just sort of a *slap-slap-of-the-hands* and that's a wrap! All the loose ends are tied up neatly and all our burning questions are answered, which in some ways is satisfying but in other ways, it feels like the reader wasn't trusted to work things out for ourselves. There weren't very many breadcrumbs to trail after.
I did love the supernatural elements Chizmar brought into the story to add some magic. The ending was especially sweet and potentially left open for another Gwendy adventure? I'd be all for it.
I would recommend this book to readers who love: The first book, short chapters, illustrations (yes! This book has lovely pictures!), magical realism, cozy mysteries, YA literature, Castle Rock tales, and supernatural elements.
June 21, 2020
The question that had bloomed in her mind while sitting on the bench that long ago summer day resurfaced—and rather rudely—earlier this morning as Gwendy was busy cushioning the button box in her carry-on bag with rolled up wads of socks and sweaters: How much of her life is her own doing, and how much the doing of the box with its treats and buttons?
I really enjoyed Gwendy’s Button Box, co-written by Stephen King. Gwendy was a really believable, interesting character, dropped into a story reminiscent of an old Twilight Zone or Outer Limits plot.
This sequel takes place a couple of decades later in December of 1999. Gwendy has lived a charmed life since the original story, and is now a newly elected Congresswoman. But she’s worried about her husband, a photographer on a dangerous assignment in Timor. She’s worried about her mother’s health. She’s worried about a dangerously ignorant President who seems to be wandering into war. And that’s when the button box reappears in her office....
I don’t know if the problem is as simple as the absence of Stephen King as a co-writer this time. It could be that this book simply spends too much time setting up a rumored trilogy-ending third book. But this book just didn’t work for me. It’s much too slow. There’s no payoff to any of Gwendy’s worries. There’s a subplot about some missing girls that feels tacked and has a very strange resolution lifted straight from a much earlier Stephen King novel.
Gwendy is still an interesting character. And I’ll certainly read a third book if there is one, hoping that it pays off some of the loose threads here. But for now, this book was disappointing.
June 12, 2020
What was the purpose of this book? Seriously? I was happy to return to Castle Rock, but there was no point to this book at all. Adult Gwendy seems so much less than the teenage version we got. And the direction her life took didn't even make a lot of sense.
So in "Gwendy's Magic Feather" we follow 30 something year old Gwendy. Her life has taken a lot of twists since she was gifted the Button Box. One day though the Button Box reappears, and Gwendy doesn't know what it means, or for long she is supposed to take charge of it. She's also scared she may do the wrong thing since the box seems to call out to her.
So 30 something year old Gwendy didn't feel like the Gwendy we got in the last book. I know that people change, but the changes in her (without getting into spoilers) definitely did not seem very realistic. She is more whiny in this one. She also runs around acting helplessly. I still don't get how the box did what it did in this one at all. It was so confusing.
We also have a serial killer on the loose which feels a bit off to me. It's not a typical King villain to me. Probably because once again King didn't write this one. It just felt tacked on and the missing girls sub-plot was not integrated well into things at all.
The book takes place in Castle Rock in 1999. There are some call-backs to the Dark Tower here and there. A character uses the word "palaver". Gwendy's condo is 19B. We have something with red glowing eyes skulking about. We read about past events in Castle Rock (Needful Things, Cujo, etc.). So that part was good. Other than that....eh.
The only reason why I gave this 1 star was that the illustrations were a great add on.
The ending was lackluster to the extreme.
So in "Gwendy's Magic Feather" we follow 30 something year old Gwendy. Her life has taken a lot of twists since she was gifted the Button Box. One day though the Button Box reappears, and Gwendy doesn't know what it means, or for long she is supposed to take charge of it. She's also scared she may do the wrong thing since the box seems to call out to her.
So 30 something year old Gwendy didn't feel like the Gwendy we got in the last book. I know that people change, but the changes in her (without getting into spoilers) definitely did not seem very realistic. She is more whiny in this one. She also runs around acting helplessly. I still don't get how the box did what it did in this one at all. It was so confusing.
We also have a serial killer on the loose which feels a bit off to me. It's not a typical King villain to me. Probably because once again King didn't write this one. It just felt tacked on and the missing girls sub-plot was not integrated well into things at all.
The book takes place in Castle Rock in 1999. There are some call-backs to the Dark Tower here and there. A character uses the word "palaver". Gwendy's condo is 19B. We have something with red glowing eyes skulking about. We read about past events in Castle Rock (Needful Things, Cujo, etc.). So that part was good. Other than that....eh.
The only reason why I gave this 1 star was that the illustrations were a great add on.
The ending was lackluster to the extreme.
