Swan Song

This book is always compared to The Stand, and it's almost impossible to not compare the two. There are many parallels. But thankfully, there are plenty of differences. I think this book is perhaps better written than The Stand, and the Stand has more noticeable flaws (honestly, Swan Song is incredibly smooth and polished, it feels like an author more at the top of their game than King was when he wrote The Stand). However, The Stand had better characters and relationships, and better dialogue, and emotional moments. I also just loved part 1 and part 2 better than the parts 1 and 2 of Swan Song.

Where Swan Song shines, though, is not ever being dull or descending into “The Kid” type nonsense, leaning more into the horror and fantastical elements that make this book so memorable, pulse pounding, horrifying, and electrifying, and having a much better third act. The third act of Swan Song is great.

Divorced from The Stand, though, what you have is an absolutely exceptional novel that had me gripped from page 1 and never let go. I'm so annoyed I've been recommended this book for 15 years and have never picked it up. McCammon is such a great author and I look forward to reading more of his stuff. The only nitpick I have is that part of the final chapter really didn't work for me, but most of the climax and the very end did.