Known to be one of the best (scariest) books in the horror genre, Pet Sematary is Stephen King’s version of the re-telling of ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ by W.W. Jacobs (both are as freaky as they come). In this article, we have given a spoiler-free review of the Pet Sematary book.
About Pet Sematary
Title: Pet Sematary
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror, Thriller, Fantasy
Publisher: Scribner
Type: Standalone
Pages: 580
Goodreads rating: 4/5
Nominated for a World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1984, Pet Sematary follows the story of Louise and his family, who have recently moved to a house near the small town of Ludlow. Lousie makes a friend in Jud, whom he considers a father figure, who shows him the Pet Cemetary (misspelled ‘Sematary’), where the town’s children bury their deceased pets. But there is a far more sinister secret lurking behind the Sematary, and when Louside discovers it, his life goes downhill. And when his pet cat dies, and he goes to the Sematary to bury it, it is when he inadvertently unleashes terror upon his own family.
“Cause what you bury, is what you own. And what you own… always comes home to you.”
Book Review of Pet Sematary
I absolutely love Stephen King. Sure, some of his books feel a bit more on the tame side, but he has never let me down. So naturally, I went into Pet Sematary thinking I’d be blown away—everyone’s been hyping it up, right? And, well…didn’t I say King doesn’t disappoint?
First off, that cover. There are a few different versions out there, but have you seen the one with the cat? Spine-chilling. Yet, the cemetery cover is hands down the best. It’s dark, creepy, and just the kind of ominous vibe you’d want for a horror book titled Pet Sematary (yep, took a while for autocorrect to give in). And that deliberate spelling? It’s perfect. Just like the cemetery in the story, nothing about this book is ordinary.
King’s writing? It’s exactly what you’d expect. He doesn’t need elaborate language to send shivers down your spine; his simplicity is part of the charm, while his clever little exclamations and perfectly placed full stops somehow crank up the tension. Every sentence feels like it’s building up to something—and trust me, it is.
The plot itself is the ideal blend of reality and the supernatural. And the twist? It’s less about some eerie force and more about human grief and the terrible lengths people will go to escape it. That’s the real monster here: the protagonist’s desperation. It’s so haunting because, well, who hasn’t wanted to change fate in some impossible way? King explores that universal impulse, but then, as he does, takes it way past comfort.
And let’s not skip over the characters! Louis and Jud are complex, layered, and somehow relatable in all their flaws. Their mistakes? Painfully understandable. It’s almost frightening to see how easy it is to connect with them, to see ourselves in their shoes, making choices that… well, they make. That’s what makes this book so unsettling.
“And the most terrifying question of all may be just how much horror the human mind can stand and still maintain a wakeful, staring, unrelenting sanity.”
Stephen King
Look, fair warning, this book isn’t for the faint of heart. Pet Sematary is a book that leaves a mark—a really deep, uncomfortable one. If horror is your thing, it’s a must-read. And if you already tried it once, do yourself a favor and resist the urge to go back for a second round.
Conclusion
Rating: 5 / 5; Our Rating Guide
Recommendation: Absolutely, especially if you’re into horror.
Fans of Crossroads by Laurel Hightower or Ferocious by Jeff Strand will feel right at home here.
In the end, Pet Sematary reminded me of one thing I already suspected: zombie animals? Just… no thanks.
About the Author
Known as the ‘King’ of Horror, Stephen King was born in 1947 in Portland, Maine, the US, which he bases as his primary setting for many of his novels. King has published 64 novels and many short stories and non-fiction. Many of his best-selling works have been adapted into movies, Tv Series, and miniseries. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. King has received Bram Stoker Awards, World Fantasy Awards, and British Fantasy Society Awards. In 2015, he was awarded a National Medal of Arts from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts for his contributions to literature. Carrie, The Shining, Pet Sematary, and It are some of his most popular works.
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Very good blog article.Thanks Again. Keep writing.