-28% 🔥 Bestseller Sleeping Beauties — Supernatural

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Sleeping Beauties

Name: Sleeping Beauties
Price: 22.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781501163418

✍️ Stephen King

Reader Score

4.7

(8 reviews)

$22.99 ~~$32.00~~ Save $9.01 (28%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A father-son novel about women encased in gauze who turn violent when disturbed.

The narrative follows the societal breakdown in an Appalachian town after a mysterious virus affects all sleeping women. Inmates at the local prison are trapped in cocoons, except for Evie. Her unique condition makes her a target for suspicion and potential violence from the increasingly aggressive male population. Sheriff Lila Norcross fights to stay conscious as the world shifts around her. The story examines how men react when women disappear from their daily lives. It draws on horror traditions to question human nature under extreme duress. The authors use the supernatural event to critique gender roles and primal instincts.

Key Themes

Demonology Women Occult

Literary Context

Published by Gallery Books in 2018, this work sits within the American horror tradition. It utilizes the setting of a West Virginia prison to explore supernatural fiction. The text blends contemporary concerns with gothic elements of fear and isolation.

Stephen King

📚 all books by this author (530) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Shirley Jackson · H.P. Lovecraft

🕯️

Supernatural

🏛 Gallery Books 📅 2018 📖 720 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781501163418

📚 This Book in Collections

😈 Demons, Possession & Exorcism

📝 Description: Sleeping Beauties

Stephen King and his son Owen King present a speculative narrative set in Dooling, West Virginia. The story begins with a global phenomenon where sleeping women encase themselves in gauze-like cocoons. Disturbing this wrapping triggers feral violence in the afflicted. The plot centers on a local women's prison where the condition spreads among inmates, leaving only one woman, Evie, unaffected. Evie’s ability to sleep and wake normally raises questions about her nature. Is she a medical anomaly or a demon? Meanwhile, the men of Dooling descend into primal conflict without female presence. Sheriff Lila Norcross struggles merely to remain awake during this chaos. The narrative examines the collapse of social order when half the population vanishes into slumber. This father-son collaboration explores themes of demonology and gender dynamics through a supernatural lens. It appeals to readers who enjoy high-stakes fiction involving occult elements. Those seeking gentle romance or non-fiction will find this work unsuitable. The text is organized as a continuous novel rather than an anthology. King’s reputation for horror grounds the speculative premise in tangible dread.

💎 Our verdict on Sleeping Beauties

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🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Stephen and Owen King present a chilling exploration of societal fragility through a supernatural lens. The premise of women encased in gauze who turn violent when disturbed creates a palpable sense of dread. While effective for fans of cosmic horror and psychological tension, this book is unsuitable for those seeking gentle romance or factual non-fiction accounts. The focus on primal conflict and the disappearance of half the population may be too intense for sensitive readers. It stands as a rigorous examination of human nature under duress, appealing to those who appreciate speculative fiction that questions fundamental social structures through the lens of terror and mystery.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who enjoy high-stakes fiction involving occult elements and supernatural phenomena will find this work compelling. The narrative offers a unique critique of gender roles and human nature by examining male reactions when women vanish from daily life. Those interested in the collapse of social order and the psychological impact of isolation will appreciate the tangible dread grounded in King’s reputation. It is ideal for audiences seeking a continuous novel rather than an anthology, providing a deep dive into demonology and primal conflict without the need for gentle romance or non-fiction.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Seekers of apocalyptic dread and psychological tension will find this tale captivating, especially those who appreciate Stephen King’s signature blend of small-town horror and supernatural mystery. However, readers craving lighthearted romance, straightforward non-fiction, or gentle comfort stories…

Reader rating

4.7

Based on 8 reviews

Rosa P.

April 16, 2026

Exactly as described

Arrived quickly and well packaged. A few scenes I will not forget, whether I want to or not. It is the kind of horror that rewards reading with the lights on. My only regret is not ordering it sooner.

Diana L.

September 2, 2025

Took a chance on it after reading the description here. The audiobook crowd will want the paper copy for the margins. A few scenes I will not forget, whether I want to or not. Already eyeing my next order.

Julia V.

September 8, 2025

Took a chance on it after reading the description here. The audiobook crowd will want the paper copy for the margins. Slow burn, but the burn is the point.

Robert F.

September 9, 2025

Chilling

Needed a good scare and got one. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. The monster is scarier for how little you see of it. Will be gifting a copy to a friend.

Brian H.

August 4, 2025

Genuinely scary

First order from this shop. The binding held up to being carried around for a week. The dread is in the pacing, not in gore, which is exactly how I like it. Will be gifting a copy to a friend.

Linda J.

August 31, 2025

Kept me up

I read a lot of horror and I'm picky. There's real craft in how much is left unsaid. Five stars from me.

Thomas G.

June 23, 2025

Excellent find

Took a chance on it after reading the description here. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. If you like this kind of cooking, don't hesitate.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, this is a collaborative effort co-authored by his son, Owen King. Their combined voices create a distinct narrative texture that differs slightly from Stephen’s solo works, offering a fresh perspective on their shared horror themes.

You should not attempt this under any circumstances. Disturbing their gauze-like cocoons triggers immediate and extreme feral violence, turning them into dangerous predators. The story emphasizes that their condition is not sleep but a volatile state requiring absolute caution.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

This father-son collaboration sits firmly within the tradition of American speculative fiction, echoing H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror while updating it for modern gender dynamics. It channels the isolationist terror of King’s earlier works like 'The Shining' but applies a unique biological twist to societal breakdown. By framing the apocalypse through the lens of domesticity and incarceration, it joins ranks with classics that explore how civilization crumbles when fundamental human connections are severed by inexplicable forces.