August 9, 2019
Very few would consider a trip to Stephen King’s Castle Rock, bad things happen there. If you ask a local, they’d tell you to take 201 and slip past the quiet little seaside town. Stop in Camden, Rockland, or someplace along the harbor instead. Richard Chizmar chose to ignore those warnings and visited the sleepy little town not once, but twice. First with a guide, then on his own. GWENDY’S MAGIC FEATHER makes it clear he is in no way intimidated playing alone in those haunted streets. His knack for the small town tale is a perfect fit. This is Chizmar at his best.
March 7, 2020
We can't like them all, and that's okay.
December 29, 2024
This is a re-read of this great novella that both adds to the series debut and allows me to have something to fill some time as the end of the reading year is almost here. Here is the original review:
After a successful collaborative effort with Stephen King, Richard Chizmar takes the lead in this sequel that brings Gwendy Peterson back into the middle of an adventure that has dire consequences.
It has been a while since the reader saw Gwendy, who is no longer a teenager, but a full-grown woman. She finished school and soon became a popular author, riding the wave of much success as she found herself in writing. When a friend’s tragedy hit home for her, Gwendy took up the cause of helping those with HIV. A successful run for Congress has her representing one of the congressional districts in Maine. Just before Christmas 1999, Representative Peterson returns to her office to find a silver coin on her desk and the long-forgotten Button Box in one of her cabinets. Armed with what could be quite the weapon, Gwendy is not sure what to do, but realises that she cannot ignore this.
While she keeps the box hidden, she enjoys the holiday time with friends and family in and around Castle Rock. When two teenage girls go missing, the town is in an uproar. Gwendy worries, but also has family issues that require her attention. When she receives a special gift from her parents that Christmas, Gwendy remembers her youth when she had a magic feather that she felt offered her special powers.
As the end of the year approaches, another girl goes missing and Gwendy is trying to determine if it is someone she knows. She also discovers new and haunting powers that she possesses, which could help her hone in on the person responsible for the disappearances. A great novella that complements the opening piece well, while also making loose ties to some of Stephen King’s other books set in the Castle Rock area. Recommended to those who enjoy mystery pieces with a twist, as well as the reader who enjoys shorter reads.
I remember reading the collaborative novella a few years ago and being highly impressed. I have loved Stephen King’s work for as long as I can remember, particularly for the tangential writing with a purpose. When I learned that this sequel had been published and that Richard Chizmar did so alone, I was eager to see if he could keep up the same quality. He did so, while spinning some of the central characters and facts to work effectively decades in the future. Gwendy Peterson is now a successful woman who has impacted the larger community without losing her small-town sense. Now married to a man she loves very much, she also also a strong connection to her parents while fighting for her constituents in Washington as well. Her return for the holidays and trying to handle the reemergence of the Button Box propelled the story forward effectively and allowed the reader to see a little more about her character as she matured into a successful woman. Other characters help shape the story, some returning but many new to the mix. The banter worked well and kept the narrative clipping along. The story flowed and even with a late entry of the titular magic feather, things came together nicely. There was a mix of mystery and personal growth embedded in the plot, which flowed so well. Short chapters pushed the story along and Chizmar used an odd King-esque style that drops hints throughout, forcing the reader to be highly attentive to get everything from the story. I can hope for another instalment of these series, though I am not sure how Chizmar might do so. Then again, I love a good surprise!
Kudos, Mr. Chizmar, for a wonderful piece I devoured in a single day.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
After a successful collaborative effort with Stephen King, Richard Chizmar takes the lead in this sequel that brings Gwendy Peterson back into the middle of an adventure that has dire consequences.
It has been a while since the reader saw Gwendy, who is no longer a teenager, but a full-grown woman. She finished school and soon became a popular author, riding the wave of much success as she found herself in writing. When a friend’s tragedy hit home for her, Gwendy took up the cause of helping those with HIV. A successful run for Congress has her representing one of the congressional districts in Maine. Just before Christmas 1999, Representative Peterson returns to her office to find a silver coin on her desk and the long-forgotten Button Box in one of her cabinets. Armed with what could be quite the weapon, Gwendy is not sure what to do, but realises that she cannot ignore this.
While she keeps the box hidden, she enjoys the holiday time with friends and family in and around Castle Rock. When two teenage girls go missing, the town is in an uproar. Gwendy worries, but also has family issues that require her attention. When she receives a special gift from her parents that Christmas, Gwendy remembers her youth when she had a magic feather that she felt offered her special powers.
As the end of the year approaches, another girl goes missing and Gwendy is trying to determine if it is someone she knows. She also discovers new and haunting powers that she possesses, which could help her hone in on the person responsible for the disappearances. A great novella that complements the opening piece well, while also making loose ties to some of Stephen King’s other books set in the Castle Rock area. Recommended to those who enjoy mystery pieces with a twist, as well as the reader who enjoys shorter reads.
