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jgintrovertedreader's review
4.0
Odd Thomas is back. He's finally getting to take his long-awaited break at the monastery called St. Bartholomew's Abbey. Inevitably, the bodachs appear to him again and they're centered around the disabled children taken care of by the nuns living at the abbey. Odd knows that he doesn't have long to figure out where the threat is coming from and what it even is. He would do anything to protect these most-innocent of innocents.
I really like Odd Thomas. I like his self-effacing sense of humor, his sense of honor, his sense of justice, and his love of people. While this book was probably better than Forever Odd, the second in the series, it wasn't anywhere near as good as Odd Thomas. The plot seemed kind of secondary. After such a long buildup, the climax was pretty short and, after a certain point, obvious. Honestly, if felt like Koontz came up with some of his ideas for this one from Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. Just some subtle stuff, but that's what I thought of.
I did love Koontz's loving descriptions of these special children, the descriptions of Elvis's antics (yes, he's back in this one!), and the tennis-match conversations between Odd and the only other guest at the abbey, the mysterious Russian, Rodion Romanovich. These back-and-forth conversations alone are a good reason to read this one. There was even one statement made by a mentally retarded young man that almost made me cry--and I'm not a crier.
So, the characters and the people were fantastic, but the plot was pretty lame. You'll have to decide if this sounds like it's for you.
I really like Odd Thomas. I like his self-effacing sense of humor, his sense of honor, his sense of justice, and his love of people. While this book was probably better than Forever Odd, the second in the series, it wasn't anywhere near as good as Odd Thomas. The plot seemed kind of secondary. After such a long buildup, the climax was pretty short and, after a certain point, obvious. Honestly, if felt like Koontz came up with some of his ideas for this one from Dan Brown's Angels and Demons. Just some subtle stuff, but that's what I thought of.
I did love Koontz's loving descriptions of these special children, the descriptions of Elvis's antics (yes, he's back in this one!), and the tennis-match conversations between Odd and the only other guest at the abbey, the mysterious Russian, Rodion Romanovich. These back-and-forth conversations alone are a good reason to read this one. There was even one statement made by a mentally retarded young man that almost made me cry--and I'm not a crier.
So, the characters and the people were fantastic, but the plot was pretty lame. You'll have to decide if this sounds like it's for you.
wholelotofweird's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
h3dakota's review
4.0
Oh, I liked this 3rd book much better than the 2nd, in spite of the horrors told in it. What made some of the stories inside so horrible is how sadly true they are. Other than that part, this one kept me rapt, I just had to know how it was going to turn out. :)
And let's face it, any book that has a quote like this one has GOT to be entertaining: "I sure wanted to see nuns in monster trucks."
And let's face it, any book that has a quote like this one has GOT to be entertaining: "I sure wanted to see nuns in monster trucks."
cathiedalziel's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
3rd in the series. It's a good thing I like you Odd Thomas. And you used a dog and kids.
3rd in the series. It's a good thing I like you Odd Thomas. And you used a dog and kids.
villianess's review
5.0
Odd Thomas visits a Monastery, trying to find peace from the spirits that visit him from the realm of the dead. Dean Koontz does a wonderful job of getting the Brothers and Nuns involved in a mystery that involves the Monastery. I loved the word play between the characters.
I will be continuing with this series. I so enjoy them.
A great quote:
Who's faith is so secure it never needs to be enriched?
I will be continuing with this series. I so enjoy them.
A great quote:
Who's faith is so secure it never needs to be enriched?
delimeatz's review
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
i don’t think that’s how physics works but i’m glad dean could make some bone monsters out of it that’s cool. who doesn’t love a mad monk scientist?
vorpalblad's review
3.0
This series has grown increasingly preachy and while the story flies, any textual "message" is slowing me down. As usual I'm surprised at how well Koontz tells a story and how creatively, considering how many books he puts out. Maybe I haven't read enough but he doesn't seem to fall into a formula the way some churners do.