Aimed at introducing young adult readers to the master of horror, ‘Stephen King’ by Bev Vincent serves as a visual and literary companion. Featuring insights into King’s life, works, and inspirations, this book is perfect for budding fans curious about the man behind the legends of Carrie, It, and The Shining.

Accuracy: ★★★★★
The biographical details and analyses of King’s works are thorough and accurate. Vincent’s deep familiarity with Stephen King’s career ensures a faithful representation of the author’s life and legacy while providing context for his novels and their impact.

Perspective: ★★★★☆
This ‘Young Readers Edition’ introduces King’s work in a way that aims to be accessible to teens. While the effort to tailor King’s darker material to a younger audience is admirable, it can feel like it dilutes the essence of King’s often unsettling themes. Readers familiar with King’s work might find the perspective less impactful.

Relevance: ★★★★☆
Stephen King’s enduring popularity makes this book highly relevant for fans, although its YA focus might not resonate with all readers. Nonetheless, it succeeds in making King’s oeuvre approachable for a new generation.

Engagement: ★★★★★
The engaging mix of visuals, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes tidbits draws readers in, offering an intriguing glimpse into King’s creative world. It strikes a good balance between informative content and entertainment.

Readability: ★★★★☆
The writing is clear and engaging, but some design choices - such as overly stylised fonts or clashing colour schemes - make sections harder to read. Simplifying the layout would significantly enhance the reading experience.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
Fans of Stephen King, especially those new to his works, will find this book enjoyable and enlightening. While long-time readers might find it less comprehensive, it’s an excellent entry point for younger audiences discovering King’s dark worlds.


Bev Vincent’s ‘Stephen King’ is a vibrant introduction to one of literature’s most iconic figures. Though the YA focus may limit its appeal for some, it offers an accessible gateway to King’s universe. Combining visuals with insightful commentary, it’s a compelling companion for young readers eager to explore the works of the King of Horror.

Stephen king without a doubt the master story teller of our times.A book about his journey and craft is so informative and entertaining for the young readers

A good book for fans of Stephen King, which gives a comprehensive guide into the king of horror.

It goes through his life and works and will be of interest to anyone who likes King's books.

Thanks for this copy.

This was a really good book. It looks back at the early days of this man and some of the challenges they faced. Next we see them start writing with mixed levels of success. Along the way they had some good times and a couple of bad ones as well. Once this book comes to a close it is clear this career isn’t over yet.

A comprehensive insight into the horror writer's life, works, and influences. Accompanied by photos of Stephen King, his books, quotes, and early life, this book opens up the writer's life to the reader and gives intriguing background into some of his books and movies.

Thank you to the publisher for an early release copy of this book. I'm a big Stephen King fan and have been since the 80's. This was fun - it's exactly what you would think. It was a quick read and interesting.

Stephen King by Bev Vincent was a great book, it's about his Life, Work, and Influences etc. Stephen King is a genius and every book I have read by him I have loved......especially as I have been a fan since I was a teenager - so many years ago!!

This book is a must have for a dedicated King fan or a new upcoming fan.

"The Illustrated Guide to Stephen King" is a thrilling and visually captivating companion that young adult readers will find both informative and engaging as they delve into the extensive universe of the King of Horror. This guide is a perfect next step for those transitioning from the chills of "Goosebumps" to the deeper, more complex terrors found in King’s novels.

The book offers a well-rounded exploration of Stephen King’s life and works, tracing his evolution from a scare-seeking child to a prolific author. With nearly 50 years of writing history, the guide highlights not just King’s vast bibliography but also the personal experiences and cultural influences that shaped his stories. Each chapter is thoughtfully curated with bite-sized sections that make it easy for young readers to digest and absorb King’s legacy.

Visually, the guide is a feast for the eyes, featuring an array of photographs, memorabilia, and handwritten manuscript pages that provide an intimate glimpse into King’s creative process. The inclusion of personal correspondence and never-before-seen excerpts adds an exciting layer of authenticity and intrigue. Readers will particularly enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at how real-life settings inspired King’s most iconic works.

The commentary on the cultural impact of King’s writing is enlightening, showcasing how his themes resonate with the societal changes over the decades. Motivational quotes peppered throughout the book offer further insight into King’s philosophy and passion for storytelling, making it not just a reference guide but also an inspiring read for budding writers and horror enthusiasts alike.

