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Available
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Description
In the kingdom of Delain, a young prince must struggle against powerful forces to gain his rightful inheritance.
User reviews
LibraryThing member celestialfingerpaint
This is a book that can make you fall in love with fairy tales all over again. I read it when I was in middle school and wrote to Stephen King to ask him if Flagg and Randall Flagg from "The Stand" were the same character. When he responded and told me they are, it sent me on a quest to see how
Being a fairy tale doesn't take anything away from what makes King's novels so great. It simply provides a backdrop for a book that has wonderfully fleshed out characters. Certainly, being longer than the average fairy tale, the characters seem more alive and the reader can form attachments to them that one usually just doesn't feel for Snow White or Cinderella.
Lest we be lost in this make believe realm, King brings us back to reality right at the end. This is my favorite quote from the book: "Did they live happily ever after? They did not. No one ever does, in spite of what the stories may say. They had their good days, as you do, and they had their bad days, and you know about those. They had their victories, as you do, and they had their defeats, and you know about those, too. There were times when they felt ashamed of themselves, knowing they had not done their best, and there were times when they knew they had stood where their God had meant them to stand. All I'm trying to say is that they lived as well as they could."
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many of his books I can spot Flagg in. (I've counted four.)Being a fairy tale doesn't take anything away from what makes King's novels so great. It simply provides a backdrop for a book that has wonderfully fleshed out characters. Certainly, being longer than the average fairy tale, the characters seem more alive and the reader can form attachments to them that one usually just doesn't feel for Snow White or Cinderella.
Lest we be lost in this make believe realm, King brings us back to reality right at the end. This is my favorite quote from the book: "Did they live happily ever after? They did not. No one ever does, in spite of what the stories may say. They had their good days, as you do, and they had their bad days, and you know about those. They had their victories, as you do, and they had their defeats, and you know about those, too. There were times when they felt ashamed of themselves, knowing they had not done their best, and there were times when they knew they had stood where their God had meant them to stand. All I'm trying to say is that they lived as well as they could."
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LibraryThing member sturlington
King takes a stab at young adult fantasy. Not a very memorable book, but probably still better than loads of other books in this category.
LibraryThing member SonicQuack
Stephen King's talent is a little wasted in this fleshed out short story about political backstabbing in the fantasy kingdom of Delain. Although it's a strictly by the numbers affair, the story is interesting enough to see you through to the end. The characters are rather dull, even with
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considerable time devoted to their development, for the book spans some 20 years or so. Despite this time-scale, the plot is very simple and never really looks beyond the few central protagonists. Overall, this feels more like a short story than a full book and takes a simple narrative style, when it could have been so much better. Show Less
LibraryThing member DebbieBspinner
I loved this book. Read it when it was released, and re-read it this week with David. King's voice and imagery transport me to Delain, where I hear the sounds, smell the air, feel the fear and exultation. Delightful.
LibraryThing member fingerpost
The Eyes of the Dragon is Stephen King's book he wrote for his young daughter who didn't like his works of horror. It has no profanity, and is a mature fairy tale more than anything else.
A foolish king has two sons, the elder son smart, kind and wise, the younger son dull, meanspirited and
A foolish king has two sons, the elder son smart, kind and wise, the younger son dull, meanspirited and
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foolish. He also is counseled by an evil sorcerer. The sorcerer kills the king and frames the elder son, leaving the younger, more manipulatable son to inherit the throne. But royalty cannot be executed, so the framed elder son is imprisoned in a tower, which he will not leave until his death. And the real plot of the story begins there. Show Less
LibraryThing member Lcmcsr
Dragons, magicians, kings and servants. What does that have to do with a Stephen King novel? Absolutely everything. I was unaware of his writing a book in this genre and remain firmly a fan. While this is a strong pivot from his typical writing, it was definitely one worth reading. I sat and read
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it from cover to cover in one day. Show Less
LibraryThing member jseger9000
Stephen King is certainly a versatile writer. Here he tackles the fairy story with a tale of a betrayed king, his two princes and a dark wizard.
