Sadly, every story that draws us in and that we love so much, has to come to its end. It's never easy knowing that fact and it makes picking up the last story in the series all that more difficult, because we know that when we reach those final pages we will no longer share in the wonder of this tale and its characters, we simply say goodbye. That was the case as I picked up the final chapter in Stephen King's magnum opus. I knew full well this would be a final farewell, and yes while The Wind Through the Keyhole came out after this book, that doesn't matter, this is where Roland and his ka-tet met their destiny, this was the book filled with heartbreak, this...was the end with The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower.

Mordred Deschain has been born and is simply an abomination. This shape shifting creature has only one thing on its mind, to find its father, Roland and kill him. Thankfully, it need not look far, for Roland and his ka-tet have reached End World and they will have far worse than Mordred to deal with as they face off against the Crimson King's lieutenants and fight a costly fight to finally reach...The Dark Tower.  

What makes this novel rewarding, yet difficult to get through, is that everyone's story arc comes around full circle, whether you like it or not. I say that, because this is the novel where Stephen King finally unleashes a no holds barred style of writing that ends up costing several characters their lives. I don't want to go into that too deeply if you haven't made it that far yet, but know that heartbreak is coming and you will have to say goodbye to some folks sooner than you would like. 

But the part that matters most about this book, is the grand finale and that we finally get the epic showdown we have been waiting for all along between Roland and the Crimson King and of course...we finally arrive at the Tower. Now I'm not spoiling anything by telling you that, because the title of the book and the cover reveal that fact as well, but it is just so glorious to finally see the Tower after years of searching for this mystical place alongside Roland...which of course leads us to the controversial ending.

Those of you who have finished the book know precisely what I am talking about, and those who have not, well you're in for a grand internal debate. For there are two endings to this novel, one that simply ends the story and one that serves as the true ending. King even warns us that the real ending may not satisfy and it is one that has divided many a fan of this book. I for one, love the real ending. I think it's fitting and beautiful in its own special way.  

Either way, out of all of the books in the series, this one was my favorite. It is a book that I was worried about when it came to the ending, because when you have a universe this big and diverse and a story this grand to tell, the ending could certainly let you down. But man, this book simply delivers in every possible way. Sadly though, our discussion of these fine books must end as well, so I ask that you certainly give them a read, I don't think you'll be disappointed in doing so and I bid you all farewell by wishing each and every one of you...long days and pleasant nights.  

I have always loved the type of story where everything is on the line. Where the stakes are high and the characters are forced to give their absolute best. As a reader, it gives you two incredible things. For one, it leaves you firmly glued to the story, where you simply have to know what happens next. Past that, it completely draws you in. You are in that world, and your heart beats in line with the characters.  

It is those kinds of stories where you put the book down once you have reached the end and take a deep breath, because you have returned to the safety of reality, yet at the same time you realize that have gone through a once in a lifetime experience. It is that kind of writing and storytelling that one finds when they pick up the sixth chapter in The Dark Tower series, Song of Susannah.

Following the events of Wolves of the Calla the demon named Mia has taken control of Susannah and takes her body through the doorway, arriving on the Earth we call home in 1999. Here she reveals that the baby within her is the son of Roland, since the same demon that Susannah seduced, also seduced Roland in another time and place. This child serves great purpose to the Crimson King, the current ruler of the Tower, and through a deal with the Man in Black, she will be allowed to raise the child. As Susannah/Mia waits for this abomination to arrive, the ka-tet goes through the doorway as well and are sent to our world, but are split up into different time frames. Father Callahan and Jake arrive in 1999 and Roland and Eddie arrive in 1977. Both groups are on a specific mission. Callahan and Jake are preparing to deal with the mess involving Susannah/Mia, while Roland and Eddie work to save the rose in New York and along the way meet a writer named Stephen King whose story about a distant Tower may be instrumental to finishing their own quest.  

So, when this book first came out, there was immediate question as to how Stephen King would make a cameo in his own work and well the whole notion seemed pretty meta until I picked up the book. It turns out King's ‘role’ in the book is actually quite integral to the story, specifically the parts as to where he debated not finishing The Dark Tower story and how he proves to be more of a vessel for the tale rather than an architect. After all, there was worry from us fans that the story would never be complete as is and well...by making himself a pawn of the Tower in no way draws the attention to him. If anything, it continues to build the powerful story that manages to weave together all of King's work.  

But, that aside, this book clearly is the setup for the grand finale, and it is packed to the gills with tense moments and for the first time ever there is a powerful sense of urgency to the story. Every page builds incredible tension as the stakes continue to get higher and you start to feel real danger for the characters and that happens to draw you in further. In fact, this one did such a great job of drawing me in that I finished it in three days and like the other books in the series, I've re-read it countless times. Either way, some may not enjoy the fact that this book is about so much setup, but it's all necessary. The whole plot piece of baby Mordred Deschain preparing to be born is fascinating to say the least and I like the fact that the book leaves us on a cliffhanger. It makes the danger all the more real and makes the final entry in the series worth the wait.

There comes a point in the story where we realize we are in for a treat. We know that our heroes and heroines have reached a point of no return, where their fates will be decided in incredible fashion and often times, great things will come from this. They will save the day and we will love every minute of it. Yet at the same time these moments also signal the beginning of the end, for as the battle becomes greater and the stakes are raised we know that the end of the journey awaits us as well and it is that kind of bittersweet storytelling that comes forth in the fifth chapter of The Dark Tower series, Wolves of the Calla. 

Roland and his ka-tet have had a long journey after the events of Wizard and Glass and find themselves nearing End World, where The Dark Tower awaits. But before they cross into this horrible wasteland, they reach the farming community of Calla Bryn Sturgis, where the group is asked to help in saving the children here from a horrible fate. For once a generation ‘wolves’ come from End World to steal the children of the town only to return them as shells of their former selves. The ka-tet agrees to help but as they prepare for the battle, they meet a priest from another reality and the device that brought him here reveals that there is something beautiful in another world and another time that Roland must protect, a single red rose. As if the stakes aren't high enough, there is also another threat growing within the group...a baby inside Susannah that comes from the demon she seduced in The Waste Lands to help Jake come into their world is gestating and it has awakened a nefarious personality within her named Mia that may bring doom to them all.  

To say that this story isn't loaded to the gills with action and excitement would be an understatement because holy cow does Wolves of the Calla impress through and through. Finally, we get to see what Roland and his ka-tet can do, all while setting up the grand finale for this story in amazing fashion while adding a new wrinkle to the fold that initially caught me off guard...the introduction of Father Callahan from Salem's Lot. Yes, for the second time in the series, another character from the King-verse manages to appear with quite the big role to say the least.  

It is this plot twist that reinforces the importance of Roland’s world and of the Tower, and when you throw Stephen King’s incredibly vast story universe into the mix as well, it raises the stakes for the forthcoming finale, since the true gravity of the Tower’s salvation isn’t properly realized until this particular novel. Because it is in this story, that it becomes inherently clear just how many realities the Tower actually holds together and now the lives of so many hang in the balance.  

This is however, another transitional book in the series, meant to set up the final two. Yet once again one cannot put it down, because the introduction of Mia and the consequences of Susannah's sexual sacrifice all leave you hooked for the next chapter of the story and while it ends on an ominous note you are still left with a sense of hope. For now that you have seen what Roland and his ka-tet can do in battle, you know they will do incredible things to save both the day...and the universe.