Overall, "The Illustrated Guide to Stephen King" is a must-have for young adults eager to explore the chilling, intricate world of Stephen King. It balances information with visual appeal, making it accessible and entertaining. This guide is a treasure trove for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of one of literature's most formidable figures in horror. Highly recommended for both fans and newcomers alike!

Stephen King: His Life, Work, and Influences is a nice compendium that really goes through not only all of the books King has released, but pulls from years and years of interviews to make a really concise and easy to follow historical record here. As someone who's been reading King since elementary school (sorry to my teachers) and is currently doing a very slow re-read, this was a great refresher and also, a nice collection of stories I've heard here and there over the past ~30 years all wrapped up and integrated into the works.

A really good reference book and a truly knowledgeable writer.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – becker & mayer! | becker&mayer! kids for the eARC in exchange for review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and most especially Bev Vincent for this eARC of the young readers edition of Stephen King.

This is a fabulous overview of the career and excellence of Stephen King. While it's targetted (very well) to a younger audience, any fan of Mr. King will benefit from this work. I strongly recommend it.

I read King's books as they came out, and I used to make the joke that he always put out a big book during finals week. This is such a great resource, because it goes through King's books one by one with a description and anecdotes for each. There were extras, such as sections describing the fictional towns. This really felt like a fun trip down memory lane, and it made me want to give his books a reread with this as a companion. The pictures are great, too, showing the real life King with his family, movie pictures. and real places. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

This is a great book about the works of Stephen King. It's very insightful. This is a must read for any Stephen King fan. All horror fans will enjoy reading about the life, works, and influences of Stephen King. I highly recommend this book to all horror fans.

Stephen King: His Life, Work, and Influences by Bev Vincent is a fabulous and thorough read. I learned so much about Stephen King that I didn’t know prior. I loved the pictures from throughout the years. I also enjoyed how every piece of work - from short story to 1000+ page novel - was featured. This book is targeted for a younger audience but I think it is a fantastic read for all ages.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6791116005

And Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_dbTIOgrQb/?igsh=YnB1bTlqZWk4MXZ3

I have been a massive fan of Stephen King for years so I found this book very informative to learn more about him beyond his writing.

Bev Vincent gives us a quick rundown of Stephen King’s life through the decades. Alongside photographs and pseudonyms, we get inside looks at some of his novels.

I’m a huge fan of Stephen King so I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I gobble up every tidbit I can. Vincent’s writing is straight-forward. There are plenty of side-bars with additional information from King’s philanthropy to how he is even a tour in Bangor, Maine.

The real star of this book is cover and interior designer Kim Winscher. The entire book is eye-catching and engaging. From the little hands in the book to the full color pictures to how the sections are designed. What will keep the reader engaged and intrigued to flip the page is the design of the book. Kudos to Winscher.

A Stephen King fan will love this book. It’s a reader’s own little Easter Egg.

It will be a great book for someone interested to know more about the author and backstory of his works.

Learning more about the famous author, SK was really fun. This book was well written, displaying information with fun and themed fonts!

I got this book as my kids wanted to understand my fascination with Stephen King. First of all - it's a great position not only for young adults that like creepy stories but also for people wanting to understand how King became a King of horror. Graphics are incredible and all information is delivered in bite size chunks which makes it a quite fast read. Great addition to the personal library if you like Stephen King

I am not a fan of King and really have not read many of his books. However, I have always thought he was an interesting author and the more I learn about him and some of his books, the more I really want to begin reading some. I read and watched Carrie and The Shining a long time ago and loved them. I watched Misery, Cujo, Pet Cemetary etc. and they were meh, so I think I didn't appreciate how much he had written and the variety. As I read this book, I realized there were so many other books I really want to read and go back and read rather than watch the movie.
For those not very familiar with King's complete oeuvre, such as myself, this was a great book. It covers his entire work, from short stories to novellas, poetry, and novels.

I enjoyed the interesting bits and pieces about each of his stories, the ideas behind and what inspired them, when were they written, what changes were done upon them until (and how) were they published. So I imagine students that love his work would really enjoy this book. It was easy to read, and I enjoyed the pictures and the format. I think it made it very accessible for young readers. I loved the idea of the Dollar Babies, which are movie adaptations based on his stories, whose rights have been sold for one dollar. I found some of this history of publishing really fascinating and interesting.
And I loved the layout of the book and plan to purchase a copy for our school library.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc to preview.

Definitely a fun look into one of my favorite authors Gor a younger age group. Didn't do much for me but I can see this working for a younger version of me that was just getting into the horror genre.