King Roland of Delain loves his two sons. And if he has a tendency to lavish praise on Prince Peter, his older son and obvious heir to the throne, it is
The Eyes of the Dragon is unlike any other book King has ever written. He has great fun with the fairy tale theme, adopting the role of an omniscient first person narrator who regularly interjects into the narrative to give you his opinion or to point out some fact to you. Reading it gives you the feeling of sitting in a room by a fireplace with ol' Uncle Stevie spinning you a tale. King manages to build page turning suspense even when not much is actually happening. The Eyes of the Dragon is quite an accomplishment. King broke from his own style, writing a story that reads like a kid's book without ever talking down or getting too cute about it and turning out a tale that is vastly entertaining.
King Roland of Delain loves his two sons. And if he has a tendency to lavish praise on Prince Peter, his older son and obvious heir to the throne, it is
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not intended. His younger brother, Prince Thomas is a sad boy, a lonely boy, but not really a bad boy. Flagg the sinister court magician has plans to change that.The Eyes of the Dragon is unlike any other book King has ever written. He has great fun with the fairy tale theme, adopting the role of an omniscient first person narrator who regularly interjects into the narrative to give you his opinion or to point out some fact to you. Reading it gives you the feeling of sitting in a room by a fireplace with ol' Uncle Stevie spinning you a tale. King manages to build page turning suspense even when not much is actually happening. The Eyes of the Dragon is quite an accomplishment. King broke from his own style, writing a story that reads like a kid's book without ever talking down or getting too cute about it and turning out a tale that is vastly entertaining.
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LibraryThing member barpurple
This was the very first Stephen King novel I ever read. Although it's not his usual horror I was hooked from the first chapter. I was quite young when I read this and hadn't yet started devouring Shakespeare and other classics, so the story of the evil magician manipulating a king and his two sons
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was new to me. Now, with a good grounding in the classics I find I still love The Eyes Of the Dragon for it's honest story telling and good triumphing over evil. Show Less
LibraryThing member FrancineZane
The Eye of the Dragon is a fairy tale and the perfect first read of a young adult looking to ease into the fascinating world of Stephen King.
LibraryThing member AliceAnna
Really a delightful children's story that is also a good read for adults. Very simple yet clever.
LibraryThing member BeckahRah
One of my favorites by Stephen King! I love dragons and horror, and this book unifies those two genres into a vastly entertaining tale. Anyone who enjoys a good fantasy read and some classic Stephen King will thoroughly enjoy this story.
LibraryThing member Anagarika-Sean
Another King classic. It's connected with the Dark Tower, and Flagg is an important character. If you love King, you know what I'm talking about.
LibraryThing member Niecierpek
A great book for younger readers. The only King I read from cover to cover and enjoyed.
LibraryThing member pingobarg
the best fanasy/morality tale ever. move over leaves of grass!
LibraryThing member kelcat283
What I liked the most about this book was how it was so descriptive. It told everything in such extreme detail even the littlest things. In the book the wizard use a special sand and they described it so well. They told how he locked it up and the groves on the box the key everything. This kept me
This was a great book overall if I had to rate it I’d give it a 10 out of 10 with no argument. This was a difficult but fun book. It is adult historical fiction. I recommend it to advanced readers who like Descriptive and suspenseful books. I’m looking forward to reading more Stephen King books.
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on the edge of my seat epically when Peter tried to escape.This was a great book overall if I had to rate it I’d give it a 10 out of 10 with no argument. This was a difficult but fun book. It is adult historical fiction. I recommend it to advanced readers who like Descriptive and suspenseful books. I’m looking forward to reading more Stephen King books.
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LibraryThing member nm.fall07.jcorrea
This book wasn't a let down. It has a great plot and amazing characters. From beginning to end you'll be excited. This wont bore, this book is a great example that books dont need action for them to be interesting. Stephen King switches between a couple of characters.