I remember reading the collaborative novella a few years ago and being highly impressed. I have loved Stephen King’s work for as long as I can remember, particularly for the tangential writing with a purpose. When I learned that this sequel had been published and that Richard Chizmar did so alone, I was eager to see if he could keep up the same quality. He did so, while spinning some of the central characters and facts to work effectively decades in the future. Gwendy Peterson is now a successful woman who has impacted the larger community without losing her small-town sense. Now married to a man she loves very much, she also also a strong connection to her parents while fighting for her constituents in Washington as well. Her return for the holidays and trying to handle the reemergence of the Button Box propelled the story forward effectively and allowed the reader to see a little more about her character as she matured into a successful woman. Other characters help shape the story, some returning but many new to the mix. The banter worked well and kept the narrative clipping along. The story flowed and even with a late entry of the titular magic feather, things came together nicely. There was a mix of mystery and personal growth embedded in the plot, which flowed so well. Short chapters pushed the story along and Chizmar used an odd King-esque style that drops hints throughout, forcing the reader to be highly attentive to get everything from the story. I can hope for another instalment of these series, though I am not sure how Chizmar might do so. Then again, I love a good surprise!
Kudos, Mr. Chizmar, for a wonderful piece I devoured in a single day.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
December 2, 2024
Re listen December 2024
Story 3.75 ⬆️stars**
Audio 4.25 stars**
Narrator Maggie Siff
Story 3.75 ⬆️stars**
Audio 4.25 stars**
Narrator Maggie Siff
November 26, 2019
I quite liked Gwendy's Button Box, the first book in series by Richard Chizmar playing in the Castle Rock playground created by Stephen King. This, however, was a snooze fest. There was no sense of urgency about any element to the story; be it a group of missing girls, Gwendy's mother's health, or the consumption of treats from the mysterious button box and presumed ill-fated ramifications resulting from said consumption.
The best way for me to describe this book is 'flat'. The writing is ok, the characters (though really, Gwendy is pretty much the sole focus of the book) are ok, the story is just ok. Nothing really stands out.
The best way for me to describe this book is 'flat'. The writing is ok, the characters (though really, Gwendy is pretty much the sole focus of the book) are ok, the story is just ok. Nothing really stands out.
August 18, 2024
Pequeña novela continuación de La caja de botones de Gwendy, y en la cual parece que no pasa gran cosa pero sí pequeños hechos y conexiones con otras novelas del universo de Stephen King, que aunque no haya tenido parte en esta segunda entrega, sí la tendrá en la tercera y última. En la que espero se despejen algunas dudas (bastantes) sobre el origen de esa misteriosa caja.
Como digo, aquí encontramos solo la pluma de Richard Chizmar, Stephen King nos deleita con un prólogo en el que nos pone en situación sobre cómo se gestó la idea de esta serie que llevaba tiempo guardada en un cajón (una historia que en principio iba a quedarse en el primer libro) y salió a la luz gracias a la idea de escribir la historia a cuatro manos junto a su amigo Richard Chizmar.
Para quien aún no los haya leído les pongo el orden ⤵️
1️⃣ La caja de botones de Gwendy.
2️⃣ La pluma mágica de Gwendy.
3️⃣ La última misión de Gwendy.
Ahora Gwendy ya no es esa adolescente insegura con una caja cuyo poder no podía llegar a imaginarse, ahora es una joven congresista que se ha trasladado a Washington para ejercer allí su cargo.
También veremos su lado más creativo, porque además ahora es una escritora super ventas y no le va nada mal.
Como es lógico, la caja no tardará en volver a aparecer para poner todo su mundo y su propia cordura patas arriba.
Es una historia con mucho potencial, mezcla de novela negra, una pizca de terror y mucho elemento sobrenatural con su parte tierna que me ha encantado, aunque algunas tramas se hayan desaprovechado un poco, como la desaparición de las chicas, ahí me pareció todo muy rápido. Pero teniendo en cuenta que no es una novela policíaca al uso se lo perdonamos 😅
Gwendy tendrá que proteger a su propia familia y al mundo de un poder todavía desconocido para ella; sabemos qué hace la caja pero no cómo ni de dónde procede ese poder. Algo que estoy deseando descubrir en el cierre. Por ello, nada más acabarlo me fui de cabeza a por el cierre de la trilogía con La última misión de Gwendy 🖤 y, aunque aún no lo he acabado, puedo decir que tanto el tema de la política como del espacio me están lastrando la lectura, así que por ahora puedo decir que siendo el cierre no lo estoy encontrando tan inmersivo como el resto.
