December 2025 Group Read #1 - King Sorrow by Joe Hill > Likes and Comments

This is the discussion thread for King Sorrow by Joe Hill.
Please remember to use page/chapter numbers for reference and to use spoiler tags when discussing potential plot spoilers.
< spoiler>yadda yadda< /spoiler> (with the spaces removed after the <)

Happy reading!

Thank you Alan for opening this thread and the spoiler tags explanation. Can't wait to start. Happy reading till then.

Great, my wife just bought me a copy.
I am in!

Next week gonna be a lot of reading because I wanna finish my current books before starting with this! Looking forward to it folks

I'm in, looking forward to reading this.

Sonja wrote: "Thank you Alan for opening this thread and the spoiler tags explanation. Can't wait to start. Happy reading till then."

Thanks for mentioning the spoiler tags, as I didn't realize what I typed hadn't come out right. It's now been fixed.

I can't wait!

Listening to the audiobook during a long drive to visit my son and grandkids. The narrator is doing an awesome job! We're almost to the halfway point.

I'm about 100-150 pages away from finishing. It is taking me forever to read this, but that's not the fault of the book, just my mental mood and crazy schedule lately.

Just started and finished this bad boy. The Audible version is outstanding if you like audiobooks. It is a truly unique story. It's mostly a character study, fantasy with some horror and crime fiction. You're in for a ride. :) The less I say probably better.

Don't let my 4-star review deter you; it's a really great book. I have a couple of personal reasons - no spoilers.

Amazing book. One of the best I've read in the last 10 years. Enjoy, everyone. I look forward to reading your reactions to the moments that caught me unprepared.

Woo hoo! I needed this motivation to start this beast!

I'm in the last 100 pages, (finally), and I've been quite surprised a few times now, Kaiser! Totally out of nowhere, I was blindsided, twice.

I don't know how it's going to wind up, but I'm hoping to finish it tonight.

I started it, almost dnf'd in chapter 4, then continued and now it looks like it's going to get spooky. Over 900 pages is daunting but I'm invested now.

Just started and man that escalated quickly. 😅

Bethan wrote: "I started it, almost dnf'd in chapter 4, then continued and now it looks like it's going to get spooky. Over 900 pages is daunting but I'm invested now."

I dnf'ed at 15% of the audiobook.

Can't believe a book I sent for FINALLY got here in time for me to read it while everyone else is reading it too. Here we goooooooo

I listened to approximately 15-17 hours of the audiobook for free until my Spotify Premium account notified me that I had used up my allotted audiobook time for November. Bummer! I didn't realize there was such a thing,
I suppose now that it's December I can return to it.
Just in case, I ordered the book and should have a hard copy in a few days. Loving this story, and now my family members who traveled with me are hooked as well.

Listened to the audiobook and while it is quite the whopper and could probably be a bit shorter, I didn't get bored once. The characters are nuanced, the story has quite a few twists and if any book deserves to be described as a genre bender, then it's this one. Also, it felt somewhat reminiscent of earlier Stephen King novels without being a blatant ripoff. I dare say the masters legacy is in good hands.

inciminci wrote: "

I dnf'ed at 15% of the audi..."

The Misogyny is still grating, but my main reason (view spoiler)[is the mc is so f-ing weak! He could have nipped this in the bud and I hated feeling like a blackmail victim. (hide spoiler)]

inciminci wrote: "Bethan wrote: "I started it, almost dnf'd in chapter 4, then continued and now it looks like it's going to get spooky. Over 900 pages is daunting but I'm invested now."

I dnf'ed at 15% of the audi..."

I ended up absolutely loving this book. In fact, I liked it so much I'm probably going to buy and listen to the audio too, but not until the new year.

If you look at the book as 5 novellas all packaged into 1 omnibus, that's kind of how it reads. That might help you mentally. Think of it as an author who combined the stories into one book so you didn't have to buy 5 short stories. Mentally, that might give you the 'win' in sections that sometimes you need in uber-sized reads... or at least that helps me sometimes. It's worth the read. How it starts is not anywhere how it ends as we follow the characters over 10-20 years.


Bethan wrote: "inciminci wrote: "

I dnf'ed at 15% of the audi..."

