Stephen King,Peter Straub, The Talisman Review

Overall Rating

I always take an interest when King branches outside of horror and explores something new. The Talisman, although having a few horror and thriller moments, is more of a fantasy adventure and it's easily up there in my top 5.

It's about a young boy - Jack Sawyer, who is desperately trying to save his mother who seems to be slowly dying. She takes him away to a small sea side town and he understands she is running from something, but unsure as to why.

With his mother sick, Jack goes out to explore the town to fill his days, and this is when he discovers his ability to "flip" to another world. This world is a place of magic, strange creatures and danger as well as being a mirror to our own world. Jack starts his hunt in this new world for the magical talisman, the one thing that might save his mothers life.

This is an unforgettable and amazingly well told, imaginative tale that pulls you in and doesn't let you go. I really found myself routing for Jack and getting far more invested in him than I do with the characters from most books.

Even though this is a fantasy adventure about a young boy, it's still by no means a children's book.