After being fatally diagnosed with an inoperable and untreatable cancer, Bibi Blair is magically cured. But her sudden revival comes at a price-her infatuation with saving an unknown girl named Ashley Bell.
Why this book?: I’m a long-time fan of Dean Koontz, and have been looking for thrillers. Here I come!
It’s only interesting if you can understand it
Which, with this book, you really couldn’t. I couldn’t figure out what was happening half of the time, wondering who was where and who they were with and what was real and what wasn’t. A book isn’t interesting if you can’t understand what’s happening. And it’s certainly not enjoyable if you have to think about every other page and what the deep, psychological meaning could be behind that one sentence and if it was connected to that one sentence 20 pages back.
Yes, the premise was interesting, and yes, I was so excited to jump back into a Koontz book-I love Koontz, I love the mysteries that he twists and the endings that he comes up with. But this book was a huge disappointment, in all of it’s confusing as hell glory.
I was still interested in it though. There were enjoyable parts, parts where Koontz’s old flare could be seen, especially in the side-characters. He made the side-characters more interesting than the main characters. There were funny parts within the jumbled mess of confusion, (Like the Potterhead mothers and both of them naming their daughters Hermoine), with some nods to other movies/books/entertainments that I also enjoyed.
Was I supposed to relate to these characters?
One thing I usually like about Koontz’s characters are that they’re quirky while still being relatable. Except Bibi, Pax, Bibi’s parents, and the antagonists were just . . . weird? It felt like Koontz was just trying to make them so different and so quirky that he forgot they were supposed to be human and not some odd rendition that more of less just seemed like the best characteristics thrown into one person.
And all I can say to that was it was annoying as hell. Sure, Bibi had a few imperfections, and I will recognize that. But Bibi was such an unbelievable character that the few imperfections that were shown were ultimately overshadowed by her beautiful and unique and amazing self.
By the end of the book, I was rolling my eyes with Bibi’s every action. Everything just fell into place with her, and what fun is that?
Final Rating: ★★★½☆☆
Overall?
I will always be a fan of Dean Koontz, mainly because I adore his Odd Thomas series along with so many of his stand-alones. But, my suggestion would be to stick to his older books, as most of his newer books are disappointments. While I liked the premise and some parts here and there, it was just too confusing to be enjoyable, and the characters were nowhere near life-like.
Would I Recommend?
If you want to try and puzzle out the ~deeper meaning~ behind this book, go ahead. If you’re a fan of Dean Koontz’s normal thrilling and amazing writing, try another one-I would suggest 77 Shadow Street, Watchers, Velocity, or his Odd Thomas series.
Additional Information
Published: December 8th, 2015
Publisher: Bantam
Page Count: 560
Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Fantasy
Synopsis: via Goodreads
Bibi Blair is a fierce, funny, dauntless young woman – whose doctor says she has one year to live.
She replies, ‘We’ll see.’
Her sudden recovery is a medical miracle.
An enigmatic woman convinces Bibi that she escaped death so that she can save someone else. Someone named Ashley Bell.
But who is Ashley Bell? And what exactly does she need saving from?
Bibi’s obsession with finding Ashley sends her on the run from threats both mystical and worldly, including a rich and charismatic cult leader with terrifying ambitions.
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