Wolves of the Calla (Dark Tower, #5)

by Stephen King

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

In many ways, Wolves of the Calla feels like a filler book.

There's nothing wrong with that, mind you. I'm one of those people who watches Supernatural and says "Oh, thank goodness" when a filler episode pops on because they're always deeply interesting and besides they'll include small elements that will relevant later. Sometimes we need a break from the drama and to see another side of things! Wolves of the Calla is like that - it's interesting, it opens the world up a bit more, but you don't really feel the characters getting any closer to the Dark Tower.

The characters are really strong in this book - both the ka-tet and the new introductions. I love Jake, in particular, in this one. He finally gets the opportunity to act like a kid and have a friend and it's sort of his coming-of-age novel. It's interesting to see the child and the gunslinger battle in his thoughts. We're also introduced to Pere Callahan, whom you may have met before if you've read [b:'Salem's Lot|11590|'Salem's Lot|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327891565s/11590.jpg|3048937]. The reasons *why* King's recycling characters isn't all that clear in this novel, but it will reveal itself soon enough. Personally, I like Callahan better here than in his own story.

Overall - the Dark Tower series goes on. There's two books left in the series and as a reader I feel as though the pacing has really slowed down. You're still interested in the end game, but now it takes a bit more patience to trudge through. Typical Stephen King.