Aún así, no pierdo la esperanza de que me sorprenda con un buen final y me quite este sabor agridulce que me está dejando.
Porque reconozco que Gwendy es de esos personajes a los que les coges cariño y quieres saber más de ellos, haga lo que haga quieres estar ahí para saber de primera mano como solventa cada bache en su vida, porque la caja puede ser muy tentadora pero hay que saber utilizarla y no permitir que controle tu vida, porque por mucho cuidado que tengas y por muy buena intención que tuvieras al apretar un botón, la caja de botones siempre se cobra su precio.
En sangre🩸
En resumen, es una trilogía que recomiendo, me parece una lectura fresca y llena de guiños a la extensa obra del tito King y eso es algo que sus fans siempre agradecemos 🖤
¿En qué medida está forjando su vida la caja y cuánto es obra de la propia Gwendy?
¿Te atreves a descubrir su poder?
"Por muy oscura y peculiar que sea la historia de Castle Rock, el pueblo sigue cuidando de los suyos." 🖤
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?i... 🖤📖
Como digo, aquí encontramos solo la pluma de Richard Chizmar, Stephen King nos deleita con un prólogo en el que nos pone en situación sobre cómo se gestó la idea de esta serie que llevaba tiempo guardada en un cajón (una historia que en principio iba a quedarse en el primer libro) y salió a la luz gracias a la idea de escribir la historia a cuatro manos junto a su amigo Richard Chizmar.
Para quien aún no los haya leído les pongo el orden ⤵️
1️⃣ La caja de botones de Gwendy.
2️⃣ La pluma mágica de Gwendy.
3️⃣ La última misión de Gwendy.
Ahora Gwendy ya no es esa adolescente insegura con una caja cuyo poder no podía llegar a imaginarse, ahora es una joven congresista que se ha trasladado a Washington para ejercer allí su cargo.
También veremos su lado más creativo, porque además ahora es una escritora super ventas y no le va nada mal.
Como es lógico, la caja no tardará en volver a aparecer para poner todo su mundo y su propia cordura patas arriba.
Es una historia con mucho potencial, mezcla de novela negra, una pizca de terror y mucho elemento sobrenatural con su parte tierna que me ha encantado, aunque algunas tramas se hayan desaprovechado un poco, como la desaparición de las chicas, ahí me pareció todo muy rápido. Pero teniendo en cuenta que no es una novela policíaca al uso se lo perdonamos 😅
Gwendy tendrá que proteger a su propia familia y al mundo de un poder todavía desconocido para ella; sabemos qué hace la caja pero no cómo ni de dónde procede ese poder. Algo que estoy deseando descubrir en el cierre. Por ello, nada más acabarlo me fui de cabeza a por el cierre de la trilogía con La última misión de Gwendy 🖤 y, aunque aún no lo he acabado, puedo decir que tanto el tema de la política como del espacio me están lastrando la lectura, así que por ahora puedo decir que siendo el cierre no lo estoy encontrando tan inmersivo como el resto.
Aún así, no pierdo la esperanza de que me sorprenda con un buen final y me quite este sabor agridulce que me está dejando.
Porque reconozco que Gwendy es de esos personajes a los que les coges cariño y quieres saber más de ellos, haga lo que haga quieres estar ahí para saber de primera mano como solventa cada bache en su vida, porque la caja puede ser muy tentadora pero hay que saber utilizarla y no permitir que controle tu vida, porque por mucho cuidado que tengas y por muy buena intención que tuvieras al apretar un botón, la caja de botones siempre se cobra su precio.
En sangre🩸
En resumen, es una trilogía que recomiendo, me parece una lectura fresca y llena de guiños a la extensa obra del tito King y eso es algo que sus fans siempre agradecemos 🖤
¿En qué medida está forjando su vida la caja y cuánto es obra de la propia Gwendy?
¿Te atreves a descubrir su poder?
"Por muy oscura y peculiar que sea la historia de Castle Rock, el pueblo sigue cuidando de los suyos." 🖤
https://m.facebook.com/profile.php/?i... 🖤📖
July 27, 2022
Richard Chizmar escribe bien pero no es el precioso estilo de King.
Lo del 95% de relleno y dos tontás ya para otro día.
Lo del 95% de relleno y dos tontás ya para otro día.
December 3, 2025
I closed this one after reading the last page last night and when I first opened my eyes this morning I wanted to reach for it and read more about Gwendy. I was sad when I realized it was over again. That’s a sure sign of a 5-star read for me.
