Is the sequel necessary? "Doctor Sleep" is for me personally an unexpected continuation of the legendary novel "Radiance". Stephen King doesn't seem to be famous for writing sequels, so when I found out that this was a continuation of a story that seemed to have been published a long time ago, I hurried to read this work. Unfortunately, the book does not live up to expectations. Although the idea of continuing the story of Danny Torrance, who became an adult after the events at the Overlook Hotel, seems good, the plot itself causes mixed feelings and in many ways leaves a feeling of artificiality. The first noticeable disadvantage is the new story itself, which seems somewhat strained and unfounded. If the magical and frightening atmosphere in "The Shining" was carefully built through psychological thriller elements and dark symbolism, then "Doctor Sleep" feels like something strange and simply invented to continue a successful story. A new conflict with a group of mystical creatures that feed on the "radiance" of people does not make a strong impression. He seems inexplicable and too abstract, as if he doesn't quite fit into the universe created in the first book. And if in "The Shining" fear and tension came from the carefully thought-out psychology of the characters, then this element is missing in the sequel. The second problem is Danny Torrance himself. The grown-up hero, whom we met in his childhood, is now an adult, but his character does not feel as deep and elaborated as one might expect. His internal conflicts, struggle with alcoholism and desire to cope with the demons of the past, although shown, do not seem convincing enough. This whole Danny arc, from a boy with paranormal abilities to an adult man trying to find himself, looks somewhat far-fetched, as if it was "stretched on a globe" just to give the plot a new shape. The story of Danny's interaction with a young character, the girl Abra, who has a powerful "radiance", also does not cause much response. Their connection and the development of their relationship look too straightforward and predictable. And although the plot with Abra has potential, its implementation does not cause the tension or emotional response that are characteristic of King's best works. In general, "Doctor Sleep" feels more like a passing work created to continue the cult story, but does not have the level of emotional and psychological tension that made "Radiance" such a powerful work. The book is not bad, but it is not outstanding either — you can read it if you are interested in the future fate of Danny Torrance, but it is better not to have high expectations from it. 6 out of 10