The entire kingdom thinks that King Roland’s eldest son will inherit his throne. However, one man is scheming and plotting to get Roland’s younger son Thomas on the throne. Flagg, the king’s magician, poisons Roland’s wine, and frames Peter for his father’s murder. He doesn’t know that Thomas watched when Flagg brought Roland his poisoned wine. He had a habit of observing his father through the eyes of the dragon mounted on the wall.
Now Thomas is crowned king while his brother is held captive in the needle. While Flagg attempts to manipulate Thomas into becoming a puppet king, Thomas keeps the secret of what he saw through the dragon’s eyes until he shoots Flagg with a bow and arrow in the story’s climax.
The first time I read this book, over 30 years ago, I simply adored it. This will always be one of my favourite Stephen King books, along with The Dark Half and ‘Salem’s Lot.
Read for The 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt 30: Author related to another author
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️