This is the second in a series and picks up with Gwendy as a successful adult. She is a Congresswoman for Maine. Her parents still live in Castle Rock and so do Gwendy and her husband when she is not in Washington. One day, as she was getting ready for the 3 week holiday break she goes back to her office and finds the button box. She hasn’t seen it in years but it’s back and she doesn’t know how it got there. She brings it back home and the story begins.
Richard Chizmar does an amazing job representing Stephen King’s character and the town of Castle Rock. I’m excited for the next book!
This is the second in a series and picks up with Gwendy as a successful adult. She is a Congresswoman for Maine. Her parents still live in Castle Rock and so do Gwendy and her husband when she is not in Washington. One day, as she was getting ready for the 3 week holiday break she goes back to her office and finds the button box. She hasn’t seen it in years but it’s back and she doesn’t know how it got there. She brings it back home and the story begins.
Richard Chizmar does an amazing job representing Stephen King’s character and the town of Castle Rock. I’m excited for the next book!
July 29, 2022
I really enjoyed Gwendy's Button Box. This however was no Button Box, although the Button Box does return. It's really just seeing how Gwendy turned out 20 years later. There's no story here. There are a bunch of subplots. But it's really just a few weeks of Gwendy's life now that she's a Congresswoman in 1999. Chizmar wrote this one by himself with Stephen King only giving it an edit and I guess that made all the difference.
August 21, 2024
4.5 ⭐️s
I liked this better than the first one. There I said it. Sure I miss some of King’s idiosyncratic oddities sprinkled throughout, but Chizmar is a stalwart in his own right and admirably holds down the Castle Rock lore.
This very much reads like the connective tissues between books in a trilogy, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. If you go into this book understanding its purpose, you will be much more lenient towards your opinion on the ending. It doesn’t have to wrap anything up because it doesn’t have to. The story isn’t over.
Why You Should Or Shouldn’t Read It
You should. Don’t go into it expecting it to pack a punch. It isn’t hard-hitting or freestanding. It exists to advance the story, and it adds its own magic edges to the parchment it’s written on.
Themes
Life testing you on previously conquered conquests, and exploring how you’d respond if thrust back into that long fought battle
One Thing I’ll walk away with
I’m watching Castle Rock at the same time as I’m reading this book, so the vividness the images I have of that maven of macabre are indelibly embedded in my mind
I liked this better than the first one. There I said it. Sure I miss some of King’s idiosyncratic oddities sprinkled throughout, but Chizmar is a stalwart in his own right and admirably holds down the Castle Rock lore.
This very much reads like the connective tissues between books in a trilogy, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. If you go into this book understanding its purpose, you will be much more lenient towards your opinion on the ending. It doesn’t have to wrap anything up because it doesn’t have to. The story isn’t over.
Why You Should Or Shouldn’t Read It
You should. Don’t go into it expecting it to pack a punch. It isn’t hard-hitting or freestanding. It exists to advance the story, and it adds its own magic edges to the parchment it’s written on.
Themes
Life testing you on previously conquered conquests, and exploring how you’d respond if thrust back into that long fought battle
One Thing I’ll walk away with
I’m watching Castle Rock at the same time as I’m reading this book, so the vividness the images I have of that maven of macabre are indelibly embedded in my mind
July 1, 2020
Well, this book has been absolutely slaughtered in most reviews I've seen. If I were a cynical person I'd be tempted to think most of the 1 and 2 star ratings are from people who are indignant that Richard Chizmar would have the gall to write a sequel to the novel he co-wrote with Stephen King without their beloved Mr. King's help. You know, if I were a cynical person... Some reviewers seem to be oblivious to the fact that Chizmar was involved in the first book at all but, well, let's not be too mean to the idiots.
Speaking only for myself, I found it perfectly fine and highly entertaining. OK, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first book but mainly because I found the ending a bit abrupt and something of an anti-climax after some truly excellent build up. With a bit more time spent on the ending, this would have been just as good as its predecessor and I'm definitely up for the third book in the series should Mr. Chizmar choose to write one.
Speaking only for myself, I found it perfectly fine and highly entertaining. OK, I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the first book but mainly because I found the ending a bit abrupt and something of an anti-climax after some truly excellent build up. With a bit more time spent on the ending, this would have been just as good as its predecessor and I'm definitely up for the third book in the series should Mr. Chizmar choose to write one.
April 21, 2025
A conversation I had with the local librarian as I handed this one back across the desk:
Jesse: Oh hey Delores! How's your arthritis?
Delores: The arthritis isn't bad, I have some new essential oils that my sister gave me that seem to be helping.
Jesse: Well, that's good. You know what I always say: if it can't be fixed by essential oils, it probably can't be fixed at all.
(Hands the book across the counter)
Delores: Well, this isn't your usual genre.
