Nerds That Geek Book Review - 'The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla'

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

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. 

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