eBooks

Cycle of the Werewolf PDF Novel Review by Stephen King

Cycle of the Werewolf is a horror novella by Stephen King, featuring illustrations by comic-book artist Bernie Wrightson. The book consists of 12 short stories, each set in a different month of the year, that follow the attacks of a werewolf on the residents of a small town in Maine. The only person who suspects the truth is Marty Coslaw, a 10-year-old boy who is confined to a wheelchair. Marty manages to injure the werewolf in the eye with a firework on the Fourth of July, and later discovers that the beast is none other than the local Reverend Lowe. With the help of his uncle, Marty confronts and kills the werewolf with silver bullets on New Year’s Eve.

The review by Kevin on Goodreads gives the book a 3.5/5 rating, saying that it is a good first step into King’s work, but also lacks any real depth or character development. The reviewer notes that the book is very basic and follows a predictable calendar structure, and that it appeals more to young readers than to adults. The reviewer also praises the illustrations by Wrightson, which add to the atmosphere of the book.

The review by Dane Cobain on danecobain.com gives the book a similar rating of 3.5/5, saying that it is okay but not very impressive. The reviewer compares the book unfavorably to King’s longer and more complex novels, such as The Stand, and says that it is the sort of thing that King can churn out in a day. The reviewer also mentions that the book was originally intended to be a calendar, with each story accompanied by a painting by Wrightson, but that the project was abandoned due to the high cost of production. The reviewer concludes that the book is worth reading for King’s fans, but not essential.