Jesse: No, I haven't read Stephen King for a long time, but after all the heavy books I've been reading, I kinda needed this one.
Delores: Sometimes it's good to change things up. Was it good?
Jesse: Oh yeah! It was great. Just what I needed: quick, clean, solid storytelling, to the point, and even though it wasn't written by Stephen King, it was very much his style and his mannerisms. A little to political for me in some parts but that's typical of new Stephen king books and easily overlooked. I never knew there was a sequel to Gwendy's Button Box until I saw it on the shelf over there.
Delores: Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I think there's a third one in the series too. Want me to see if we have it?
Jesse: Yes, please! Gotta finish the series now.
Delores: Looks like we'll have to put a hold on it for you, but it shouldn't be too long.
Jesse: OK, thanks Delores! Hope the arthritis gets better. See you next week.
Jesse: Oh hey Delores! How's your arthritis?
Delores: The arthritis isn't bad, I have some new essential oils that my sister gave me that seem to be helping.
Jesse: Well, that's good. You know what I always say: if it can't be fixed by essential oils, it probably can't be fixed at all.
(Hands the book across the counter)
Delores: Well, this isn't your usual genre.
Jesse: No, I haven't read Stephen King for a long time, but after all the heavy books I've been reading, I kinda needed this one.
Delores: Sometimes it's good to change things up. Was it good?
Jesse: Oh yeah! It was great. Just what I needed: quick, clean, solid storytelling, to the point, and even though it wasn't written by Stephen King, it was very much his style and his mannerisms. A little to political for me in some parts but that's typical of new Stephen king books and easily overlooked. I never knew there was a sequel to Gwendy's Button Box until I saw it on the shelf over there.
Delores: Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I think there's a third one in the series too. Want me to see if we have it?
Jesse: Yes, please! Gotta finish the series now.
Delores: Looks like we'll have to put a hold on it for you, but it shouldn't be too long.
Jesse: OK, thanks Delores! Hope the arthritis gets better. See you next week.
June 4, 2024
When I originally read Gwendy’s Button Box I instantly fell in love with the story and when it was over I was left desperately wishing for more. Fast forward to now and that wish has come true and I couldn’t be happier! I absolutely freaking loved being back with Gwendy and I thought Chizmar did such a fabulous job portraying her as an adult. I really loved where he brought the story and I was disappointed it was so short, I still want more Gwendy! I’ve fallen hopelessly in love with her and I’d gladly read many more books featuring her and the Button Box.
May 13, 2025
A quiet, Maine cozy follow-up to the far more intriguing first book in the Gwendy trilogy. It suffers from middle book syndrome, serving the purpose of passing time more than embarking on new adventure. In a way that's appropriate. In the first book Gwendy is of a youthful age when magic feels real. Now she's in her late-30s and doubt creeps into her mind about prior supernatural experiences. We adults do love to gaslight ourselves. Still, when the mysterious Button Box reappears she's not taking any chances. Will it continue to bring her good luck, or might the benefits turn sour? Don't expect any answers from this book, unfortunately, but there's a good chance you'll be interested enough to press on and finish off the trilogy.
March 9, 2022
My only complaint is that I wish these were a little longer.
February 13, 2025
Didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as Gwendy’s Button Box. But still a nearly 4⭐️ read. The ending felt rushed and a ton was packed in before tying everything up in a neat little bow. Knowing that Gwendy’s Final Task is awaiting me, I gave allowances for the quick ending and rated this one similarly to book one of the trilogy. Looking forward to reading the once again King/Chizmar co-authored final book. 📕
March 21, 2022
Life is full of surprises-and not all of them good.
We return to Castle Rock, to a 37 year old Gwendy and the mysterious button box.
Years have passed since a stranger gave her the box. She was promised she would never need the box again, but now it has returned. But why?
Is it possible the return of the button box is related to the 2 missing girls' case? If so, what is Gwendy supposed to do and what is it going to cost her?
We return to Castle Rock, to a 37 year old Gwendy and the mysterious button box.
Years have passed since a stranger gave her the box. She was promised she would never need the box again, but now it has returned. But why?
Is it possible the return of the button box is related to the 2 missing girls' case? If so, what is Gwendy supposed to do and what is it going to cost her?
August 20, 2022
Comencé este libro porque leí el anterior, que me gustó lo suficiente para seguir con la trilogía, no se si mis expectativas eran muy altas o qué, me esperaba al menos algo del estilo al libro anterior y no ha sido el caso.
Lo primero a tener en cuenta, es que este libro no es una colaboración de Stephen King y Richard Chizmar, este libro está escrito integramente por Richard Chizmar salvo el prólogo que está escrito por Stephen King, es un libro corto e ilustrado, mi mayor pega es que no ocurre nada.
