Geek Peek: Fairy Tale by Stephen King

If you’re a horror fan, or an admirer of stories that involve interesting, supernatural occurrences, you’ve probably explored the works of Stephen King, often dubbed the “King of Horror”. I’ve always been a fan of his work. His books are easy to read, his characters are well-developed and relatable, and the worlds he creates feel like living, breathing organisms. I recently read Fairy Tale, published in 2022, and I’m here to tell you how much I loved it, and why you should read it too!

What It’s About

Now, I’m going to try to give you a summary of what the book is about without giving away any spoilers. But because of the book’s length and the shift in genres that takes place throughout, it’s impossible for me to do so without touching on a few plot points. So, if you’re the kind of reader who likes to dive in completely blind, I’d recommend skipping the rest of this section.

The book is a mélange of genres: a mix of mystery, fantasy, and Lovecraftian horror. And, as the name suggests, it strongly evokes the feeling of a fairy tale.

It starts by introducing the world and life of a fairly typical 17-year-old boy living in a small town in the United States. He’s a good student, a loving son, great at sports, and focused on college… pretty standard teenage stuff. One day, he hears the panicked barks of a dog coming from the yard of the town’s infamous “creepy house”, only to discover that the elderly man who lives there has fallen and broken his leg. The boy starts caring for both the man and his dog, neither of whom seem to have much time left. He quickly grows attached to the dog, caring for her as if she were his own. That’s more or less what the first part of the book covers.

The second part, and I’m doing my very best not to spoil anything, takes place in another world, one the boy stumbles into by chance. It’s a dark world that reminds him of the fairy tales he heard as a child. Not the Disney versions, but the older, darker ones written (or more accurately, adapted and recorded) by the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Perrault, or Friedrich Corrodi. I’m talking about those macabre folk tales (which I personally adore). On top of that, this strange world seems to be under the influence of some Lovecraftian entity (and that’s not just my interpretation, the narrator explicitly references Lovecraft and his work as he journeys through it). Soon, the boy and the dog find themselves in the middle of a strange and haunting conflict between good and evil.

Fairy Tales

The book is bursting with references to fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and folklore: the well-known ones like Jack and the Beanstalk, The Little Mermaid, Little Red Riding Hood, and more obscure stories like The Goose Girl. These references are woven directly into the main plot, with the narrator often reflecting on how his experiences echo those of classic fairy tale characters.

This is one of the reasons I love fairy tales to begin with. Though their events are fantastical and far removed from our daily lives, the themes they explore strike a universal chord. They help us connect with the characters, reflect on the challenges we face, and even find meaning in our own struggles. Fairy Tale does a beautiful job of bringing these timeless ideas into a vivid and fully realized world that feels familiar, yet entirely its own.

 

Lovecraftian Horror

Lovecraftian horror isn’t about jump scares or gore, it’s about the creeping dread that we’re tiny specks in a vast, indifferent universe. Named after writer H.P. Lovecraft, the genre dives into cosmic horror: ancient gods, unknowable beings, and horrifying truths too big to fully grasp. The terror doesn’t come from what we see but from what we can’t comprehend. For fans of the genre, that unsettling feeling is exactly the point: it makes you think, long after the story’s over, about what might be lurking just beyond the stars.

I love the idea of this kind of horror blending with the themes of fairy tales, creating a unique type of folk horror. And that’s exactly what King does here. The protagonist (or anti-hero, depending on how you interpret him) spends much of the story trying to make sense of the incomprehensible, whether in his own world, the one he discovers, or within his own mind. And by the end, many of his questions remain unanswered, as is often the case with life. All he can do is draw his own conclusions and try to find peace in knowing he did what he could.

The Dog

I can’t in good conscience review this book without talking about what I consider a secondary protagonist: Radar, the dog. As the proud human of a wonderful little dog myself, I was blown away by how Stephen King brought her character to life. If you’re a dog lover, or have ever spent time with more than one, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say they each have clear, unique personalities and can truly become the heart of someone’s world.

Radar isn’t just a pet or a sidekick; she’s a fully developed character. Her innocence, honesty, and clarity stand in stark contrast to the dark, unsettling tone of the story’s Lovecraftian folk horror, and that contrast creates something powerful: a blend of dread and hope that feels deeply human. If you’re an animal lover, I’d honestly recommend reading the book just for Radar. She’s easily one of my favorite fictional characters of all time.

Final Thoughts

As a fan of fairy tales, horror, and fantasy, I can honestly say I loved this book. Sure, there were moments when certain sections felt a little long (it’s hard for me not to make editorial nitpicks), but the worlds King crafted completely drew me in and held me there until the very last page.

The genre-blending in Fairy Tale reminded me of movies directed by Guillermo del Toro, another favorite of mine. I adored the concept of a folktale told through the dark lens of horror, steeped in references to the more chilling aspects of the fairy tales we all know. If any of that speaks to you, I think you’ll enjoy Fairy Tale as much as I did.