The Misogyny is still grating, but my main reason [spoilers removed]"

I love the trippiness of this book. He makes it seem so....possible.

I have a little under five hours left of the audio finally. This was a long one. Sometimes very interesting, and some parts don't interest me. It's starting to pick up again.

I was going to pick this up at the library tomorrow, but just realized how many pages it is. Yikes! I think maybe I’ll try the audio version and see if that helps me move through it a bit quicker. Nothing like a little horror while gift-wrapping and holiday baking! 🔪🎁

Now that it's a new month, I can return to Spotify to continue the free audiobook. Yay! Listened to a few more chapters today. (view spoiler)[ So sad about Van. (hide spoiler)]

My hardcover copy arrived in the mail today. I'd give this a dual read/listen if I didn't have so many other books waiting for me.

Maybe in February I'll return to the book and give it a second reading. Definitely deserves it. Good one, Mr. Hill!

I’m about a 150 pages in and I’m enjoying it so far. I never thought dragons were particularly scary as monsters go but I have a suspicion this book is going to change that.

Chapters 1-30
Ugh! I am struggling with these characters. How do you feel about them?

I did end up getting this on audio. It’s helping me to move through the book a bit quicker, but the audio narrator’s delivery is hugely affecting the tone of the book for me. I may just go ahead and read the text.

(view spoiler)[The characters are supposed to be getting ready for university, but they come off as geeky, horny, middle school kids trying their hand at cussing and trash-talk for the first time. Their immature comments and behaviors are so extra that, for me, it overshadowed the introduction of the dragon. (I think the audio makes this worse).

Regarding the female characters—I don’t mind if an author writes a woman unfavorably (they do at times possess negative traits, just like men), but this feels like a concentrated effort and lacks authentic flow. And… I’m disappointed in Arthur. (hide spoiler)]

I’m going to keep going. I’ve said a lot but it’s still quite early really. Chapter 30 is not far at all, it’s only like 150 pages I think. Still plenty of time for things to change. Onward!

I'm just on the 4th chapter as of now, but enjoying it so far. I like the idea of dark academia and horror, and I've always enjoyed Hill's writing.

Diane wrote: "Chapters 1-30
Ugh! I am struggling with these characters. How do you feel about them?"

That's one of my problems with the book. Worse than that, I've just met the title character and the dialogue reads like a child wrote it, at least to me.

I would ask how the book ever got published, but we all know the answer to that. I've read one other Joe Hill book and was underwhemed by the writing, but didn't consider dnf on that one (Horns). This one I'm thinking it for the third time.

Does it get better? So many people saying how good it is has kept me going so far.

Bethan wrote: "Diane wrote: "Chapters 1-30
Ugh! I am struggling with these characters. How do you feel about them?"

That's one of my problems with the book. Worse than that, I've just met the title character and..."

Hi Bethan. I’m hoping once the title character is more active in the story, that everybody else will sort of settle into their roles. I still feel like I’m just getting started.

Years ago, I read NOS4A2 and Heart-Shaped Box. Though it’s not the style of horror that I typically reach for, I still liked “NOS4A2”, and I thought “Hear-Shaped Box” was ok. I think there is promise here too. I’m just hoping there isn’t going to be much drag due to the book’s length. I think I’m at 179 pages now. How far are you?

Ok, I think I’m going to tap out on this one. I made it to pg 294, but it’s not doing it for me. I hope the rest of you enjoy your read! 🐲

This was the shortest 900 page book I've ever read - it flew by. Well worth a read if you aren't sure to get stuck in. The pace is consistent enough that it doesn't get stale at any point.

I wouldn't have read this if it wasn't for this book club as dragons aren't really my thing, but I'm so glad I did. Definitely an original take on dragons, or at least I think. Like I said, dragons aren't really my thing and maybe it's generic af.

The first book I've given 5 stars in a very long time.

I just saw that King Sorrow is on the New York Times best of the year of list, Waterstone's Books of the Year list, Apple Books Notable Books list and a few others as well.

I loved this book so much! I might still buy the audio to listen to it, but not until next year.

Diane wrote: "Chapters 1-30
Ugh! I am struggling with these characters. How do you feel about them?

I did end up getting this on audio. It’s helping me to move through the book a bit quicker, but the audio narr..."