El libro comienza 15 años después de los acontecimientos ocurridos en el anterior libro, Gwendy tiene 37 años, está felizmente casada, ha escrito varios libros y ahora es congresista en Washington D.C. Toda la novela transcurre en las vacaciones navideñas de Gwendy que regresa a pasarlas con su familia en Castle Rock.
A esto hay que sumarle la investigación de la desaparición de 2 jóvenes en Castle Rock, la enfermedad de la madre de Gwendy, que el marido de Gwendy está haciendo un reportaje en Timor, la reaparición de Richard Farris y La caja de botones y las dudas de Gwendy sobre si es buena idea utilizar esta última.
Básicamente la novela nos narra el día a día de Gwendy y esto abarca el 70% de la novela más o menos, demasiada narración de lo que hace o deja de hacer para mi gusto, eso desmerece y deja en segundo plano y practicamente sin interés el caso de las chicas desaparecidas y el regreso de La caja de botones.
Richard Chizmar escribe bien, de forma amena y sencilla, pero el desglose de la trama me ha parecido un pan sin sal, plana y aburrida, sin apenas interés.
Lo primero a tener en cuenta, es que este libro no es una colaboración de Stephen King y Richard Chizmar, este libro está escrito integramente por Richard Chizmar salvo el prólogo que está escrito por Stephen King, es un libro corto e ilustrado, mi mayor pega es que no ocurre nada.
El libro comienza 15 años después de los acontecimientos ocurridos en el anterior libro, Gwendy tiene 37 años, está felizmente casada, ha escrito varios libros y ahora es congresista en Washington D.C. Toda la novela transcurre en las vacaciones navideñas de Gwendy que regresa a pasarlas con su familia en Castle Rock.
A esto hay que sumarle la investigación de la desaparición de 2 jóvenes en Castle Rock, la enfermedad de la madre de Gwendy, que el marido de Gwendy está haciendo un reportaje en Timor, la reaparición de Richard Farris y La caja de botones y las dudas de Gwendy sobre si es buena idea utilizar esta última.
Básicamente la novela nos narra el día a día de Gwendy y esto abarca el 70% de la novela más o menos, demasiada narración de lo que hace o deja de hacer para mi gusto, eso desmerece y deja en segundo plano y practicamente sin interés el caso de las chicas desaparecidas y el regreso de La caja de botones.
Richard Chizmar escribe bien, de forma amena y sencilla, pero el desglose de la trama me ha parecido un pan sin sal, plana y aburrida, sin apenas interés.
March 22, 2022
An odd sequel. A deeply unsatisfying ending. Perhaps the third book in this trilogy will tie up all the loose ends. Gwendy is now an adult with a happy marriage, successful career as writer, winner of an academy award for a documentary and a congresswoman. Suddenly the button box mysteriously comes back into her life.
The President is an idiot who may drag the world into a world war, Gwendy’s mother is in remission from cancer and a serial killer is abducting young girls and the police are finding clothing and the girl’s teeth in the pockets. Also, Gwendy’s husband is in East Timor during a revolution. She worries about all these things and is tempted to use the box.
The box still produces chocolate animal’s with beneficial effects on who eats the chocolate. However, the bad things that happened in the previous story are lacking for me. The authors Stephen King and Richard Chizmar seemed to run out of steam for the ending. Still the story is good but lacks bite and peters out.
The President is an idiot who may drag the world into a world war, Gwendy’s mother is in remission from cancer and a serial killer is abducting young girls and the police are finding clothing and the girl’s teeth in the pockets. Also, Gwendy’s husband is in East Timor during a revolution. She worries about all these things and is tempted to use the box.
The box still produces chocolate animal’s with beneficial effects on who eats the chocolate. However, the bad things that happened in the previous story are lacking for me. The authors Stephen King and Richard Chizmar seemed to run out of steam for the ending. Still the story is good but lacks bite and peters out.
December 11, 2019
A quick, easy read, I enjoyed visiting with Gwendy again, it felt kind of intimate, like spending time with someone I like. Also I have an unhealthy fascination with that button box and the mysterious Richard Farris. The illustrations were a nice touch too.
January 23, 2020
This sequel really didn't need to exist. We didn't learn any more about the Button Box or Richard Farris. We meet Gwendy as an adult but she's just a more mature and successful version of the child we met in the first book. I enjoyed reading it, but when I got to the end I felt like nothing really happened. There's a lot of different things happening with the plot all at once, and yet none of it was very exciting or tense or mysterious. I didn't hate it, but I'm sure I'll completely forget everything about it.
