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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Significant dark fantasy violence; Empis is a world under brutal occupation and the action sequences are graphic
Language
Some
Adult language in King's narrative voice
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
None
No substance use
Emotional Intensity
Some
Moderate psychological intensity; King's dark fairy tale world is disturbing but the novel's emotional register is ultimately hopeful
What this book is about
Stephen King's novel follows Charlie Reade, a seventeen-year-old who befriends an elderly recluse and discovers his shed contains a staircase to Empis — a magical world that has fallen into darkness and decay. King writes with his characteristic affection for his protagonist and knowledge of fairy tale conventions; the darkness is significant, but the novel has a more hopeful register than his horror work. The violence in Empis is disturbing and graphic. A long novel that earns its length.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
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