I eagerly anticipate the release of any Stephen King book and this one was no exception. I bought it the day it was released and had finished it within the week. So...

'Full Dark, No Stars' is made up of four 'novellas,' or long-short stories. Until I read short stories by Stephen King I was not a fan, however his take on them has definitely turned me. The length of all four stories in this book seems just right to me-not so long that you get bored, but long enough to give you a feel of each charcter and allow you to become involved with the story. I found myself immersed in them straight away. Although Stephen King is known as predominantly a horror writer, these are more psychological horror in my opinion.

The first story is '1922.' I really liked the opening paragraph, "My name is Wilfred Leland James, and this is my confession. In June of 1922 I murdered my wife..." It reveals enough to interest the reader straight away. Mid way through this story it reminded me somewhat of Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Tell-Tale Heart,' however by the end I found this story much darker.

The second story, 'Big Driver,' is about a female writer who gets raped and left for dead on her way home from a late night book reading. I think it looks at the darkness a person can find inside themself, when she takes her revenge. Although I found it easier to identify with the character in this story, I did not find it quite as haunting or memorable as '1922.' Still a good story though.

The third story, 'Fair Extension,' is about a man with cancer for a 'life extension.' It has more of a fantasy element then the other three stories. Fans of 'Thinner,' will probably appreciate this story. It makes you think about the dark side people have hidden and the lengths they will go to in dire situations.

'A Good Marriage,' is the final story in the book. It is by far my favourite. I found it really easier to sympathise with the character and the horror of her situation. The action she was forced to take makes you wonder what you would do in her situation...

Overall I really enjoyed this book. When I was reading it I did not analyse every paragraph, I simply sunk into the story, which in my opinion means it was a good book. After I finished it, I was left thinking about the stories and the theme of darkness is quite haunting. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. It is perfect for losing yourself in.