December 9, 2019
With co-written books I always wonder just how that joint writing effort works. In the foreword to this book, King lays out the process by which he and Chizmar wrote its predecessor, Gwendy's Button Box. It would have been nice to include that in the earlier book. In case there is any need for clarification, Stephen King is not an author of this sequel. Despite this, his name appears twice on the front cover. It's entirely legitimate that he gets credit, as this book would not exist without him, but my cynical side sees it as an obvious tool to garner sales. It is clear from the prose that King did not participate in the writing; his certain ease of economical characterization and his, well, 'juice', is notably absent.
Magic Feather is only moderately enjoyable. Chizmar's painting of adult Gwendy as a congresswoman is an interesting development from her teenage character. The story doesn't quite go anywhere from there, though. She visits her parents and struggles with them through her mother's illness; meets political fans and detractors in her home town; hides the button box and resists the urge to magically rid the world of a political figure who is inarguably Trump but set 20 years earlier. Then, to solve the problem of kidnapped girls, the box gives Gwendy a new super-power that has nothing to do with the box's other abilities. I thought this was a weak resolution, one that required cribbing off of another of King's works ().
The physical book design was overdone, in my opinion. It is a thicker volume than Gwendy's Button Box but does not have substantially more content. It makes copious use of white space and unnecessary framing on every page to cover wide margins. The interior illustrations were nice but didn't do much to enhance the text. Overall, I got the impression of an overproduced publication.
Magic Feather is only moderately enjoyable. Chizmar's painting of adult Gwendy as a congresswoman is an interesting development from her teenage character. The story doesn't quite go anywhere from there, though. She visits her parents and struggles with them through her mother's illness; meets political fans and detractors in her home town; hides the button box and resists the urge to magically rid the world of a political figure who is inarguably Trump but set 20 years earlier. Then, to solve the problem of kidnapped girls, the box gives Gwendy a new super-power that has nothing to do with the box's other abilities. I thought this was a weak resolution, one that required cribbing off of another of King's works ().
The physical book design was overdone, in my opinion. It is a thicker volume than Gwendy's Button Box but does not have substantially more content. It makes copious use of white space and unnecessary framing on every page to cover wide margins. The interior illustrations were nice but didn't do much to enhance the text. Overall, I got the impression of an overproduced publication.
January 23, 2024
It’s 1999, Gwendy is a congresswoman, and she’s heading home to Castle Rock for Christmas, in part two of this trilogy. What could possibly go wrong between local residents disappearing and the reappearance of a certain box from her childhood?
The button box reappears without warning in Gwendy’s office when she’s 37, and it is still just as dangerous as it is alluring.
There’s a lot going on and the novel moves fast, but doesn’t lose the intensity. Gwendy’s mother is sick, abductions are plaguing the town and the police don’t have much evidence. Is someone following Gwendy or is she imagining it? As a congresswoman, people are blaming her one moment and wanting her to make appearances the next. She is constantly tempted by the box. Maybe she could use it just a little…. Maybe..
The magic feather was an intriguing addition and I hope it reappears in the final novel.
And of course anytime my favorite literary villain makes time to palaver, I have a tense, unpredictable moment of holding my breath. RF no matter what moniker he’s using in his infinite travels, remains equal parts terrifying and charismatic. (Then I go back and reread all the passages. Twice)
I love the Stephen King books that are set in Castle Rock, that town has a creep factor running beneath the surface that resonates long after I turn the final page. Chizmar was successful in capturing that vibe in Gwendy’s Magic Feather.
This book is stunning , the sketches, the cover art, and overall design are fantastic.
*Second in a Trilogy*Not a Stand Alone*
The button box reappears without warning in Gwendy’s office when she’s 37, and it is still just as dangerous as it is alluring.
There’s a lot going on and the novel moves fast, but doesn’t lose the intensity. Gwendy’s mother is sick, abductions are plaguing the town and the police don’t have much evidence. Is someone following Gwendy or is she imagining it? As a congresswoman, people are blaming her one moment and wanting her to make appearances the next. She is constantly tempted by the box. Maybe she could use it just a little…. Maybe..
The magic feather was an intriguing addition and I hope it reappears in the final novel.
And of course anytime my favorite literary villain makes time to palaver, I have a tense, unpredictable moment of holding my breath. RF no matter what moniker he’s using in his infinite travels, remains equal parts terrifying and charismatic. (Then I go back and reread all the passages. Twice)
I love the Stephen King books that are set in Castle Rock, that town has a creep factor running beneath the surface that resonates long after I turn the final page. Chizmar was successful in capturing that vibe in Gwendy’s Magic Feather.
This book is stunning , the sketches, the cover art, and overall design are fantastic.
*Second in a Trilogy*Not a Stand Alone*
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