Its about a king who has a son
Its about a king who has a son
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but than he has another who if he could would do without Show Less
LibraryThing member PghDragonMan
Not quite a horror story, and definitely not a children's fairy tale, "Eyes of the Dragon" may best be described as a fantasy story with fairy tale overtones. It's all there, the old but well remembered king, the dutiful son and the evil court adviser, all the usual cast of characters we know so
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well. It is King's imagination that sets the story apart from the usual formula. While the story is an excellent read, the book is not as polished as some other of King's truly great works. Show Less
LibraryThing member Blazingice0608
Keep in mind that this is very different for King, it was meant to be an childrens story for one of his children. However, it turned out to be a great book. Its a very short, easy read that is tightly paced. I pretty much read it in a day or two, but it was worth it. Its a fantasy type novel
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staring a famous character of Kings names Flagg. Any diehard King fan must read this book Show Less
LibraryThing member johnmischief
I read this first 22 years ago and finished it for the third time today.
Whilst i knew this was a good book,i didn't realise HOW good.
This is a young adult book and Mr King has stripped a lot of his usual descriptive flourishes for a nice tight flowing read.
Excellent characters(black,white and muddy
Also nice to see some familiar names and places from The Dark Tower series as well.
Whilst i knew this was a good book,i didn't realise HOW good.
This is a young adult book and Mr King has stripped a lot of his usual descriptive flourishes for a nice tight flowing read.
Excellent characters(black,white and muddy
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grey),and a simple but engrossing story combine to produce a novel that stands proudly amongst his most accomplished works.Also nice to see some familiar names and places from The Dark Tower series as well.
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LibraryThing member KarriesKorner
This is a fairy tale by Stephen King. It a great little tale, but a big departure from King's other works.
LibraryThing member trish.
This book and the Gunslinger series that follow are amazing books. I am not a big fan of stephen king, and can barely get thru any other book of his but this series is just so creative and hooks you. It is like a giant mix of romance, western, sci fi, fantasy and there all jumbled together in a way
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that only stephen king can fathom. Show Less
LibraryThing member booksandwine
Trouble is brewing in the kingdom of Delain. Randall Flagg, King's favorite villain has great influence over the royal family of Delain. Flagg is up to no good. A great crime is committed, and who pays for it, but the heir to the throne.I had to set this book aside for a bit because it wasn't
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holding my attention. It's not a terrible book though. Show Less
LibraryThing member AuthorMarion
I read this book when it was first released and remembered enjoying it at that time. Now, I have re-read it again and believe that I enjoyed it even more than the initial reading.
The tone of the book is reminiscent of fairy tales of my youth. All the ingredients (a kingdom, good and bad royals,
This is an easy read. Don't read too much into the story. It is simply fantasy done extremely well.
I am an avid Stephen King fan and of all his works this one ranks #2 in my book - right after The Stand.
The tone of the book is reminiscent of fairy tales of my youth. All the ingredients (a kingdom, good and bad royals,
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faithful servants, an evil force, a murder most foul, high adventure, mythical beasts) combine for a magical venture into the realm of fantasy. This is an easy read. Don't read too much into the story. It is simply fantasy done extremely well.
I am an avid Stephen King fan and of all his works this one ranks #2 in my book - right after The Stand.
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LibraryThing member df1a_NathanB
I thought the book itself was good, only a bit long and tiresome. The writing and plot are interesting, and the characters are specific too. I just dont like how long the book dragged on the what seems like an unnecesary amount of time. Not captivating enough.
LibraryThing member JeffV
King dies a horrible death. Diligent eldest son is imprisoned for murdering his father, presumably ascension to the throne as motive. Dimwitted second son becomes king instead, operating as a puppet for the true murderer.
A very basic fantasy tale, no strange twists, no deep characters. The ancient
A very basic fantasy tale, no strange twists, no deep characters. The ancient
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wizard seemed rather bipolar; at one moment cold and calculating, the next, psychotically whacked out. This irregularity in characterization is unusual for King. The book is an entirely forgettable one, it will do much to turn someone on to Stephen King nor the medieval fantasy genre in general. Those already versed in either know there is much better fare available. Show Less
Awards
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Winner — 1989)