Most of the characters aren't good people in this book really.

I enjoyed the narrator for the book.

Scott wrote: "I wouldn't have read this if it wasn't for this book club as dragons aren't really my thing, but I'm so glad I did. Definitely an original take on dragons, or at least I think. Like I said, dragons aren't really my thing and maybe it's generic af.
"

I can't recall many dragon horror books really offhand. When I see dragons in fiction it's usually fantasy, urban fantasy, or paranormal romance type. This one to me mixed a lot obviously with King Arthur and the dragon tribute too, which was a fun part.

To me King Sorrow reminded me more of a demon than a dragon with the 1) Knowing the name, 2) Summoning, 3) Tricky pact contracts that trick the summoner - and of course the glee and viciousness celebrating death and tragedy.

And also Demonata series by Darren Shan had Lord Sorrow as the lead demon, and King Sorrow is similar in name, so it also reminded me more of a demon type creature

@Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*

I didn’t mind that the characters were flawed. I think my issue was that it felt campy, and for me, the audio made it worse. There’s definitely an audience for that—it’s just not my thing.

I believe the audio-narrator did a fabulous job, but it would’ve sounded much different in my own head.

@Scott

Years ago, I read a book involving a dragon. It was called The Oath. Although Frank E. Peretti is a Christian author, his stories don’t feel preachy. He writes different things such as children’s books and nonfiction, but I think he’s mostly known for (what Google refers to as…) “…supernatural thrillers blending horror elements with spiritual warfare”. I loved his stories. He’s worth checking out.

Diane wrote: "@Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*

I didn’t mind that the characters were flawed. I think my issue was that it felt campy, and for me, the audio made it worse. There’s definitely an audience for that—it’s..."

Understood. I know some don't enjoy effects sounds, or music, or sometimes old fashioned radio style graphic audio. This one was not full on graphic style other than a few select spots. We all have different audio preferences for sure - I'm often in Audible on Reddit forums and it's interesting to see the different fans of different techniques.

I saw it was multi cast and got excited, but I was underwhelmed actually because to me it was mainly one narrator throughout entire book unless it was King Sorrow or certain scenes, so I was expecting a bit more Multi-Cast and effects throughout entire book if this makes sense.

@Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*
“I saw it was multi cast and got excited…”, “…so I was expecting a bit more Multi-Cast and effects…

Wow… fancy audio! LoL. I don’t have much experience with audio. Other than “King Sorrow” I’ve only listed to one other book digitally, and it was a completely different kind of story (The Bluest Eye). Before that, the last time I listened to an audio book, it was on a cassette tape LoL.

Diane wrote: "@Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*
“I saw it was multi cast and got excited…”, “…so I was expecting a bit more Multi-Cast and effects…

Wow… fancy audio! LoL. I don’t have much experience with audio. Othe..."

It took me a long time to get used to audio. I only like it in certain genres such as horror and I'm picky on narrators, so I totally get that

I'm closing in on the end of the story and I'm really torn between wanting to know what the next sideways twist is going to be and never wanting this adventure to end. I am loving every page.

Here's an odd moment I just had. Gwen just said for the first time, almost at the end of the book, that Arthur Oakes resembles a young Steven Biko. I wasn't sure I had ever seen Biko and when I Googled up a photo I found that he looks exactly the way I have been picturing Arthur all through the book.

Diane wrote: "I’m hoping once the title character is more active in the story, that everybody else will sort of settle into their roles. I still feel like I’m just getting started."

I believe it was 379. I haven't been able to bring myself back to it and have been reading other group reads, but I'll push myself to try one more time.

Fishface wrote: "I'm closing in on the end of the story and I'm really torn between wanting to know what the next sideways twist is going to be and never wanting this adventure to end. I am loving every page.

Here..."

I love when that happens.

I am listening to this book now. It is a slow burn, I like the dragon🖤

Char wrote: " I love when that happens."

This is definitely one of the year's best reads for me.

I just started this beast last night and hope I can finish it before the end of the year. I'm reading it and not doing audio.

Go big or go home?! :D

Hoping to start in this today. Definitely feels like Go big or go home, haha!

It would be great to see you and Ginger chiming in, Terry!